NEW YORK, NY – December 9, 2007 – Marvel Entertainment and Del Rey Manga, an imprint of Ballantine Books at the Random House Publishing Group, announced today plans to publish two new manga series based on Marvel Entertainment’s highly popular X-Men series.

The manga, created with the cooperation and consultation of Marvel editors, will take the classic characters from the X-Men series and re-imagine them in a manga style. The first project, scripted by the husband-and-wife team of Raina Telgemeier (writer and illustrator of The Babysitter’s Club graphic novels) and Dave Roman (creator of the comic Agnes Quill), will focus specifically on the X-Men team. Indonesian artist Anzu will illustrate the two-volume series, which will go on sale in Spring 2009.

It’s the X-Men as you’ve never seen them before, with the storyline fashioned as a private school shôjo comedy. (Shôjo manga is aimed at girls and often covers popular subjects such as comedy, romance, and drama.) As the only girl in the all-boys School for Gifted Youngsters, Kitty Pryde, a mutant with phasing abilities, is torn between the popular Hellfire Club, led by flame-throwing mutant Pyro–and the school misfits, whom she eventually bands together as the X-Men.

A second manga series, to be published in Spring 2009, follows the adventures of Wolverine, a breakout member of the X-Men team known for his attitude and unbreakable adamantium claws.

Dallas Middaugh, associate publisher of Del Rey Manga, says, “The X-Men are some of the most well-known characters in the world, and it’s the strength of those characters-along with strong and unique storylines-that make the X-Men a perfect match for the manga form. It’s an amazing opportunity, and we’re eager to bring new interpretations to the fans through the prism of manga.”

The X-Men made their comics debut in The X-Men #1 in 1963 and have since become a mainstream pop culture phenomenon with the development of an animated television series, several video games and a blockbuster live-action film trilogy.

Ruwan Jayatilleke, Vice President of development of Marvel Entertainment, Inc., said “Del Rey Manga has been an innovative force in the manga landscape—consistently growing the medium and breaking the boundaries of print. We have found a partner who will bring the X-Men and Wolverine into the fastest growing segment of graphic fiction, with superior storytelling and visual fireworks. Comic book fans and manga readers have much to look forward to.”

Manga, the Japanese term for comics, is a Japanese cultural phenomenon that accounts for nearly half of all the books and magazines sold in Japan. Read by men and women of all ages, manga covers a wide variety of themes including adventure, romance, fantasy, and more. Manga has experienced incredible growth in the US and Canadian graphic novel market in the past few years. According to industry source ICv2 manga sales reached between $170 million and $200 million in 2006.

About the Creators
Raina Telgemeier is best known for her work as the writer and illustrator of The Babysitter’s Club graphic novels. She received her BFA from the School of Visual Arts and has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Eisner, Ignatz, Cybil, and Web Cartoonists’ Choice awards.

Dave Roman currently works for Nickelodeon Magazine as an associate editor. The co-creator of the Harvey Award-nominated series Jax Epoch and the Quicken Forbidden and the Ignatz award-winning Teen Boat, he also pens his own webcomic, Astronaut Elementary. He is also the creator of the comic Agnes Quill.

Anzu, a manga artist based in Indonesia, will make her US manga art debut in April 2008 with the first volume of The Reformed, written by Chris Hart. She has contributed to Hart’s bestselling How to Draw Manga series.

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.

About Marvel Entertainment, Inc.
With a library of over 5,000 high-profile characters built over more than sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in licensing, entertainment (via Marvel Studios), publishing (via Marvel Comics) and toys, with emphasis on feature films, home DVD, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Marvel’s strategy is to leverage its franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world. For more information visit www.marvel.com.

X-Men, Wolverine: TM & © 2007 Marvel Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Now that the last cosplaying Soul Reaper has hung up his zanpakutou, I thought I’d take stock of the major manga news stories to emerge from the first New York Anime Festival. If you want the lowdown on individual titles, I encourage you to visit About.com, where Deb Aoki has posted plot summaries and release dates for series discussed at NYAF, and MangaBlog, where Brigid Alverson has filed detailed reports on the weekend’s big panels. Anime fans and fujioshi should check the Manga Recon blog later this week, when Erin F. files her reports on the anime panels and Drama Queen’s big plans for 2008.

Here are my votes for the five most important manga-related news stories from NYAF 2007:

5. Everyone’s riding the omnibus.
Chalk it up to budget conscious consumers or burgeoning back catalogs, but several publishers announced plans to repackage fan favorites in new, multi-volume editions. Tokyopop and Viz are focusing on older titles, with Tokyopop offering both deluxe, hardbound editions of Warcraft: The Sunwell Trilogy and Fruits Basket (complete with extras and larger trim size) and more wallet-friendly omnibus treatments of crowd-pleasers like Chronicles of the Cursed Sword and Kare Kano. Viz, meanwhile, will be rolling out Big Editions of Rurouni Kenshin and both DragonBall series. The Viz Big Editions will be formatted like Tekkonkinkreet, with a larger trim size, color pages, and a dust jacket. Curiously, no one at the Viz panel mentioned the more exciting news that Inoue’s Vagabond will also be getting the Big Edition treatment in 2008. File that under Things That Make You Go Hmmmm….

