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VIZ MEDIA UNLEASHES THE WILDEST, SHOCKINGLY FUNNY MANGA FOR THE NOT SO FAINT OF HEART, DETROIT METAL CITY
Johannes Krauser II Is The Outrageous Demonic Front Man
Of The Heaviest Death Metal Band In Japan
But Off Stage He’s A Pop Music-Listening Wimp –
Can He Ever Reconcile His Two Personas?
Slow on the posting of this piece of news I am. Darn life getting in the way sometimes, but as I’m now the proud owner of a 9-5pm job again, this should hopefully mean more consistant time for my loyal Kuriousity readers!
After news of Shojo Beat’s end saddened manga readers around the web, Viz Media was quick to announce the BETA version of their new online manga magazine, IKKI. Since the folks over at the Viz Blog worded it so nicely, I’ll let them do the honours here as well:
“IKKI is a monthly magazine published in Japan that has established itself as the home of some of the most innovative, bold, and compelling series in the world of contemporary manga. Since its launch in 2003 IKKI has built a catalog of titles notable for its diversity. From action to comedy to drama, from slice-of-life stories to surrealist fantasies, the one common thing these works share is an uncommon emphasis on creative quality and on pushing the boundaries of the norm.
In partnership with our imprint “VIZ Signature” line of graphic novels, IKKI is bringing the works of some of its top creators to the English-language audience via a groundbreaking online monthly manga magazine.”
The first, and thus far only, free chapter up for viewing is an endearing story called Children of the Sea by Daisuke Igarashi. The first volume of Children of the Sea in graphic novel form is due out in July of this year. I highly recommend checking out the first chapter which has successfully left me looking forward to the collected version later this summer.
Future series that will be serialized (for free!) on Viz’s IKKI website include Bokurano: Ours by Mohiro Kitoh, House of Five Leaves by Natsume Ono, Dorohedoro by Q Hayashida and I’ll Give It My All…Tomorrow by Shunju Aono.
Hard to argue with free manga isn’t it? And by that I mean the legal kind, people.
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Manga-ka: Takehiko Inoue
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: July 2008
Synopsis: “A motorcycle accident, bone cancer, a speeding truck crashing into a boy on a stolen bicycle – tragic life-changing events turn the worlds of three young men upside-down. These three very different personalities have only one thing in common – their passion for basketball. Drama, tragedy and fast breaks… on wheels. Life goes on… Get Real!”
A motorcycle accident leaves Nomiya apart from the sport of basketball, his one true passion in life. But, as fate would have it, a chance encounter with another young man, whose skill at the game surpasses what Nomiya has seen before, sparks his drive back into place and sets him up for a challenge of the game unlike any he’s faced before.
In follow-up to my post yesterday regarding the speculated end of Viz Media’s Shojo Beat anthology, today Viz representatives confirmed the news:
“The final issue of Shojo Beat magazine will be the July 2009 issue which is on newstands June 16th.
We are very proud of the past issues of Shojo Beat magazine and the efforts of the entire team. The magazine developed quite a fan base but unfortunately in today’s difficult economic climate we felt the need to place our resources elsewhere at this time.
Of course all of our great shojo manga titles previously serialized in Shojo Beat magazine will still be published and available as graphic novels under the Shojo Beat imprint from Viz Media.
Each Shojo Beat Subscriber will be receiving a free copy of the August issue of Shonen Jump magazine with the pertinent information on what their subscription/refund options will be.
Subscribers and fans of shojo manga can get the latest information on all new Shojo Beat titles and news by visiting www.shojobeat.com“
This information has also been posted on the Shojo Beat website.
So there you have it. A shame but I suppose with all else happening due to the economy it’s not a surprise. Current subscribers will hear the available options regarding their subscriptions (likely the option to recieve Shonen Jump instead) or possible refunds in August.
An e-mail today from a concerned subscriber to Viz Media’s Shojo Beat magazine alerted me that there may be a looming cancellation in the future for Viz’s shojo compilation magazine. (Thanks again for the heads up, Mary.)
