VIZ Media must be very proud of themselves because recently their publications have been mentioned in the YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) list of 2010 Great Graphic Novels For Teens!

The list of VIZ titles mentioned includes:

• CHILDREN OF THE SEA Vol. 1 by Daisuke Igarashi (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens)
• KIMI NI TODOKE Vol. 1 & 2 by Karuho Shiina (rated ‘T’ for Teens)
• OOKU: INNER CHAMBERS Vol. 1 by Fumi Yoshinaga (rated ‘M’ for Mature Audiences)
• OTOMEN Vol. 1 by Aya Kanno (rated ‘T’ for Teens)
• MIXED VEGETABLES Vol. 1 by Ayumi Komura (rated ‘T’ for Teens)
• PLUTO Vol. 1-3  by Naoki Urasawa (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens)
• SOLANIN by Inio Asano (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens)
• TEGAMI BACHI: LETTER BEE Vol. 1 by Hiroyuki Asada (rated ‘T’ for Teens – pictured right)
• WE WERE THERE Vol. 1-4  by Yuki Obata (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens)

The list itself was divulged at the ALA Midwinter Meeting that was held recently, and all of the titles in the list are recommended for those in between the ages of 12 to 18. These VIZ titles also are accompanied by works from Dark Horse, Marvel, DC Comics, Yen Press and TOKYOPOP to name a few. For the full list of mentions, head on over to www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists which includes films as well as books. Some of those items were also mentioned in our Holiday Guides last year – so it’s probably a good idea to keep an eye out when the time rolls around again!

Congratulations to our friends at VIZ for this latest achievement – we look forward to seeing what makes the list next year!

This time we have vampires, ghosts, crime drama and teenage angst awaiting us. I won’t hold back – so what’s in store?

VIZ Signature releases include:

Children of the sea, Vol. 1 (available now) and Vol. 2 (available December 15, pictured – top right)

Rated ‘T+’ For Older Teens – $14.99 US / $17.50 CAN each

When Ruka was younger, she saw a ghost in the water at the aquarium where her dad works. Now she feels drawn toward the aquarium and the two mysterious boys she meets there, Umi and Sora. They were raised by dugongs and hear the same strange calls from the sea as she does. Ruka’s dad and the other adults who work at the aquarium are only distantly aware of what the children are experiencing as they get caught up in the mystery of the worldwide disappearance of the oceans’ fish. CHILDREN OF THE SEA is a surreal and riveting aquatic adventure from Daisuke Igarashi. Igarashi was given the Award of Excellence by the Japan Cartoonists Association in 2009.

GOGO Monster

Rated ‘T’ For Teens – $27.99 US / $36.00 CAN

Third grader Yuki Tachibana lives in two worlds. In one world, he is a loner ridiculed by his classmates and reprimanded by his teachers for telling stories of supernatural beings that only he can see. In the other world, the supernatural beings vie for power with malevolent spirits who bring chaos into the school, the students’ lives, and even nature itself.

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD!, Vols. 1-2

Rated ‘T+’ For Older Teens – $12.99 US / $16.00 CAN each

A poignant 2-volume collection of intersecting vignettes depicting twenty-something angst, WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD! explores the various ways that modern life can be at once ridiculous and sublime, terrible and precious, wasted and celebrated. In Volume 1, what begins with a college dropout bored of her mediocre routine soon becomes a fantastic series of stories about the unexpected ways that different lives intersect. Filled with magical realism in the face of the cold reality of daily modern life, at their core these stories are about young people discovering something precious amidst the chaos of existence. Volume 2 continues to explore similar themes including the cruelty of childhood, the delusion of adulthood, the endurance of death and how people find a way to remain resolute and laugh in the face of reality.