While Del Rey has no plans to continue its Barnes and Noble omnibus program, it will be offering readers a deluxe presentation of Me and The Devil Blues (June 2008), a fictionalized biography of legendary Delta guitarist Robert Johnson. Each installment will include two volumes of the manga—that’s nearly 500 pages of story—formatted for a slightly larger trim size.

• Tokyopop Graphic Novel Editions: Chronicles of the Cursed Sword, Kare Kano, King of Hell, Rebirth (Spring 2008), Sgt. Frog (December 2007) (3 volumes each; $12.99; limited availability)
• Tokyopop Ultimate Editions: Battle Royale, Warcraft: The Sunwell Trilogy, Fruits Basket (available now) (2-3 volumes each; hardcover; $14.99 – $29.99)
• Viz Big Editions: DragonBall (April 2008), DragonBall Z (August 2008), Rurouni Kenshin (February 2008), Vagabond (Fall 2008) (3 vols. each; softcover; $17.99)

4. nisiOisin: not just an acronym anymore.
In an effort to capitalize on popular manga franchises, Del Rey and Viz have licensed novels by prolific author nisiOisin. Del Rey will offer CLAMP fans xxxHolic: Another Holic, a novel set in the xxxHolic universe, while Viz will be releasing Death Note: The Last Note, a prequel to the manga. nisiOisin’s work will also appear in the first volume of Del Rey’s Faust anthology, which will include a collaboration between him and Loveless manga-ka Yun Kouga. And Del Rey has licensed his light novel series Zaregoto: The Kubikiri Cycle.

• Del Rey: Faust: Fiction and Manga from the Cutting Edge of Japanese Pop Culture (short story w/illustrations by Yun Kouga; summer 2008), xxxHolic: Another Holic (light novel; one volume; illustrations by CLAMP), Zaregoto: The Kubikiri Cycle (light novel; nine volumes)
• Viz: Death Note: Another Note (light novel; one volume; February 2008)

3. Yen Press has 4-coma fever.
Among the many titles Yen Press plans to release in 2008 are four series that follow the same yonkoma format as Azumanga Daioh. The first, Shoulder a Coffin, Kuro (May 2008), follows the adventures of a young girl who travels the countryside with a talking bat and a coffin strapped to her back; the second, Sunshine Sketch, is a slice-of-life comedy set in a boarding school dormitory (June 2008); the third, Suzunari! (July 2008), tells the story of a young girl and her cat-eared doppelganger (and yes, wacky hijinks ensue); and the fourth, SS Astro: Teacher’s Lounge (October 2008) offers a humorous look at how faculty members really interact when their students aren’t around.

2. X-Men/1999.
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock (or avoiding the Internet), you’ve probably heard the news that Del Rey and Marvel have teamed up to produce two manga series based on the X-Men. Before you roll your eyes, keep in mind that Del Rey and Marvel are bringing A-list talent to the project (writers, artists, and editors) in an effort to create a product that manga fans will want to read.

The first will be aimed squarely at a shojo audience. Editor Tricia Narwani reassured readers that the story would “respect shojo conventions” while remaining faithful to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s original characters. The concept sketches suggested something in the vein of X/1999 or Godchild—a tone that I hope carries over to the dialogue and plot as well. (Please, no X-Men: Fruits Basket or Dr. Xavier’s Here Is Greenwood. Keep it dark, and keep those chibis to a minimum!) The second series, Wolverine, was aimed at a shonen audience. Though Del Rey had secured a writer for the project, no artist was announced, nor were any plot points discussed. (UPDATE: Deb Aoki has posted some preliminary character sketches at About.com. Click here to view bishonen Wolverine!)

• Wolverine (2 vols., Spring 2009; Story by Antony Johnston)
• X-Men: The Manga (2 vols., Spring 2009; Story by Raina Telgemeier and Dave Roman, Art by Anzu)

1. Shonen Jump may face some stiff competition.
Received wisdom is that the US market can’t support manga magazines. Given how many worthy anthologies have tanked—remember Super Manga Blast or Raijin Comics?—it seems like a fool’s errand to launch a new magazine. But Kurt Hasseler may have hit on a winning formula with the just-announced Yen Plus: run cool titles by big-name artists and authors. A manga adaptation of James Patterson’s best-selling YA series Maximum Ride will be serialized in Yen Plus, as will Svetlana Chmakova’s highly anticipated Night School. Among the other franchises slated to run in the magazine are Jack Frost, a supernatural Korean adventure story, and Pig Bride, a soong-jeong comedy about a young man who’s never seen his bride-to-be’s face. (She wears a pig mask at all times. Paging Dr. Phil…) Each volume will be approximately 460 pages, and will sell for $8.99 at a variety of retail outlets. Look for the first issue in the summer of 2008.

