Deleter Neopiko Line 3 Drawing Pen Review

Deleter is known as one of the premier Japanese manga supply brands, releasing various sets of pens, markers, and paper for those interested in manga artwork, and comic art in general. I’ve used their products in the past, and Brian Draghi reviewed the Neopiko Line 2 for The Pen Addict when it was imported by JetPens in 2012.

The Line 2 is a good pen, but not a great one when compared to its peers in the drawing pen market. I found the tip to be a little soft and the price a bit high compared to pens like the Sakura Pigma Micron but it was something different, was kind of cool, and worth having one laying around for a switch up from time to time.

Because of that, I was happy to grab the Deleter Neopiko Line 3 when it landed at JetPens and try it out. The barrel looked nice and the price was even less than the previous model, but I discovered something strange when I uncapped it the first time. This pen is a Deleter in paint job only. The pen itself is the Kuretake Zig Cartoonist Mangaka Outline Pen, also known as my number 1 plastic tip pen.

White label production is not a new thing. Many companies across many industries use this type of manufacturing for various reasons, primarily to increase the bottom line. There is no issue with this, and it is actually a benefit to the consumer in many cases, allowing them to buy a similar quality product for less than the original marketed and advertised product. Unfortunately for Deleter, that’s not what happened here.

(Note: I'm making an assumption that Kuretake is the one making the pen for Deleter. Could it be the other way around? Yes, but I think that is very unlikely.)

I didn’t catch it from the exterior design at first, but the second I opened the pen and before I even wrote with it I said wait a minute, this looks familiar. I grabbed the Kuretake Zig from my desk, uncapped it, and set it next to the Line 3 and I was right. It is the exact same pen. Literally.

That’s good I thought, because the Kuretake is a great pen. My next thought was to compare the price. The Deleter should be cheaper, or at least the same price, right? Nope. It’s 50% more from JetPens than the Kuretake, and comes in fewer options. Bummer.

If you are a Deleter fan and swear by their products this shouldn’t sway you from paying more for the same pen. I pay more for Copics because I like them and their style even though they are overpriced compared to the competition. But just know what you are getting with Deleter. If you want an awesome drawing pen, save over a dollar per unit, and have more choice, then buy the Kuretake Zig Cartoonist and don’t look back.

(JetPens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

Deleter Neopiko Line 2 0.3 mm Review

Any time a new drawing pen hits the market I get an itchy trigger finger. I ordered the Deleter Neopiko Line 2 when it first came in stock at JetPens, reviewed it shortly thereafter, then completely forgot to post the review in a timely fashion. It was only when I saw Alex’s review at Economy Pens that I remembered I needed to post this.

My main concern with this pen is the softness and flexibility of the tip. I’m not sure if this is a design feature as opposed to a personal annoyance, but the tip is very different from the standard bearing Sakura Pigma Micron. The Micron sports a firm, rounded tip while the Deleter has almost a mini-brush pen type of feel. It is not quite that extreme but it doesn’t lend itself to writing, which is my primary use for this type of pen.

If you are using the Deleter Neopiko for its intended purpose - manga art - then the value question may not come into play. For me, since I use it for writing, value is an issue. It is much more costly in comparison to the aforementioned Micron, the Uni Pin, and a few other quality pigment liners. Be sure you know what you are getting into when checking out the Line 2.

For a third take on the Deleter Neopiko check out Brian’s guest post in April. There seems to be a recurring theme.

Deleter Neopiko Line 2 0.3 mm Review

(This is a guest post by Brian Draghi. You can follow Brian on Twitter @Sketchscape)

The Deleter Neopiko Line 2 line quality is similar to the Sakura Pigma Micron felt tip drawing pen with its strong, clean, dark lines. It’s easy to compare these two pens together since they are so similar but there are a few small differences that set them apart. Felt tip pens are one of my favorites because they serve a dual function where I can use them both for sketching and writing. The ink is waterproof, archival and dries instantly making them perfect for left handed users. The Neopiko even works great on thiner paper types because it shows little to no bleed through on the page.

One great feature of the Neopiko is how securely the cap posts on the pen. The cap contains about a quarter of an inch of extruded plastic that extends on the end of the cap that snaps perfectly into the ring shaped groove on the bottom of the pen. The cap will stay locked in place even if you drop it and will stay put until you decide to remove it. The Neopiko is sightly smaller in length when posted compared to similar pens and has a nice balance and weight to it.

While there are many positive aspects about the Neopiko, there are also a few major drawbacks that create some problems. Compared to most of the other felt tip pens on the market this seems to have a smaller, more delicate tip that may give trouble to some of the heavy handed users out there. There is even a warning on the pen to avoid pressing the tip too hard. The Deleter Neopiko is also the most expensive of the felt tip bunch at nearly 5 dollars a pen. The problem with this is the ink for the Neopiko does not last long enough to warrant such a price.

This is a deal breaker for me considering that you can purchase a Micron pen for nearly half the price of a Neopiko with the same level of quality. Despite the drawbacks, this still is a great quality felt tip pen to use, just not something practical I would grab on a regular basis.