VIZ MEDIA WELCOMES SHOJO MANGA ARTIST ARINA TANEMURA AT 2007 COMIC-CON AND CELEBRATES HER WORK IN SHOJO BEATâ„¢ MAGAZINE

Date: Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Creator Of FULL MOON To Meet Fans In VIZ Media Booth# 4113 And

Participate In SHOJO BEAT Panel Discussion While Magazine Plans

Interview And Rare Manga Short Story For August Issue



San Francisco, JULY 13, 2007 " VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the

entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing,

animation and licensing companies, will celebrate the work of famed

manga artist Arina Tanemura throughout the month of July with a rare

personal appearance at the 2007 Comic-Con International, plus a bonus

short story and special cover (both by Tanemura) for the August issue of

SHOJO BEAT magazine, which goes on sale nationwide on July 17. Tanemura

is the creator of the mega-hit shojo series FULL MOON and the recently

debuted THE GENTLEMEN'S ALLIANCE  .



Tanemura will make a personal appearance during the 2007 Comic-Con

International in San Diego, CA to meet fans in VIZ Media's Booth #4113

on Saturday, July 28. She will further discuss her work and experiences

as a manga artist during the SHOJO BEAT magazine panel discussion set

for Saturday, July 28 at 1:30pm. To further honor her visit at

Comic-Con, VIZ Media will give an exclusive shikishi (four-color hard

poster) of THE GENTLEMEN'S ALLIANCE   as a bonus to fans who purchase

one of the following products at VIZ Media booth: 1) Any Tanemura manga

volume, or FULL MOON DVD; 2) SHOJO BEAT's August Issue; or 3) an annual

subscription of SHOJO BEAT.



The August issue of SHOJO BEAT (out July 17) will feature a special

cover drawn by Tanemura, as well as the first domestic appearance of her

manga short story, "Shojo Eve âEve's Applework 24 Hours," and an

additional article about the gorgeous worlds portrayed in her stories.

For fans not able to attend Comic-Con, exclusive items autographed by

Tanemura will be offered as contest prizes in upcoming issues of SHOJO

BEAT magazine. In 2008, the magazine will include an exclusive interview

with Tanemura conducted during her Comic-Con visit, as well as a

Tanemura drawing lesson and a feature of fan art to be judged by the artist.



"We are honored to welcome Arina Tanemura at the 2007 Comic-Con


International and to have her participate in the SHOJO BEAT panel

discussion during the show," says Marc Weidenbaum, Editor-in-Chief of

SHOJO BEAT magazine and Vice President of VIZ Media's Magazine Division.

"FULL MOON and THE GENTLEMEN'S ALLIANCE   have developed a devoted

following and this rare opportunity for fans to meet the artist in

person is sure to delight. We also look forward to fans reading the

never-before-released manga short story by Tanemura in our special

August issue of SHOJO BEAT, which further celebrates the artist with a

beautiful cover and feature coverage."



About VIZ Media

Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one

of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga

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, 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.