SHONEN SUNDAY, SHONEN JUMP, SHONEN JUMP ADVANCED and SHONEN JUMP FICTON goodies include:

RIN-NE, Vol. 1

Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens – $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN

RIN-NE is the brand new series from celebrated manga creator Rumiko Takahashi (INUYASHA). As a child Sakura Mamiya mysteriously disappeared in the woods behind her grandma’s home. She returned whole and healthy, but since then she has had the power to see ghosts. Now a teenager, she just wishes the ghosts would leave her alone! At school, the desk next to Sakura’s has been empty since the start of the school year, then one day her always-absent classmate shows up, and he’s far more than what he seems!

INUYASHA (VIZBIG), Vol. 1

Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens – $17.99 US / $24.00 CAN

Rumiko Takahashi’s epic manga adventure INUYASHA is given an omnibus VIZBIG treatment that combines the first three volumes of the smash hit series. Pulled back in time to Japan’s ancient past, Japanese high school girl Kagome finds her destiny linked to a dog-like half-demon named Inuyasha, who remembers Kagome’s previous incarnation as the woman who killed him – and to the Shikon Jewel, or “Jewel of Four Souls,” which can fulfill the greatest dreams of any man or monster. Now Kagome and Inuyasha must work together to search for the scattered shards of the jewel before everyone’s nightmares are given the power they need to come true.

YU-GI-OH! r, Vol. 1 (available now) and Vol. 2 (available December 1)

Rated ‘T’ for Teens – $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN

YU-GI-OH! R is the shocking sequel to Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duelist and the prequel to Yu-Gi-Oh!: Millennium World. When the follower of an old enemy returns to take revenge, Yugi Mutou must duel to save a friend’s life. But can he overcome the power of the three “Jashin,” the terrifying Evil God Cards? Bonus trading card in the first print run.

TEGAMI BACHI: LETTER BEE, Vol. 1

Rated ‘T’ for Teens – $7.99 US / $9.50 CAN

In a land of perpetual night, your heart is your light. In this imaginative steampunk adventure, Amberground is locked in darkness. A man-made star casts only a dim light over the land. The pitch-black wilderness is infested with Gaichuu—colossal insects with metal exoskeletons. The Gaichuu make travel between the cities of Amberground extremely dangerous. But thankfully the Letter Bees, a brave corps of messengers, risk their lives in order to keep the hearts of Amberground connected.

ROSARIO+VAMPIRE, Vol. 10

Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens – $9.99 US / $12.99 CAN

All around teenager Tsukune can’t get accepted to any high school, save one… but on his first day, he finds the rest of the rest of the student body doesn’t appear average in the least. Best of all, the cutest girl on campus can’t wait to fling her arms around his neck! Wait a sec’ – are those her teeth around his neck too? Tsukune’s going to have one heck of a hickey when he gets home from Monster Hugh! But does he have a chance in hell of raising his grades at a school where turf war isn’t between jocks and nerds, but between vampires and werewolves?

DEATH NOTE: L change the WorLd Novel

$19.99 US / $24.00 CAN

DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd introduces the unwritten chapter of DEATH NOTE and reveals how the legendary detective “L” (Kenichi Matsuyama) spends the final 23 days of his life. The story begins as L takes on the “Kira” case, in which countless criminals are dying under mysterious circumstances. L successfully solves the case and stops Kira, but only after sacrificing his life, leaving himself with only 23 days left to live. For his final case, L faces down a bio-terrorist group trying to wipe out humanity with a deadly virus ten times more potent than Ebola. As L tries to formulate an antidote with a scientist, he must also save the lives of two children who have no one else to turn to. The DEATH NOTE novel features the same format as the original Japanese printing with a hardcover and clear acetate jacket with metallic ink.

Gonzalo Ferreyra, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, VIZ Media:

“We’re offering up the best of the best just in time for the holidays,” says Gonzalo. “There are new series from manga heavyweights like Taiyo Matsumoto with GOGO Monster, and Rumiko Takahashi with her newest creation, RIN-NE and many more. For new and familiar fans alike, or perhaps for ones who simply love good stories with exquisite art, any of these titles will make an especially unique gift to fit almost any budget this year.”

