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Posts Tagged Viz Media

ANN Review: Black Bird (Vol. 07)

By Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, February 5, 2011

It’s more trashy shoujo time (which is not always a bad thing!) as I review volume seven of Black Bird over at AnimeNewsNetwork.

Oh, Black Bird. Seven volumes in and I still keep buying and reading. Rarely reviewing though since I don’t find I have anything new to say past creepy. Sometimes it manages to be endearing, and there’s always that ‘what’s going to happen next?’ vibe to keep you reading, but the voice in my head telling me to give up on it just keeps screaming louder and louder. I can fully admit I can gloss over some non-con in manga (The Tyrant Who Falls In Love was my pick of the month for January after all), but in Black Bird there’s so much emotional and mental manipulation. It actually bothered me more rereading the series again before this review. Watching the lead character get slowly molded into this weepy docile dependent on her demon-‘lover’ is so… geh.

On another note, one of the comments on the Black Bird review also got me thinking how people perceive the way reviewers post things on ANN. While I can’t speak for everyone as,well, I’m obviously not them, I can say that I choose what I want to buy, read and review for ANN so there’s no ‘choosing the right critic’. I read Black Bird, had something to say, and said it – so… yeah? Just thought it was worth clearing up that I’m not assigned books or anything. The more you know!

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: ANN Reviews, Black Bird, Manga, Shoujo Beat, Viz Media

PR: Natsume Ono at Toronto Comics Art Festival 2011

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, February 1, 2011

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Toronto Public Library and The Beguiling Present

NATSUME ONO AT TCAF 2011
The Toronto Comic Arts Festival welcomes the world renowned manga creator to Canada!

The Toronto Comic Arts Festival
At the Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St.
Saturday May 7th 2011, 9am-5pm
Sunday May 8th 2011, 11am-5pm
FREE ADMISSION

WWW.TORONTOCOMICS.COM

TORONTO, Ontario – The Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF) is excited to announce that internationally renowned manga creator Natsume Ono will make her first-ever North American public appearance as a Featured Guest at TCAF 2011. Hailing from Japan, Ono is one of the most exciting and unique women working in the medium today, and she will appear on panels and sign books in support of her English language works at Toronto Reference Library, May 7 and 8 2011. Ono appears with the support of her English-language publisher VIZ Media.

“Ono’s fantastic work fits squarely into the ‘art comix’ idiom that’s at the core of the Festival,” enthuses Festival Director Christopher Butcher. “It’s the type of work we try to encourage. She’s a true auteur, working in a variety of styles and on different subjects, and her work is sure to find favour with fans of our other Featured Guests including Chris Ware, Jillian Tamaki, Mawil, and Adrian Tomine.”

With a loose, gestural and even melancholic style that is at odds with most fans’ view of contemporary manga, since VIZ Media began publishing Ono’s work in English two years ago she has quickly become a favourite of North American readers. Touching on themes of family bonds, abuse and neglect, and responsibility, her works have a surprising weight, and the types of characters and settings she employs are rarely seen in comics on either side of the Pacific.

“This is an exceptionally rare event,” said Butcher. “It’s the first time Ms. Ono has made a North American appearance, and for someone of her stature and popularity in Japan to choose to visit TCAF? It’s a real coup for us, we’re absolutely thrilled.

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: TCAF 2011, Viz Media

Swag Bag – Pets, Butlers and Students Out of This World

By Lissa Pattillo on Saturday, January 29, 2011

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Websites had some downtime yesterday so apologies for any who came by and were greeted by error pages. We should be back up and running fine now. That said, onwards to manga!

A snowstorm and slow release week kept me away from the comic shop last week but this week I was happy to make up for the short lull with a stack of must-own favourites.

Absolute favourites of the week were definitely the newest volume of Pet Shop of Horrors Tokyo (Vol. 08) and Black Butler (Vol. 04). Both star enigmatic pretty-boys with hidden powers and a whole lot of random happening around them. I was disappointed that the new volume of Black Jack wasn’t shipped here yet but these two definitely did a lot to brighten my mood. Retailers are listing this volume of Pet Shop of Horrors as the last one though – I really hope that’s not the case!

