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Posts Tagged Shoujo Beat

PR: A Dark Vampire Romance Blossoms in the New Shojo Manga Series Black Rose Alice

A DARK VAMPIRE ROMANCE BLOSSOMS IN THE NEW SHOJO MANGA SERIES BLACK ROSE ALICE

In New Series From VIZ Media’s Shojo Beat Imprint, A Celebrated Opera Singer Dies In A Tragic Accident, Returning As A Vampire With A Diabolical Mission To Spawn The Next Generation Of Undead

San Francisco, CA, August 5, 2014 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, notably expands its shojo manga (graphic novel) roster with the launch of the new series BLACK ROSE ALICE from award winning creator Setona Mizushiro.

BLACK ROSE ALICE, Vol. 1 is now available in print from the Shojo Beat imprint and is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens. Volumes each carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. Future installments of this continuing series will be released in English on a bi-monthly basis.

A digital version of BLACK ROSE ALICE, Vol. 1 is also available for $6.99 (USD/CAN) from VIZManga.com and through the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones, as well as through the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks and GooglePlay stores.

In BLACK ROSE ALICE, Dimitri Lewandowski is a celebrated tenor in early 1900s Vienna. When he is killed in an accident, his corpse is colonized by the seeds of a vampire master. At first, Dimitri denies that anything has changed, but as the people around him start dying, he is forced to accept the ghastly truth.

Read more…


PR: Viz Media Gets In the Holiday Spirit with Launch of Sweet Rein

VIZ MEDIA GETS IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW SHOJO MANGA SERIES SWEET REIN

A Girl Takes On The Role Of Santa Claus With A Cute Boy Who Also Happens To Be An Enchanted Reindeer In A New Magical Romance

San Francisco, CA, November 1, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of manga & anime in North America, delivers a nod towards Christmas with the release of SWEET REIN Volume 1 on November 5th. The new manga (graphic novel) fantasy series by creator Sakura Tsukuba arrives from the Shojo Beat imprint in time for the start of holiday season, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

SWEET REIN Vol. 1 will also debut digitally on the same day for $6.99 (U.S / CAN) from VIZManga.com and for digital download through the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones. The title will also be available for purchase through the iBook, Kindle, NOOK, and Kobo stores.

Sad at the thought of spending Christmas alone, Kurumi Sagara goes out for a walk. While she’s crossing the street, a boy bumps into her, and a rein suddenly appears that binds them together. The overjoyed boy tells her she’s his master and that she’s a Santa Claus. Kurumi dismisses him as a crazy person, but then he transforms into a reindeer?!

Read more…


NYCC 2013: Viz Media Announces Shoujo, Seinen and Shorts

NYCC 2013: Viz Media Announces Shoujo, Seinen and Shorts

The NYCC manga licenses – they just keep going, and going, and going… I love it! I can’t recall the last convention that had so many manga licenses in one place. Today I take a look at new licenses from Viz Media:

Battle Royale: Angels’ Border – Koushun Takami, Mioko Ohnishi & Youhei Oguma
Black Rose Alice – Setona Mizushiro
My Love Story!! – Kazune Kawahara & Aruko
Terra Formars – Yū Sasuga & Kenichi Tachibana
Time Killers: Kazue Kato Short Story Collection – Kazue Kato

Nearly every title on this list stands out to me in one good way or another. Starting from the top, there’s Battle Royale: Angels’ Border. This is a manga side-story sequel to Battle Royale, written by the author of the original books. I haven’t read those (yet) but I did read the manga adaptation Tokyopop released and have watched the movie several times, so I’m looking forward to a need to refresh and revisit. The story is split into two parts – episode 01 and episode 02 – with each drawn by a different artist. They’re both released together in this collected edition.

Black Rose Alice is a title I’ve heard praised a lot in passing but never much more than that, but I can’t deny the draw of a title by Setona Mizushiro no matter what I have or haven’t heard. I love her work, which in English includes GoComi’s Afterschool Nightmare and Tokyopop’s X-Day. She renders such heart-wrenching characters and has done some really interesting things with gender roles and the evolution of relationships. I have a couple of her other series in French, and hoped for the day we would get more in English. May this be the first of many!

As for this current announcement, Black Rose Alice enters our still vampire-hungry market with a story about a young singer who survives an accident only to find his body has never felt right since. A string of suicides by those close to him act as catalysts for a new life of romance, drama and potentially tasty looking necks.

Terra Formars

With My Love Story!!  I’m smitten with the Japanese covers. I love a title with characters that actually look like people. Too pretty can easily be too much sometimes. My Love Story!! is written by the creator of High School Debut, which I thought was a fun read, so that’s another point in its favour. The downside of My Love Story!!  is it’s promoted as a love triangle story, which I’m not a big fan of. Sure almost all romances use this at some point or another but, like a cast of characters that’re too pretty to be believed, reading story after story that tends to end in watching the more likable and loyal person get left on the curb is more than a little tiring. How will I feel about” the unattractive Takeo Gouda, his cool and attractive childhood friend Sunagawa, and the pure Yamato, whose specialty is making candy*”? We shall see!


