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Archive for July, 2009

PR: Official Launch of the SIGIKKI.com website

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, July 15, 2009

VIZ MEDIA PARTNERS WITH

JAPAN’S IKKI MAGAZINE TO LAUNCH SIGIKKI.COM, AN ONLINE MANGA WEBSITE

TO PRESENT A DIVERSE COLLECTION OF TITLES ACCLAIMED FOR CREATIVE QUALITY

Innovative Online Destination Pushes Boundaries Of Manga With New Content Available Each Month For Free

San Francisco, CA, JULY 15, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the full launch of its new SIGIKKI website, which represents a bold new partnership between the company’s VIZ SIGNATURE imprint and IKKI, a monthly magazine published in Japan since 2003 that has established itself as the home of some of the most innovative, bold, and compelling titles in the world of contemporary manga.

Located at www.sigikki.com, this groundbreaking online manga destination will present a broad range of seinen manga to audiences in North America. From action to comedy to drama, slice-of-life stories to surrealist fantasies, the uniting themes these works share are an uncommon emphasis on creative quality and on pushing the boundaries of the manga norm.

Categories: Press Releases, Viz Media |

PR: VIZ Media Welcomes ULTIMO creators to Comic-Con 2009

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, July 14, 2009

VIZ MEDIA WELCOMES ULTIMO CREATORS

STAN LEE AND HIROYUKI TAKEI FOR RARE PERSONAL APPEARANCES AT

2009 COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL

Legendary Manga And Comic Book Creators To Participate In SHONEN JUMP Panel Discussion

And A Special In-Booth Signing Session

San Francisco, CA, JULY 14, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, is proud to welcome comic book and manga legends Stan Lee and Hiroyuki Takei for a very special series of appearances at the 2009 Comic-Con International, taking place July 23-26 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.

The pair will appear at the nation’s largest comic book and science fiction convention to celebrate their historic creative collaboration for the ULTIMO manga series (KARAKURIDÔJI ULTIMO), which debuted in the July 2009 issue of VIZ Media’s SHONEN JUMP magazine.

Categories: Press Releases, Viz Media |

Review: Cirque du Freak (Vol. 01)

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Author: Darren Shaw
Manga-ka: Takahiro Arai
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: June 2009

Synopsis: “The world of internationally acclaimed author Darren Shan’s Cirque Du Freak brought to life as you’ve never seen it before! Darren Shan was an average kid until destiny brought him to the Cirque Du Freak. Now Darren’s been immersed into a shadowy world inhabited by vampires, werewolves, and strange creatures the likes of which he’s never imagined, and his life will be changed forever!”

While I make a habit not to judge a book by its cover, it’s still more often than not a deciding factor in the order of my ever-growing stack of books to read. In the case of Cirque Du Freak, the less than inspiring cover left me placing it on the lower end of my book pile, doomed to the obscurity of someday and the maybes of tomorrow. It proved a mistake of mine however, as having finally read this opening instalment, I was greeted not with mediocrity but instead with one of the most compelling first volumes I have read in ages.

Categories: Manga, Reviews, Yen Press |

PR: Read your favorite DMP & June’ titles on the Kindle and iPhone!

By Lissa Pattillo on Monday, July 13, 2009

Gardena, CA (July 13, 2009)- Digital Manga Publishing, one of the manga publishing industry’s most innovative and unique companies, is product to announce the availability of select DMP and June’ titles for both the Amazon Kindle and iPhone! Now you can read DMP and June’ on the go, right from your very own wireless device! Digital Manga Publishing is excited to showcase some great titles available now! And if you don’t have a Kindle, you can purchase one at www.amazon.com. If you have an iPhone, you can read many of DMP’s offerings there as well. On the iPhone, you can download DMP titles through the Kindle application: visit the Amazon Kindle store at www.amazon.com, or download the free Kindle App through iTunes. For a more detailed list, including all available and new Digital Manga titles, visit www.dmpbooks.com and www.junemanga.com, or visit the Kindle store, and do a keyword search for “manga”. You can even download samples and test all the titles before purchase!
Read more…

Categories: Digital Manga, Press Releases |

Review: Legend of Zelda – Oracle of Ages

By Lissa Pattillo on Monday, July 13, 2009

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manga-ka: Akira Himekawa
Publisher: VizKids
Rating: All Ages
Release Date: June 2009

Synopsis: “One day, Impa, Princess Zelda’s attendant asks Link to accompany her into the forest to find Nayru, the Oracle of Ages. But Veran, the evil sorceress of shadows, has possessed Impa in order to deceive Link. Veran then possesses Nayru and travels back to the past to kill one of Link’s ancestors so that Link will never be born! Link once again battles across time to save Hyrule – and himself!”

While previous Zelda volumes have proved great side-enjoyments along with the original games they were based on, I actually liked this rendition of the story quite a bit more than the game. The added characterization of Link, and personality given to each character, really adds a new level of entertainment.

