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News, reviews and features with a focus on manga, self-published works and a Canadian perspective. Enjoy fulfilling your Kuriousity!

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Posts Tagged Shonen Sunday

Otaku USA: On The Shelf – March 13, 2013

Otaku USA: On The Shelf - March 13, 2013

A new Wednesday and a new batch of comics! My knowledge of what day of the week it is often comes from when new books come out, so I’ve really been throwing myself for a loop lately with these late On The Shelf posts. Eep! Not this week though – Wednesday posting, on time!

Without further ado, you can read my thoughts on this week’s new books over at my On The Shelf article for Otaku USA.

07 Ghost (Vol.03) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
21st Century Boys (Vol.02) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Arata the Legend (Vol.13) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Blade of the Immortal (Vol.26): Blizzard [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Fullmetal Alchemist 3-in-1 (Vol.04) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
His Favorite (Vol.03) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Neon Genesis Evangelion 3-in-1 (Vol.02) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Paradise Kiss (Vol.03) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Rin-Ne (Vol.11) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Tokyo Babylon (Vol.01) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]


Viz Media Brings The Romance and Magic With Five New Licenses

Viz Media Brings The Romance and Magic With Five New Licenses

Leave it to the manga publishers to shower us with gifts during a period of time I’m having issues updating the website. What a world, right? Upside to recent site issues here at Kuriousity is that it should be working smoother and loading quicker now than before!

The inner workings of Kuriousity is not what drew you to this post though, that would be the five new manga licenses that Viz Media announced late last week:

Happy Marriage?! – Maki Enjouji
August 2013 ($9.99/US, $12.99/CAN), 18+

Magi – Shinobu Ohtaka
August 2013 ($9.99/US, $12.99/CAN)

Midnight Secretary – Tomu Ohmi Tomu
September 2013 ($9.99/US, $12.99/CAN), 18+

Sweet Rein – Sakura Tsukuba
November 2013 ($9.99/US, $12.99/CAN)

Voice Over – Maki Minami
October 2013 ($9.99/US, $12.99/CAN)

All of the titles are being published under Viz’s Shoujo Beat imprint, with the exception of Magi which will be an addition to their long-dormant, Shonen Sunday. I love how the release dates aren’t very far off either, so not too long to wait for what sound like some well worth waiting for titles!

Read more…


PR: Viz Media Announces New Manga Acquisitions for Shojo Beat & Shonen Sunday Imprints

VIZ MEDIA PREPARES NORTH AMERICAN FANS FOR HOT NEW MANGA RELEASES FROM SHOJO BEAT AND SHONEN SUNDAY IMPRINTS

New Acquisitions Set To Debut Beginning This Summer Include MIDNIGHT SECRETARY and MAGI

San Francisco, CA, February 14, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, has just announced details on several new forthcoming manga series acquisitions scheduled to launch beginning this summer and continuing into the fall.

Four of the brand new manga titles that will be published under VIZ Media’s Shojo Beat imprint are HAPPY MARRIAGE?! by creator Maki Enjoji, MIDNIGHT SECRETARY by creator/artist Tomu Ohmi, SWEET REIN from creator Sakura Tsukuba, and VOICE OVER!: SEIYUU ACADEMY by creator/artist Maki Minami. Under the Shonen Sunday imprint, VIZ will publish the popular new series MAGI, by creator Shinobu Ohtaka.

“Summer and fall are shaping up to be exciting seasons for manga fans as we preview several notable acquisitions for our Shojo Beat and Shonen Sunday imprints,” says Leyla Aker, VIZ Media Vice President of Editorial. “From the odd-couple romances of HAPPY MARRIAGE?! and MIDNIGHT SECRETARY, to the anime industry-inspired comedy of VOICE OVER!: SEIYUU ACADEMY, and the supernatural drama of SWEET REIN, there will be a variety of intriguing new stories in store for our readers. And if exotic adventure is more your speed, you definitely won’t want to miss the North American debut of MAGI, the manga series that’s the basis for the popular anime.”