Terra Formars
is the only title on the list that’s entirely new to me. It looks pretty cool though, even though the plot makes me laugh. It takes place years in the future when a team of colonists go to Mars only to discover that the mold and cockroaches they sent ahead to help prepare the land for living have since mutated into super strong humanoid cockroaches. Oops! The manga series – currently six volumes long – then follows a group of soldiers sent to get rid of them.

And last but not least, there’s Time Killers: Kazue Kato Short Story Collection. This one really excites me. As the title explains, Time Killers is a collection of short stories by Kazue Kato, creator of Blue Exorcist. I love reading creators’ short stories. The boundaries of a short story can bring out a person’s best work or at least some of their most creative as they can explore ideas that might not see success in lengthier formats. Admittedly, I got tired of Blue Exorcist and dropped it at volume six, but I did love the earlier volumes so I’m hoping to re-experience some of that same adoration in these shorts.

We don’t have dates yet for these releases, but my thanks goes to ANN for the existing details*. Looking forward to them, Viz!


Review: Kaze Hikaru (Vol. 21)

Kaze Hikaru (Vol. 21)

Manga-ka: Taeko Watanabe
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: August 2013

Synopsis: “After Hijikata grows suspicious of Soji’s feelings about Sei, he reassigns Sei to the third troop under Saito’s command. Soji, puzzled by his own recent irrational behavior toward Sei, attempts to distance himself from her. Sei, in turn, interprets this as Soji’s realization of her feelings for him and decides that she can no longer serve as a bushi alongside him. She goes to visit Suigetsuni, a nun who knew Sei in her former life as a girl, to discuss renouncing the world and entering the convent!”

Waiting a year for any new volume of a series is painful, but when it’s one as charming as Kaze Hikaru it’s all the more sad. At least it’s a credit to the series that even a twelve month wait is little match for the memorable nature of these characters. They feel as familiar now as they did the last time a new book came out. Sometimes, though, things can feel a bit too familiar and while the turmoil of Kamiya/Sei’s love and Soshi’s naivety continues to be the series’ driving force, there is such thing as having too much of a good thing.

Read more…


Viz Media Revives and Bewitches with Licenses at Japan Expo

Viz Media Revives and Bewitches with Licenses at Japan Expo

There was more from Japan Expo before the weekend was done as Viz Media took the panel stage to announce two new series:

Phantom Thief Jeanne – Arina Tanemura
Spell of Desire – Tomu Ohmi

Phantom Thief Jeanne (also known as Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne) joins Viz Media’s already hefty library of Arina Tanemura titles, including the recent Sakura Hime and my personal favourite, Full Moon O Sagashite. PTJ is a license ‘rescue’ – CMX originally released the entire seven volume series before shutting down. For those of us who’ve never read it, or perhaps have been unable to find a particular volume to finish a collection after many, many years, will now have another chance to own the series in its entirety. The first volume is scheduled for March 2014.

“By day, Kusakabe Maron is an ordinary high school girl with more than her share of problems. But by night, she is Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne – the reincarnation of Joan of Arc! Her mission? Hunt down demon-possessed paintings and exorcise the evil spirits! But accomplishing this mission puts her in conflict with the authorities who only see her as a mysterious stranger vandalizing works of art. With only the help of angel-in-training Finn, she must survive high school during the day and fight evil by night!” – CMX, Kamikaze Kaito Jeanne (Vol. 01)

Spell of Desire is a supernatural romance for older-than-the-usual audiences. Its’ creator, Tomu Ohmi,just had the first volume of their series, Midnight Secretary, released by Viz Media last week. Spell of Desire is currently four volumes long in Japan with the first English volume scheduled for August 2014.

The story stars a young woman named Kaoruko who runs a herb shop after losing her parents when she was young. Her world begins to change when a mysterious man named Kaname enters the shop and Kaoruko learns there is more to her family, her shop and herself than she ever knew.

Both these new series will be released under Viz Media’s Shoujo Beat imprint.
Credit for the news’ details goes to AnimeNewsNetwork


Super Savings: Viz Media Bids Farewell to Summer With Digital Deals

Super Savings: Viz Media Bids Farewell to Summer With Digital Deals

Viz Media is offering a silver lining to the dwindling days of summer with a sale on their digital manga. Until September 5, 2013, all their titles available on VizManga.com and its apps, plus the NOOK tablets, are 20% off. This means that their standard pricing of $4.99/US per book drops to $3.99/US. For an entire volume of manga? That’s pretty darn good!

While I’m always an advocate for buying the hardcopy books, the sad part of print reality is that some are just not possible to find anymore. However, Viz Media has been pushing out digital editions of a lot of older series, alongside simultaneous releases of their new ones. This is great for finally being able to read a lot of out of print titles.

Some of my recommendations from the out-of-print category include Red River, Please Save My Earth, The Cain Saga, and – one of my absolute favourites – Kaze Hikaru. Viz Media currently boasts a “library of over 1,500 volumes across 130+ series”. Get ’em while they’re cheap(er)!