Categories: Manga, Reviews, Viz Media |

Review: Vampire Hunter D (Vol. 03)

By Andre Paploo on Monday, July 13, 2009

Reviewer: Andre

Author: Saiko Takaki
Manga-ka: Hideyuki Kikuchi
Publisher: Digital Manga
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: May 2009

Synopsis: “The vampire hunter know only as D is now on a race against time—this time, to hunt down a vampire lord who’s kidnapped a daughter of a wealthy village elder. D must also contend with a notorious band of bounty hunters also hired to track down the abductor, and hell-bent on eliminating anyone or anything in their way of their bounty. D is faced with obstacles every corner he turns…can he reach the damsel in distress before she becomes one of the undead?”

Many old-school anime fans have had numerous exposures to Hideyuki Kikuchi, whose works have often been adapted into anime and manga, from Darkside Blues to Demon City Shinjuku. Curiously, one of his most well known works only received a manga adaptation recently, with this work created in part for the domestic market from Digital Manga.

Categories: Digital Manga, Manga, Reviews |

Yen Press Licenses Kuroshitsuji, Offers 6-Month Yen Plus Subs

By Lissa Pattillo on Sunday, July 12, 2009

Black Butler - Licensed By Yen Press

Early in the week Yen Press posted about their upcoming August 2009 issue of the monthly Yen Plus anthology. Debuting in the magazine is a new licensed series that they had yet to announce.

A reader over on the Mania forums says that they’ve seen a copy of the August issue and the new license is Kuroshitsuji by Yana Toboso. It will be released under the name Black Butler in English. While this has yet to be officially confirmed, it seems a safe bet for a series that not only has a strong preexisting fanbase but is also a Square Enix-owned manga series, by whom Yen Press has multiple series from already.

In their magazine post, Yen Press has also made note that from now on subscriptions to Yen Plus will be for six-months at a time instead of a full year.

“…from here on out, new subscriptions to Yen Plus will be for six months at a time rather than for the full year. The cost will be the same ($25.99 for six months), but you won’t have to shell out for that full year’s subscription all at once. So hopefully that makes things a bit more affordable and convenient for you all!”

Yen Press is also nearing its one year anniversary since the first volume was released in August 2008. Congrats to Yen Press for a successful year! The artist of their series Maximum Ride, NaRae Lee, will be attending the upcoming San Diego Comic Con as well.

Categories: Licensing, Manga, Yen Press |

Review: Pure Heart (Vol. 01)

By Shannon Fay on Sunday, July 12, 2009

Reviewer: Shannon Fay

Manga-ka: Hyouta Fujiyama
Publisher: June
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: February 2009

Synopsis: “Tozaki is a freelance writer who, through a coincidental assignment, is reunited with his first high school crush, Kurata. Certain that the once-popular athlete doesn’t remember him, Tozaki confesses his past feelings after a night of drinking together – but Kurata does remember. Curious enough to agree to a one-night stand, will Kurata develop the romantic feelings Tozaki always hoped for? Or is the relationship that follows between them merely Kurata’s way of humiliating his bookish, former schoolmate?”

If there’s one thing I like best about Pure Heart volume one, it’s that the characters are adults. Maybe it’s because I’ve been on a bender of high-school romances lately, but there’s just something refreshing about characters that have to worry about their career as well as their romantic entanglements.

Categories: June, Manga, Reviews, Yaoi/Boys' Love |

These Are Some of My Favourite Things… And Yours?

By Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, July 11, 2009

These Are Some of My Favorite Things

I recently moved and this meant getting the chance to go through all my piles of accumulated swag from years of fandom, convention attending and learning the wonders of credit card + internet (a dangerous combination at times!). Best part of this necessary clean-out evil is rediscovering some of my favorite things, the selective cream of the crop, so to speak, of my personal collection.

It got me curious, what’re other people’s favorite things? What do you display most proudly or feel the most giddy about when it crosses your mind? What’re your absolute best finds, purchases or discoveries in your collection? Or the goodies that have the most nostalgic value? I invite gloat-age and love on this pleasant summer Saturday!

To inspire, here’re some of my own under the cut. While like any other I could gush about how I love being surrounded by all my favorite stuff, in my manga collection there’re still a couple gems that stick out:

Categories: Misc |

Review: Guin Saga – The Seven Magi (Vol. 01)

By Lissa Pattillo on Friday, July 10, 2009

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Author: Kaoru Kurimoto
Manga-ka: Kazuaki Yanagisawa
Publisher: Vertical
Rating: Mature (18+)
Release Date: December 2007

Synopsis: “After awaking in a forest with a leopard mask fixed to his head and no memory of his past, the peerless warrior survives the treacherous wilds of Nospherus and the mean intrigues of the Middle Country. Now, as King of Cheironia, he must contend with dark forces that dare to prey on his realm.”

More than once I was confused by this story, which is so rigid in its linearity that at times I was left wondering if the book even wanted me to finish reading it. Can a book be considered stubborn when it seems to have resigned itself to mediocrity?

