VIZ MEDIA SET TO DELIGHT ANIME FANS WITH THE RELEASE OF NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN SET 2 ON DVD AND BLU-RAY

A Middle School Student With A Secret Life Faces Down The 88 Demons Of Shikoku In The Latest Story Arc Of The Smash Hit Supernatural Action Adventure

San Francisco, CA, August 15, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, delivers the latest supernatural action and adventure of NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN as it announces the release of Set 2 of the popular anime series on DVD and Blu-ray on August 20^th.

NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN Set 2 is rated ‘TV-14’ and will carry a DVD MSRP of $44.82 U.S. / $43.24 CAN and a Blu-ray MSRP of $54.97 / $66.15 CAN. The 2-disc set features Episodes 14-26 as well as bonus material including production art and an official trailer.

Rikuo Nura is an average middle school student by day and yokai (a supernatural demon) by night. He’s not just any yokai – he is the grandson of Nurarihyon, the Supreme Commander of the Nura clan!  Rikuo wants to live a normal life. However, his grandfather wants him to succeed as the rightful heir. When an inter-clan conflict threatens the stability within their organization, Rikuo must decide whether he will live his life as a human or accept his yokai heritage.

In NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN Set 2, the Nura Clan faces a menacing new threat: the 88 Demons of Shikoku, led by Inugamigyobu-Tanuki Tamazuki! Tamazuki sets his plan in motion to weaken the Nura Clan by targeting their key source of power – the local deities of Ukiyoe Town. In the absence of Supreme Commander Nurarihyon, Rikuo’s resolve to become the Third Heir is put to the test, as he must unite the clan to face Tamazuki and his malicious weapon the Devil’s Blade!

NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN is based on the bestselling NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN manga series created by Hiroshi Shiibashi (rated ‘T’ for Teens; also published by VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump imprint). Hiroshi Shiibashi debuted in Japan in Business Jump magazine with the series, Aratama. NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN is his breakout hit.

More information on NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN is available at http://www.viz.com/anime/dvd/nura-rise-of-the-yokai-clan-video.

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.

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NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN © Hiroshi Shiibashi／SHUEISHA, Nurari Project

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE NORTH AMERICAN DVD AND BLU-RAY RELEASE OF BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC II – THE BATTLE FOR DOLDREY

Lone Mercenary Guts Rethinks His Future As The Band Of The Hawk Faces An Army Of 30,000 In The Vicious And Kinetic Second Feature Film Of The BERSERK GOLDEN AGE ARC TRILOGY

San Francisco, CA, August 15, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, beckons anime fans to join the battle-hardened mercenary, Guts, for a new action-packed anime feature film epic as it announces the debut of BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC II- THE BATTLE FOR DOLDREY on DVD and Blu-ray. The new release, which is available now, is rated ‘M’ for Mature Audiences and carries a DVD MSRP of $19.98 U.S. / $24.98 CAN and a Blu-ray MSRP of $24.98 U.S. / $27.50 CAN.

Bonus features include a production art gallery, theatrical trailers, an "Aria" Live Concert conducted by BERSERK score composer Susumu Hirasawa, and an interview with BERSERK voice actors Aki Toyosaki and Minako Kotobuki.

“A friend should never rely on another’s dream…he must have a reason for living that goes beyond me… For me to call a man ‘my friend,’ he must be my equal in every aspect.” Three years after joining the Band of the Hawk, Guts is shocked to hear Griffith’s words. He believed that his mission was to pursue Griffith’s dream together with him through all the fierce battles and struggles. In order to become an equal to Griffith, Guts decides to leave the Band of the Hawk. Around the same time, the Hundred Years War between the Midland Kingdom and the Empire of Chuder enters its final stage. Midland’s elite force, the White Tigers, attempts to take the impenetrable Fortress of Doldrey but is confronted and annihilated by the Holy Purple Rhino Knights led by Chuder’s strongest general, Boscogn. Seeing this as a perfect opportunity for his Band of the Hawk to advance, Griffith proposes to the king of Midland to send only his Hawks into the battle to capture the infamous fortress. Guts decides to make this battle his last with Griffith and leave the Band of the Hawk.