While no new Tezuka to buy this week from Vertical (though hard to beat the news we got instead!), I was able to pick up the fifth volume of the slice-of-life space story, Twin Spica. Purchasing another of what I consider great ‘relaxing’ manga, I was pleased to find a copy of Cross Game (Vol. 02). Unlike the first volume, which was three volumes in one, this second book is only two volumes in one. It’s a good set-up though, as the first omnibus did a good job sucking me in but I don’t think I can handle that much of Mitsuri Adachi’s placid characters every time.

Adding some more Viz Media books to the stack, I got the new volume of Library Wars (Vol. 04) despite my disappointment of prior books. I keep remaining hopeful we’ll get more actual war and library and less cliche romance. Fingers crossed! More promising was my purchase of Arata (Vol. 04) – more shonen-style action from one of the original shoujo-cliche queens, Yuu Watase.

And lastly I picked up a new boys’ love one-shot from BLU – Stray Cat. I’ve already read this one and really liked it. Great release quality from Tokyopop, fun characters with a nice art style and some really hilarious comics about the creator’s pets at the book’s end. BLU books don’t come out often but I’ve been pretty impressed with their selection overall these days.

This weekend I’m putting through a RightStuf order and that means filling up my shopping list with a whole bunch of surprise finds, bargain bin treats and must-have purchases (such as the boxset of Twelve Kingdoms!). Anything you’d recommend? A series new or old that you think shouldn’t be missed? Let me know!

So what were some of your recent purchases?

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Categories: Features, Swag Bag
Tags: Black Butler, BLU, Manga, Tokyopop, Vertical Inc, Viz Media, Yen Press, Yuu Watase

PR: Naruto Manga Series Reaches Milestone

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, January 26, 2011

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NARUTO MANGA SERIES REACHES MILESTONE

VIZ Media Set To Release Volume 50 Of Hit Series In February

VIZ Media will release the 50th volume of the NARUTO manga (graphic novel) series on February 1st. The newest adventure of the bestselling series – Water Prison Death Match – will be published under the company’s Shonen Jump imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 / $12.99 CAN.

Killer Bee vs. Kisame! Plus, the realization of Naruto’s worst nightmare seems inevitable as the war he’s tried to stop for so long looms on the horizon. And Sakura corners Naruto with a reveal that’s going knock him for a serious loop. Then, a truth behind the modern ninja world sheds new light on Naruto’s true role in the fate of his universe.

Created by Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first introduced in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999 and quickly became that country’s most popular ninja manga targeting tweens and teens and has sold more than 85 million copies to-date. The manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens) and animated counterpart (NARUTO rated ‘T’ for Teens, and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) are among VIZ Media’s most successful properties and have captivated millions of fans across North America, Europe and South America.

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Viz Media

PR: VIZ App Debuts: CLAYMORE, CAPTIVE HEARTS and More!

By Lissa Pattillo on Friday, January 21, 2011

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VIZ MEDIA LAUNCHES CAPTIVE HEARTS, CLAYMORE, D.GRAY-MAN AND TORIKO MANGA DOWNLOADS FOR THE VIZ MANGA APP FOR iPad

Four Acclaimed New Series Join The Latest Updates Of More Than Ten Other Titles

VIZ Media continues to rapidly expand its digital library of manga (graphic novel) titles available for the VIZ MANGA APP on the Apple® iPad™ mobile device. Just launched is the dark, armored action of CLAYMORE and the supernatural adventure D.GRAY-MAN, and set to launch on Tuesday, January 25th is the shojo fantasy of CAPTIVE HEARTS and the zany culinary adventure of TORIKO. The latest updates also features new additions to more than ten other popular VIZ Media manga series already available to iPad users.

The VIZ MANGA APP is available for free through the iTunes Store and all manga volumes are available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the application for $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) per volume.

CAPTIVE HEARTS, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · Available January 25th
Carefree Megumi Kuroishi was living a life of luxury until the day a girl named Suzuka Kogami walked into his life. All of a sudden, Megumi finds himself kneeling at Suzuka’s feet and prostrating himself like a servant! What Megumi doesn’t know (until that very moment anyway) is that his family is cursed to follow the orders of the Kogami family.

CLAYMORE, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · Available Now!
In a world where monsters called Yoma prey on humans and live among them in disguise, humanity’s only hope is a new breed of warrior known as Claymores. Half human, half monster, these silver-eyed slayers possess supernatural strength but are condemned to fight their savage impulses or lose their humanity completely.

D.GRAY-MAN, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · Available Now!
Set in a fictional 19th century England, D.Gray-man is the story of Allen Walker, a 15-year-old boy who roams the earth in search of Innocence. Washed away to unknown parts of the world after The Great Flood, Innocence is the mysterious substance used to create weapons that obliterate demons known as akuma.