Categories: Manga, Reviews, Vertical |

PR: Go!Comi Announces Japan Ai iPhone App

By Lissa Pattillo on Friday, July 10, 2009

GO! COMI AND ZEITGEIST GAMES ANNOUNCE
“JAPAN AI – THE IPHONE APP”
9 July 2009, LOS ANGELES

Innovative manga publisher Go! Comi and cutting-edge game designer Zeitgeist Games today announced the release of the iPhone version of Aimee Major Steinberger’s smash-hit manga journal “Japan Ai – A Tall Girl’s Adventure in Japan” – named one of the Young Adults Librarian Association’s Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens of 2009! It is now available, formatted for the iPhone or iPod Touch, for the introductory price of .99 CENTS!

Categories: GoComi, Press Releases |

Review: Sarasah (Vol. 01)

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, July 9, 2009

Reviewer: Lissa Pattillo

Manhwa-ga: Ryu Ryang
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: July 2009

Synopsis: “High schooler Ji-Hae is desperately in love with her classmate Seung-Hyu. She has done all she can think of to win his affection, but to no avail. When her latest scheme crosses the line, Seung-Hyu decides he’s had enough… and inadvertently pushes her down a staircase! Ji-Hae awakens in the world beyond, only to learn that it’s not her time to die. But why go back when the love of her life hates her to death? Touched by her passion, the keepers send Ji-Hae to her past life to mend the rift between her former self and Seung-Hyu. But can Ji-Hae keep up the act long enough to find Seung-Hyu and set things right?”

Ever wondered what it was like from the other end of the stalker stare? Ever considered what it was like for the obsessive teenage girl with the one-sided passion for an uninterested party? Well say hello to Ji-Hae, a young girl who is madly in love with fellow student, Seung-Hya. Unfortunately he wants nothing to do with her and has been trying to ignore her in hopes she’ll go away. But refusing to be deterred, Ji-Hae tries yet another ploy to get his attention… only to find herself half way to heaven.

Categories: Manhwa, Reviews, Yen Press |

PR: Viz Media’s Newest Imprint, Shonen Sunday

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, July 9, 2009

VIZ MEDIA’S NEWEST IMPRINT, SHONEN SUNDAY, WILL RELEASE THE FIRST MANGA TO EVER BE PUBLISHED SIMULTANEOUSLY IN JAPAN AND NORTH AMERICA

A New Imprint and Web Site Launch
Rumiko Takahashi’s Newest Series RIN-NE Gets Its First Volume

San Francisco, CA, July 8, 2009– VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the launch of a brand new imprint, SHONEN SUNDAY. Featuring the works of some of the top shonen manga creators in the world today, the Shonen Sunday magazine in Japan provides the content for this imprint. The magazine recently celebrated its 50th anniversary since its first issue arrived on newsstands in March of 1959.

Categories: Press Releases, Viz Media | Tags: Rumiko Takahashi

VIZ Media Announces New Imprint – Shonen Sunday

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, July 9, 2009

Shonen Sunday

To think it feels only like yesterday Viz announced their IKKI online magazine and imprint. Today another press release circulated about Viz’s next endeavour, a second online magazine and imprint: Shonen Sunday.

The claim is that they will be releasing the first manga to ever be published simultaneously in Japan and North America. I certainly look forward to it! Badly resisting the urge to point out another such project that hasn’t really taken off yet… Viz’s array of titles has really branched out and taken off recentlyand I can’t wait to see what other titles this new collection will have to offer.

The imprint’s website, Shonen Sunday, currently has only a placeholder but it shows several series that are likely to be the initial licenses for Viz’s new line of books. The full site will go live on July 22nd. Viz Media has also let fans know that they’ll be announcing several of these titles at the upcoming San Diego Comic Con.

Rin-ne, the new supernatural series from Rumiko Takahashi, will be the first graphic novel released under the new imprint name. The series is still uploaded for free reading by Viz on a weekly basis, as a simultaneous release with Japan, over at The Rumic World website.

The full press release is available to be read here.

Categories: Manga, Viz Media | Tags: Rumiko Takahashi

Review: Over The Rainbow

By Andre Paploo on Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Reviewer: Andre

Manga-ka: Keiko Honda
Publisher: Central Park Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: January 2005

Synopsis: “A modern masterpiece of romantic storytelling! Arou and Keita are two clueless lawyers whose law office serves all manner of zany characters with way-out problems. Things get even crazier when they meet Key, a young woman with amnesia. Can the good-hearted heroes help Key retrieve her lost memories… and does she want them to?”

Central Park Media was an early shojo pioneer, releasing some charming works by bilingual manga-ka Tomoko Taniguchi. Towards the end of their manga output, they released two one-shot graphic novels by Keiko Honda in an attempt to build another stable of works around an obscure but charming artist. Thinking the first of these, Over the Rainbow, might be similar to Taniguchi’s output, I picked up this collection, hoping to find something similarly sweet and simple.

Categories: Manga, Reviews |

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