Del Rey will also be publishing an anthology, though Faust will offer readers a mixture of fiction and manga. The first volume, scheduled for an August 2008 release, will include contributions from CLAMP, Takeshi Oba (Death Note, Hikaru no Go), nisiOisin (Death Note: The Last Note), and Yun Kouga (Loveless), while the second will feature a short manga by American cartoonist Fred Gallagher (Megatokyo).

Most fan-friendly licensing news: Tokyopop announced that it will be releasing a manga adaptation of Kyo Kara Maoh! in the third quarter of 2008, while Bandai Entertainment announced that it had acquired the rights to the Code GEASS manga and light novels.

Most YALSA-friendly licensing news: Go! Comi announced that it will be publishing Song of the Hanging Sky, a folkloric story about an indigenous people threatened by modernity. The concept and the gorgeous artwork suggest that this might be a future YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens pick. Ditto for Kasumi (Del Rey), an OEL title from American writer Surt Lim and Japanese artist Hirofumi Sugimoto. The premise sounded quite amusing: a teen moves to a small village where a tree god grants her (and other teens) special powers. The catch: they can only activate these powers by closing their eyes or holding their breath, making them less-than-ideally suited for saving the world.

Least surprising licensing news: Viz will be pushing more Naruto and Death Note products in 2008, including The Official Naruto Fan Book (February 2008) and a Death Note 13: How to Read (February 2008), while Tokyopop will be releasing a Fruits Basket sticker book (May 2008) that will include pin-ups, posters, and temporary tattoos inspired by the series’ zodiac theme.

Best news for manga bloggers and web surfers: Tokyopop will be overhauling its website, making it easier to navigate and locate information about its own products. Tokyopop will also be launching a new program that will dovetail beautifully with their Rising Stars of Manga initiative. I can’t say more right now—the details are still being hammered out—but I think that it will be a real boon for both the company and for creators.

Best news for booksellers: Del Rey will begin staggering its releases, offering two to four new titles per week instead of ten or thirteen titles on the same day each month. As an added bonus, Del Rey will be simultaneously releasing the first two volumes of several series including Hiro Mashima’s eagerly anticipated Fairy Tale (March 2008).

Best convention swag: Vertical’s Guin Saga leopard masks.

Most entertaining panel: Drama Queen. (And I’m not saying that just because I won volumes one and two of DVD—I swear!)

Most abused marketing hook: Comparing a series’ premise with Harry Potter. I heard no fewer than four pitches that began, “It’s like Harry Potter in manga form” or “Think of it as Harry Potter meets…”

What the kids will be reading next: Gakuen Alice (Tokyopop), Night School (Yen Press), The Record of a Fallen Vampire (Viz)

What the old curmudgeons will be reading next: Black Jack (Vertical, Inc.), Dororo (Vertical, Inc.); Manga Sutra (Tokyopop); Me and the Devil Blues (Del Rey); Real (Viz), SS Astro: Teacher’s Lounge (Yen Press); Summit of the Gods (Fanfare/Ponent Mon)

San Francisco, CA, December 3, 2007 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced exciting content for its January 2008 issue of SHONEN JUMP Magazine. The issue is expected to hit retail outlets nationwide tomorrow, December 4th, in plenty of time for the holidays, and offers a host of new surprises and exciting editorial content sure to delight even the most discriminating fan. This issue also marks the 5th anniversary of SHONEN JUMP Magazine, the most popular English-language comics anthology.

The January issue of SHONEN JUMP, rated T for Teens, marks an important turn in the development of anime and manga’s most popular series, the ninja epic, NARUTO! The serialized NARUTO returns to the magazine after a two-month hiatus with a whole new story arc that picks up two full years after the disappearance of one of the manga’s central characters. Everyone is older, stronger and different in many ways from the earlier chapters of the series and readers will delight in noting the developments. A hotshot Naruto returns to the Hidden Leaf Village from training with his new mentor, Jiraiya, to find that everything back home has changed and readers will get to see a side of the character they’ve never seen before.

SHONEN JUMP recently introduced the BLEACH manga to its lineup, and it’s quickly become one of the magazine’s most popular. This issue features three full manga chapters, plus news on the related animation, which airs on Cartoon Network, and the card game.

