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In manga cover pages for the tankoubon version, I find it funny that the cover
page always/often is not related to the content of the book. Usually there is
a big event of sorts that are drawn on the cover, but nothing in the book
tells the reader about that event or even describes it.

In some series, like One Piece, Maruto, Magi, Toriko, etc., the cover of the
manga would be present in the current chapter or at least be about the events
of the current arc or plot line. But in other series, like Hayate, Zettai
Karen Children, Kurosagi, the pattern of irrelevance is consistent, with most
of the cover art showing events that never happen in series.

Is there a some sort of marketing reason for this trend?


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2017-09-15T13:57:55.347
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manga-production
Why are manga cover pages not relevant with the current arc?


> Is there some sort of marketing reason for this trend?

This answer is based on general book publication, not to manga book (
_tankobon_ ) specifically, but I believe this also applies to tankobon.

The main purpose of a cover art is **to promote the product**.

> The art has a primarily commercial function, i.e., _to promote the product
> it is displayed on_ , but can also have an aesthetic function, and may be
> artistically connected to the product, such as with art by the creator of
> the product. - [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cover_art)
>
> (Emphasis mine)

[Seth Godin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_Godin) wrote [a blog
article](http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/07/the-purpose-of-a-
book-cover.html) about this, focusing on the physical form,

> Is the purpose of the cover to sell books, to accurately describe what's in
> the book, or to tee up the reader so the book has maximum impact?
>
> The third.
>
> It's the third because if the book has maximum impact, then word of mouth is
> created, and word of mouth is what sells your product, not the cover.
>
> Tactically, the cover sells the back cover, the back cover sells the flap
> and by then you've sold the book. [...]

On the other hand, this is what [Guido
Henkel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guido_Henkel) thought on [his
blog](http://guidohenkel.com/2015/09/what-is-the-real-purpose-of-a-book-
cover/), focusing more on the digital form,

> So, let me ask you this question… **what is the purpose of the cover?**
>
> The purpose of a book cover _is not to perfectly illustrate the story down
> to the smallest detail or to showcase every aspect and facet of the plot_.
> [...]
>
> The sole purpose of a book cover is _to help sell the book_. A book cover is
> a selling tool! Nothing more, nothing less. It serves the purpose to attract
> eyeballs and then get those people intrigued enough to click on the cover
> thumbnail and learn more about the book, which, hopefully, will then result
> in a sale. If visitors on Amazon do not notice a book cover because it is
> easily overlooked and disappears among other covers, it serves absolutely no
> purpose and is actually detrimental to the author because uncounted
> potential sales are lost right there.
>
> [...]
>
> You always have to keep in mind that for the most part you are trying _to
> sell books to people who are not familiar with you and who do not know the
> book or the story—at all_. It is the cover that will hopefully draw them to
> it. It is the cover that will hopefully connect with them and intrigue them
> enough to find out more. [...]

While both had a contradicting view, _neither mentioned that the purpose of a
book cover is to illustrate the content of the book_.

* * *

> _One Piece_ cover page was always/often not related to the content of the
> book (well just some of it) _in the past_. But now, the cover's always
> related to the current chapter. Why did they change that?

I haven't researched about cover art on serial books, but I have a hunch that
on later volumes, the more important thing is to retain current readers. By
this time, current readers already have an idea about the story. That's why by
using the story plot as the cover, the author can draw more attention to the
current readers, while hopefully still attracting new reader's curiosity (to
buy earlier volumes).

Again, Guido Henkel mentioned this on his blog,

> Only then will you be able to tap into new readers. Readers who are
> essential for growing your customer base not only for this book, _but also
> for your next_.
>
> (Emphasis mine)

* * *

Anecdotally, unless I've already heard/known about the work (in which, I don't
care about the cover at all and just buy the tankobon), I only look at the
cover art (and the title, if browsing online), and if it's interesting enough,
then I'd read the detail (online)/synopsis (back cover)/if possible, read some
of the early chapters. By this time, I won't care if the cover art is related
to the story/content or not, nor do I expect it.


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