Let's examine the different manga products available on FAKKU.
1. Subscription Service
The subscription service is actually a bundle of different benefits. Subscribers gain access to the
entire library of magazine released manga. We're talking about 2000+ chapters from eight different magazines. I've marked the ones that are not released monthly.
1. Comic Kairakuten
2. Comic X-Eros
3. Comic Kairakuten BEAST
4. Comic Shitsurakuten
5. Girls forM *
6. Comic Bavel
7. Comic Europa *
8. Comic Koh *
So if we're only talking about monthly releases you're paying just over $2 per magazine per month. I think that's pretty good, considering one magazine issue in Japan goes for anywhere between 400円 - 1000円. I know you don't get to download them and we don't have physical copies. Instead we're allowed to all the previously released content. It's a trade-off, and it can't truly be considered equivalent. But I'd still call that a good deal.
But FAKKU is expanding. We are now getting access to anime with the subscription as well. It's still a small library but it should steadily grow. In addition to that, subscribers are also granted 10% off games. Not a huge benefit, but it is a nice perk.
2. Books
Books are completely separate from the subscription. The books are significantly more expensive than their Japanese counterparts (for good reason) but they're made very well. Books often feature content that was already in the subscription. Which is not to say that they are equivalent. Both the author and the FAKKU team always go back and polish chapters up for a book release. I talked a bit more about this overlap
here. I think the main incentive to purchase books is owning the physical copy. You do get digital downloads for any book purchases, as long as it was on the FAKKU store. Purchasing a book from any other outlet such as Amazon does not come with a digital copy.
3. Doujinshi
Since this often gets confused I'll briefly explain this term. Doujinshi are works, often
manga, that are
independently published. Therefore there isn't a label like Wanimagazine or Core Magazine on the doujin. Doujins are manga that are almost exclusively released in very limited prints at conventions. Doujins are most often sold for the purpose of generating supplemental income for artists. FAKKU works with artists to bring them to the Western market after the fact. I believe they get a direct cut from every sale. So selling them separate from the subscription is akin to the practice in Japan. They make additional income for artists. Doujinshi purchases do allow digital downloads. Some doujinshi are sold in print, mainly at Anime Expo as a special for AX attendees. Remaining copies are very limited and are sold on the web store.
With that said, FAKKU does add doujinshi to the subscription library. After about three weeks past release, subscribers are permitted to read (most) doujinshi
that was published by FAKKU. Do note that there are two other publishers sharing the FAKKU store, namely
ENSHODO and
2D Market. These companies aren't related to FAKKU otherwise and their content will not be available as part of the subscription.
So the front page features
all of this content as you already know. That is for good reason. It allows everyone to get fair exposure to FAKKU's audience. With that said, if you are 100% sure you do not want to see any other products while browsing manga, then you can take advantage of the
Subscription tag. This tag exclusively shows subscription content, as its name implies.