• Name: Black Ink
• Founded: October 2012
• Official retail launch: January 2013
• Parent company: Precious Pages Corporation
• Industry: Publishing
• Country: Philippines
• Products: Manga-style comics, graphic novels, light novels, anthologies
• Primary market: Filipino readers
• Distribution: National bookstores, comic conventions, and online marketplaces including Lazada Philippines and Shopee.

Black Ink began as a new imprint under Precious Pages Corporation in October 2012, debuting its first eight comic books during Komikon, one of the Philippines’ largest independent comics conventions. The positive reception encouraged the publisher to expand the line, leading to a nationwide bookstore release in January 2013 with thirteen initial titles.

The imprint was launched during a period when Philippine comics (“komiks”) were experiencing renewed interest after years of decline. Rather than following the traditional anthology-style komiks format, Black Ink adopted the Japanese tankōbon-inspired format, publishing complete stories or serialized volumes by consistent writer–artist teams.

Black Ink was established to:

• revive interest in locally created comics;
• provide a professional platform for Filipino writers and illustrators;
• introduce manga-inspired storytelling to Philippine audiences; and
• publish stories across a wide variety of genres beyond traditional romance.

According to the publisher, Black Ink actively seeks new Filipino creative talent and publishes works aimed at different readerships whenever there is sufficient audience demand.

Black Ink publishes works in the following categories:

• Manga-style comics
• Graphic novels
• Light novels
• Boys’ Love (BL)
• Girls’ Love (GL)
• Romance
• Fantasy
• Action
• Adventure
• Horror
• Mythology
• Slice of Life
• Comedy
• Anthology collections [1]

Although romance remains one of its strongest categories because of its connection to Precious Pages, Black Ink has expanded into many other genres over the years.

One of Black Ink’s distinguishing features is its Japanese manga influence. Compared with traditional Philippine komiks, Black Ink titles generally feature:

• manga-inspired page layouts;
• black-and-white interior artwork;
• serialized multi-volume stories;
• compact paperback (“tankōbon”) format; and
• dedicated writer–artist teams instead of anthology collections. [2]

This approach helped make Black Ink one of the earliest Philippine publishers to consistently market locally created manga-style books.

Among the imprint’s first published works were:

• Animen
• My Midnight
• Hands of the Dragon
• Vergil: The Warrior Angel
• The Reaper
• Pepe: The Lost Years of Rizal
• Fairy Tails
• Two Comic Anthology
• Manga Style Anthology [3]

Following its launch, Black Ink broadened its catalog with:

• horror anthologies such as Librong Itim;
• original light novels;
• Boys’ Love novels;
• compact “tiny books” designed for commuters; and
• additional original manga and comic series. [4]

Black Ink titles are sold through:

• Precious Pages bookstores
• Major Philippine bookstores
• Comic conventions
• Online stores
• Lazada Philippines
• Shopee Philippines [5]

On Lazada Philippines, the brand appears under the Media, Music & Books category, where it offers printed comic books, manga, and related publications.

Black Ink primarily targets:

• manga readers;
• anime fans;
• Filipino comic enthusiasts;
• young adult readers;
• Boys’ Love and Girls’ Love readers;
• collectors of Philippine comics; and
• readers interested in original Filipino graphic storytelling. [6]

Black Ink is considered one of the most recognizable Philippine publishers focused on locally produced manga-style comics. Its catalog has contributed to the growth of Filipino graphic storytelling by giving artists and writers a mainstream publishing platform while making locally created manga more widely available through bookstores and online retailers.

• Precious Pages Corporation
• Komikon (Philippine comics convention)
• Philippine comics (Komiks)
• Manga
• Light novel

1. Black Ink | Book by Stephanie Stokes Oliver, Nikki Giovanni | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster
2. About – Black Ink Publishers
3. Black Ink Publishers
4. Black Ink Books – publishing, writing, editing, consulting, authors
5. (PDF) The Philippine Manga: Examining the Aesthetics and Identity of Black Ink
6. Publisher: Black Ink | Open Library