The January issue of SHONEN JUMP has always included an extra-powerful Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG card, and this one is no exception: newsstand and subscriber copies alike come with the exclusive “The Wicked Dreadroot” card, and two pages of tips from experts.

The issue also delivers an exclusive first look at the new One Piece: Unlimited Adventure video game for the Nintendo Wii from NAMCO BANDAI Games America. Captain Monkey D. Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates embark on wild adventures in this all new original game, set to be released in early 2008. SHONEN JUMP further expands on the pirate theme with a rundown of some of history’s most notorious pirates and a special interview with the directors of the long-running ONE PIECE animated series.

“The dramatic break in NARUTO has been one of the most exciting things to happen in SHONEN JUMP,” says Marc Weidenbaum, the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief. “It capped the SJ Evolution that’s been going on throughout 2007. Now everyone in the manga is older and they’ve changed in many ways. Part of the fun of reading this month’s NARUTO chapter is discovering these differences, combined with learning more about new looming threats to our favorite ninja. That together with the recently introduced BLEACH manga, and the pirate adventures of ONE PIECE make this issue a great way to close 2007 and start 2008 — and the fact that it also debuts in plenty of time for the holidays makes SHONEN JUMP an ideal stocking stuffer!”

From video game advertisers such as Namco Bandai and Sega, to non-endemic partners such as Sara Lee’s Ball Park Franks and the ONDCP anti-drug campaign — advertisers also agree that this January issue is going to be a must-read for hard-to-reach male teens — almost 2 million total readers in all!

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 (graphic novel) 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 and 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.

Planning to attend New York Anime Fest this weekend? If so, you need a strategy for getting the most out of this three-day extravaganza. Here are five fun things to do… besides shop ’til you drop and nab autographs, of course.

5. Watch a live-action adaptation of your favorite manga.
Sounds like a counter-intuitive thing to do at a festival celebrating animation, but Viz Pictures is screening a terrific line-up of movies that includes Honey and Clover, Lovely Complex (a.k.a. Love*Com) and both Nana flicks. Catch ‘em here before Viz releases them on DVD next year!

• Friday, Dec. 7th: Lovely Complex (5:00 PM, Live-Action Screening Room)

• Sunday, Dec. 9th: Nana (1:00 PM, Live-Action Screening Room)
• Sunday, Dec. 9th: Honey and Clover (3:00 PM, Live-Action Screening Room)

4. Tour Japan with a tall girl (and maybe pick up some cosplay tips, too).
Aimee Major Steinberger, one of this year’s Guests of Honor, will preside over two panels. The first celebrates the release of her charming travelogue Japan-Ai: A Tall Girl’s Adventures in Japan. (Dramacon creator Svetlana Chmakova explains, “It’s a sketchbook, it’s a story, it’s a warmly humorous and often downright beautiful glimpse of Japan through the eyes of a fellow geek.”) The second might best be described as Cosplay 101. Aimee will cover the basics from wig styling to adapting outlandish character designs into something you can wear to a convention… without being arrested for indecent exposure, that is.

• Saturday, Dec. 8th: Aimee Major Steinberger’s Japan Ai (4:00 PM, Anime Culture Panel Room)

• Sunday, Dec. 9th: Cosplay Workshop (11:00 AM, Anime Fandom Panel Room)

3. Break into journalism.
Whether you’re an armchair critic or cub reporter, the folks at Anime News Network have you covered with two panels offering would-be Pauline Kaels and Lois Lanes tips on breaking into the biz. The first, Getting Into Anime Journalism, focuses on making the transition from casual fan to anime insider, while the second, The Art of Reviewing Anime, explores the “differences between a good anime review and a bad LiveJournal post.” (Hint: spelling and grammar are major contributing factors!)

• Friday, Dec. 7th: Getting Into Anime Journalism (6:00 PM, Anime Culture Panel Room)

• Saturday, Dec. 8th: The Art of Reviewing Anime (11:00 AM, Anime Culture Panel Room)

2. Go mano-a-mano with Mothra.
Imagine an event that combined your favorite monster movies with your favorite pro wrestling moves, and you’ll have some idea of what’s in store for you at the Kaiju Big Battel panel. Go behind the scenes with the Kaiju Regulatory Commission to learn more about this “maximum security” sporting event in which “maniacal villains, ominous alien beasts, and gigantic, city-crushing monsters who are fighting for control of the globe” unleash “pent-up monster rage” without harming humans.