Read more…


PR: Viz Media Launches Manga App for iPhone and iPod Touch

VIZ MEDIA LAUNCHES VIZ MANGA APP FOR THE iPHONE AND iPOD TOUCH

Special Promotion Makes Select Volume 1 Titles Available For 40% Off

San Francisco, CA, May 2, 2011 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, continues the digital integration of its vast library of manga (graphic novel) properties with the latest announcement of the availability of the VIZ MANGA APP for the Apple iPhone™ and iPod Touch™ mobile devices. The expansion will be compatible with the VIZ MANGA APP on the iPad, and adds cross-platform features.

To support the launch, the publisher has also kicked off a special 7-day digital promotion that offers select Volume 1 titles for only $2.99 – 40% off the regular price! This is for a limited time only and runs until midnight PST May 9th.

Manga titles for the iPhone and iPod Touch are available via the VIZ MANGA APP, which is free through the iTunes Store. Volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada for only $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) each. Twenty-eight series and almost 200 volumes are available now, including popular series such as BLEACH, BLUE EXORCIST, DEATH NOTE, NARUTO and ONE PIECE and dozens more from VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump, Shojo Beat, Shonen Sunday, and VIZ Signature imprints. Readers should check the app regularly, as new additions (including HOUSE OF FIVE LEAVES and not simple released today) and free Chapter 1 previews of forthcoming manga series are also featured.

Read more…


PR: Sample The Latest Cross Game Manga and Anime Releases

SAMPLE THE LATEST CROSS GAME MANGA AND ANIME RELEASES, NEW FROM VIZ MEDIA

VIZ Media has just announced new additions to its critically acclaimed CROSS GAME property. On the manga (graphic novel) side, CROSS GAME Volume 2 (bundling Vols. 4 and 5 of the original series as released in Japan) will be published under the Shonen Sunday imprint. The latest volume releases on January 11th, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN. On the anime side, to celebrate the CROSS GAME Vol. 2 manga release, two new episodes (episodes 39 and 40) will be available to stream – for free – beginning the week of January 10th on VIZAnime.com, the company’s premiere website for anime content.

CROSS GAME is a moving drama that is heartfelt and true, yet in the brilliant hands of creator Mitsuru Adachi, the story delightfully flows with a light and amusing touch. The series centers around a boy named Ko, the family of four sisters who live down the street, and the game of baseball. This poignant coming-of-age story will change readers’ perception of what shonen manga, can be.

Read more…


PR: New Manga for the New Year! INUYASHA Final Vol on Jan 11th!

FATES ARE SEALED IN A FINAL SHOWDOWN AS EPIC MANGA ADVENTURE INUYASHA CONCLUDES

VIZ Media has announced the release of the final installment of Rumiko Takahashi’s longtime bestselling manga (graphic novel) series, INUYASHA, on January 11th. Fans won’t want to miss even a single page of the action in Volume 56, Curtain of Time, which is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and carries an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. INUYASHA is published under VIZ Media’s Shonen Sunday imprint.

Kagome, a modern-day high school girl, is pulled into Japan’s ancient past! There, her destiny is linked to a dog-eared half demon named Inuyasha. Together, they battle evil demons who seek to acquire the shards of the legendary Shikon Jewel and wield its incredible power. But can Kagome and Inuyasha stop feuding with each other long enough to save the feudal or modern world–let alone both?

In the climactic showdown, the demon Naraku’s true intentions are finally revealed! Then, Kagome is swallowed up by the Meido. Is she finally beyond her friends’ reach? And will the final battle over the Shikon Jewel draw Inuyasha and Kagome together…or pull them apart forever?! Find out in the exciting concluding volume!

The spotlight on manga creator Rumiko Takahashi began in 1978 when she won an honorable mention in Shogakukan’s annual New Comic Artist Contest for Those Selfish Aliens. Later that same year, her boy-meets-alien comedy series, Urusei Yatsura, was serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday. This phenomenally successful manga series was adapted into anime format and spawned a TV series and half a dozen theatrical-release movies, all incredibly popular in their own right. Takahashi followed up the success of her debut series with one blockbuster hit after another – MAISON IKKOKU ran from 1980 to 1987, RANMA ½ from 1987 to 1996, and INUYASHA from 1996 to 2008. Other notable works include MERMAID SAGA, RUMIC THEATRE, and ONE-POUND GOSPEL. These, as well as her newest manga series, RIN-NE, are also published in North America by VIZ Media.

Also catch INUYASHA anime episodes – for free – on VIZAnime.com.

