Now, Barbie, hop in your decorated pink Hot Wheels car and head out to party at TOKYOPOP!
Mattel and TOKYOPOP are teaming up to bring these two childhood icons into a new world of storytelling in a Western-inspired manga graphic novel series. These graphic novels are categorized for kids ages 8 to 12, but that doesn’t mean adults can’t take the nostalgic route. The first title is scheduled to be published in 2026 and will include original stories and artwork, a Hot Wheels-inspired graphic novel series, and new stories featuring Barbie characters.
Ryan Ferguson, Mattel’s global head of publishing, and Mark Visnick, COO and publisher of TOKYOPOP, expressed excitement about the collaboration. “We look forward to sharing these legendary brands and bold new adventures with readers around the world,” said Visnik.
This isn’t the first time these Mattel brands have been reimagined in graphic print form. Dell Comics published the Barbie and Ken comic series in 1962, and a little less than 30 years later, in 1991, Marvel published Barbie and Barbie, which focused on Barbie’s various careers as a fashion designer, musician, and actor. “Fashion” was published. Papercutz also released a series of Barbie graphic novels in 2016. TOKYOPOP also released its own Barbie series, but these were “cinemanga” storybooks that incorporated screenshots from various TV and movie animations.
In comparison, Hot Wheels isn’t that great of a graphic novel adaptation. DC Comics released a six-issue series in 1970.
The first Barbie doll, released in March 1959, wore a black and white striped swimsuit, and despite initial criticism, sold 350,000 units in its first year. Since then, it has become a well-known name among the family. Barbie has appeared in numerous animated television and film adaptations, most recently a live-action version released in July 2023, which became the highest-grossing film of that year.
Invented by Elliott Handler, Hot Wheels debuted in May 1967 with the “Original Sweet 16” series and became a major threat to Matchbox starting in 1968. There was talk of a live-action Hot Wheels movie as early as 2003, but the rights were transferred from Columbia Pictures to Warner Bros. much later, and things were relatively quiet on that front. .
Source: TOKYOPOP and Mattel
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