Viz Media News & Information

[Chris Beveridge]

News & Information about Viz Media from Anime Expo 2008.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Hope we hear something regarding Black Lagoon's release schedule. I 'd also love for them to announce that they will speed up the wait time between volumes of stuff like InuYasha since the series is now over in Japan. Also if they have a panel I want someone to ask WTF was the reason that they have slowed down the Full Metal Alchemist release ( volume 17 not due out now till October )

[HitokiriShadow]

Hope we hear something regarding Black Lagoon's release schedule.

It's bimonthly.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Oh ok thats good.

[Tofurkey]

If I don't make it, can someone please pester them about when we're gonna get the unpublished volumes of Bo^7? Thx.

[braves]

I 'd also love for them to announce that they will speed up the wait time between volumes of stuff like InuYasha since the series is now over in Japan. Also if they have a panel I want someone to ask WTF was the reason that they have slowed down the Full Metal Alchemist release ( volume 17 not due out now till October )


I wonder why Inuyasha was getting such a slow release date in the first place, seeing as how it wasn't being serialized in the U.S. But then again, I'm not really that interested in collecting the series 'cause it's flipped.

And I too want an answer as to why FMA's release was slowed down. Volume 16 ended on such a cliffhanger and I was looking foward to getting the next one, but that went down the drain when I learned that I wait to wait so long until the next volume. >.<

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

At the time I believe they were scared they would end up catching up to the Japanese release or they didn't want to pass the anime. But now thats both are over there is no real reason they can't go to a bi monthly release. That being said I don't know how much of a cash cow InuYasha is for them but I'm sure they will milk for all its worth.

BTW - the flopping dosent bug too much anymore and they have been very few mistakes caused by it over the last 10 volumes.

[Delariean]

I want to know if the Bastard manga was cancelled or not. Heard a rumor some time back with the 17th Vol being the last one (got it in the mail today.....)

[carmolita]

I want to know if the Bastard manga was cancelled or not. Heard a rumor some time back with the 17th Vol being the last one (got it in the mail today.....)

WHAT!? VOLUME 17 IS OUT ALREADY!! How could I miss that important piece of information! *rushes to waldenbooks to purchase*

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

I can't find that series anywhere. My BN and Boarders don't carry it.

[LordGeo]

I want to know if the Bastard manga was cancelled or not. Heard a rumor some time back with the 17th Vol being the last one (got it in the mail today.....)

WHAT!? VOLUME 17 IS OUT ALREADY!! How could I miss that important piece of information! *rushes to waldenbooks to purchase*

Volume 18 is already scheduled for January; Viz is going with twice-a-year for Bastard!!... It's for the best anyway, since volumes are published highly irregularly.

[Delariean]

I want to know if the Bastard manga was cancelled or not. Heard a rumor some time back with the 17th Vol being the last one (got it in the mail today.....)

WHAT!? VOLUME 17 IS OUT ALREADY!! How could I miss that important piece of information! *rushes to waldenbooks to purchase*

I actually got mine from Amazon.com. They gave me an email saying since I bought from them before they wanted me to know they had it in......

[Zeta26]

Also considering that FUNimation grabbed Big Windup (Ofuri). I'm also hoping that Viz also looks into Shogakukan's MAJOR as well. Or perhaps SJ's Mr. Fullswing.

[Kevinroc]

At the time I believe they were scared they would end up catching up to the Japanese release or they didn't want to pass the anime. But now thats both are over there is no real reason they can't go to a bi monthly release. That being said I don't know how much of a cash cow InuYasha is for them but I'm sure they will milk for all its worth.

BTW - the flopping dosent bug too much anymore and they have been very few mistakes caused by it over the last 10 volumes.

I think it is because the title is flopped that it is taking so long to be released. Flopping a title takes time.

[braves]

BTW - the flopping dosent bug too much anymore and they have been very few mistakes caused by it over the last 10 volumes.

I think it is because the title is flopped that it is taking so long to be released. Flopping a title takes time.


And money. And then the cost is then passed on to the consumer, which results in a more expensive manga.

[Patz]

Does anybody know what the Status is for the Shana Light Novels? I really want to read the rest of em.

[HitokiriShadow]

Viz has yet to say anything at all regarding the Shana novels. They simply never solicited the third volume and nothing has been seen or heard of it since. Essentially its in indefinite hiatus, so you may or may not ever see more of it from Viz but I would assume you've seen the last of it until Viz proves otherwise.

[Buster Blader 126]

Hope we hear something regarding Black Lagoon's release schedule.

It's bimonthly.

What the hell??

As good as bi-monthly releases are in general, Black Lagoon is being released at a very slow rate in Japan. We will easily catch up by next year, and then yearly releases ahoy!! :beat:

I was expecting quarterly at the fastest, but bi-monthly?