“The Band of the Hawk faces an army 30,000 strong in the exciting second chapter of the BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC trilogy and a bloody battle to capture the impenetrable Fortress of Doldrey from the Empire of Chuder is about to begin,” says Charlene Ingram, Senior Marketing Manager, Animation. “The on-screen action is vicious and kinetic, and anime fans aren’t going to want to miss even a second of the stunning clash of arms and armour in this in this sweeping epic.”

The BERSERK manga series, by Kentarou Miura, debuted in Japan in 1989 and quickly drew a devoted following, going on to sell more than 30 million copies worldwide. The series, still ongoing in Japan, has been published in North America and the UK, as well as in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, and Latin America. The BERSERK manga has also inspired a popular anime television series and has spawned a variety of related video games, collectable figures and toys, and music soundtracks, as well as the current BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC film trilogy.

For more information on the BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC film trilogy, please visit the official Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/BerserkFilm.

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.

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BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE ARC © KENTAROU MIURA (STUDIO GAGA) HAKUSENSHA/BERSERK FILM PARTNERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Sequart Research & Literacy Organization (sequart.org) is proud to announce the release of its newest book of comics analysis, Shot in the Face: A Savage Journey to the Heart of Transmetropolitan, which is edited by Chad Nevett.

Published in 1997-2002, Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson’s Transmetropolitan became famous for its foul-mouthed protagonist, Spider Jerusalem, and his “filthy assistants.” But it’s also a long-form comics masterpiece, a sci-fi comic that succeeded despite the odds, and an examination of journalism and politics — and how they intersect (or fail to do so). This book explores all these topics and more, from multiple points of view. It also includes interviews with both Ellis and Robertson.

Contributors include Greg Burgas, Johanna Draper Carlson, Julian Darius, Sara K. Ellis, Ryan K. Lindsay, Patrick Meaney, Jason Michelitch, Chris Murphy, Chad Nevett, Kevin Thurman, Brett Williams, and Sean Witzke.

The book sports a cover by Kevin Colden and runs 164 pages. It retails for $12.99 in print and is also available on Kindle for $6.99.

About the Publisher: Sequart Research & Literacy Organization is a non-profit devoted to the study and promotion of comic books as a legitimate art form. It publishes books and documentaries aimed at making comics scholarship accessible. For more information, click here.

Legal Disclaimer: Transmetropolitan and related characters are trademarked by Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson. This book is not endorsed by DC Comics / Vertigo.

TRIPLE SELL OUT EVENT FOR IMAGE COMICS
Saga, The Walking Dead, and East of West All Sold Out At Distributor Level
Reprint of SAGA #13 announced to meet reader demand

The release of the first issue of a new arc of the Eisner Award-winning series SAGA by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples is fast approaching cultural event status, driving thousands to comic stores this past Wednesday to purchase SAGA #13. Image Comics is proud to announce that SAGA #13 has sold out at the distributor level and will be going back to press immediately. Adding to the excitement, the latest installment of the worldwide phenomenon THE WALKING DEAD #113 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard has also sold out, as well as Image’s newest hit series, EAST OF WEST #5 from Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta. These sell-outs mark a banner week in a year full of milestones and accomplishments for each of these series and creator-owned comics as a whole. The press are nearly unanimous in their praise for these series:

"SAGA remains, now 13 issues in, easily one of the best ongoing comics around. Vaughan and Staples have created a world that positively seethes with vitality and creativity." - Kelly Thompson, Comic Book Resources   “EAST OF WEST continues to escalate in both tension and scale; there are no compromises in this book” - Jen Aprahamian, ComicVine   “THE WALKING DEAD #113 is a seriously intense read.” - Jesse Schedeen, IGN

Comic book retailers are particularly thrilled with the success of SAGA:

"It’s no lie to say that SAGA is our best-selling comic, both in single issue format and in trades. It is also our number one subscription title, by far. Do we push SAGA? Not anymore – we don’t have to. It’s just THAT good. Our SAGA numbers only go up and every single issue has sold out. SAGA is exactly what we, as retailers and as an industry, need… SAGA is a comic book for EVERYONE and our rapidly increasing sales numbers prove that." - Patrick Brower, Challenger’s Comics and Conversation, Chicago, IL. (Winner of the    2013 Will Eisner Spirit of Retailing Award)   "SAGA has returned and the people are rejoicing! The last couple months, the anticipation for issue 13 was building like crazy, and Wednesday morning was an explosion of happiness when people saw it on the New Arrivals rack. Any retailer will tell you how awesome it is to work on a day like that, where your customers are blasting the door so excited to get their hands on a great new release... they're smiling, bouncing, running, laughing, yelling, dancing, fist-pumping and giving out the high-fives everywhere you turn. Seriously, what could be more fun than that?!" - James Sime, Isotope Comics, San Francisco, CA   “SAGA has completely destroyed the notion of ‘trade waiting,’ as anyone that had purchased Volume One or Two anxiously waits for the new monthly issue. SAGA demands the reader to ask ‘When is the next issue?’ and they have no problem happily waiting.” - David Crispino, Collectors Corner, Baltimore, MD   “SAGA just goes from strength to strength – it is, far and away, the best-selling periodical comic in my store today, and the first paperback, with less than a year under it's belt, is already the second best-selling TPB collection in my store since I installed point-of-sale! Volume Two is already in my top 40, despite just being six weeks old!" - Brian Hibbs, Comix Experience, San Francisco, CA

Happy fans and retailers across the nation, perfect scores, and rave reviews make this week's sell-outs the biggest comics event of the week. Hickman, Dragotta, Vaughan, Staples, Kirkman, and Adlard have hit on something that strikes a nerve with comics readers, and the sell-outs prove that they've captured the imagination of the fanbase. Retailers may still have copies on their shelves, so fans are encouraged to contact their retailer to get a copy before they sell out at the retailer level. All three titles are available digitally on the Image Comics website and on iOS platforms through Comixology. The second printing of SAGA #13 can be pre-ordered now (Diamond code JUL138176) and will be in stores on September 25, the same day as SAGA #14 (Diamond code JUL130538). The EAST OF WEST, VOL. 1 TP, collecting EAST OF WEST #1-5,  will be released on September 11 (Diamond Code JUN130466), and the next issue, EAST OF WEST #6, goes on sale September 18 (Diamond Code JUL130420). THE WALKING DEAD #114, the final issue of the current story arc and the lead-in to October’s ALL OUT WAR, goes on sale September 11 (Diamond Code JUL130549).

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS

Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

MANNIKINS, CLOWNS AND BELLYDANCERS ON SCIENCE CHANNEL’S ODDITIES: SAN FRANCISCO THIS WEEKEND!

-- Two all new episodes of the spin off series ODDITIES: SAN FRANCISCO airing Saturday at 9PM ET/PT --

The eccentric antique shop, Loved to Death opens its doors to Science Channel for a second season of ODDITIES: SAN FRANCISCO. The store’s colorful owner Audra, and her employee Wednesday, are joined by newcomer Lincoln to take on the eclectic customers and bizarre antiques that enter the Haight Street haven. From germaphobes to ancient artifacts, the ten brand new episodes of ODDITIES: SAN FRANCISCO showcase the weird and wacky world of antiques.

  

This week, the cast of ODDITIES: SAN FRANCISCO is on a quest for some rare and unique objects. In Mind Games, Audra and Lincoln search for a medical piece to add to a doctor’s collection, Wednesday literally shocks a customer and an impromptu performance leaves one of the staff members wanting more! Later in Soul Fire, the ladies look for a piece that is fit for a king while Audra meets a belly dancer’s bizarre mummified dance partner.  After, Lincoln is introduced to an eclectic collector of everything and anything. Tune in for more this Saturday at 9PM ET/PT on Science Channel!

