WIN TICKETS TO THE 20TH CENTURY BOYS PREMIERE! PLUS, 25% OFF ALL NAOKI URASAWA MANGA

Our sister site, Manga Recon, is teaming up with Midtown Comics to give away tickets to the double feature of 20TH CENTURY BOYS & 20TH CENTURY BOYS: CHAPTER TWO – THE LAST HOPE at this year’s New York Asian Film Fest. Head on over to Manga Recon for details.

Both films are based on the acclaimed 20th Century Boys series by Naoki Urasawa, creator of Monster, Pluto and more. We don’t read a lot of manga, but everything this guy does is awesome. So much so that we wish we were eligible to enter the giveaway!

Also, to coincide with the giveaway, Midtown Comics is offering 25% OFF all Naoki Urasawa manga through July 1st. Just use codeword “mangarecon” (or click the link)

Obama manga!

Where will it end?

“While other countries bail out banks, slash interest rates and prop up struggling industries, Japan is pinning its hopes for economic recovery on a less likely source: manga comic books.

“As part of 15 trillion yen of fresh stimulus measures unveiled today, Japan hopes to raise the percentage of its exports of ’soft power’ – manga, animated films, video games and pop music – from 2% of the total to 18% over the next decade, creating half a million jobs.”

Thanks to John Kim for the link.

Daisho Con announced its guest lineup for 2009. Daisho Con, which is run by the student organization of the same name, has announced the 2009 guest list. Daisho Con is an annual convention focused around anime, video games, comics, table top gaming, and fantasy in Steven’s Point, Wis.

According to Daisho Con, guests include:
Laura Bailey – Laura has worked on over forty titles in both Texas and California, providing her directing and producing talents to many of them. Some of her most recognizable roles are: Shin in Shin-chan, Tohru Honda in Fruits Basket, and Lust in Fullmetal Alchemist.

Travis Willingham – Travis has worked in stage, TV, and film, but is best known in the anime world for his character Colonel Roy Mustang in Fullmetal Alchemist – one of his very first roles in anime. He has since gone on to work on many other popular titles in both Texas and Los Angeles.

Tim Seeley – Tim Seeley is the writer and creator of .hack/Slash, and a professional comic book illustrator. He began his art career as a children’s book illustrator, and eventually found himself drawing 3 3/4″ men in the G.I. Joe comic.

Pat Rothfuss – Pat Rothfuss is the author of the highly acclaimed fantasy novel The Name of the Wind, which is the first book in the Kingkiller Chronicle.

Steve Horton ? Steve Horton is the author of how-to books PROFESSIONAL MANGA and WEBCOMICS 2.0, and wrote STRONGARM for Image Comics and GROUNDED ANGEL for graphicsmash.com.

Steam Century ? Steam Century is a highly revered steampunk group that creates and hosts steampunk mysteries for players at several local conventions.

Full guest profiles, further information about Daisho Con, and pre-registration, can be found at: http://www.daishocon.com

“Boys Be” will be updated for the new millennium in “Boys Be? 2009 Term I” on Kodanshas’s MiChao mobile comic website, http://moura.jp/manga/. The original manga explored teenage relationships from the perspectives of different ordinary high school boys and continues the tradition with a modern backdrop.

“Video gamers hardly blink at virtual violence – but charges of racism can raise eyebrows. For instance, anticipation for the fan-favorite ‘Resident Evil’ series turned to uncertainty for some journalists in 2007, when they saw a game trailer which featured a white protagonist battling crowds of enraged Africans in a Third-World setting.

“Now cultural and media experts have weighed in as ‘Resident Evil 5,’ the game previewed in the trailer two years ago, rolls out on U.S. shelves this Friday. And their opinion suggests that video game players should not worry so much.

“In fact, the survival horror game may actually focus needed attention on issues of race and how the United States and other industrialized nations view the developing world.”

Also: The First Fan makes his manga debut, along with some other notable political figures.

“…I was talking to Ralph Macchino [sic] and was letting Marvel know I was hungry for more assignments. He said something about Kidnapped and I said, ‘Sure, sign me up!’ I didn’t exactly get to pick this particular series. Also, they were pretty happy the way Treasure Island turned out, and they thought I’d be good on another pirate tale, I think. Kidnapped is about a young boy, David Balfour, whose greedy uncle tried to swindle him out of his inheritance and plans to ship him on a boat and sell his [sic] as a slave. Really neat stuff to work on.”