• Sunday, Dec. 9th: Kaiju Big Battel (4:00 PM, Anime Fandom Panel Room)

1. Learn something about Japanese culture.
Sure, your extensive knowledge of anime and manga has made you into an expert on maid cafes, cultural festivals, and White Day gift-giving. But there’s a lot more to Japanese culture than ramen noodles and cute boy bands. Expand your horizons by attending one of many panels exploring Japan’s rich history and traditions. Here are some highlights:

• Friday, Dec. 7th: Gekiga: Dramatic Manga (3:00 PM, Anime Culture Panel Room)

• Friday, Dec. 7th: Symbolism in Anime (4:00 PM, Anime Fandom Panel Room)
• Saturday, Dec. 8th: Anime & Manga Research Roundtable (1:00 PM, Anime Culture Panel Room)
• Saturday, Dec. 8th: J-Horror with David Kalat (5:00 PM, Anime Culture Panel Room)
• Saturday, Dec. 8th: Sake and The City (6:00 PM, Anime Culture Panel Room)
• Sunday, Dec. 9th: Samurai and Feudal Japan (11:00 AM, Anime Culture Panel Room)
• Sunday, Dec. 9th: Noh, Kabuki and Bunraku (12:00 PM, Anime Culture Panel Room)
• Sunday, Dec. 9th: Japanese Woodblock Prints (1:00 PM, Anime Culture Panel Room)

The organizers of NY Anime Fest have posted a complete schedule of panels, premieres, and screenings on their website. There are also more interactive ways to get your geek on: cosplay contests, artist signings, haiku slams, and a maid cafe. Click here for a full schedule of events and contests. And if you’re planning to duck out of the Javits Center, consult Erin F.’s map for the best places to find manga and munchables in midtown Manhattan.

NEW YORK, NY (November 12, 2007) – Yen Press, an imprint of Hachette Book Group USA that is dedicated to graphic novels, will publish its first BL (Boys Love) romances that feature adult males starting in Fall 2008. Obtained from the Japanese publisher Houbunsha and created by the talented Lily Hoshino, additional BL titles will be published throughout 2009. “We are pleased to support this market that has such a dedicated fan base.” said Kurt Hassler, Co-Publishing Director for Yen Press.

Upcoming BL titles from Yen Press include:

Love Quest (Rabu Kue) by Lily Hoshino
October 2008
$12.99 / 176 pages / 5”x 7.5”

Kazunori Akabane’s nursing a wounded ego after being rejected by the girl of his dreams. And all because she¹s got the hots for some guy named Moriya! But when the two rivals suddenly meet in the school hallway, the universe spasms and the floor falls away, swallowing the rivals up! They end up in an alternate reality that looks like a whole lot like an RPG videogame, where a scantily-clad heroine with superpowers informs them that the key to their staying alive in this world and making involve the two becoming much more…intimately familiar.

Mr. Flower Bride (Hanayome-kun) by Lily Hoshino
March 2009
$12.99 / 176 pages / 5” x 7.5”

Shinji Souda’s not exactly happy about his family’s age-old marriage customs, namely the fact that he has to marry a boy! Will a sudden confession from his bride-to-be, a beautiful boy in his class named Aoi, make Shinji change his mind? This sweet love story follows the couple through their marriage ceremony, wedding night, life as newlyweds, and even childbirth! The title story in this compilation is the prequel to Mr. Flower Groom, also being published by Yen Press. Childhood friends Ritsu and Kouichirou are married in a traditional Japanese wedding ceremony, as men of the Souda household have been for generations. But where the groom, Ritsu, thinks the custom is a mere formality and urges his betrothed to find himself a girl, Kouichirou (the bride) has other ideas. When Ritsu learns of Kouichirou¹s sincere intentions, will the marriage end before it even begins?

Mr. Flower Groom (Hanamuko-san) by Lily Hoshino
July 2009
$12.99 / 192 pages / 5” x 7.5”

After a rocky start to their marriage, Ritsu and Kouichirou have tentatively reconciled. . . into an uneasy friendship. Unable to come to grips with his conflicted feelings about the marriage and Kouichirou¹s undisguised affection, Ritsu is shocked by his own jealous reaction to his “wife” bringing a girl home. But when Ritsu¹s attentions towards a past love hurt Kouichirou badly, will the bride and groom be able to bring their marriage safely back from the edge of the precipice or was their marriage always doomed to failure?

Born on December 17, Lily Hoshino (pen name) is a mangaka who primarily draws and writes boys’ love manga. She also occasionally dabbles in seinen (or adult male) comics and self-publishes original doujinshi comics. She¹s fond of slightly unripened bananas, the taste of yuzu, and mirin seasoning.

Yen Press is an imprint of Hachette Book Group USA dedicated to publishing graphic novels for adults and young readers. Yen Press’ focus is primarily on licensed manga, but will also publish across the wide spectrum of the graphic novel market, including, but not limited to: original manga publications, original American comics/graphic novels, webcomics, licensed adaptations, and children’s graphic novels.

Hachette Book Group USA (HBG) is the wholly-owned subsidiary of Hachette Livre, and is comprised of the following publishing groups: Warner Books; Little, Brown and Company; FaithWords; Center Street; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; and HBG Digital Media.

