Ten New Manga Series – Something For Everyone

Science fiction, fantasy action/adventure, romance, feudal Japan, dinosaurs and even rock and roll provide an array of story backdrops and themes for an exciting Q2 filled with new manga series. Mature readers will be riveted to the page with the new gritty action series DOGS, while IKIGAMI: THE ULTIMATE LIMIT offers an alternate take on the future of crime deterrence and DETROIT METAL CITY screams tongue-in-cheek heavy metal fun. GESTALT takes readers on an amazing fantasy quest, while shojo fans will delight in the romantic debuts of HONEY HUNT, RASETSU, and a special Tail of the Moon Prequel: The Other Hanzo(u).

Younger manga readers also have plenty of new titles to enjoy with the debuts of DINOSAUR HOUR and LEAVE IT TO PET! by the popular VIZKIDS imprint, as well as a special second edition of PokÉmon Adventures.

New VIZ Media Manga Titiles for Q2 Include:

DOGS PRELUDE, Volume 0

Boasting furious action, switchback plotting, magnetic characters and dazzling art, DOGS is a series created by Shirow Miwa that tells the story of four individuals struggling to survive a bleak dystopian urban future with a mix of gun, sword, courage and luck.

Heine, the “Stray Dog,” is a cipher of a young man with a mysterious metal collar bolted to his neck and a disturbing talent for mayhem. Badou is a hired gun for petty jobs, both legal and not, whose reckless facade hides a serious intent. Naoto, a preternaturally skilled swordswoman, is searching for the assassin who cut down her family and mentor. And Mihai, a middle-aged former hit man, has been trying to live a quiet life but is continually haunted by the deaths of his lover and protégé. Driven by their ghosts, both dead and alive, and a desire for truth, all of them are inexorably drawn to the “Underground,” the dark and dangerous sector below the city that holds all the secrets–ones that can only be had for a price.

DOGS, originally published in Ultra Jump magazine in Japan, weaves a dramatic tale of an alternate future reminiscent of great thrillers like Blade Runner and Battle Royale.

Rated ‘M’ for Mature Audiences
MSRP: $12.99 US / $15.00 CAN
Available Now!

IKIGAMI: THE ULTIMATE LIMIT, Vol. 1

Congratulations! You have been randomly selected by the government…to DIE in 24 hours! Please enjoy your final day and take pride in the fact that your death will inspire others to live life to the fullest!

Welcome to the world of Ikigami, the Death Notice, where to keep citizens on the straight and narrow path of productivity and prosperity, citizens are randomly selected by the government for termination!

IKIGAMI was created by Motoro Mase and originally debuted in Young Sunday. The manga presents a wicked slant on crime deterrence as readers see the last 24 hours through the eyes of the very people slated to die for their country with no hope of reprieve. What happens when people have no hope of survival will shock readers to the core in this new frighteningly dark series!

IKIGAMI has sold more than a million copies and recently debuted in Japan as a live-action film. An acclaimed artist and manga creator, Mase was also nominated for Shogakukan’s 43rd Grand Prize for best comic by a new artist.

Rated ‘M’ for Mature Audiences
MSRP: $12.99 US / $15.00 CAN
Available May 12

DETROIT METAL CITY, Vol. 1

Detroit Metal City Cover

Prepare to have your mortal soul devoured by the demonic Johannes Krauser II, front man for Detroit Metal City, the most outrageous death metal band on the Japanese indie rock scene! Soichi Negishi dreamed of moving to Tokyo and starting a bubblegum pop band, but now he’s fronting the most scandalous and demented metal band in Japanese rock! Deep down, Soichi still dreams of acoustic guitars and trips to Paris, but when the makeup comes on and he transforms into his alter ego, Krauser II, not even the denizens of hell are safe from his soul-devouring death metal sound.

Can Soichi reconcile his sensitive inner yearnings with his wild on-stage persona – the vilest hard rocker in Japanese (and possibly world) history?

DETROIT METAL CITY takes the zany rock antics inspired by films like Spinal Tap to hilarious new extremes in this witty series created by Kiminori Wakasugi. A live action version of the film was recently released in Japan featuring cameos by Gene Simmons (KISS) and Marty Friedman (Megadeth). The DETROIT METAL CITY animated counterpart has also gained a major following across North America and the debut of the manga promises to be the most outrageous, profane, and funny rock and roll adventure ever!