More information on INUYASHA, or other Shonen Sunday titles from VIZ Media, is available at www.ShonenSunday.com.


Square Enix’s Manga Store – Digital Manga Not Quite There Yet

This past week Square Enix officially opened it’s online manga store. You can check out their press release for all the nitty-gritty details and of course visit their website yourself to have a surf around. In short, the company is offering volumes of the manga they hold the rights to through their site for a set price. The volumes, once purchased, are available to be read via a browser based reader on their site, a very similar set-up to Digital Manga’s eManga website.

Square Enix’s site has been in the works for a while and it offers up unique possibilities for North American manga readers with its selection of manga from different publishers, currently Viz Media and Yen Press. Unfortunately it’s launch has left some readers cold and I can’t help but look at it as an embodiment of many elements I think are what have been holding digital manga back. This isn’t meant to be anything against Square Enix specifically but browsing through their site got my brain going on the concept itself. It’s got some good things going for it but has some big scare-away first impressions for consumers.

For many in the same boat as I, the “can only be purchased by U.S. residents” is the big kicker and end-all right there but I’ll go forward looking at this as a more broad look at digital manga. WhileI share my thoughts under the cut, I’m interested in knowing what our readers here think of digital manga – yay or nay, why and how? What are you looking for in the format, price and content of digital manga?

Read more…


PR: Viz Media Ponders Integrity and Honesty In Itsuwaribito

HONESTY MAY NOT ALWAYS BE THE BEST POLICY FOR A REFORMED TROUBLEMAKER IN MANGA SERIES ITSUWARIBITO, NEW FROM VIZ MEDIA

A Delinquent Orphan Raised By A Monk Decides To Tell Only “Good” Lies To Help People

San Francisco, CA, December 8, 2010 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will release creator Yuuki Iinuma’s manga (graphic novel) series ITSUWARIBITO on December 14th. The new series will be published under the company’s Shonen Sunday imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and will carry and MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

Utsuho’s truthfulness as a child resulted in an enormous catastrophe, and he decided to lie from that day forward. Raised in a village of orphans by a monk, Utsuho is an unrepentant troublemaker. The monk eventually inspires him to help people, but there’s no way Utsuho’s going to lead an honest life! Instead, he’s going to use his talents for mischief and deception for good!

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Review: Kurozakuro (Vol.01)

Reviewer: Andre
Kurozakuro (Vol. 01)

Manga-ka: Yoshinori Natsume
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: November 2010

Synopsis: “Mikito Sakurai is tired of being a punching bag for all the delinquents on campus, but what can he do? By nature he’s a gentle and easygoing high school student. That all changes the night he swallows a mysterious orb and meets Zakuro, a strange kid who promises to grant his most heartfelt desire. “When you wake up,” says the pint-sized apparition, “you’ll be stronger and better than a human.” Ad that’s exactly what happens – Mikito wakes up with super strength. But there’s a catch: he may look the same on the outside, but deep inside lurks a monster that craves ultraviolence and the taste of human flesh. “I used to hate the sight of blood,” says Mikito to himself, “but now it looks so beautiful to me…”

In Yoshinori Natsume’s previous series Togari, he explored the story of a former killer who rediscovers what it’s like to be a normal teen when the forces of Hell return him to life to combat demons. Kurozakuro shares some similarities in being a fairly dark shonen manga work, yet it changes the status quo by having Mikito be a normal human suddenly thrust into the life of a demon, with a constant hunger for violence.

Read more…


PR: Everyone Has A Little Monster Inside in KUROZAKURO!

A BULLIED HIGH SCHOOL KID IS IN FOR A WILD ADVENTURE IN NEW MANGA SERIES KUROZAKURO

Be Careful Who You Bully Because They Might Be An Ogre!

San Francisco, CA, November 9, 2010 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will release award-winning artist Yoshinori Natsume’s manga (graphic novel) series KUROZAKURO on November 9th. The new series, to be offered under the Shonen Sunday imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

Mikito Sakurai is tired of being a punching bag for all the delinquents on campus. But what can he do? By nature he’s a gentle and easygoing high school student. That all changes the night he swallows a mysterious orb and meets Zakuro, a strange kid who promises to grant his most heartfelt desire. “When you wake up,” says the pint-sized apparition, “you’ll be stronger and better than a human.”

Read more…


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