Mind Games: Audra and Lincoln are on a quest to find a small but rare medical item for a doctor who has an extensive collection. Their search takes them to a man who loves test tubes and a designer who has an array of manikins. Back at Loved to Death, Lincoln meets “Danger” a tattoo artist who has picked up a new hobby. Wednesday shows off a quack electrical device that leaves her customer shocked. Later, a sword-swallowing clown stops in looking for a body fluid extraction device to use in his act.  When he gives Wednesday and impromptu performance, the sparks really fly!

Soul Fire: At Loved to Death, Audra and Wednesday are asked for a torture related commemorative that’s fit for a king, Zamora the Torture King to be exact.  They are promised a performance that will set their soul on fire if they find the perfect item. Later Audra meets a former belly dancers bizarre mummified dance partner.  But in order to determine whether it’s a relic of the past, she must have it examined by an expert. Lincoln shows an eccentric collector of everything, including voices, one of the most dangerous toys ever produced while Wednesday checks out an antique dental drill.

Artist’s Edition Month At IDW The Acclaimed Imprint Highlighted All Month Long! San Diego, CA (August 15, 2013) – Throughout the month of November, IDW’s award-winning Artist’s Edition format will be featured on some of the biggest titles hitting comic shops! A number of stellar issues will offer unique variants that showcase the raw art of comics' best and brightest. Artist’s Editions have transformed the way fans look at original art, and these tongue-in-cheek tribute covers pay homage, as if taken straight from the drawing board! My Little Pony, Judge Dredd, Ghostbusters, Transformers, Doctor Who, G.I. Joe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Trek, and one of IDW’s newest series, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents will all offer Artist’s Edition variant covers! Andrew Griffith, Dan Duncan, Jim Rugg, Mike Collins, and Andy Price are just a few of the big names that will be showcased. As the number of conventions across the globe grows each year, the opportunity to get sketches by iconic artists has never been easier. So to help your personal Artist’s Edition library stand out even more, IDW will also be offering blank sketch cover variants for the aforementioned titles as well! “All the covers done so far look outstanding,” said Artist’s Editions Editor Scott Dunbier, “the artists really captured the spirit we were shooting for. But I’m especially looking forward to seeing what people create on their own Artist’s Edition covers!” Artist’s Editions have become essential for any collection, and this month everyone will get the chance to see why! What is an Artist’s Edition? AN ARTIST'S EDITION PRESENTS COMPLETE STORIES WITH EACH PAGE SCANNED FROM THE ACTUAL ORIGINAL ART. While appearing to be in black & white, each page has been scanned in COLOR to mimic as closely as possible the experience of viewing the actual original art—for example, you are able to clearly see paste-overs, blue pencils in the art, editorial notes, art corrections. Each page is printed the same size as drawn, and the paper selected is as close as possible to the original art board.

About IDW IDW is an award-winning publisher of comic books, graphic novels and trade paperbacks, based in San Diego, California. Renowned for its diverse catalog of licensed and independent titles, IDW publishes some of the most successful and popular titles in the industry, including: Hasbro’s The TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE and MY LITTLE PONY; Paramount’s Star Trek; Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; 2000AD’s Judge Dredd; The Rocketeer; Toho’s Godzilla; Wizards of the Coast’s Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons; HBO’s True Blood; and the Eisner-Award winning Locke & Key series, created by best-selling author Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez. IDW is also home to the Library of American Comics imprint, which publishes classic comic reprints, and Yoe! Books, a partnership with Yoe! Studio. IDW’s critically- and fan-acclaimed series are continually moving into new mediums. Currently, Warner Brothers and Barry Sonnenfeld are attached to adapt LORE into a feature film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Disney are creating a feature film based on World War Robot, with Michael Bay‘s Platinum Dunes and Sony bringing Zombies vs. Robots to film.