Rated ‘M’ for Mature Audiences
MSRP: $12.99 US / $15.00 CAN
Available June 9

GESTALT, Vol. 1

In the legendary past the gods battled for supremacy and cast out a demon whose name cannot be spoken. Banished to earth, the demon found refuge on the mysterious and dangerous island known only as “G.” After experiencing a crisis of faith, Father Olivier of the Valaria Order decides to go there and find out the truth behind the legends. But Olivier’s journey is unsanctioned and the head of the Order engages the dark elf Suzu to stop him at any cost. As he begins his quest, Olivier encounters Ouri, a young girl from the south who cannot speak. When Suzu catches up to them, Ouri reveals herself as a powerful sorceress and quickly disposes of Suzu, at least for the moment. The pair continues their journey south, dodging the agents of Olivier’s order, the considerable native dangers of the island of G, and Ouri’s secret past.

GESTALT was created by Yun Kouga, one of the biggest names in manga, and incorporates many visual facets from computer and tabletop role-playing games to give the series a video game-like ambiance.

Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens
MSRP: $8.99 US / $10.50 CAN
Available June 16

New SHOJO BEAT Manga Include:

HONEY HUNT, Vol. 1

Life’s not easy when you’re living in the shadow of your famous parents. Can shy Yura, the daughter of an award-winning composer and a world-renowned actress, find the courage to step out on her own when her super-celebrity parents get divorced? Already accustomed to the daily pressures of being the child of celebrities, Yura’s frustration explodes in a rant against her parents – and to make things worse her emotional tirade is broadcast live on national TV! But when a powerful talent scout hears her impassioned declaration, he actually offers to represent her.

The doors to showbiz are suddenly flung open for this timid wallflower. Will Yura step from out from the shadows to assume her place in the spotlight? Find out in this fascinating look at the crazy side of Japanese show business.

HONEY HUNT was created by Miki Aihara, one of the most popular shojo manga artists in Japan. Her popular series HOT GIMMICK and TOKYO BOYS AND GIRLS (both published domestically by VIZ Media) have gained her a significant following in North America.

Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens
MSRP: $8.99 US / $10.50 CAN
Available Now!

RASETSU, Vol. 1

A fantastic supernatural spin-off to the hit shojo manga series YURARA (also published by VIZ Media), RASETSU is about a girl named Rasetsu Hyuga who works for an exorcist agency where she uses her special powers to banish evil spirits. But there’s a story behind the mysterious red flower mark on her chest. It’s a memento left by a powerful spirit that vowed to claim her on her 20th birthday.Unless Rasetsu can find true love by then, she’s fated to become his.

Yako Hoshino, a young man with spiritual powers and a past of his own, comes to the agency one day seeking help with a possessed book. He’s seen a lot of strange phenomena in his day, but the last thing he expects to see is Rasetsu bearing a striking resemblance to his old love Yurara! Fans of Chika Shiomi’s popular shojo series YURARA won’t want to miss this exciting debut.

Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens
MSRP: $8.99 US / $10.50 CAN
Available June 2

TAIL OF THE MOON PREQUEL: THE OTHER HANZO(U)

This is the one-shot prequel to the critically acclaimed romantic melodrama TAIL OF THE MOON and also serves as an addition to the popular shojo series created by Rinko Ueda. Set in feudal Japan, a young woman is found with a huge scar on her back and has no memory of who she is. She’s given the name “Kaguya” and taken in by a local brothel where she’s put in charge of babysitting and housekeeping duties.

Hanzou Hattori, the head guard of the nearby castle, starts to pursue her romantically. He eventually realizes that they’ve met before in the past…under very surprising circumstances! Later, a case of mistaken identity leads Kaguya to the village of Iga where she meets the high-ranking ninja leader Hanzo Hattori. Things get complicated when she figures out she’s gotten her Hanzo(u)s mixed up!

Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens
MSRP: $8.99 US / $10.50 CAN
Available June 2

New VIZKIDS Manga Include:

DINOSAUR HOUR!, Vol. 1

Journey back in time to an age when dinosaurs ruled the earth, fierce – and funny! In this world, dinosaurs are just regular dudes who may try to eat each other, but still have social foibles like the rest of us. With some of their antics, its no wonder dinosaurs went extinct. In each installment, DINOSAUR HOUR! introduces younger readers to exciting dinosaur species through fun and easy-to-read educational factoids mixed with wacky humor.

Kids will also delight in dinosaur puppet cut-outs in the back of the book that readers can use to create fun dino-ramas. Educational and captivatingly illustrated, the humorous vignettes in DINOUSAUR HOUR! create the universal appeal of these creatures to make a captivating choice for even the most reluctant young reader.

Rated ‘A’ for All Ages
MSRP: $7.99 US / $9.50 CAN
Available April 7

LEAVE IT TO PET!, Vol. 1

One day, nine-year-old Noboru does the responsible thing and recycles a plastic water bottle, but little does he know that the bottle will come back to him as PET, a robot with a mission to pay Noboru back for recycling him! The only problem is that PET’s sense of “helping” isn’t quite in touch with reality.

LEAVE IT TO PET! combines the visual appeal of manga with episodic comedy, adorable characters, and a few gentle lessons about protecting the environment. The manga also features color pages and related activities and cut-outs, giving it strong all-ages appeal. This series an excellent candidate for book clubs and fairs, schools and libraries.

Rated ‘A’ for All Ages
MSRP: $7.99 US / $9.50 CAN
Available May 5

Pokémon Adventures, Vol. 1 (2nd Edition)

Go back to where the adventures of Ash and Pikachu all began in this new edition of the very first POKÉMON saga!

Rated ‘A’ for All Ages
MSRP: $7.99 US / $9.50 CAN
Available June 2

Slam Dunk Manga

Including Slam Dunk And Real Manga Series And Sumi And Water, The Vagabond Art Books

Rounding Out the Takehiko Inoue Releases – The Critically Acclaimed VAGABOND Published Under The VIZBIG Imprint

VIZ Media has announced the publication of a diverse new collection of manga (graphic novel) and art books by famed artist/creator Takehiko Inoue. The new titles include the manga series REAL (rated T+ for Older Teens) and SLAM DUNK (rated T for Teens), which depict the sport of basketball in two vastly different but equally exciting ways, as well as the publication of SUMI and WATER, a pair of lavishly illustrated art books that capture the essence of Inoue’s techniques in black and white and color.

Takehiko Inoue is a skilled artist whose intricately detailed and lifelike visual style has raised the manga genre to a new level. He has been the recipient of numerous awards including the prestigious Tezuka Osamu Culture Award and the Media Arts Festival Award.

Inoue’s highly acclaimed series VAGABOND (Rated M for Mature audiences and published domestically by VIZ Media) is a fictional account based on the life of legendary 17th century samurai Miyamoto Musashi. Without question, his most successful work to date is SLAM DUNK, which has sold more than 100 million copies worldwide.

VIZ Media complements this release of SLAM DUNK with the debut of REAL, a riveting manga series about the sport of wheelchair basketball. Inoue is a self-professed fan of basketball and also worked on the character designs for the PlayStation video game One On One among others. SLAM DUNK has been credited with introducing basketball to millions of Japanese readers. Legions have taken up the sport after becoming captivated by Inoue’s series.

REAL

Rated “T+” for Older Teens · MSRP: $12.99 US / $15.99 CAN · Available Now!

REAL is a gritty drama that offers a unique twist on the sports manga genre as it focuses on wheelchair basketball. A motorcycle accident, bone cancer, and a speeding truck crashing into a boy on a stolen bicycle all present tragic, life-changing events that turn the worlds of three young men upside down in this gripping new series. These three characters with very different personalities have only one thing in common – their passion for basketball.

SLAM DUNK

Rated “T” for Teens · MSRP: $7.99 US / $9.50 CAN · Available September 2, 2008

SLAM DUNK is the highly anticipated 31-volume basketball drama that has been a smash hit in Japan. Sakuragi Hanamichi’s got no game with girls – none at all! It doesn’t help that he’s known for throwing down at a moment’s notice. A hopeless bruiser, he’s been rejected by 50 girls in a row! All that changes when he meets the girl of his dreams, Haruko, and she’s actually not afraid of him!