If I don't make it, can someone please pester them about when we're gonna get the unpublished volumes of Bo^7? Thx.

I fail to understand why Viz wouldn't just start from the beginning, when they should have at the very beginning. I know why they did it at the beginning, but if they were finally going to start releasing it, why not just do it from the beginning? Things would at least make a little bit more sense (if that's possible, given the nature of this title :P), such as how some of these characters even MET.

[quote=braves;1349751]

I wonder why Inuyasha was getting such a slow release date in the first place, seeing as how it wasn't being serialized in the U.S. But then again, I'm not really that interested in collecting the series 'cause it's flipped./quote]

Which makes me wonder, why did the unflipped versions of Inu Yasha and Ranma 1/2 stop? They the heck are they still flipped??

I know that this company makes a lot of nonsensical decisions in regard to their titles, but geez.

Despite this post's overall negavtivity, I do like Viz; the majority of my manga purchases are their titles.)

On a different note, I would like for them to give us a release date for 20th Century Boys, but I won't keep my hopes up. I also hope that they announce more titles for their Signature line soon. One particular title I'm hoping for is A Spirit of the Sun/Taiyo no Mokushiroku.

[HellKorn]

If Viz could actually beef up their Signature line with some interesting material (seriously, only three on-going series come 2008), I'd be content with them for the year.

Also if they have a panel I want someone to ask WTF was the reason that they have slowed down the Full Metal Alchemist release ( volume 17 not due out now till October )

Because they're only two (or three?) volumes behind the Japanese release.

I don't like the spacing between volumes, either, but there are too many factors to ponder to just outright blame Viz.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

If Viz could actually beef up their Signature line with some interesting material (seriously, only three on-going series come 2008), I'd be content with them for the year.

Also if they have a panel I want someone to ask WTF was the reason that they have slowed down the Full Metal Alchemist release ( volume 17 not due out now till October )

Because they're only two (or three?) volumes behind the Japanese release.

I don't like the spacing between volumes, either, but there are too many factors to ponder to just outright blame Viz.

OK I understand that but does that mean they (not Viz) slowed down the Japanese release too?

[LordGeo]

If Viz could actually beef up their Signature line with some interesting material (seriously, only three on-going series come 2008), I'd be content with them for the year.

Also if they have a panel I want someone to ask WTF was the reason that they have slowed down the Full Metal Alchemist release ( volume 17 not due out now till October )

Because they're only two (or three?) volumes behind the Japanese release.

I don't like the spacing between volumes, either, but there are too many factors to ponder to just outright blame Viz.

OK I understand that but does that mean they (not Viz) slowed down the Japanese release too?

Full Metal Alchemist is published in Shonen GanGan, which is a monthly magazine.

As in FMA chapters only come in once a month.

As in new volumes of FMA don't come out as quickly as mangas that are serialized in weekly magazines. You just have to deal with it.

[HitokiriShadow]

OK I understand that but does that mean they (not Viz) slowed down the Japanese release too?

No, the Japanese release is just slow to begin with and Viz caught up. I believe Japan tends to want a certain amount of time to lapse before allowing the English versions to released, and that's probably the reason Viz has to slow down now rather than reach the most recent Japanese release and then slow down. It's probably also why slower running series (like Hellsing or Trigun) can catch up and when a new Japanese volume comes out, it still takes 4-5 months before the English version comes out.

[SeanGaffney]

I fail to understand why Viz wouldn't just start from the beginning, when they should have at the very beginning. I know why they did it at the beginning, but if they were finally going to start releasing it, why not just do it from the beginning? Things would at least make a little bit more sense (if that's possible, given the nature of this title :P), such as how some of these characters even MET.

Well, they didn't start from the beginning at first as they wanted to do the Yu-Gi-Oh cameo.

As for why not now, it can be argued that Bobobobo-bobobo makes so little sense that knowing a backstory is entirely irrelevant. ^^;;

[Noodle]

It's bimonthly.

What the hell??

As good as bi-monthly releases are in general, Black Lagoon is being released at a very slow rate in Japan. We will easily catch up by next year, and then yearly releases ahoy!! :beat:

I was expecting quarterly at the fastest, but bi-monthly?


People complain about long waits between releases. People complain about short waits between releases. People complain when we catch up to the Japanese releases. People complain when we don't.

Jeez, there is no pleasing manga fans, is there?

[MegsLeigh]

People complain about long waits between releases. People complain about short waits between releases. People complain when we catch up to the Japanese releases. People complain when we don't.

Jeez, there is no pleasing manga fans, is there?

Hence why I stopped reviewing. ^_^

[Buster Blader 126]

People complain about long waits between releases. People complain about short waits between releases. People complain when we catch up to the Japanese releases. People complain when we don't.

Jeez, there is no pleasing manga fans, is there?