NEW YORK, NY, November 20, 2007 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, announced the upcoming 2008 release of Takehiko Inoue’s basketball manga comic, REAL, last night at a special in-store event attended by the acclaimed artist/creator to inaugurate the new Kinokuniya Bookstore in Bryant Park, New York City. Inoue is also the creator of the mega-hit masterpieces SLAM DUNK and VAGABOND. Event attendees got a sneak peek at original wall art in the Kinokuniya store illustrated by the artist featuring some of his best-known characters.

The REAL series is scheduled to debut July 2008 and is the third manga series created by Takehiko Inoue set to be released by VIZ Media. The company plans to debut his long-awaited SLAM DUNK basketball series, Rated T for Teens, in September 2008 and VIZ Media will also publish a pair of beautifully illustrated art books; SUMI and WATER. VIZ Media currently publishes Inoue’s acclaimed samurai series VAGABOND, rated M for Mature.

REAL, Rated T+ for older teens, 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 Inoue’s gripping series. Three very different personalities have only one thing in common – their passion for basketball.

Also set for release next year are a pair of lavishly illustrated art books that capture the essence of Inoue’s techniques in black and white and color. SUMI will present Inoue’s magnificent pen and brush work in black and white. It will also include a behind-the-scenes look at VAGABOND with rough sketches and photos of Inoue’s studio. WATER will feature Inoue’s masterful work with color and will contain artwork only published within this volume.

“It was a true pleasure to help welcome Takehiko Inoue for this special and rare appearance and also announce the upcoming release of REAL,” says Liza Coppola, Sr. Vice President, Marketing, VIZ Media. “Inoue has reached the pinnacle of commercial and artistic greatness and his name is often mentioned in the same breath as luminaries like Osamu Tezuka. In REAL, Inoue delivers a stunning portrayal of people struggling with serious life issues. These aspects are masterfully depicted with beautifully detailed line art and we look forward to readers cheering for these characters as they battle to overcome physical limitations and find redemption both on and off the basketball court. This isn’t one to miss!”

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 (graphic novel) 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 and 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.

San Francisco, CA, November 13, 2007 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the ultimate NARUTO manga collection – a special NARUTO Shadow Box Limited Collector Set which bundles all 27 volumes of the hit series’ first story arc. With the 2007 holiday season fast approaching, this set, which is the most extensive and elaborate manga box set the company has published to date, will be a highly desired item among many fans. The NARUTO Shadow Box Limited Collector Set is expected to be released today and has a limited production run of 5,000.

The NARUTO Shadow Box Limited Collector Set contains 27 volumes housed in a special wooden display box that is individually numbered and emblazoned with the NARUTO logo. Included are the final three volumes of the first story arc – available in advance of their December 4 general release date. A special mini-manga of the “proto-chapter” of the first NARUTO story ever published is also included, along with a sneak peek of Vol. 28, an exclusive two-sided color poster, collectible graphic novel cover stickers, and a NARUTO trading card exclusive to VIZ Media. The NARUTO Shadow Box Limited Collector Set, with a suggested retail price of $189.95, will be available at select major book retailers and also thru the VIZ Media online store at store.viz.com. Pre-orders on the VIZ Media website are being accepted now. A limited production run of 5,000 makes this a serious collectible for any NARUTO or manga fan.

NARUTO has emerged as one of the best selling and most popular manga series throughout North America, regularly placing in both Graphic Novel and Overall General Fiction categories on noted literary sales rosters including BookScan and the USA Today Top 150. It was also the first manga to ever win a noted literary Quill Award in 2006. NARUTO has become one of VIZ Media’s most successful manga properties in terms of sales. The series, by creator Masashi Kishimoto, depicts the adventures of a young boy who trains to become a ninja, and has sold more than 80 million copies in Japan since Shueisha Inc. began publishing the manga in 1999.

“The NARUTO Shadow Box Limited Collector Set is probably the most elaborate and comprehensive single manga box set ever published in North America and we are extremely excited to release it in plenty of time for the holidays,” says Liza Coppola, Sr. Vice President, Marketing, VIZ Media. “The massive popularity of the manga shows no signs of slowing and this is the ultimate collection for any serious fan. The set is an ideal way to display the entire run of NARUTO and we’ve also included a host of extras that make this a real must-have this holiday season. We expect it to be a feature on many die-hard fans’ wish lists this year.”