When she introduces him to the game of basketball, his life is changed forever. Selected volumes of SLAM DUNK features a profile of a specific NBA player, their stats, and their signature on-court move. The profiles begin with Volume 1, which features the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James and his signature move, the Slam Dunk as a bonus excerpt.

VAGABOND VIZBIG Volume 1

Rated “M” for Mature Audiences · MSRP: $19.99 US / $23.50 CAN · Available September 16, 2008

VIZ Media is re-releasing VAGABOND in the VIZBIG format featuring three volumes in one oversized edition with bonus content and new cover art. Bonus features in Volume 1 include character concept sketches, interview with Takehiko Inoue and special author comments not previously included in previously published manga from VIZ Media.

Graphic novel aficionados who are just discovering Takehiko Inoue’s work will be able to enjoy his art in the larger trim size (5.75” X 8.25”) while existing fans will appreciate the added bonuses included in this particular volume. The schedule for the single volume editions of VAGABOND will continue with the publication of Volume 28 in October 2008.

SUMI: VAGABOND ILLUSTRATION COLLECTION

MSRP: $34.99 US / $39.99 CAN · Available September 16, 2008

This gorgeous oversized (8.86″ X 11.42″) art book captures Inoue’s magnificent pen and brush work in black and white. It will include a behind-the-scenes look at VAGABOND with rough sketches and photos of Inoue’s studio.

WATER: VAGABOND ILLUSTRATION COLLECTION

MSRP: $34.99 US / $39.99 CAN · Available September 16, 2008

WATER captures Inoue’s masterful work in color and contains artwork only published in this volume. Oversized (8.86″ X 11.42″) contains dozens of lush watercolor depictions of samurai Miyamoto Musashi in various garments and settings.

“Takehiko Inoue’s skill as both an artist and dramatic storyteller have catapulted him to the uppermost echelon of Japan’s manga artists,” says Alvin Lu, Vice President Publishing, VIZ Media. “His samurai action series, VAGABOND, first introduced his flair for historically-based sagas to domestic readers and his dynamic and realistic style shines in a completely different arena with the debuts of REAL and SLAM DUNK. Readers will delight in Inoue’s comprehensive knowledge of the sport of basketball and tributes to many great NBA players. The further release of THE ART OF VAGABOND: SUMI and WATER showcase Inoue’s pure skill as an artist and will be a must-have for serious fans of this celebrated series.”

Del Rey

• Tsubasa, Vol. 16

Viz Media

• Absolute Boyfriend, Vol. 5
• Baby & Me, Vol. 6
• Bleach, Vol. 22
• Buso Renkin, Vol. 10
• D.Gray-Man, Vol. 8
• Dragon Drive, Vol. 6
• Eyeshield 21, Vol. 18
• Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden, Vol. 6
• Godchild, Vol. 8
• Hoshin Engi, Vol. 5
• Kaze Hikaru, Vol. 8
• Knights of the Zodiac (Saint Seiya), Vol. 22
• MegaMan NT Warrior, Vol. 13
• Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation, Vol. 3
• Ouran High School Host Club, Vol. 10
• Pretty Face, Vol. 4
• Ral Ω Grad, Vol. 1
• Tail of the Moon, Vol. 9
• Yu-Gi-Oh!: Millennium World, Vol. 7
• YuYu Hakusho, Vol. 14

February 6

CMX

• Emma, Vol. 7
• The Empty Empire, Vol. 7
• King of Cards, Vol. 3
• Swan, Vol. 12

Dark Horse

• Blade of the Immortal Volume 18: The Sparrow Net
• Blood+ Volume 1 TPB
• Dominion: Conflict–No More Noise Second Edition TPB

February 8

TokyoPop

• Divalicious!, Vol. 2

Viz Media

• Bastard!!, Vol. 16
• Cheeky Angel, Vol. 20
• Inuyasha, Vol. 32
• Project Arms, Vol. 18
• Red River, Vol. 20
• Togari, Vol. 4
• Yakitate!! Japan, Vol. 9

