VIZ Media Anime and Manga News Round Up

Sorry about the delay everyone, but I have some news delivered from VIZ Media which I was unable to give to everyone simply because I was so hard at work on other things.  I am going to do my best, regardless of how much work I have, to give you news faster (Basically, on the date that I receive the news).

Within this article you are going to find the following things: K as first ever DVD/Blu-Ray Combo Pack, Digital updates for the second half of February, VIZ announces U.S./Japan premiere of new manga series “Stealth Symphony” in Shonen Jump, VIZ partnering with Right Stuf to forge partnership to offer Weekly Shonen Jump memberships, and more!  If you are interested in what VIZ Media has to offer, I suggest you check out the full article.

The wait is finally over as VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, prepares to release the anime action thriller – K – as a special Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo pack and also as a standard DVD edition on February 25th, 2014. 

The 13-episode series is rated ‘TV-14’ and will debut as a 4-Disc Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo pack with an MSRP of $69.99 US/CAN. The standard edition 2-disc DVD edition will be offered at an MSRP of $44.82 US/CAN. An extensive collection of bonus material also makes this release a must-see for anime fans.

K introduces viewers to Shiro, an easygoing teenager content with just being a student – until his seemingly perfect life is suddenly halted when a bloodthirsty clan, glowing red with fire, attempts to kill him in the streets. Unbeknownst to Shiro, he is suspected of murdering a member of their clan and will need a miracle to escape their vengeance. Miraculously, a young man named Kuroh Yatogami swings in and aids Shiro in his getaway, only to reveal afterward he’s also after Shiro’s life. Now a hunted man, Shiro will have to evade the clans of seven powerful kings and desperately try to prove his innocence – before it’s too late!

The K Blu-ray/DVD combo pack comes packaged in a luxurious collectible specialty print chipboard box containing a full-color 80 page premium art booklet containing individual episode synopses, character profiles, poster art, translated song lyrics. Additional Limited Edition combo pack extras include: VIZ Presents an Interview with KANAME☆, an insightful segment with one of Japan’s most popular professional cosplayers during his first-ever U.S. guest appearance to celebrate the debut of K at Anime Expo in Los Angeles in 2013; a KANAME☆ as Fushimi Photo Gallery; special K Day Events and convention highlights from Anime Expo including the VIZ Media K panel with cast, staff and special guests; exclusive English cast and crew interviews; the series’ original Japanese and English trailers; and clean opening and ending segments (with English translated and subtitled options), next episode previews and more. A special bonus gift of exclusive full-color K stickers is also available with purchase from select anime retailers including Robert’s Anime Corner and the Right Stuf. 

  Digital Manga Updates for the Second Half of February  

VIZ MEDIA DEBUTS ONE-PUNCH MAN IN NEW DIGITAL MANGA UPDATE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF FEBRUARY

New Series Available Exclusively From VIZManga.com And Other Digital Platforms

Fire up the computer and charge those tablets and other devices as VIZ Media continues the winter reading fun with a new round of digital manga (graphic novel) titles set to debut during the second-half of February. Among the noteworthy new additions will be the “Digital Exclusive” debut of ONE-PUNCH MAN on February 18th.

Updates to 18 other popular VIZ Media series are also scheduled for February 18th and 25th, and will include new installments for BOKURANO: OURS, BABY & ME, KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC, FIREFIGHTER! DAIGO OF COMPANY M, the finale of the supernatural adventure MUHYO & ROJI’S BUREAU OF SUPERNATURAL INVESTIGATION, the second volume in Osamu Tezuka’s award-winning manga masterpiece, PHOENIX, plus many more. ONE-PUNCH MAN will be available across all platforms and devices.

Readers will not want to miss these new releases available on VIZManga.com and the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones and 7” tablets, as well as on the Nook, Kindle, Kobo, iBooks and GooglePlay stores. Across these dynamic platforms, fans can explore and enjoy a dynamic range of exclusive new and classic manga series that spans more than 2,100 volumes across 175 different series.

ONE-PUNCH MAN, Vol. 1 • Rated ‘T’ for Teens • MSRP: $6.99 (U.S. / CAN)
Debut Volume Available Across All Platforms!

In this stirring action series from illustrious illustrator Yusuke Murata of EYESHIELD 21 fame and the maniacal mind of up-and-coming mangaka ONE, everything about a young man named Saitama screams “AVERAGE,” from his lifeless expression, to his bald head, to his unimpressive physique. However, this average-looking fellow doesn’t have your average problem… He’s actually a superhero that’s always looking for tough opponents! The problem is, every time he finds a promising candidate he beats the snot out of them in one punch. Can Saitama finally find an evil villain strong enough to challenge him? Follow Saitama through his hilarious romps as he searches for new bad guys to challenge! Individual chapters of ONE-PUNCH MAN are also currently serialized in VIZ Media’s WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP digital manga magazine.

Manga creator ONE began ONE-PUNCH MAN as a web comic, which quickly went viral and garnered over 10 million hits. Japanese manga publisher (and VIZ Media parent company) Shueisha eventually secured the publishing rights to the series. In addition to ONE-PUNCH MAN, ONE writes and draws the series Mob Psycho 100 and Makai no Ossan.