If you need more information on any of these items, make a visit to www.Viz.com.

San Diego Comic Con by GamingAngels

VIZ media has decided to take a gamble and create a venue for digital manga. SigIkki.com is a new web destination that will feature downloadable items, chapters from upcoming manga, series information and creator information.

(if anyone knows the artist for the song in the video please let me know!)

Ten chapters are already up on Ikki.com for Children of the Sea, a new title by Daisuke Igarashi. Here is the video trailer:

During the panel they gave brief introduction to some of the series that will be coming to the website, some as early as 7/30.

Bokurano Ours is a story of kids going to summer school who wander off to explore a cave. In the cave they find out about a game and the children decide to join in. The story will feature 15 main characters.

Saturn Apartments is a story where people are now living on rings around earth because earth is uninhabitable. The manga focuses on a young kid who’s job it is to clean the windows in the Saturn Apartments.

After School Charisma is set in a school where all the students are clones of historical figures, except one. Of course odd things start to happen.

House of Five Leaves is by Natsume Ono and is a period piece from the 17th/18th century. The main character is forced to take a job as a bodyguard for a mob leader.

Viz Signature Ikki shows real promise. Viz has already stepped up to the plate by offering manga right at launch and a breadth of very unique titles. Most titles will be on the site for several months but how long is still to be determined. Your best bet is to head over to Ikki.com and check it out for yourself!

The site is making an effort in trying to provide seinen manga (“seinen” meaning intended for young men) on their website with new content available each month.

In May, they provided visitors with the 1st chapter of “CHILDREN OF THE SEA” by Daisuke Igarashi and currently have the 2nd chapter available on the site. As of this month, there will be 6 completed manga series made available for viewing online – for free. And depending how popular the demand is for any particular volume, “Viz Signature” will publish it as a graphic novel. They also intend to provide creator interviews, feature articles, news, and free downloads each month – so keep an eye on http://www.sigikki.com/ for some interesting items!

Keep an eye on SIGIKKI.com on July 23rd specifically because there will be some manga titles that are going up that day! Which ones? Here you go:

Bokurano: OURS By Mohiro Kitoh (Rated ‘T+’ for older teens)

Saving the world is hard. Saving yourself is even harder.

One summer, fifteen kids innocently wander into a nearby seaside cave. There they meet a strange man who invites them to play an exciting new video game. This game, he explains, pits one lone giant robot against a horde of alien invaders. To play the game, all they have to do is sign a simple contract. The game stops being fun when the kids find out the true purpose of their pact.

Dorohedoro By Q Hayashida (Rated ‘M’ mature)

A blood-spattered battle between diabolical sorcerers and the monsters they created.

In a city so dismal it’s known only as “the Hole,” a clan of sorcerers have been plucking people off the streets to use as guinea pigs for atrocious “experiments” in the black arts. In a dark alley, Nikaido found Caiman, a man with a reptile head and a bad case of amnesia. To undo the spell, they’re hunting and killing the sorcerers of the Hole, hoping that eventually they’ll kill the right one. But when En, the head sorcerer, gets word of a lizard-man slaughtering his people, he sends a crew of “cleaners” into the Hole, igniting a war between two worlds.

Saturn Apartments By Hisae Iwaoka (Rated ‘T’ for teens)

A touching, character-rich vision of an intriguing new world.

Far in the future, humankind has evacuated the Earth in order to preserve it. Humans now reside in a gigantic structure that forms a ring around the Earth, thirty-five kilometers up in the sky. The society of the ring is highly stratified: the higher the floor, the greater the status. Mitsu, the lowly son of a window washer, has just graduated junior high. When his father disappears and is assumed dead, Mitsu must take on his father’s occupation. As he struggles with the transition to working life, Mitsu’s job treats him to an outsider’s view into the various living-room dioramas of the Saturn Apartments.