February 9

CMX

• Canon, Vol. 4
• Variante, Vol. 2

Tokyo Pop

• Kung Fu Klutz and Karate Cool, Vol. 2

February 12

Del Rey

• Air Gear, Vol. 7
• Shugo Chara!, Vol. 3

Digital Manga Publishing

• Camera, Camera, Camera, Vol. 2
• Enchanter, Vol. 7
• Love Training
• Vanilla, Vol. 2

Tokyo Pop

• .hack//G.U.+, Vol. 1
• Aqua, Vol. 2
• Archlord, Vol. 4
• Battle Royale Ultimate Edition, Vol. 2
• Blood Sucker, Vol. 6
• Boys Be…, Vol. 16
• Brave Story, Vol. 3
• Chibi Vampire, Vol. 7
• CLAMP no Kiseki, Vol. 10
• Dark Metro, Vol. 1
• Doors of Chaos, Vol. 1
• Dragon Voice, Vol. 10
• Fruits Basket Ultimate Edition, Vol. 2
• Gothic & Lolita Bible, Vol. 1
• GTO: The Early Years — Shonan Junai Gumi, Vol. 6
• Gyakushu!, Vol. 2
• I Wish…, Vol. 1
• iD_eNTITY, Vol. 11
• In The End, Vol. 1
• Initial D, Vol. 29
• Junjo Romantica, Vol. 5
• Kami-Kaze, Vol. 7
• Kare Kano — Vols 1-3 Collection, Vol. 1
• King of Thorn, Vol. 3
• Little Queen, Vol. 5
• Love Mode, Vol. 8
• Love Pistols, Vol. 4
• Missle Happy, Vol. 2
• Nemesis: Who Me?, Vol. 1
• Pantheon High, Vol. 2
• Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo, Vol. 1
• Platinum Garden, Vol. 6
• Recast, Vol. 5
• Rose Hip Zero, Vol. 5
• Rure, Vol. 2
• Satisfaction Guaranteed, Vol. 6
• Shin Megami Tensei (KAHN), Vol. 1
• Shinshoku Kiss, Vol. 2
• Threads of Time, Vol. 11
• Twelve Kingdoms – Paperback Edition, Vol. 1
• Wild Adapter, Vol. 4

Viz Media

• Basara, Vol. 26
• Boys Over Flowers, Vol. 28
• Flame of Recca, Vol. 26
• Hayate the Combat Butler, Vol. 6
• Inuyasha Ani-Manga, Vol. 25
• No Need for Tenchi!, Vol. 12 (2nd Edition)
• O-Parts Hunter, Vol. 8
• The Law of Ueki, Vol. 10
• Zatch Bell!, Vol. 17

February 13

Broccoli Books

• Kamui, Vol. 10

Dark Horse

• Path of the Assassin Volume 9: Battle for Power part 1

Tokyo Pop

• Tramps Like Us, Vol.14
• Trinity Blood, Vol. 5

CMX

• Dokkoida?!, Vol. 1
• Venus in Love, Vol. 2

February 15

Netcomics

• Do Whatever You Want, Vol.1
• AEGIS, Vol.6
• Click, Vol.6
• Let Dai, Vol.1

February 19

Del Rey

• Alive, Vol. 3
• Kitchen Princess, Vol. 5
• Mushishi, Vol. 3

February 20

CMX

• Apothecarius Argentum, Vol. 4
• The Palette of 12 Secret Colors, Vol. 2

Dark Horse

• The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service Vol. 6 TPB

February 26

Del Rey

• Minima, Vol. 1
• Yozakura Quartet, Vol. 1

Digital Manga Publishing

• All Nippon Airline
• Speed Racer: Mach Go Go Go, Vols. 1&2

February 27

Broccoli Books

• World of Disgaea, Vol. 2

CMX

• Crayon Shinchan, Vol. 1
• Orfina, Vol. 2

DrMaster

• Chinese Hero, Vol. 5
• Metro Survive, Vol. 1
• Lunar Legend Tsukihime, Vol. 5

Releasing throughout the month of February

801 Media

• Maybe I’m Your Steppin’ Stone
• Love Circumstances

Aurora Publishing, Inc.