Mario Gully

Also: Me and the Devil Blues wins a library award.

What do Tite Kubo and the Laker Girls have in common (besides a love of outlandish costumes)? Both will be at the Viz Media booth at San Diego Comic-Con to help promote Viz’s hottest shonen franchises. Read on for the full scoop!

San Francisco, CA, July 16, 2008 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced an exciting agenda of personal appearances, screenings and convention exclusives for the 2008 Comic-Con International taking place July 23-27 at the Convention Center in San Diego, CA. VIZ Media will be located in Booth #4113.

The year 2008 marks the 5th Anniversary of VIZ Media’s SHONEN JUMP Magazine and also the 40th Anniversary of Japan’s largest manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Jump, the source of some of the world’s most popular manga. These double milestones mean loads of events, appearances, announcements and many show-only exclusives during Comic-Con International 2008!

Highly anticipated by many excited fans will be an ultra-rare, in-person appearance by Tite Kubo, creator of the smash-hit BLEACH manga series, in the VIZ Media booth for two one-hour signing sessions on Saturday, July 26 at 10:00am and 3:30pm. This is the first time he will appear at any North American convention. Each signing session will be limited to 100 persons each. The first 50 fans who purchase a BLEACH item from the VIZ Media retail area each day from Wednesday through Saturday will each receive a special shikishi signing board and ticket as gifts. These gifts will qualify fans to attend one of the signing periods and receive an autograph from Kubo-sensei himself.

VIZ Media will also welcome Kubo-sensei, along with his editor, Mr. Atsushi Nakasaki, for a unique panel discussion about his work on Saturday from 1:00pm to 2:00pm in Room#7AB. Panel attendees will receive a limited edition BLEACH poster while supplies last. Throughout the convention, the VIZ Media Prize Patrol will be awarding prizes to fans dressed in BLEACH attire. Kubo-sensei is the creator of the wildly successful manga series BLEACH and ZOMBIEPOWDER. Both series are published domestically by VIZ Media and BLEACH is also currently serialized in SHONEN JUMP magazine.

A free theatrical screening of the BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY will be held on Friday, July 25 at 7:00pm at the Gaslamp 15 theatre located in downtown San Diego. A limited number of free passes to attend this special event will be available. Fans are encouraged to come by the VIZ Media booth to pick up one of the free passes while supplies last. Greeting guests at the screening will be KON, the lovable character from the BLEACH manga series. BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY is rated T for Teens.

The September release of Takehiko Inoue’s riveting basketball-themed manga series – SLAM DUNK – is also anticipated by many fans, and VIZ Media will highlight this upcoming title throughout Comic-Con with a variety of fun games and events including a very special in-person appearance by NBA star Greg Oden of the Portland Trailblazers on Sunday from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. Also attending to celebrate the release of SLAM DUNK are two of the famed Los Angeles Laker Girls, who will be at the VIZ Media booth on Friday, July 25 from 12:00pm to 2:00pm. SLAM DUNK is rated T for Teens.

VIZ Media will also headline a variety of panel discussions throughout the convention, beginning with a SHONEN JUMP panel on Friday from 10:00am to 11:00am in Convention Center Room #2. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to meet the editors and find out what they’ve got up their sleeves for 2009. Also on Friday, the VIZ Media Anime and Manga Panel will be happening from 3:00pm to 4:00pm in Room #2. The SHOJO BEAT magazine panel discussion is scheduled on Saturday from 3:30pm to 4:30pm in Room #10.

Finally, VIZ Media is pleased to have the work of three significant manga creators – Takeshi Obata, Naoki Urasawa and Taiyo Matsumoto – nominated in three categories for the 20th Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, which are considered the Oscars of the comic book industry. Mr. Obata is nominated in the Best Penciller/Inker or Penciller/Inker Team category for his work on DEATH NOTE and HIKARU NO GO. NAOKI URASAWA’S MONSTER is a contender for Best Continuing Series and Best U.S. Edition of International Material-Japan. Mr. Matsumoto’s, TEKKONKINKREET: Black & White is also nominated in the Best U.S. Edition of International Material-Japan. The awards are scheduled for Friday, July 25 in Ballroom 20 at the Convention Center.