I’ll Give it My All…Tomorrow By Shunju Aono (Rated ‘T+’ for older teens)

Life begins at forty…even for pathetic losers.

This is the story of a forty-year-old salary man who quits his job to pursue his dream of becoming a manga artist—and the family that has to put up with him. While not terribly unhappy, Shizuo Oguro can’t fight the feeling that something in his life just isn’t right, so he walks away from his stable (yet boring) day job to embark on a journey of self-discovery. Unfortunately for his family, this journey also involves playing video games all day while his teenage daughter and elderly father support him. Will Shizuo succeed in creating a true manga masterpiece or will he be just another drop-out living a life of slack?

These will soon be followed by opening chapters of the next few titles on July 3oth:

Afterschool Charisma By Kumiko Suekane (Rated ‘T+’ for older teens)

History repeats itself… Or does it?

St. Kleio Academy is a very exclusive school: all of the students are clones of famous historical figures such as Beethoven, Queen Elizabeth I, Napoleon, Mozart, and Freud. All of them, that is, except for Shiro Kamiya. As Shiro struggles to adapt to this unusual campus, St. Kleio’s first graduate, a clone of John F. Kennedy, is killed. Are the clones doomed to repeat the fate of their genetic progenitors, or can they create their own destinies? And how does a normal boy like Shiro fit in?

Kingyo Used Books By Seimu Yoshizaki (Rated ‘T+’ for older teens)

This manga bookstore has a thousand stories to tell.

A businessman discovers how his childhood memories can brighten his day. An art student finds inspiration. An archer hits a surprising bull’s eye. A housewife rediscovers romance. A teenager discovers his true self in the pages of a manga magazine. Welcome to Kingyo Used Books, a place where people find their dreams in manga…

HOUSE OF FIVE LEAVES By Natsume Ono (Rated ‘T+’ for older teens)

A many-sided tale of faith and betrayal, drama and intrigue, set in the world of old Edo.

Masterless samurai Akitsu Masanosuke is a skilled and loyal swordsman, but his naïve, diffident nature has time and again caused him to be let go by the lord whom he has worked for. Hungry and desperate, he becomes a bodyguard for Yaichi, the charismatic leader of a gang called “Five Leaves.” Although disturbed by the gang’s sinister activities, Masa begins to suspect that Yaichi’s motivations are not what they seem. And despite his misgivings, the deeper he’s drawn into the world of the Five Leaves, the more he finds himself fascinated by these devious, mysterious outlaws.

Tokyo Flow Chart By Eiji Miruno (Rated ‘T+’ for older teens)

This manga will f(low) with your brain!

Have you ever wished that somebody else would just DO SOMETHING about the chaos in your life? Then this is the perfect manga for a slacker like you! Tokyo Flow Chart is (probably) the world’s first four-frame comic strip in flow chart format. It breaks down the complexities of life and aids in the mastery of brain skills such as flow-chart-manga comprehension or mental bullet-dodging. As Confusious say: “let your brain flow with the chart!”

Some interesting manga titles there – which one are you going to read first?

The critically acclaimed long-running cooking manga is written by Tetsu Kariya and illustrated by Akira Hanasaki. Published by VIZ Media under its VIZ Signature imprint,Oishinbo: Fish, Sushi and Sashimi edition is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will become avaialble on July 21^st with an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $15.00 CAN.

OISHINBO (or “The Gourmet“) depicts the culinary journey of journalist Shiro Yamaoka, who is tasked by fictional newspaper Tozai News to create the ultimate menu. Yamaoka and his father, Kaibara Yzan, have never enjoyed an ideal father-son relationship. In fact, it’s about as far from ideal as possible, and when they start arguing about food – which they inevitably do – the sparks really fly. In this latest volume of OISHINBO the subject of dispute is fish, starting with the question of whether mackerel can ever be truly good sashimi. Later, things come to a head during the “Salmon Battle,” which pits father against son in an epic contest to develop the best dish before a panel of judges. Will Yamaoka finally defeat Kaibara, or will he once again be left in his father’s shadow?

