Comic Gumbo - First Free Weekly Manga Magazine

Comic Gumbo, Japan's first free weekly manga publication, will be handed out by Dejima starting next Tuesday. The free weekly magazine, which will also be available online for free, will contain two complete stories and 11 series features.

According to Dijima:

The advantages of being free lie in the weekly not needing to secure a magazine code -- in effect, a license -- which is said to be difficult for new companies or magazines to obtain. Distribution of the manga magazine's hard copy will all be by hand.

"Publishing companies haven't actively gone out to sell advertising in manga magazines (because manga book sales have been so good)," Kai said. "That's why I thought there might be an opening for a free manga magazine."

Source: Mainichi Daily News