TORIKO, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · Available January 25th
In a savage world ruled by the pursuit of the most delicious foods, it’s either eat or be eaten! While searching for the tastiest foods imaginable, Gourmet Hunter Toriko travels the world with his bottomless stomach, facing every beast in his way.

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: One Piece, Shoujo Beat, Vampire Knight, Viz Media

PR: Psychic Finds Love While Fighting Aliens in Mistress Fortune

By Lissa Pattillo on Friday, January 21, 2011

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A TEENAGE PSYCHIC MIXES ON-THE-JOB ROMANCE WTH INVADING ALIENS IN ARINA TANEMURA’S MISTRESS FORTUNE MANGA FROM VIZ MEDIA

New Shojo Beat Title Is The Latest From The Creator Of FULL MOON And THE GENTLEMEN’S ALLIANCE†

San Francisco, CA, January 20, 2011 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will delight shojo manga (graphic novel) fans with the release of Arina Tanemura’s MISTRESS FORTUNE on February 1st. The new single-volume story will be published under the company’s Shojo Beat imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

Fourteen-year-old Kisaki Tachibana has psychic powers. She works for PSI, a secret government agency that fights aliens. She’s in love with her partner Giniro, but PSI won’t allow operatives to get involved. Just when Kisaki thinks she may be getting closer to Giniro, she finds out she’s going to be transferred to California!

“We’re exited to release MISTRESS FORTUNE for current and new fans alike,” says Nancy Thistlethwaite, Editor. “Arina Tanemura pulled from her experience of visiting San Francisco, the home of VIZ Media, as well as San Diego Comic-Con for this manga. Her huge following of readers here will have fun with this story that takes place in both Japan and the United States.”

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Viz Media

PR: Viz Media Announces 2011 YALSA Manga Selections

By Lissa Pattillo on Thursday, January 13, 2011

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YALSA NAMES TEN VIZ MEDIA MANGA TITLES TO ITS 2011
GREAT GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR TEENS LIST

San Francisco, CA, January 13, 2011 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, is proud to announce that ten of its manga (graphic novel) titles have been selected by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) as among 2011’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens. The annual list highlights titles that exemplify the quality and range of graphic novels appropriate for teen audiences. The books, recommended by the association for those aged 12-18, meet the criteria of both good quality literature and appealing reading for teens.

Among these, SATURN APARTMENTS, which is published by VIZ Media’s Signature imprint, was ranked among YALSA’s 2011 Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens. For more than 50 years, YALSA has been the U.S. leader in selecting books, videos and audio books for teens.

VIZ Media titles featured on the 2011 YALSA Graphic Novel list include:

AFTERSCHOOL CHARISMA Vol. 1 · by Kumiko Sukane · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens
At St. Kleio Academy, all of the students are clones of famous historical figures. Are the clones doomed to repeat the fate of their genetic progenitors, or can they create their own destinies?

BIOMEGA Vol. 1 · by Tsutomu Nihei · Rated ‘M’ for Mature
In a nightmare vision of the future, the N5S virus has swept across the earth, turning most of the population into zombie-like drones! Zoichi Kanoe is humanity’s last hope, and he’s not even human!

BOKURANO: OURS Vol. 1 · by Mohiro Kitoh · Rated ‘M’ for Mature
Saving the world is hard. Saving yourself is even harder.

CROSS GAME Vol. 1 · by Mitsuru Adachi · Rated ‘T’ for Teens
A poignant coming-of-age centered around a boy named Ko, the family of four sisters who live down the street, and the game of baseball!

HOUSE OF FIVE LEAVES Vol. 1 · by Natsume Ono · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens
An out-of-work samurai finds himself drawn into a mysterious gang known as the Five Leaves.

LIBRARY WARS: LOVE & WAR Vol. 1 · Original concept by Hiro Arikawa; manga story and art by Kiiro Yumi · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens
In the near future, the federal government creates a committee to rid society of books it deems unsuitable. The libraries vow to protect their collections, and form a military group to defend themselves – the Library Forces!

MAOH: JUVENILE REMIX Vol. 1 · Original story by Kotara Isaka; manga story and art by Megumi Osuga · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens
What do you do when the city’s savior is actually a devil in disguise…?