Previous OISHINBO editions have focused on other popular Japanese cuisine items such as ramen, gyoza, and sake. VIZ Media has selected highlights from the epic 100+ volume series and compiled them into seven a la carte editions that can be enjoyed individually or as a series. OISHINBO also won the prestigious 32^nd Shogakukan Manga Award in 1986.

VIZ Media to Release Children of the Sea manga!

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, announced the release of Daisuke Igarashi’s surreal and riveting manga series, CHILDREN OF THE SEA, releasing July 21st in North America. The manga is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and will carry an estimated MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $17.50 CAN.

When Ruka was younger, she saw a ghost in the water at the aquarium where her dad works. Now she feels drawn toward the aquarium and the two mysterious boys she meets there, Umi and Sora. They were raised by dugongs and hear the same strange calls from the sea as she does. Ruka’s dad and the other adults who work at the aquarium are only distantly aware of what the children are experiencing as they get caught up in the mystery of the worldwide disappearance of the oceans’ fish.

This is the first title to be published under IKKI by from VIZ Media, a sub-imprint of the VIZ Signature imprint. They have also created an online magazine which can be found here. They will present free chapters of their stories to their readers.

A little bit about IKKI magazine: IKKI, a monthly magazine published in Japan 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.

You can read the manga online at: http://www.sigikki.com/series/childrenofthesea.shtml.

ULTIMO! Featured in July Issue of Shonen Jump Magazine!

VIZ Media, one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the debut of the serialization of the ULTIMO series (KARAKURIDÔJI ULTIMO) in SHONEN JUMP magazine. Originally announced to a packed house at a Press Conference at New York Comic Con in 2008, the serialization begins in the July issue of SHONEN JUMP magazine, which is on sale now at retailers and newsstands nationwide.

ULTIMO represents a historic collaboration between comics legend Stan Lee, co-creator of many iconic superheroes including Spider-Man™, the Fantastic Four™, and the X-Men™, and Hiroyuki Takei, the creator of the popular SHAMAN KING manga series, published in Japan by Shueisha and in North America by VIZ Media.

The ULTIMO back-story: High above Farmless City, citizens are stunned by the sudden appearance of two floating figures. Are they human boys, monolithic robots, or something much more strange? As the battle ensues between them, destruction and devastation falls on the hapless city. One figure is Vice, and seems to be as evil as his name implies. The other is Ultimo, intent on trying to stop Vice from wreaking more havoc. But who are Vice and Ultimo really? Where did they come from? Find out in the first chapter of ULTIMO!

“The addition of ULTIMO to SHONEN JUMP magazine marks this as a great time for both manga and comics, and we are very excited to be able to deliver this bold new story to fans every month,” says Grant Lowery, Editor-In-Chief of SHONEN JUMP. “The captivating character designs and action-packed story blend the best aspects of Western and Asian comic book traditions and will delight fans of both genres. We invite fans of both comics and manga to seize the opportunity to explore this groundbreaking new series!”

For over half a century, Stan Lee has been synonymous with superhero comics. In addition to co-creating countless memorable series and characters, including Spider-Man™, the Incredible Hulk™, and Daredevil™, he served as the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics. Lee remains a hugely respected and dynamic figure in the entertainment industry and continues to develop a variety of film, television and video game properties.

Unconventional author/artist Hiroyuki Takei began his career by winning the coveted Hop Step Award (for new manga artists) and the Osamu Tezuka Award. After working as an assistant to famed artist Nobuhiro Watsuki (RUROUNI KENSHIN), Takei debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997 with Butsu Zone, an action series based on Buddhist mythology. His multicultural adventure manga series SHAMAN KING debuted in Japan in 1998 and has been adapted into a popular animated television series The SHAMAN KING manga series is published in North America by VIZ Media and to-date has sold more than 400,000 copies in the U.S.; for many years it was also serialized in English in VIZ Media’s SHONEN JUMP magazine.