“This year’s Comic-Con International is especially significant for VIZ Media as 2008 marks the 40th Anniversary of Japan’s best-selling manga anthology, Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, as well as the 5th Anniversary of the widely-read North American counterpart, SHONEN JUMP, and we are excited to celebrate these double milestones,” says Evelyn Dubocq, Sr. Director, Public Relations. “VIZ Media will present a captivating array of fun activities, discussions, in-person appearances and product exclusives that will make each day of this year’s show a truly memorable event for new as well as veteran fans!”

VIZ Media will also be available for portfolio reviews on Sunday, the 27th, from 2:00pm to 4:30pm in the Portfolio area of the Convention Center. Artwork will be reviewed by Marc Weidenbaum, Vice President of Original Publishing and Eric Searleman, Senior Editor at VIZ Media.

Read on for the full scoop on Real, Slam Dunk, Solanin, and more of Viz’s summer/fall line-up. –KD

San Francisco, CA, May 30, 2008 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will highlight several notable upcoming manga (graphic novel) releases at the 2008 BookExpo America (BEA) show, taking place May 30-June 1, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. BEA is the preeminent yearly trade event for publishers and booksellers in North America. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 1647.

VIZ Media will further participate in three roundtable discussions on a variety of important topics central to the burgeoning manga industry in North America. Graphic Novel Distribution, Bookstores, and the Direct Market takes place Saturday, May 31, 9:30am-10:30am in Room 406B and will feature VIZ Media’s Vice President of Sales & Product Marketing Gonzalo Ferreyra. The discussion will review various changes the domestic manga industry has undergone, as well as the risks and rewards of distributing manga in the bookstore arena and what comes next for publishers.

New York, NY – May 28, 2008 – Hiro Mashima, the popular Japanese manga creator of Fairy Tail, will make his first-ever US convention appearance at Comic-Con International San Diego 2008, running Thursday, July 24 through Sunday, July 27. Manga and anime fans from the US and across the world will be able to meet one of their favorite creators in a rare appearance that will include a panel and signing. Kodansha Ltd., Mashima’s Japanese publisher, and Del Rey Manga, an imprint of Ballantine Books at the Random House Publishing Group and the US publisher of Mashima’s Fairy Tail, will sponsor his visit.

Mashima made his US debut with the series Rave Master, which made him one of the most popular manga artists in America. Mashima’s second series, Fairy Tail, was one of the most highly anticipated Del Rey Manga launches this year. In a show of support and admiration of Mashima’s work, Del Rey Manga launched the first two volumes of Mashima’s Fairy Tail at the same time in March 2008.

A prolific creator known for his fantasy and adventure shonen manga, Mashima is working on multiple projects in Japan simultaneously. Mashima’s Fairy Tail is currently being serialized in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine. Another ongoing Mashima series, the video game-based Monster Hunter Orage, made its debut in the first issue of Kodansha’s Shonen Rival Magazine.

“Hiro Mashima is a real star in the manga world and he’s developed a wide fanbase with his engaging, fun stories, including Fairy Tail,” says Dallas Middaugh, associate publisher of Del Rey Manga. “We’re thrilled to be bringing him to San Diego Comic-Con and we know fans share that excitement with us.”

ABOUT KODANSHA LTD.:
Kodansha is the largest trade book and magazine publisher in Japan. Founded in 1909, the company by virtue of its long history, the quality of its publishing, and its established network of sales and marketing is regarded as the trade book market leader in the publishing business in Japan. Moreover, Kodansha has been recognized as the leading publisher with a mission to introduce Japan through its publishing business.

ABOUT DEL REY MANGA:
Del Rey Books (http://www.delreybooks.com ) was founded in 1977 as an imprint of Ballantine Books, a division of the Random House Publishing Group, under the guidance of the renowned Judy-Lynn del Rey and her husband, Lester del Rey. Del Rey publishes the best of modern fantasy, science fiction, and alternate history. Ballantine Books is an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group, which is a publishing group of Random House, Inc, the U.S. publishing company of Random House, the trade book publishing division of Bertelsmann AG, one of the world’s leading international media companies. In 2004 it expanded by launching Del Rey Manga (www.delreymanga.com ), which has grown to be a major force in the U.S. graphic-novel field. Bestselling titles include Tsubasa, Negima, xxxHolic, and The Wallflower.