ALEX + ADA EXPLORES LOVE, LIFE, & ANDROIDS IN THE NEAR-FUTURE

Superstar creator Jonathan Luna returns to comics with a sci-fi drama

After three years away from comics, Jonathan Luna (GIRLS, THE SWORD, ULTRA, Spider-Woman: Origin) is back, drawing and co-writing ALEX + ADA with Sarah Vaughn (Sparkshooter). In this near-future tale, Alex is attempting to recover from a setback in his life and return to normal. Ada, a Tanaka X5 and the latest and greatest model of companion android, comes into his life. She lives to serve, as long as her programming allows it, but does he want to be served? The world of ALEX + ADA gives us a glimpse of what our own future may be like. It features a thriving robotics industry, alarm clocks that are floating holographic displays, breakfast served by floating robots, and normal human beings who are able to control their home electronics with a thought. Vaughn says that readers can expect "drama, humor, love, loss, and more robots than you can shake a stick at" in the series. Luna took a break from comics after the finale of THE SWORD, producing an illustrated prose book named STAR BRIGHT AND THE LOOKING GLASS in the interim, but he’s excited to be back at the drawing board. "It’s so great. I feel like I’ve lost some time, but at the same time I’ve learned so much in the past few years from photography, painting, Star Bright, and life experiences. I’m reinvigorated and I feel so fortunate to be working in comics." When asked to describe their working relationship, Vaughn said, "It looks a lot like Misery. I ended up having to hobble Jon. All kidding aside, we’ve been able to reach a good balance between our friendship and creative partnership." Luna, too, praises his co-writer: "Sarah is a good friend first and I never would’ve guessed that we’d be working together in this capacity. I’m very glad that we’re able to. It’s all been a very pleasant surprise." Both creators debuted ALEX + ADA in an interview on Comic Book Resources, discussing both Luna’s break from and return to comics, the research required for ALEX + ADA, and their working process. Follow both creators on Twitter: @jonathanlunacom and @sarahvictoriav. ALEX + ADA #1 will be in stores on November 6 and can be pre-ordered from the September issue of Previews (SEP130479).

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS

Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF TIGER & BUNNY COMIC ANTHOLOGY 2-IN-1

First Of A 2-Volume Homage To The Superhero Smash Hit Anime Series Features A Humorous Collection Of Inspired Shorts

San Francisco, CA, August 14, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, delivers an entirely new take on the superhero manga action of TIGER & BUNNY with the release of the TIGER & BUNNY: COMIC ANTHOLOGY 2-IN-1. The new release is now available, and is rated ‘T’ for Teens, carrying an MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN.

Inspired by the hit anime series from Sunrise Studio, Ltd., TIGER & BUNNY (also licensed in North America by VIZ Media), the TIGER & BUNNY: COMIC ANTHOLOGY features a collection of humorous shorts by an all-star manga artist line-up. The volume also includes 4 full-color bonus pages featuring key character artwork from the anime series.

The heroes of Stern Bild City are larger than life when they appear on Hero TV, but when they take off their costumes their lives are just like anyone else’s! Or are they?! What do you do when you’re a hero and invited to a Halloween costume party? See how our heroes stay in shape (and keep their hair from getting messed up). And exactly what is Saito saying under his breath? Over two-dozen stories take you deep into the world of Tiger & Bunny!

“The TIGER & BUNNY: COMIC ANTHOLOGY 2-In-1 is the first of a unique, 2-volume homage to the bestselling anime/manga series about a future where corporate-sponsored superheroes battle evil, and often each other, for reality TV ratings,” says Mike Montesa, Editor. “This new release features 18 of Japan’s top doujinshi, self-published, amateur manga artists, who present a collection of distinctive and often hilarious shorts that imagine a whole new ‘off-duty’ side to Wild Tiger, Barnaby Brooks Jr. and other memorable characters from the hit series. Don’t miss this fun new addition to the TIGER & BUNNY universe!”