Currently Viz is no longer taking subscriptions for Shojo Beat through their website and their telephone subscription service is letting consumers know that this is in fact true, and that readers should keep their eye on the website for updates in the near future.
Over on the AnimeNewsNetwork forum, word has already hit some worried readers, prompting the post of this periodical website, Alini Magazine Services, which states that “Shojo Beat is ceasing publication with the July 2009 issue–subscribers will receive Shonen Jump.”
As in fairly common in magazine shutdowns, it looks like Viz is opting to offer Shojo Beat subscribers copies of Shonen Jump in its place. As nothing has been officially announced yet, it remains to be seen if this will a definite solution or an option between that and refunds should Shojo Beat be infact coming to its final days. With such a varying difference in subject matter between the two magazines, I find the idea of giving Shojo Beat readers Shonen Jump to be a bit of a stretch.
Looking into it a little further, I also saw that several online retail sites list Shojo Beat’s August release as the last one while Shonen Jump continues on for several more issues in pre-order status.
No official word from Viz Media on this yet, but now with word spreading and company representatives no longer accepting new or renewed subscriptions, expect to hear something concrete in the near future.
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Manga-ka: Shin Mashiba
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Teen (13+)
Release Date: April 2009
Synopsis: “Dreams on the menu in this volume: a treasure’s whereabouts depicted in a manga, a destiny controlled by the roll of the die, a nursery rhyme that is more than just words, a neighbor whose walls keep crashing in, a dog being tormented, a girl who isn’t sure of her true self, and a haunting photo that isn’t what it seems.”
Seven volumes in and it’s old hat by now to say that the character designs remain distractedly similar to each other, the stories more episodic than linear and equivocally darker with each passing volume (though the last book should hopefully prove hard to beat). Alright, so old hat, but still worth mention, and no less true than before, but of course, Nightmare Inspector does not remain without its own twisted little charms.
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Black Cat (Vol. 20) – Kentaro Yabuki
Published by Viz Media
Here it is, the twentieth and final volume of Kentaro Yabuki’s Black Cat. Not a bad length for a shonen series, a fair number of volumes but nothing obscene that invokes the thoughts of a never-ending cycle of recycled plot lines. I’d say Black Cat was just right.
That said, this final volume really took its shonen genre to heart with an epic final showdown between Train and Creed. Speed lines are all over the place as the two duke it out, gun to sword, pulling out all the attacks, special abilities and emotional-banter that twenty volumes have worked up to. Meanwhile, Sven and Eve continue their flunky battles, reiterating that they’re just as cool, if not more so (or easily more so in the case of Eve) than the story’s lead character.
The ending itself likely won’t surprise any readers accustomed to shonen clichés, especially the final attack exchanged between Train and Creed, but despite its predictability, the finale still offers a concrete resolution that neatly ties up any remaining loose ends. I was disappointed that prior fears regarding newly introduced, and quickly tossed again, side characters were proven true when they all garnered no further relevance past their short uses as fodder in previous books.
Also included in this wrap-up are some short flashbacks to Creed’s past, multiple amusing comics regarding the story’s creation, and a tidy epilogue that shows us where the lead cast are eight months later, including Eve sporting an adorable new outfit and hairdo that leaves me begging for a spin-off. Unlikely, but what can I say? I love that nano-machine enhanced little butt-kicker. She’s adorable and will be missed by this reader!
Sporting a pretty ‘this is obviously the final volume’ cover featuring a character collage and a whimsical looking Train, as well as some consistently admirable release work by Viz, Black Cat volume twenty brings the series to a regrettable, but still mostly satisfying, end with much of the same charm and action that carried readers on from volume one.