VIZ Media August DVD releases

VIZ Media has announced their releases for the month of August. Check them out:

NARUTO Uncut Box Set Volume 15 Special Edition · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens ·

MSRP: $69.97 US / $99.99 CAN · Available August 25

Ino faces an unusual exercise in royal etiquette when she is asked by an overweight princess to take her place and attend the first meeting with the young prince she adores. Then the Hidden Leaf Village comes under serious threat when important blueprints of the village are stolen! Naruto, Shikamaru and the others have their hands full finding and removing the massive numbers of paper bombs placed throughout the village. Can they save the Hidden Leaf Village from utter demolition?

Includes playing cards 37-45 and a collectible Mininja Gaara Figurine (5 of 6) (limited supply)

BLEACH Volume 19 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · MSRP: $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN · Available August 18

Attempting to rescue Uryu, Ichigo, Rukia and their diverse allies launch an attack on the stronghold of the Bounts. But the evil Bount leader Kariya is far too powerful a foe, and things are looking grim. To make things more complicated still, it appears that one of their foes fighting alongside the Bounts is a former Soul Reaper, Maki Ichinose.

Episodes: 76 thru 79

HUNTER X HUNTER Box Set Volume 3 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens ·

MSRP: $49.95 US / $71.99 CAN · Available August 11

Gon has finally been licensed as a hunter, and things are about to get a whole lot tougher! First he has to rescue his friend Killua from the clutches of…Killua’s own family?! Then it’s off to Heavens Arena, home to the biggest fighting tournament on the planet, where Gon must square off against his old enemy Hisoka.  Gon is committed to being the best hunter he can be, but will he have to overcome more than a few broken bones to reach his goal?

New POKÉMON Releases Include:

POKÉMON: DP BATTLE DIMENSION Box Set 2 · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages ·

MSRP: $24.92 each US / $35.99 each CAN · Available August 25

Ash and friends continue their Pokémon journey through the Sinnoh region, taking on new challenges like the Pokémon Summer Academy and meeting lots of new people, including a Top Coordinator, a Pokémon Ranger, and even some Poké Stylists! There are also a few familiar faces up to no good, like Pokémon Hunter J and Team Galactic – can Ash, Dawn, and Brock handle their latest threats?

POKÉMON: DP BATTLE DIMENSION Volume 3-4 · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages · MSRP: $14.98 each US / $21.99 each CAN · Available August 25

The episodes of POKÉMON: Diamond and Pearl Battle Dimension Box Set 2 split into two standard disc editions.

POKÉMON ALL STARS Box Set 2 · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages · MSRP: $39.97 each US / $57.99 each CAN · Available August 25

Over 11 hours of Pokémon adventures featuring more of your favorite Pokémon in a commemorative DVD box set! Includes: Meowth, Treecko, Psyduck, Wobbuffet, Lapras, Totodile, Skitty, Chikorita, Torchic, and Onix!

New from VIZ Pictures:

DEATH NOTE:  L, Change the WorLd · MSRP: $24.92 US /$35.99 ·

Available August 18

The live action feature film -DEATH NOTE: L, change the WorLd introduces the unwritten chapter of DEATH NOTE and reveals how the legendary detective “L” spends the final 23 days of his life. The story begins as L takes on the “Kira” case, in which countless criminals are dying under mysterious circumstances. L successfully solves the case and stops Kira, but only after sacrificing his life, leaving himself with only 23 days left to live. For his final case L faces down a bio-terrorist group trying to wipe out humanity with a deadly virus ten times more potent than Ebola. As L tries to formulate an antidote with a scientist, he must also save the lives of two children who have no one else to turn to.

Children of the Sea KAIJU NO KODOMO © Daisuke IGARASHI / Shogakukan Inc.

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