The TIGER & BUNNY manga series features artwork by Mizuki Sakakibara and is based on the smash hit animated series by the famed anime studio Sunrise that has also thrilled legions of fans across North America on VIZ Media’s Neon Alley 24/7 anime channel.

More information on the Tiger & Bunny, please visit: www.facebook.com/TigerAndBunny and VIZAnime.com/tiger-and-bunny/.

For more information on manga titles available from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

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.

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TIGER & BUNNY ANTHOLOGY © S/T&B, M

VIZ MEDIA DEBUTS THE NEW FANTASY ADVENTURE MANGA SERIES MAGI: THE LABYRINTH OF MAGIC

Deadly Dungeons Filled With Traps And Hidden Treasures Await Young Adventurer Aladdin In This Exciting Reimagining Of The Arabian Nights

San Francisco, CA, August 14, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, offers a captivating new reimagining of the classic story One Thousand and One Nights (also known as the Arabian Nights) with the debut of MAGI: THE LABYRINTH OF MAGIC, now available. The new series, by Shinobu Ohtaka, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, is published under the Shonen Sunday imprint, and carries an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

MAGI: THE LABYRINTH OF MAGIC is also available digitally for $4.99 (U.S / CAN) from VIZManga.com and for digital download through the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad^®, iPhone^® and iPod^® touch, Android-powered smart phones, and also for NOOK tablets and devices.

Deep within the desert lie the mysterious Dungeons, vast stores of riches there for the taking by anyone lucky enough to find them and brave enough to venture into the depths from where few have ever returned. Plucky young adventurer Aladdin means to find the Dungeons and their riches, but Aladdin may be just as mysterious as the treasures he seeks. 

“MAGI: THE LABYRINTH OF MAGIC is an enchanting mix of comedy, fantasy, and adventure, with dungeons full of treasures and deadly traps that hide mysterious magical beings,” says Mike Montesa, Editor. “Aladdin and his trusty magical sidekick Ugo are in for the adventure of a lifetime as they journey across deadly deserts and exotic locales in search of fame, fortune, and destiny!”

Manga artist Shinobu Ohtaka is widely known for the creation of the manga series, Sumomomo Momomo. Her series, MAGI: THE LABYRINTH OF MAGIC, originally appeared in Japanese publisher Shogakukan's Shonen Sunday and continues to be featured in the magazine. The manga also inspired a popular anime series.

For more information on MAGI: THE LABYRINTH OF MAGIC, or other popular manga titles from VIZ Media’s Shonen Sunday imprint, please visit: http://www.viz.com/shonen-sunday.

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.

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MAGI © 2009 Shinobu OHTAKA/SHOGAKUKAN

ANCIENT MYTHS AND LEGENDS PROVE TRUE IN UMBRAL

Antony Johnston and Christopher Mitten’s Apocalyptic Dark Fantasy Launches in November

In UMBRAL, the young thief Rascal breaks into the royal palace using a rare eclipse as cover for the theft of a priceless gem. During the heist, Rascal witnesses the death of the King and Queen, the first step in the invasion of the world by the Umbral, mythical shadow creatures... and no one knows it's happening. A work that has been years in the making, writer Antony Johnston (Daredevil: Season One, Wasteland) and artist Christopher Mitten (Batman: Arkham Unhinged, Wasteland) unleash their latest series on the world in November. "Chris and I spent the last couple of years batting around the idea of creating something new together, and UMBRAL is the result," says writer Antony Johnston. "We're both big fans of weird, dark fantasy, as you might expect... but we also love epic adventure, and building amazing fantasy worlds. That's the combination we're aiming for with UMBRAL. I mean, there's a map in the first issue, for heaven's sake." UMBRAL is the latest collaboration between the creative team of Johnston and Mitten, who co-created the post-apocalyptic and impressively expansive series Wasteland. Mitten praised their collaborative relationship, saying, "Together we did around thirty issues of Wasteland, and before that, three issues of Greg Rucka's Queen & Country, so there's a fair stack of history there." He also praised his relationship with Johnston. "Having the chance to work with Antony again is fantastic, and I don't think I could be happier about it. He's got this tremendous imagination and the talent/skill combo to bring it to the page feeling fully formed." Johnston and Mitten have released a teaser for the series in advance of its release on the official Tumblr for UMBRAL. Curious fans should follow the official Twitter, as well. Announced at the Image Expo earlier this year, UMBRAL #1 arrives in stores on November 13 and is currently available to pre-order from the September issue of Previews (Diamond Code SEP130478).

