Initially announced back in March, details about the K Manga service have been revealed ahead of its official launch, though fans are not happy about the pricing structure and format of the app.
While many manga readers were hoping that K Manga will have a monthly subscription service similar to VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump, that is not the case.
Instead of users paying a monthly subscription to access the entire manga lineup, K Manga has a coin-based system that drew comparisons to mobile games.
K Manga Reveals Pricing Structure and Release Format
Given the recent release of VIZ Manga, which includes Shojo Beat and Shogakukan titles, many readers were hoping that K Manga will have a similar system.
After all, this will mean that fans will have a hassle-free way of reading and catching up on titles from Weekly Shonen Magazine and other Kodansha publications.
Sadly, that is not the case, as instead, K Manga features a coin system where users must spend in-app coins to read chapters.
This system is similar to Square Enix’s Manga UP! service, which also features an in-app currency mechanic.
For K Manga, readers can get coins by purchasing them with real-world money, or they can earn them by reading certain manga chapters.
Given how tedious this can be, readers are incentivized to buy coins to read the title of their choice ASAP.
What’s also similar to Manga UP! is that some manga like Blue Lock feature chapters that are split into parts, meaning readers will need more coins for these titles.
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Manga Readers Are Not Happy With K Manga’s Structure
After details about the service’s pricing and format were shared online, many fans expressed their displeasure with the app’s structure.
Aside from how tedious and unfriendly the structure is to new readers, many also noted how expensive reading manga on the platform is.
There were also criticisms directed at the platform’s censorship of some titles.
In fact, it was even calculated that it will be cheaper to purchase digital copies of certain titles on Amazon instead of spending money for coins on the app.
This is the case with Rent-A-Girlfriend, as noted by some manga fans.
There were also lots of comparisons made with VIZ Manga, which was released just recently.
Many noted that VIZ’s subscription format is a much more consumer-friendly option as a small monthly fee unlocks the entire lineup.
K Manga will be officially released today, May 10. However, it will only be available in the US and Canada, with no details on availability in other countries for now.
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