NATSUME’S BOOK OF FRIENDS Vol. 1 · by Yuki Midorikawa · Rated ‘T’ for Teens
Natsume can see the spirits and demons that hide from the rest of humanity. Moving to the small town where his grandmother grew up, he discovers that he has inherited more than just the Sight from the mysterious Rieko.

not simple · by Natsume Ono · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens
A young man with a fractured family history travels from Australia to England to America in the hope of realizing his dreams and reuniting with his beloved sister.

SATURN APARTMENTS Vol. 1 · by Hisae Iwaoka · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · A Top 10 Selection
A touching, character-rich vision of an intriguing new world. Mitsu takes on his late father’s dangerous job as a window washer on the Ring circling the earth where all humans have been relocated…

The complete list of YALSA 2011 selections is available at:
www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/.

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Viz Media

Review: Crimson Hero (Vol. 14)

By Shannon Fay on Thursday, January 13, 2011

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Reviewer: Shannon Fay

Manga-ka: Mitsuba Takanshi
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: November 2010

Synopsis: “In an attempt to stop the vicious rumors spreading at Crimson Field High School, Nobara ended her relationship with the boys’ team captain Yushin. But when she runs into Haibuki, a talented boys’ team player who mysteriously left school when he found out about Nobara and Yushin’s romance, Yushin is the first person she calls. Can Nobara and Yushin convince their heartbroken teammate to return to Crimson Field?”

A good sports manga makes it so that the game scenes and character development go hand in hand. As the characters play they are growing and changing and finding out about themselves and others through how they play the game. In this volume of Crimson Hero, the balance is a little off. There’s a lot of the characters interacting, but not enough of them playing volleyball. While character development is never a bad thing, Crimson Hero has always worked best for me when the characters work things out on the court. Any scene where they’re just hanging out slows down the manga.

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Categories: Reviews
Tags: Manga, Shoujo Beat, Viz Media

PR: New POKEMON Movie on DVD and Manga Adaptation Feb1st!

By Lissa Pattillo on Wednesday, January 12, 2011

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THE STRUGGLE FOR TIME AND SPACE CONTINUES IN POKÉMON: ARCEUS AND THE JEWEL OF LIFE, ON DVD AND IN ADAPTED MANGA FROM VIZ MEDIA

The Latest POKÉMON Feature Film Delivers Another Action-Packed Adventure With Ash And His Friends!

San Francisco, CA, January 12, 2011 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, is proud to announce the release of POKÉMON™: ARCEUS AND THE JEWEL OF LIFE on DVD and in a manga adaption on February 1st (both under the VIZ Kids imprint). The feature film DVD is rated ‘A’ for All Ages with a MSRP of $19.97 U.S. / $28.99 CAN; the manga adaptation is rated ‘A’ for All Ages, with a MSRP of $7.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN.

Long ago, Arceus created the Jewel of Life from fragments of its awesome power. Humans used the Jewel of Life to turn Michina Town from a barren wasteland to a lush and thriving city. But when it was time for the Jewel of Life to be returned, Arceus was betrayed, and vowed to one day get revenge.

Now Arceus has returned– enraged, vengeful, and seemingly unstoppable! Not even the combined might of Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina can stop Arceus from devastating the land.

But there’s hope. Ash, Pikachu and their new friend Sheena may have discovered the only way to make things right. Their journey will be both dangerous and uncertain: will there be time to return the Jewel of Life before Arceus enacts vengeance on the world?

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Categories: Press Releases
Tags: Viz Media

Comment Issues on Kuriousity

By Lissa Pattillo on Tuesday, January 11, 2011

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Hey everyone – just a short post to give heads up and some apologies for some comment issues for anything posted in the last evening. I mistakenly deleted three valid comments that had gotten trapped in the Spam catch. If yours was one of them (including someone who wrote a detailed and honest rebuttal to my post about Viz Media’s website, and a comment on my Ouran Host Club review), I apologize profusely and welcome a re-comment.

Speaking of Viz Media’s website, they’ve begun updating their new site with content! There’s now manga info available and nice simple new URLs so finding series is relatively easy even if you have difficulty finding it via the imprint breakdowns. (Example: vizmedia.com/death-note) . There’re still a number of broken links in place but Google is already catching up with their new manga links to slowly replace the dead links it was indexing from their old site. Yay for finding stuff again!

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Categories: Site Updates
Tags: Viz Media