ABOUT IMAGE COMICS

Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

Stan Lee, Norman Reedus, William Shatner, Summer Glau, WWE® Superstar Sheamus® Among Celebrity Guests At Wizard World Ohio Comic Con, September 20-22

Pop Culture Festival At Greater Columbus Convention Center, Also To Feature Ernie Hudson; Michael Rooker, Laurie Holden, Chandler Riggs of 'The Walking Dead,' Superstar Comics Creators

NEW YORK and COLUMBUS, Ohio, August 15, 2013 – Eisner Award Hall of Famer Stan Lee, Norman Reedus of “The Walking Dead,” pop culture icon William Shatner, Summer Glau (Serenity, “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”) and WWE® Superstar Sheamus® are among the top celebrities scheduled to attend Wizard World Ohio Comic Con, September 20-22 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.  The standout roster will also include Michael Rooker, Laurie Holden and Chandler Riggs of “The Walking Dead” and Ernie Hudson of Ghostbusters.  It is the sixth in the 2013 series produced by Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) and will also feature a top-drawer collection of well-known artists and writers and a variety of activities, exhibitors and special attractions.

Lee, Rooker and Hudson will be in attendance all three days; Reedus, Riggs and Glau will appear on Saturday and Sunday; Shatner will be on site on Friday evening and Saturday; and Sheamus will appear on Saturday only.

Additionally, all full price attendees will receive a free copy of the Exclusive Variant Cover of The Walking Dead #1 comic, available only at Wizard World Ohio Comic Con.

Superstar comics creators scheduled to attend include Mike Zeck (“Spider-Man,” “Punisher”), CAFU (“Teen Titans,” “Superboy”), Eisner Award Hall of Famer Neal Adams (“Batman,” “Green Lantern”) and Eisner Award Nominees Darick Robertson (“HAPPY!,” “Transmetropolitan”), David Marquez (“Ultimate Spider-Man”, “Fantastic Four: Season One”) and Ethan Van Sciver (“Firestorm,” “Action Comics”).

Other celebrities on the Ohio Comic Con roster are Emmy Award nominee Ron Glass (Serenity, “Barney Miller”), Ray Park (“Star Wars: Episode 1; X-Men), Lou Ferrigno (“The Incredible Hulk,” “The King of Queens”), Jason David Frank (“Mighty Morphin Power Rangers”) and Sara Underwood (“Attack of the Show!,” “The Girls Next Door”).

Wizard World Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.  Wizard World Ohio Comic Con show hours are Friday, Sept. 20, 3-8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 22, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

A first-class lineup of topical programming takes place all three days at the event, with celebrity Q&A's, comics-themed sessions, costume contest, movie screenings, evening parties and more.  Sunday, Sept. 22, is also Kids Day, with an array of activities and programming specially designed for the younger Wizard World fans.

Ohio Comic Con is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event.  Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed –  will roam the convention floor, often stopping by the Cosplay Stage, the ideal place to see and be seen.

For more on the 2013 Wizard World Ohio Comic Con, visit http://www.wizardworld.com/home-ohio.html.

About Wizard World:
Wizard World (OTCBB: WIZD) produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests.

The full event schedule can be found at www.wizardworld.com.