The intent of my post was not to complain, though I can see why you would think otherwise, so I apologize for that.

I'm just shocked as to why Viz would release this title at a faster pace, despite its length. Then again, they make a lot of erratic decisions regardless. After some thought, the only reason that I can see is that they want to capitalize on its popularity now, and that an accelerated release will be worth the long wait in-between volumes that is bound to happen.

[MaxGoof]

I would like to know why the Hikaru no Go manga is still being released so INCREDIBLY slowly, after Viz said it would come out faster because it was removed from Shonen Jump. If anything, Hikaru is being released -LESS- frequently now. No one else has noticed this?

[LordGeo]

Well let's not forget that Viz's industry panel will be starting in about 30 minutes.

While FUNimation certainly has done a lot, let's not ignore everyone else...

[Kismet]

New manga licenses according to giapet (http://giapet.net/2008/07/04/ax08-viz-media/) are:
Otomen by Aya Kanno
Gestalt by Yun Kouga
Honey Hunt by Miki Aihara
Heavens Will by Satoru Takamiya
and probably
Romance from the Thumb by Izumi Tsubaki (English title: Magic Touch)

[LordGeo]

New manga licenses according to giapet (http://giapet.net/2008/07/04/ax08-viz-media/) are:
Otomen by Aya Kanno
Gestalt by Yun Kouga
Honey Hunt by Miki Aihara
Heavens Will by Satoru Takamiya
and probably
Romance from the Thumb by Izumi Tsubaki (English title: Magic Touch)

Gestalt, huh?

I did enjoy the OVA Media Blasters released a while ago... I might get the manga...

[HitokiriShadow]

New manga licenses according to giapet (http://giapet.net/2008/07/04/ax08-viz-media/) are:
Otomen by Aya Kanno
Gestalt by Yun Kouga
Honey Hunt by Miki Aihara
Heavens Will by Satoru Takamiya
and probably
Romance from the Thumb by Izumi Tsubaki (English title: Magic Touch)

I didn't realize they had never announced that. It's going to replace Gaba Kawa in the Shojo Beat magazine, so they mentioned it the most recent issue which I read yesterday. It's also the only title I am remotely familiar with (it's from the author of Hot Gimick).

Speaking of Hot Gimick, they announced some new VizBig titles: (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-04/viz-adds-honey-hunt-gestalt-magic-touch-otomen) Fushigi Yugi and Hot Gimmick.

[seca]

New manga licenses according to giapet (http://giapet.net/2008/07/04/ax08-viz-media/) are:
Otomen by Aya Kanno


I love Otomen so I'm glad it's going to be released in English finally. I figured it was only a matter of time before it got picked up. I just hope they don't push it out too quickly as it won't take long to catch up to the Japanese release.

[musouka]

New manga licenses according to giapet (http://giapet.net/2008/07/04/ax08-viz-media/) are:
Otomen by Aya Kanno

Most unsurprising license ever? Yep. I knew this would be big from the very first chapter.

[aemartell]

New manga licenses according to giapet (http://giapet.net/2008/07/04/ax08-viz-media/) are:
Otomen by Aya Kanno

Most unsurprising license ever? Yep. I knew this would be big from the very first chapter.

Unsurprising, but still a very welcome license. I've been hoping/expecting something on that title for a while, especially since Viz also has Kanno's Akusaga coming out in October.

[doink-chan]

I've read the first and second volumes of Otomen. It's a very charming series and I'm sure that the bishie-glompers will love it. I'm glad it's licensed.

[Tofurkey]

So Viz said something about the previous volumes of Bo^7 having questionable content, while some guy in the audience argued it was because the author didn't like those volumes. Not sure who's right on that one...

[akcoll99]

New manga licenses according to giapet (http://giapet.net/2008/07/04/ax08-viz-media/) are:
Otomen by Aya Kanno
Gestalt by Yun Kouga
Honey Hunt by Miki Aihara
Heavens Will by Satoru Takamiya
and probably
Romance from the Thumb by Izumi Tsubaki (English title: Magic Touch)

Meh. Nothing of interest there for me...

[ssgorik]

And anything about Hikaru no Go? Like someone else said, I'm at a loss as to why they release this so slowly.

[Aiia]

Otomen by Aya Kanno

Most unsurprising license ever? Yep. I knew this would be big from the very first chapter.

And completely unsurprising as well that Viz made sure to get this particular Hakusensha manga. I'm still surprised they let V.B.Rose and Gakuen Alice slip through their fingers, since at least the former is a Top-10 manga in Japan, but I suppose they chose their stuff.

[Yukino Miyazawa]

Gestalt by Yun Kouga
Wow, this finally got licensed! :)

I hope more manga with incomplete anime gets picked up, like Dragon Half, My Dear Marie, and Shinesman. I'd like to be able to get the whole story.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Has Viz said anything in regards to release schedules for current series like InuYasha and FMA?

