VIZ MEDIA BEGINS 2013 WITH THE ALL-NEW WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP DIGITAL MANGA MAGAZINE

The Bold Digital Transition Of North America’s Most Popular Weekly Manga Anthology Now Releases Manga Chapters The Same Day As Japan

San Francisco, CA, January 21, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga, graphic novels and anime in North America, ushers in 2013 with the dawn of a whole new era of manga with today’s first issue of the new WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP digital manga magazine. The weekly serial anthology features the synchronized latest chapters of various manga debuting on the same day as the Japanese Weekly Shonen Jump magazine counterpart, including flagship series NARUTO, BLEACH, ONE PIECE and more.

Formerly known as WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA, the next phase in the evolution of VIZ Media’s popular digital manga magazine will now simply be known as WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP. The publication features a brand new look and logo, along with a completely redesigned website at ShonenJump.com.

To learn about the new WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP, please watch the anthem video at http://youtu.be/d-mjfJ4fptk.

“The ‘ALPHA’ phase of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP marked our bold transition to an entirely new digitally-based format and attracted thousands of new readers in the process,” says Andy Nakatani, Editor-in-Chief. “With that transition now complete, WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP will be even closer aligned with our Japanese counterpart, and domestic readers finally will be able to enjoy the latest chapters of their favorite manga series on the same day as Japanese fans. This is the beginning of an exciting new era in international digital manga publishing!”

Also launching in today’s issue of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is the brand new superhero comedy series ONE-PUNCH MAN (rated ‘T’ for Teens) from writer ONE with artwork by Yusuke Murata (also the artist for EYESHIELD 21, published by VIZ Media). In this new action-comedy, everything about a young man named Saitama screams "AVERAGE,” from his lifeless expression, to his bald head, to his unimpressive physique. However, this average-looking fellow doesn't have your average problem... He's actually a superhero that's looking for tough opponents! The problem is, every time he finds a promising candidate he beats the snot out of them in one punch. Can Saitama finally find an evil villain strong enough to challenge him? Follow Saitama through his hilarious romps as he searches for new bad guys to challenge!

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is available exclusively on the VIZ Manga digital platform, and features the latest installments of BLEACH, CROSS MANAGE, NARUTO, NISEKOI, ONE PIECE, and TORIKO on the same day as their general release in Japan. Monthly series such as BLUE EXORCIST, RUROUNI KENSHIN: RESTORATION and YU-GI-OH! ZEXAL will debut on the closest Monday after the Japanese release.

Every digital edition of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP treats manga fans across North America to the latest chapters of some of the world’s most popular manga titles. Annual membership is available through the VIZ Manga digital platform for just $25.99 (USD/CAD), and provides readers with permanent access to 48 weekly issues each year. Members can also look forward to exclusive YU-GI-OH! promotional trading cards throughout the year (the first card will be Number 88: Gimmick Puppet of Leo), and access to additional magazine content, including creator interviews and insightful promotional videos.

For more information on WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and exclusive subscriber offers, please visit www.ShonenJump.com.

To learn more about ONE-PUNCH MAN, and to read a free preview, please visit ShonenJump.com/node/1394.

To learn more about VIZ Manga and to download the VIZ Manga App, please visit VIZManga.com and www.viz.com/apps.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.