• Flock of Angels: Volume 2

Go! Comi

• A Wise Man Sleeps: Volume 1
• Cy-Believers: Volume 1
• A.I. Revolution: Volume 2

Seven Seas Entertainment

• no releases this month

Yen Press

• Zombie Loan, Vol. 2
• Black God, Vol. 2

Tokyo Pop

• Slayers, Vol. 7
• Slayers, Vol. 8

Viz Media

• Black Cat, Vol. 12
• Dr. Slump, Vol. 14
• Fall In Love Like a Comic, Vol. 2
• Gin Tama, Vol. 4
• High School Debut , Vol. 1
• Hikaru no Go, Vol. 11
• Hunter x Hunter, Vol. 18
• Kurohime, Vol. 3
• La Corda d’Oro, Vol. 6
• Love Com, Vol. 4
• Nana, Vol. 8
• Reborn!, Vol. 6
• S.A, Vol. 2
• Sand Chronicles, Vol. 1
• Shaman King, Vol. 14
• Skip Beat!, Vol. 10
• Strawberry 100%, Vol. 3
• The Prince of Tennis, Vol. 23
• Whistle!, Vol. 18

January 2

CMX

• Presents, Vol. 2
• Tears of a Lamb, Vol. 1

January 8

Del Rey

• The Wallflower 14
• Shiki Tsukai 2

TokyoPop

• Arcana, Vol. 7
• Aria, Vol. 1
• B’TX, Vol. 14
• Cherry Juice, Vol, 2
• Chibi Vampire: The Novel, Vol. 4
• Chobits Art Book: Your Eyes Only, Vol. 1
• Chronicles of the Cursed Sword, Vol. 20
• Dazzle, Vol. 7
• Deja vu – Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter – Vol. 1
• Demon Flowers: Kuruizaki no Hana, Vol. 2
• Dragon Head, Vol. 9
• Elemental Gelade, Vol. 6
• Fantamir, Vol. 2
• Full Metal Panic! (novel), Vol. 2
• Gatcha Gatcha, Vol. 6
• Getbackers, Vol. 22
• Good Luck, Vol. 4
• Gothic Sports, Vol. 3
• Harukaze Bitter Bop, Vol. 1
• Judas, Vol. 5
• King City, Vol. 1
• The Knockout Makers, Vol. 1
• Manga Sutra — Futari H, Vol. 1
• Monochrome Factor, Vol. 1
• Pearl Pink, Vol. 4
• Phantom, Vol. 4
• Rebirth, Vol. 21
• Riding Shotgun, Vol. 2
• Rozen Maiden, Vol. 7
• Samurai Deeper Kyo, Vol. 26
• Short Sunzen!, Vol. 1
• Ultra Cute, Vol. 9
• V.B. Rose, Vol. 1

Viz Media

• Bastard!!, Vol. 16
• Cheeky Angel, Vol. 20
• Inuyasha, Vol. 32
• Project Arms, Vol. 18
• Red River, Vol. 20
• Togari, Vol. 4
• Yakitate!! Japan, Vol. 9

January 9

CMX

• Canon, Vol. 4
• Variante, Vol. 2

Tokyo Pop

• Sgt. Frog, Vol. 14

January 10

Tokyo Pop

• MY-HiME, Vol. 5

January 12

Tokyo Pop

• Lagoon Engine, Vol. 4

January 13

Tokyo Pop

• Dogby Walks Alone, Vol. 2

January 15

Del Rey

• School Rumble 8
• Pastel 9

Digital Manga Publishing

• Heroes Are Extinct! Volume 3 (final)
• Everlasting Love
• Prince Charming Volume 2

Netcomics

• Honey Senior, Darling Junior Vol.1
• Romance Papa Vol.1
• Totally Captivated Vol.1
• Operation Liberate Men Vol.2

Viz Media

• Case Closed, Vol. 21

Gyo, Vol. 2 (2nd Edition)

January 16

Broccoli Books

• My Dearest Devil Princess #2

CMX

• Cipher, Vol. 10

Dark Horse

• Trigun Maximum Volume 12: The Gunslinger TPB

Digital Manga Publishing

• Trigun Maximum Volume 12

January 22

Del Rey

• Kagetora 8

January 23

Broccoli Books

• Coyote Ragtime Show #3

CMX

• Gon, Vol. 3

Dark Horse

• Berserk Volume 21 TPB
• Oh My Goddess! Volume 28

Digital Manga Publishing

• Berserk Volume 21

January 29

DrMaster

• SVC CHAOS: SNK vs. CAPCOM, Vol. 8
• Puri Puri, Vol. 4

January 29

Del Rey

• Hell Girl 1

Digital Manga Publishing

• Party
• Love Share
• I’ll Be Your Slave
• Body Language
• Family Complex

Viz Media

• Rurouni Kenshin, Vol. 1 (VIZBIG Edition)