[bctaris]

Oishinbo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oishinbo) has been overlooked in the discussion. A classic of foodie manga, and classic seinin Big Comic title. Cool. Or from bayoab's transcript:

12:28:40 <bay|AX|Viz> oishinbo by tetsu kariya and akira hanasaki
12:28:44 <bay|AX|Viz> 12.99
12:29:06 <bay|AX|Viz> "in japan .. vol 102 just came out.. we are not going to be putting out all 102 vols.. we are pulling together the a-la carte editions...
12:29:11 <bay|AX|Viz> these are enjoyable on their own...
12:29:23 <bay|AX|Viz> we kinda put together a kinda... japanese menu... a "7-course manga meal"
12:29:30 <bay|AX|Viz> what we consider the most essential items in japanese cooking
12:30:09 <bay|AX|Viz> vol 1 japanese cousine.... sake... (march) ..ramen and ryousa.... fish sushi and sashimi (spe)... the joy of rice (nov).. izakya(jan 10) (bimonthly for the other ones)

Little to no interest in the other announcements, but I'll check this out.

[Yukino Miyazawa]

Viz will also be releasing collector's editions (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2008/anime-expo/viz-media):

Viz will be re-releasing many of their previous manga titles as collector's editions, which will feature hard covers and dust jackets, with an MSRP of $19.99. Titles that will receive the special treatment include Bleach, Death Note, Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, and Yu-Gi-Oh!.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Viz will also be releasing collector's editions (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2008/anime-expo/viz-media):

Viz will be re-releasing many of their previous manga titles as collector's editions, which will feature hard covers and dust jackets, with an MSRP of $19.99. Titles that will receive the special treatment include Bleach, Death Note, Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, and Yu-Gi-Oh!.


The only ones of those I may get is Bleach and Death Note. I would like them to do one of them for InuYasha volume 1. Unflopped of course.

[Aristi]

The thing I don't understand clearly is if they will release those collector's edition of all the series, or just the first volume

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Te thing I don't understand clearly is if they will release those collector's edition of all the series, or just the first volume


Right now I believe its just the first volumes. I would like it if they did it for other stuff outside of Shonen Jump titles like InuYasha and Full Metal Alchemist.

[Aristi]

I hope its all the series...I would love to have all the volumes of Death Note in larger trim size and with all the color pages...or release the artbook Viz!

[LOUiE]

I hope its all the series...I would love to have all the volumes of Death Note in larger trim size and with all the color pages...or release the artbook Viz!
I'm hoping for Viz Big versions of Deathnote and Bleach myself. Here's hoping they bring those sooner or later.

[Aristi]

Yeah, those would be sweet too...but I think the VizBig catalog is more for kinda ''old'' series, but I dunno, Vagabond is coming in september and Death Note ended not long ago.

I'll keep my hopes up for VizBig versions

[Noodle]

Yeah, those would be sweet too...but I think the VizBig catalog is more for kinda ''old'' series, but I dunno, Vagabond is coming in september and Death Note ended not long ago.

I'll keep my hopes up for VizBig versions

I think, unless they stick with just a set of cool collector editions, Death Note is a given in VizBig. I'd have thought they'd stick with long series (such as current catalog of VB releases) but they've announced one for Hot Gimmick - 12 volume shoujo. I'd say Death Note will definitely come, as I think any popular selling SJ series will too.

You also mentioned the artbook - I dunno, I used to think it was cool that viz had started releasing some of the really popular series books to provide an alternative to those who don't import, but they tend to make them hardcovers (whereas originals were in softcover) and they just aren't made that well. The covers actually bow out and the bindings are weak. I suppose if you have nothing else, it's cool, but I've always been glad to have the JP versions instead myself. The few softcovers they did (such as the FY and IY editions way way back) were decent though. I'd not mind them going back to softcover artbooks. :)

If anyone is truly interested in the Death Note art book, I'd just suggest buying the import rather than chance a lesser quality product for a lesser price. It's oversized, lovely, and well worth the money (in my opinion).

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Well so far they have done a terific job with the Kenshin VIZBIG versions so I could see down the line them doing it with another popular series like Death Note. I can't see them doing anything like it however for long draged out stuff like InuYasha at least untill they finish releasing the single volumes. Wich at the pace they are going won't be for another 2 years at least. Now a Death Note art book would be nice.

[Aristi]

About importing the artbooks...yeah, I would do it, but my problem is that much of my money goes to videogames as well, not only mangas, so I prefer to buy them for Viz for the price.

Also, and the main reason for me, is that all the comments from the author or interviews are in English from Viz obviously, and I just love to read them...If I imported them, I wouldn't be able to read them.