Opinions on dust jackets

[Onsokubatsu]

I've been wondering what people think about this. Almost every manga and manhwa from Asia use dust jackets, but almost no American publishers do. Now there's a lot of advantages to having a dust jacket, you can print things in the inside flaps (usually this has an author bio or comment) and in rare cases, there's an alternate cover underneath or in even rarer cases, some have extra comics printed instead.

I've always liked dust jackets on books. It just makes it look... nice, along with the extras you get. So opinions?

[Chousho]

I love them. Add in the smaller size, better image quality and cheaper price and that's why I've switched to the original release in place of translations.

That and helping me learn to read better, haha.

Really though, the images are glossy compared to the harder covered books like we have. You can put more on than if you just have a hard cover too. By hard cover, I mean that thin cardboard that Tokyopop, etc. use.

I just like them for the art though, haha.

[DazzleKitty]

I actually like them. I love how companies like DMP and Dramaqueen use them. It makes them look nicer and it sort of protects the books.

[Ninja337]

I really love them on the more expensive hardcovers like Osamu Tezuka's, "Bhudda" I just bought, but I wouldn't want them on softcover tankabons from stores. That would bring the price up even more. I suggest people that have graphic novels to protect, should buy the special plastic sleeves you can get from comic shops. I think they might come in tankabon size, but they may not.

[FURUBA4EVER]

I really like them too. Personally, I think more manga companies in the U.S. should use them (even if the price went up because of it) since the quality is just so much better.

As far as I know, there are only three U.S. manga publishers who use dust jackets. It would be nice to see the use of them increase...but I doubt it will happen (mainly because of the cost).

[Milky Mixer]

I'm pretty impartial on this.

They look nice on the DMP books I've picked up (I just got Enchanter last night and that super orange cover is one of the things that attracted me!)

But personally I could take 'em or leave 'em - dustjackets, I mean. I always end up taking them off to read the actual book (especially if I'm hauling the book with me) because they can easily rip or get all wrecked up. So in a way, what's the point...? And if it means raising the pricetag, I say no thanks, just give me the softcover full-color cover without the dustjacket. I'd rather be able to afford an extra book than pay another couple bucks for each volume of all the series I read.

[Crawlspace]

On soft cover books, I don't really like them. They get in the way, and I always have to remove them to read the book or transport it. And they rip easily most of the time. On a hardcover, I see the point, as this is where all the artwork and text are likely to go, though again they get removed when reading or transporting. But on paperbacks, manga included, I just don't see a point and don't see them as an added bonus, but rather, an added nuisance.

[Yoshio]

i enjoy them on my japanese manga (makes it seem special), but i dont really care all that much if american manga companies use them or not

[HitokiriShadow]

The only time I would want dust jackets is when the original manga had something extra on the real cover under the dust jacket. Otherwise, I don't really care.

[Sushikins]

I really like the dust jackets, it's why I like Japanese volumes more than American volumes, they stay nicer and they're smaller.

[Meganly-chan]

They are very nice, and I like them, but I always end up having to fix them when they slide down while I try to "read" my imported manga. Plus, they bend and get damaged easily. But, I think they are stylish at the same time.

[Onsokubatsu]

I tend to just take them off when I read, but even though I do that, I still like it when books have them. It just makes it feel more like a quality product to me.

[Imasyon]

I don't really understand because all people like them so much, they're rather disturbing to me. As in Germany they don't use it, I usually only have them with the French Mangas, so I don't really bother if there is one or not... For the quality of the picture... maybe it's better, but I don't really care about it...^_^

[sii]

I have no opinion on dust jackets.

I don't understand why people do.

It's just another wildly unsuccessful marketing tactic.

[CrimeofPassion]

I don't like dust jackets at all...

[hiei_kurama27]

They are nice to have, but either way it doesnt matter as long as I get what I wanted. In most cases its the story. I always find, when Im reading a manga with one (DMPs) the cover slips out of place and I end up mildly bending the bottom (or top) of the spine. So thats a con, but there are pros. It protects the papery cover, and small stains can come off of it if it has a glossy feel. (DMP is releasing a couple titles that have non-glossy, but papery dust covers, which would pose a problem) Again, it doesnt matter but it'd be nice if other companies used them.

[Wind.::.Raven]

I like dust jackets.

First, because they do exactly what they're supposed to, protect the book. I can be pretty hard on some of my manga, but those with dustjackets take beatings pretty well. if I accidently spill something on a manga (happend several times before) the book survives relatively undamaged.

Second, I like them for the art. Some companies get really creative with dustjackets. The french publishers especially have really nice jackets.

Third, they just look nice. When all stacked together on a shelf it just looks so clean shiny and...neat. I like neat.

I really don't mind paying an extra $1.50 - $2 for my manga to be both durable and aesthetic. And neat.

[Japhyl]

I don't have any manga with dust jackets, but I like them and think they make the covers look nicer.

[Aya Nekoneko]

I like them but I wouldn't pay extra for them.

Just wanted to keep it short and sweet. xp