Originally published in Japan, Weekly Shonen Sunday is known for running some of manga’s great authors, ranging from greats like Osamu Tezuka, Shigeru Mizuki, and Kazuo Umezu to authors who are still going strong today, including Mitsuru Adachi, Rumiko Takahashi, Makoto Raiku and Yellow Tanabe. So it is no surprise that VIZ would want to capitalize on these great titles and give them new life in America.

At face value, the Shonen Sunday web site isn’t all that different from VIZ’s home page. It includes a fancy scrolling flash menu and convienent links to series information, info about the creators, articles, news & blog, and a store. What the web site does offer is a light blue color scheme, which can be a nice change of pace from their regular white.

When reading manga online, the player is obviously the most important component. It can make or break the experience. For example, Tokyopop has really dropped the ball on this front. Their player moves the pages on its own, not giving you enough time to read and the text on the pages is minuscule. The player also lives in the social networking website they offer, cluttering the pages all the more. I understand that I could obviously toggle with the player but honestly I’m not trying to watch a movie; I’m reading a comic.

The Shonen Sunday site stands high atop the rubble, opening your manga player in a new, fairly large window. It is manually controlled, providing the reader with the feeling that we are still reading a comic. The sizing of the pages is easy on the eyes. I don’t find myself bending over and straining myself to read. VIZ creates a comfortable reading experience and that impression lasts.

There has been a lot of discussion in the past few years about how the internet is going to be the future of manga and anime. Assimilating manga into an online format has been met with some distaste in the past few years; however, with Shonen Sunday, I believe Viz is taking the right steps towards utilizing the internet.

Let’s take a look at the titles:

RIN-NE by Rumiko Takahashi

This new story from acclaimed author, Rumiko Takahashi, centers on a young girl named Sakura Mamiya, who is able to see ghosts after experiencing a spiriting away. One day, however, she finds that a classmate of hers, Rinne, not only can see ghosts but sends helps them to the other side!

I was on the fence about this series after reading the first chapter. While it offers classic Takahashi humor and great character design, the plot seems like its been done before. I am going to stick it out and see what directions it goes in but it felt like a mix of Ranma 1/2 and Bleach.

Fun Fact about this tale: The first chapters were published in Japan and America at the same time and continue to follow similar publishing schedules!

MAOH: Juvenile Remix by Kotaro Isaka and Megumi Osuga

Ando is a high school student who is known for being a bit of an outcast and a space case. Even amongst close friends, he has never found it easy to fit in with a group. These feelings can only last so long, as Ando soon discovers an ability similar to ventriloquism, allowing him to speak through other people and is introduced to the Grasshoppers, a vigilante group that are more than meets the eye.

I have to admit that I was pretty hooked by MAOH. It was paced very nicely, building up Ando’s discovery of this new psychic world. The art could use to be a bit more serious; I found it to be a little too goofy at times. That was the only thing that derailed this otherwise enthralling psychological thriller.

Kekkaishi by Yellow Tanabe

Most of us at Manga Recon love Kekkaishi and it’s cool to see it living in a new home! Devoted readers of this title be forewarned: it doesn’t seem as though VIZ has any plans to publish the most recent chapters online (only chapters one and two are up). Don’t worry, though. The physical book is still in publication and available through the site’s store.

For those you who don’t know the series, here’s a short blurb: Yoshimori Sumimura is the current heir of a long line of demon-hunters that specialize in creating barriers around their prey. He feuds with his family about his work as well as an opposing family of demon-hunters who live right next door! On top of all of this, he loves making cakes and becoming stronger.

Even after rereading chapter one, I still really enjoy this series. It mixes goofy, lighthearted humor with easy-on-the-eyes action. Recommended by me for any fan who really likes shonen.

Hyde & Closer by Haro Aso

Shunpei Closer is your typical shonen hero. In the vein of Tsunayoshi Sawada (Reborn!), he is pretty much bad at everything from sports to grades to girls. This all changes when he is thrown into a battle of sorcerers, who are after him and a “great power” that resides within him. To make things all the more cliché, he is aided by an antropromorphic teddy bear that his magical grandfather gave to him.

It sounds a lot like the typical “let’s save the world while growing up into adults” story and that’s because it is. I don’t see much coming out of it that you can’t find elsewhere and in better quality.

Arata: The Legend by Yuu Watase

From the author of Ceres and Fushigi Yûgi comes a new tale about two men named Arata, interwoven by mystical bonds throughout time. The story thus far focuses on the older Arata who is forced into posing as a woman fit to be the next queen. While at the ceremony to become the new queen, Kannagi, one of the twelve Shinsho (God Knights) kills the old queen. Arata is able to escape death but not before reveiling that he is a man, giving Kannagi just the excuse he needs to put a price on Arata’s head.

I am interested in this story but I feel like there is a good amount of information missing from the initial setting. I want to know more about this “mystical world” and who the Shinsho are and how they work. I am going to stick with this one too because I like Yuu Watase and have high hopes that this could go somewhere good.