Otaku USA: On The Shelf – June 12, 2013

Otaku USA: On The Shelf - June 13, 2013

Another week, another list of new manga – another week of lots of manga. Huzzah! This week’s On The Shelf on Otaku USA has been posted, but it will also be my last On The Shelf article for Otaku USA. It’s hard to believe I’d been doing it nearly two years!

For those still looking for the weekly list,  new books will continue to be posted every week here on Kuriousity as normal. On The Shelf mini lives on!

A Devil and Her Love Song (Vol.09) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Arata: The Legend (Vol.14) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Attack on Titan (Vol.05) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Bleach (Vol.57) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Dawn of the Arcana (Vol.10) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Demon Love Spell (Vol.03) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends (Vol.03) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
His Favorite (Vol.04) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Kisses, Sighs, and Cherry Blossoms Pink [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Knights of Sidonia (Vol.03) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Loveless (Vol.11) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
No.6 (Vol.01) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan (Vol.15) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
One Piece (Vol.67) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
One Piece Omnibus (Vol.06) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Pokémon Adventures Platinum (Vol.08) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration (Vol.01) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura (Vol.10) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Sankarea: Undying Love (Vol.01) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Skip Beat! (Vol.31) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Slam Dunk (Vol.28) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Sleeping Moon (Vol.01) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Toriko (Vol.16) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Trigun Maximum Omnibus (Vol.03) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal (Vol.03) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]


Review: Dawn of the Arcana (Vol. 10)

Dawn of the Arcana (Vol. 10)

Manga-ka: Rei Toma
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: June 2013

Synopsis: “Princess Nakaba of Senan and Prince Caesar of Belquat married each other for the sake of peace between their warring countries, yet the two find themselves drawn to each other even as political forces threaten to tear their world apart. In Lithuanel, Nakaba desperately searches for a way to save both her friend Akhil and his brother Azhal. Unfortunately, her visions show that only one of them will live. Meanwhile, Caesar’s return to Belquat may mean the end of his relationship with Nakaba…”

I’ve made no secret about my frustrations with this series every time I write about it, and yet I keep on buying each and every volume as it comes out. Volume one had moments that impressed me, but they were buried under a stiff delivery and disappointing character devolution. While time has helped the pacing issues, the change of Nakaba’s character from strong, independent woman to a cowering dependent remained on-going. Throw in the love triangle created when she falls for her abuser, and leaves her loyal best friend on the sidelines, and you have a mixed bag of yuck.

But wait, you may be wondering, ‘why is this reviewer still reading the series then?’. The answer is volumes like this. (Warning: Review will contain spoilers)

Read more…


Review: Fushigi Yugi Genbu Kaiden (Vol. 11)

Fushigi Yugi Genbu Kaiden (Vol. 11)

Manga-ka: Yuu Watase
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: March 2013

Synopsis: “While Takiko learns the terrible truth behind the prophecy that set Uruki against his father, King Temdan, the country of Bêi-jîa faces both civil war and foreign invasion. Takiko’s final hope lies in reuniting the last two Celestial Warriors, the twins Urumiya and Teg. Can she mend the rifts between brother and brother, father and son?”

In this second-to-last volume of Fushigi Yugi Genbu Kaiden, the plot is clearly getting ready for the conclusion as major plots begin to wind down and loose ends begin to be tied up. Focused on here are the conflict between Uruki and Temdan, and the reunion of Urumiya and Teg. Both plots reach their conclusion in this volume, to mixed success.

Read more…


Otaku USA: On The Shelf – April 3, 2013

Otaku USA: On The Shelf - April 3, 2013

Incoming tidal wave of awesome manga! As the first shipping day of the month, this week’s title list does not disappoint. Viz Media takes home the prize for most titles, but my top picks go to Kodansha Comics and Vertical for their releases of Sailor Moon (Vol. 10) and Mobile Suit Gundam the Origin (Vol.01).

You can read all about this week’s new releases via my On The Shelf article for Otaku USA.

A Certain Scientific Railgun (Vol.07) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Attack on Titan (Vol.04) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Barrage (Vol.02) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Battle Angel Alita: Last Order Omnibus (Vol.01) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Bleach (Vol.56) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Blue Exorcist (Vol.09) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Dawn of the Arcana (Vol.09) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Devil & Her Love Song (Vol.08) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Fairy Tail (Vol.24) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
GTO: 14 Days in Shonan (Vol.08) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Hana Kimi 3-in-1 (Vol.04) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Jiu Jiu (Vol.04) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Kimi ni Todoke (Vol.16) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Library Wars: Love & War (Vol.09) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Love Hina Omnibus (Vol.05) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Mobile Suit Gundam Origin: Activation (Vol.01) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
My Boyfriend is a Vampire (Vol.04) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Nura Rise of the Yokai Clan (Vol.14) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Sailor Moon (Vol.10) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Slam Dunk (Vol.27) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Story of Saiunkoku (Vol.09) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
The Limit (Vol.04) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Toriko (Vol.15) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US, RightStuf]
Yu-Gi-Oh 5DS (Vol.04) [Amazon CAN, Amazon US]


Take me back to the top!