The release of the box set is the culmination of NARUTO NATION, a broad campaign launched by VIZ Media earlier this year that began by bringing an unprecedented increase in the frequency of publication of the series. In order to catch up to the present Japanese release schedule and to prepare readers for upcoming notable changes in the main character and story arc, VIZ Media has offered three new volumes of the NARUTO manga per-month since September – a first for any U.S. manga publisher. The company has also released a variety of other related NARUTO products including the DVD release of NARUTO THE MOVIE: NINJA CLASH IN THE LAND OF SNOW, a gorgeous hardcover UZUMAKI: ART OF NARUTO edition, the NARUTO ANIME PROFILES: HIDEN SHIPPU EMAKI, and NARUTO MISSION: PROTECT THE WATERFALL VILLAGE!, the latest addition to the collection of NARUTO novels under the VIZ Fiction imprint.

VIZ Media also plans to launch the manga with the new NARUTO story arc in March 2008, which depicts the next stage of the saga about a boy training to become a ninja with the main character now three years older. Fans can also get a peek at the new NARUTO story in the January 2008 issue of SHONEN JUMP Magazine, on sale December 4, 2007.

Abut 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 (graphic novel) 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 and 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.

San Francisco, CA, November 2, 2007 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the most expansive issue to-date of its hit monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP™. The December 2007 issue will run a hefty 416 pages and is expected to hit retails shelves nationally on November 6.

Among other the notable content, the issue will offer the conclusion of the epic Yu-Gi-Oh! saga, which raised generations of Duelists and has dominated the trading card world. SHONEN JUMP also interviews YU-GI-OH! creator Kazuki Takahashi and gives a retrospective on the impact and history of the internationally loved manga. However, fans needn’t despair because YU-GI-OH! GX will continue its popular ongoing run in the magazine.

Also included will be a sneak preview of Takehiko Inoue’s influential and long-awaited basketball manga series, SLAM DUNK. The critically acclaimed series has sold over 100 million copies in Japan and is a winner of the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award. Catch all the on- and off-court action of the entire first chapter, which is featured in full color in this issue.

For NARUTO fans, SHONEN JUMP offers a manga short story that creator Masashi Kishimoto drew before he dreamed up the hyperactive and unpredictable ninja that millions of North American fans have come to know and love. They will be interested, and perhaps a bit surprised, to get a fascinating glimpse of a Naruto that might have been.

Rounding out the issue is an expanded Games We Love section — lengthened this month into a 10-page blowout covering the magazine’s picks for the best video games of 2007. The issue also includes some extras such as Nintendo DS cards for the latest NARUTO and BLEACH games that let readers unlock special features.

“This is a special issue for SHONEN JUMP as it’s not every day that a long-running series like YU-GI-OH! reaches its conclusion,” says Marc Weidenbaum, the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, “But that’s exactly what happens in this issue, and creator Kazuki Takahashi closes things off in a very satisfying way that fans will definitely not want to miss. We’ve also got the early NARUTO short story that offers an intriguing look at Masashi Kishimoto’s initial idea for the beloved series, and we publish the first chapter of the highly anticipated basketball series SLAM DUNK, one of the most popular manga of all time, in color!”

This impressive issue is estimated to reach over 1.9 million readers as reported by the recently released Spring 2007 Simmons Youth study in which SHONEN JUMP is measured.

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 (graphic novel) 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 and 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.

Listen up, otakus! If you’ve ever wondered how to break into the manga biz as an editor, translator, or publicist, you’ll want to attend Del Rey’s Your Career in Manga Panel, which will be happening this Saturday in New York City. Here’s the scoop:

Del Rey Manga, an imprint of Ballantine Books at the Random House Publishing Group, will conduct a panel, Your Career in Manga, as part of Kinokuniya’s New York store opening celebration on Saturday, November 3, 2007 at 2 p.m.

Del Rey Manga launched in 2004 and has since grown to be a major force in the US graphic novel field with hits such as Negima and Tsubasa. Members of the Del Rey Manga team will share their experiences in the manga industry; the processes in which manga is acquired, edited, produced, translated, and marketed; and the skills needed to begin a career in manga.

Panelists include: Dallas Middaugh (Associate Publisher), Tricia Narwani (Publishing Associate), Ali T. Kokmen (Marketing Manager), Caron Harris (Production Manager) and April Flores (Associate Publicist). Also included in the panel is freelance translator Mari Morimoto, who has worked on projects such as Del Rey Manga’s Dragon Eye and manga publisher Viz’s Naruto.

WHERE:
Kinokuniya
1073 Avenue of the Americas
across from Bryant Park between 40th and 41st Street

WHEN:
Saturday, November 3rd @ 2:00 p.m.
Panel followed by Q&A

San Francisco, CA, October 5, 2007 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will captivate fans this holiday season with a range of vividly illustrated new art and picture books based on popular anime and manga series and a new long-anticipated addition to the VIZ Fiction imprint.