Review written May 8, 2009 by Lissa Pattillo
Book purchased in-store from Chapters
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20th Century Boys (Vol. 02) – Naoki Urusawa
Published by Viz Media
Kenji continues to be the story’s anchor here in 20th Century Boys, with many of the events eventually bringing most characters back to him. His own personal issues regarding his family business, missing sister and the pressures of raising his niece, remain the forefront trials of his life but the growing mystery, and deadly evolution, of the cult following born from something in his past, continues to plague him like a growing itch. The ‘coincidences’ continue to pile up beyond the ability to ignore, and by the book’s end, Kenji discovers his past is potently integral to the execution of a global epidemic by the ‘Friend’ and his followers.
To aid in delivering more information to both the audience and Kenji is a lively homeless man who fellow box-dwellers call ‘Kami-sama’ (a god). Through his dreams, the man is able to see the future, both in the short and long term. He takes it upon himself to do what he can within reason and his general laid-back attitude and calm demeanour towards his powers makes him a very unique and compelling character. Kenji’s enfant niece also seemed to take a quick liking to him during their brief interaction, offering another good ‘Aww’ moment to the baby’s short but adorable appearances as the resident cutey.
What does leave me wondering, however, is will Naoki Urusawa be able to keep this strong momentum going for another twenty volumes? Monster certainly proved his skill in pacing and drawing out events in a long multi-volume series, but the revelations of 20th Century Boys seems to be happening so quickly (albeit still excellently timed), how much more can there be? Of course this early in the story it seems a mute point, if not admittedly a little ignorant, but believe me I’m more than eager to enjoy everything Naoki Urusawa sets in motion (and doing my best to avoid any spoilers in the meantime). But, with my hopes now so high, I suppose I live in fear that future volumes may not stand up to their predecessors.
But any worries remain mere pittance compared to the praise I continue to shower on Naoki Urusawa and his works, which are brilliant in their execution and near-unfathomable in scope. 20th Century Boys has officially snagged me here in volume two and no subsequent volume can come out fast enough to sate my curiousity of what’s to come. Still a big thumbs up recommendation.
Review written May 10, 2009 by Lissa Pattillo
Book purchased in-store from Chapters
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Manga-ka: Yu Watase
Publisher: Viz Media
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Release Date: April 2009
Synopsis: “Takiko helps Uruki grieve for the loss of a loved one- a loss she knows only too well. But now that the Qudong army knows how to fight Celestial power, Takiko and the Celestial Warriors have no time to lose. As they prepare to rescue Teg, Uruki learns the truth about the prophecy: to summon Genbu, the Priestess will have to sacrifice her life. Refusing to let another death happen, Uruki vows to send Takiko back to the safety of her own world… by any means necessary.”
Remaining safe to say, the anguish of Soren’s death gave the series its greatest emotional crescendo to date in the previous volume. While the passing of Uruki’s dearest friend and protector proved to be a tear-jerker, here in volume eight, Yu Watase, to her credit, manages to muster even more touching sympathies for him and all those affected during an emotionally rousing funeral. Keep your tissues handy for this one!
Regretful that I’m so last minute reminding folks about the glory that is Free Comic Book Day! On the first Saturday of May, comic book stores around the world offer just what the name would suggest: free comics!
Tomorrow being the 2009 date (May 2nd), definitely make time to check out your local comic book stores and pick up some goodies, meet some people and have fun with the deals, atmosphere and good times that can only be achieved with free swag enjoyed by many!
If comics aren’t your thing, there’s something for manga fans as well (though admittedly not as much as has been made available in the past by publishers). This year Viz will be offering a 32-page Shonen Jump edition that includes a chapter of Stan Lee and Hiroyuki Takei’s collaboration piece: Ultimo. You can see a preview of the free booklet here.
As a volunteer, I’ll be lending a hand to the amazing folks of Halifax’s Strange Adventures in handing out over 20,000 free comics! If you’re in the area, be sure to stop by. Along with free swag there’ll be some surprise appearances, artists on-site to draw some goodies for the young ones (including Faith Erin Hicks, creator of Zombies Calling, and MTCopyright, artist of Whore of Turfan) and a bunch of great in-store deals!
Expect an overview and photos of the day here in Halifax soon after. All the best to everyone out there; enjoy your free comics!
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