***** SAVE THE 2013-14 DATES *****
September 20-22 – Wizard World Ohio Comic Con
October 18-20 – Wizard World Nashville Comic Con
November 22-24 – Wizard World Austin Comic Con
January 24-26, 2014 – Wizard World Portland Comic Con
February 7-9, 2014 – Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con
April 4-6, 2014 – Wizard World St. Louis Comic Con
June 19-22, 2014 – Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con
August 21-24 – Wizard World Chicago Comic Con

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001) Screening and Panel Showcases Anime Production Design and Genre

Presented by the Art Directors Guild Film Society
and the American Cinematheque
Sunday, August 25 at 5:30 P.M. at the Aero Theatre in Santa MonicaSponsored by The Hollywood Reporter
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 13, 2013 - The Art Directors Guild (ADG) Film Society and American Cinematheque conclude the 2013 ADG Film Series with a special screening of Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (Tengoku No Tobira) (2001), a futuristic animated feature from Japan that blends film noir, spaghetti western, Hong Kong style action, and much more into a remarkable work of film art on Sunday, August 25 at 5:30 pm at the Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, though considered anime, has all the emotion and visceral impact of any great live action film, with a story that mixes past and future architecture and wild action with a feeling of genuine urban realism. Cowboy Bebop is unique as it creates its world with a minimum of computer graphics and just a bit of clever rotoscoping -- the vast majority of both human and mechanical action is rendered entirely by hand.

The program, sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter, will begin with a short visual presentation introducing the audience to the special universe of Cowboy Bebop. A discussion will follow with Peter Ramsey, an ADG Illustrator who advanced to feature Director on the award winning Rise of the Guardians (2012) and special guest Steve Blum, the acclaimed actor who voices "Spike Spiegel," Bebop's lead character, as well Wolverine, The Avengers, and Transformers, among many others. ADG Film Society Founder, Co-Chair and Production Designer John Muto will moderate the program.

"Cowboy Bebop: The Movie is significant not just for the amazing world that the designers created, but because its cinematic, dramatic, emotional, and even musical elements set it apart from what we ordinarily think of as "anime," said John Muto. "While Bebop takes place in the future, and includes plenty of violent action, pyrotechnics, sly humor, and even eroticism, there is very little that is silly or cartoony about it. The characters, and their struggles make it very easy to forget that one is watching animation at all, and simply enjoy the picture just as if it were a contemporary live action movie."

"From the design point of view, Cowboy Bebop, like almost all great animated films, creates its own unique world - in this case a terraformed Mars of the next century," adds Muto. "Much of the action takes place in a city that, while it has futuristic elements, also recalls old Earth cities like Paris, Tokyo, New York, and Cairo. The integration of such disparate designs works flawlessly. Equally impressive is the integration of the character design into the created environment - an aspect of animation design that should be given more recognition. The brilliant music score, a mix of jazz and blues, by Yoko Kanno, must also be acknowledged for the special ambience it lends to this very special film."

Shinichir? Watanabe directed Cowboy Bebop and Atsushi Morikawa was the Art Director. Other credited designers include Toshihiro Kawamoto, who designed the characters; Kimitoshi Yamane, the mechanical elements; Shiho Takeuchi, the sets; and Shihoko Nakayama, the color scheme.

"The 2013 ADG Film Society/American Cinematheque Screening Series has been a great success," said Muto. "We are looking forward to putting together another eclectic and challenging slate of films showcasing unique production design in 2014." In addition to Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001), the 2013 Screening Series included The X- Files Television Show (1993-2002), design by Corey Kaplan; Touch of Evil (1958), design by Robert Clatworthy; and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), design by Harper Goff.

Representing the ADG are Film Society Co-Chairs John Muto and Thomas A. Walsh, and Debbie Patton, ADG Manager, Awards and Events. Working with them are the American Cinematheque's Gwen Deglise, Margot Gerber, and Grant Moninger. General admission: $11. American Cinematheque members: $7. Students/Seniors with valid ID: $9. All screenings start at 5:30 p.m. 24-hour information is available at 323-466-FILM (3456).