Among the new titles are THE CAT RETURNS ART BOOK, NAUSICAÄ WATERCOLOR IMPRESSIONS, THE ART OF NARUTO: UZUMAKI, THE ART OF FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST 2, and the novel DRAGON SWORD AND WIND CHILD. Gift givers and their recipients can look forward to something special and out of the ordinary this year, as these selections are sure to captivate not only fans of anime, manga and pop culture, but also art aficionados. Each book is unique and can be picked up and enjoyed again and again.

THE CAT RETURNS PICTURE BOOK
Rated “A” for All Ages • MSRP: $14.99 • Available October 23, 2007

An adorable children’s book based on the popular Studio Ghibli animated movie now available on DVD from Disney, THE CAT RETURNS PICTURE BOOK illustrates the story of a young girl and her exciting adventures in a magical feline universe using actual cel artwork from the original movie. The story follows a Japanese girl named Haru who saves a cat carrying a present from being run over by a truck. The cat turns out to be the Prince of the Cat Kingdom and, in return of the favor, the king decrees that the whole kingdom repay her kindness with favors, including catnip in her garden, dozens of boxed mice in her locker, and even marriage to the crown prince of Cat Kingdom that she definitely doesn’t want. Overwhelmed and a little scared, she contacts the Cat Business Office. Together with CBO’s owner, the Baron, Haru enters the Cat Kingdom and the plot thickens as the pair tries to prevent her marriage.

THE ART OF NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND: WATERCOLOR IMPRESSIONS
MSRP: $34.99 • Available November 6, 2007

From the vaults of Academy Award-winning director, Hayao Miyazaki, THE ART OF NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND: WATERCOLOR presents original and never-before-seen illustrations and concept sketches for both the manga and film versions of NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND, released in 1984 and still regarded as one of the director’s best works. This full-color, over-sized softcover book with jacket also includes Miyazaki’s earliest sketches that became the basis for some of his other notable works and gives a rare glimpse into the creative process of the most acclaimed anime director in the world today. NAUSICAÄ is ranked as one of the 50 greatest science fiction films by the Internet Movie Database IMDB. Set thousands of years in the future after a human cataclysm nearly destroys civilization, the world is a barren dangerous place overrun by a toxic jungle infested with huge new insect creatures. As humanity rebuilds and begins again in pockets of civilization, a spunky young princess attempts to hold her struggling people together against an invasion by a rival army. She must destroy a terrible new secret weapon that has the potential to wipe out what remains of humanity and bridge the gap between humans and the new creatures that have emerged in the aftermath. NAUSICAÄ is acclaimed for its innovative and beautifully portrayed story that also presents a subtle but strong humanitarian and ecological message.

THE ART OF NARUTO: UZUMAKI
MSRP: $19.99 • Available October 25, 2007

NARUTO has become the most successful anime and manga property in North America. Fans can relish creator Masashi Kishimoto’s artwork for the hit series in this new hardbound collection. Everyone’s favorite ninjas in training, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi, and a host of other characters are featured in over a hundred pages of gorgeous full-color images. These images have never before been published in North America. The book also includes an extensive interview with Kishimoto, step-by-step details on the process of creating a Naruto illustration, 20 pages of notes from the author about each image in the book and a beautiful double-sided poster! This is not one to miss for any fan of the manga and anime series.

THE ART OF FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST 2
MSRP: $19.99 • Available October 16, 2007

A new hardcover art book featuring the characters and artwork from the top-selling and award-winning manga series by Hiromu Arakawa (published by VIZ Media). The new edition includes original color artwork and each illustration is presented in sequential order with added commentary from Arakawa herself. Also included are 9-pages of detailed character designs for the FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST PS2 video game plus two pages of brand new manga panels. FULLMETAL ALCHEMSIT is a hit in North America with 14 volumes of the manga series now in print. This is an ideal companion to the manga and is sure to delight fans.

DRAGON SWORD AND WIND CHILD
Rated “T” for Teens • MSRP: $16.99 • Available November 20, 2007

VIZ Fiction offers a new printing with an updated translation of this acclaimed novel by Noriko Ogiwara. In the land of Toyoashihara, the forces of the God of Light and the Goddess of Darkness have waged a ruthless war for generations. But for 15-year-old Saya, the war is far away and unimportant – until the day she discovers that she is the reincarnation of the Water Maiden and a princess of the Children of the Dark. Raised to love the Light and detest the Dark, Saya must come to terms with her heritage even as she is tumbled into the very heart of the conflict that is destroying her country. The armies of the Light and Dark both seek to claim her, for she is the only mortal who can awaken the legendary Dragon Sword, the fearsome weapon destined to bring an end to the war. Can Saya make the dreadful choice between the Light and Dark, or is she doomed like all the other Water Maidens who came before her? Noriko Ogiwara was inspired to write by the classic Western children’s books she read as she was growing up. Dragon Sword and Wind Child is her first book and part of the award-winning Magatama Trilogy.

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 (graphic novel) 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 and 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.