January 30

Broccoli Books

• E’S #5

CMX

• Penguin Revolution, Vol. 5

Dark Horse

• Blood+ Volume 1 TPB
• Gunsmith Cats: Burst Volume 3
• Red String Volume 2
• Translucent Volume 3

Releasing throughout the month of January

801 Media

• The Prime Minister’s Secret Diplomacy
• The King of Debt

Aurora Publishing, Inc.

• Walkin’ Butterfly: Volume 2

Go! Comi

• Night of the Beasts: Volume 2
• After School Nightmare: Volume 2
• TRAIN+TRAIN: Volume 1

Seven Seas Entertainment

• First Love Sisters Vol. 1
• Pandora: A Death Jr. Manga
• Voiceful

VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced that it has licensed from Nippon Television (NTV) the North American theatrical and DVD distribution rights to the live-action feature film DEATH NOTE and its sequel, DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME, based on the DEATH NOTE anime and manga series which have gained massive followings in Japan and North America. VIZ Media is the exclusive North American publisher and distributor of the DEATH NOTE anime and manga series.

VIZ Pictures will open DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME in a series of special screenings at Austin’s Fantastic Fest 2007, September 20-27, and at the 2007 Vancouver Asian Film Festival, November 1-4. Theater information follows at the end of this release and future screenings will continue throughout 2008. VIZ Pictures also plans to release DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME on DVD in the summer of 2008.

“We are extremely proud to announce the license of DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME,” says Seiji Horibuchi President and CEO of VIZ Pictures. “Both films were smash hits in Japan upon their initial release and the established popularity of the manga in the United States, combined with the highly anticipated debut of the anime series, will prime audiences for the excitement and tension that the live feature films bring to the story.”

DEATH NOTE is based on the hit supernatural action mystery manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. The live-action film, directed by Shusuke Kaneko, known as a director of popular monster film “Gamera” series, was released in 2006 and mirrors the manga’s story of Light Yagami, an ace student with great prospects who is bored out of his mind. All of that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue
Shinigami death god named Ryuk. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals mysteriously begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to investigate, and he is soon hot on the trail of Light, who must now reevaluate his one noble goal. Both Light and L believe themselves to be on the side of justice, and the two match wits trying to show exactly which of them is “good” and which of them is “evil.”

The film’s sequel, DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME, was a hit in Japan, staying #1 for four straight weeks. While it closely followed major plot elements from the original manga series, several new key story differences were also introduced. Both films star Takeshi Kaga, who is widely known by North American audiences as the flamboyant host of TV’s Iron Chef.

DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME will screen at:
Sept. 20-27: Austin, TX, Fantastic Fest 2007
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
1120 South Lamar, Austin, TX
For show times and tickets, go to http://www.fantasticfest.com

*DEATH NOTE will screen at:
Nov. 1-4: Vancouver, BC, Vancouver Asian Film Festival
For show times and tickets, go to http://www.vaff.org/
*Note this will only be a screening of DEATH NOTE

About VIZ Pictures, Inc.
Based in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Pictures, Inc. distributes Japanese live-action films and DVDs, with particular focus on Japanese “kawaii (cute) and cool” pop culture. VIZ Pictures approaches each film release from a J-pop fan’s point of view. HULA GIRLS is the fifth VIZ Pictures title following TRAIN MAN: DENSHA OTOKO, LINDA LINDA LINDA, THE TASTE OF TEA, and PING PONG. The company will continue to offer the most entertaining live action motion pictures straight from the “Kingdom of Pop” for audiences of all ages in North America. VIZ Pictures, Inc. is an affiliate of VIZ Media, LLC, the San Francisco-based leading U.S. publisher of Japanese manga (comics) and merchandise licensor of Japanese animation such as the popular “NARUTO” animated TV series.
© 2006 VIZ Pictures, Inc

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs, audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.