Yusuke Murata is a highly acclaimed and skilled manga artist best-known for his work on the football series, EYESHIELD 21 (also published in North America by VIZ Media). In 1995, Murata won the prestigious 122nd Hop Step Award for his series, Partner, and placed second in 1998 in the semi-annual Akatsuka Awards for Samui Hanashi.

The free VIZ Manga App continues to be a top application for enjoying digital manga and features a massive library of the most popular series in the world. Through the innovative VIZ Manga digital platform registered users are able to use one account to view their purchased manga across more devices than ever. New series and volumes are added every Tuesday. Fans can also find these titles and more for the NOOK, Kindle Fire, and Kobo ereaders, as well as in the iBooks and GooglePlay Stores.

All manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the VIZ Manga application starting from $6.99 (U.S. / CAN) each and readers can also explore all titles with free Chapter 1 previews of every series. For more information, please visit VIZManga.com or www.VIZ.com/apps.

Download the free VIZ Manga App for Android and iOS devices at www.VIZ.com/apps.

To learn more about VIZ Manga, please visit www.vizmanga.com.

  VIZ Media Premieres New Manga Series in Weekly Shonen Jump  

Weekly Shonen Jump Cover for the 2/14/2014 issue

VIZ Media invites fans to begin a sensational fantasy adventure with the launch of the new manga (graphic novel) series – STEALTH SYMPHONY – in today’s issue of its WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP digital manga magazine. Featuring an action-packed story by Ryohgo Narita (writer of Durarara!!) with bold artwork by Yoichi Amano, STEALTH SYMPHONY is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will have a simultaneous release in the English version of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP on the same day as its debut in Japan. New chapters will debut every week.

Jig is a young boy who has an unfortunate curse. He embarks on a journey to the town of Jinbo-cho seeking someone who can help him remove the curse. Little does he know he’s starting the adventure of a lifetime!

VIZ Media offers North American fans single issues of WEEKLY SHONN JUMP for only $0.99 each. Exclusive 1 Year Memberships are available for only $25.99 and include 48 weekly digital issues as well as special premiums such as Yu-Gi-Oh! Collectable Trading Cards, rare one-shot manga releases, digital-only promotions, and access to additional subscriber-only content including creator interviews and insightful promo videos. (*Note: Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are not available to iPad Newsstand or international subscribers) Current subscribers can also access their accounts via VIZManga.com, the VIZ Manga App, or with the Apple iPad Newsstand App.

  VIZ partners with Right Stuf  

  VIZ Media Blue Exorcist Digital Manga Promotion  

Fans of the smash hit paranormal action series can collect volumes 1-10 with a special digital discount available for a limited time only.

VIZ Media announces a special digital manga discount on the hit supernatural action adventure series.BLUE EXORCIST. For a limited time only from February 22nd until March 3rd, fans can check out the inspiration for the anime debuting this weekend on Adult Swim’s Toonami block with $1.00 off the digital MSRP (regularly $6.99) on Volumes 1-10 of the hit series, making all volumes available for only $5.99 (U.S. / CAN) each. The sale price will be available through the VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga app for iOS and Android, and special pricing may be available through the digital partners storefronts for Nook, Kindle, GooglePlay, iBooks and Kobo.

BLUE EXORCIST is rated ‘T+” for Older Teens and is published in North America by VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump imprint; the newest chapters from Japan debut in VIZ Media’s WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP digital anthology.

Raised by Father Fujimoto, a famous exorcist, Rin Okumura never knew his real father. One day a fateful argument with Father Fujimoto forces Rin to face a terrible truth – the blood of the demon lord Satan runs in Rin’s veins! Rin swears to defeat Satan, but doing that means entering the mysterious True Cross Academy and becoming an exorcist himself!

Manga creator, writer and illustrator Kazue Kato is the creator of BLUE EXORCIST and was born in Tokyo on July 20th, 1980. In 2000, at age 19, she won the prestigious Tezuka Award for her work, Boku to Usagi (Rabbit and I), which was published in Akamaru Jump. From 2005 to 2006 her series Robo to Usakichi, a sci-fi adventure also featuring a rabbit, was published in the monthly magazine Shonen Sirius (Kodansha). Her acclaimed action series, BLUE EXORCIST, debuted in Japan in Jump Square magazine in April, 2009 and is published in North America by VIZ Media and also appears in the company’s Weekly Shonen Jump digital magazine. Kazue Kato’s forthcoming new manga series is titled, TIME KILLERS: KAZUE KATO SHORT STORY COLLECTION.

The free VIZ Manga App continues to be the top application for reading digital manga and features a massive library of the most popular series in the world. The platform features a massive library with over 2,000 volumes across more than 175 different series, and new series and volumes added every Tuesday. Through the innovative VIZ Manga digital platform registered users are able to use one account to view their purchased manga across more devices than ever. New series and volumes are added every Tuesday.

All manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the VIZ Manga application starting from $6.99 (U.S. / CAN) each and readers can also explore all titles with free Chapter 1 previews of every series. For more information, please visit VIZManga.com or www.VIZ.com/apps.

Download the free VIZ Manga App for Android and iOS devices at www.VIZ.com/apps.

To learn more about VIZ Manga, please visit www.vizmanga.com.