VIZ Media Announces New "Pokemon" for September and October 2015

VIZ MEDIA’S PERFECT SQUARE IMPRINT ANNOUNCES THE UPCOMING RELEASE OF NEW POKÉMON MANGA TITLES AND BOX SETS

New Multi-Volume Box Sets For POKÉMON BLACK AND WHITE And POKÉMON ADVENTURES As Well As A New POKÉMON POCKET COMIC

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga, graphic novels and anime in North America, expands its POKÉMON catalog with three notable new releases later this year.

Set to be published under the company’s Perfect Square imprint, the POKÉMON BLACK AND WHITE Box Set Vol. 3 will debut in September and will be quickly followed by the October publication of POKÉMON POCKET COMICs Vol. 2 and the POKÉMON ADVENTURES MANGA BOX SET Vol. 4. Perfect Square’s POKÉMON manga and box set titles are each rated ‘A’ for All Ages.

POKÉMON BLACK AND WHITE MANGA BOX SeT Vol. 3 MSRP: $25.99 U.S. / $29.99 CAN · Rated ‘A’ For All Ages · Available September 2015

Meet Pokémon Trainers Black and White! His entire life, Black has dreamed of winning the Pokémon League. Now he embarks on a journey to explore the Unova region and fill a Pokédex for Professor Juniper. White has an exciting career as the Trainer of a talented troupe of performing Pokémon. She dreams of making her Tepig Gigi a star! Together, Black and White continue on their journey... What surprising new Pokémon – and people – will they meet next?! Box Set comes with a POKÉMON mini-poster and contains Volumes 15-20 of the POKÉMON BLACK AND WHITE manga series.

POKÉMON POCKET COMICS Vol. 2: LEGENDARY POKÉMON MSRP: $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN · Rated ‘A’ For All Ages · Available October 2015

A pocket-sized book jam-packed with four-panel comic strips featuring POKÉMON characters linked to the wildly popular Pokémon handheld video games along with extra story content and bonus information, POKÉMON vital statistics, trivia, puzzles, and fun quizzes!

POKÉMON ADVENTURES FireRed & LeafGreen / Emerald BOX SET MSRP: $54.99 U.S. / $69.99 CAN · Rated ‘A’ For All Ages · Available October 2015

The newest POKÉMON ADVENTURES Manga Box Set contains Volumes 23-29 of the FireRed & LeafGreen and EMERALD story arcs along with a special mini-poster. Just as Green is about to meet her long-lost parents, they are sucked into a vortex created by a mysterious Pokémon! Red and Blue want to help, but first they must improve their battle skills. Then, the Three Beasts of Team Rocket are up to their old tricks again! Which former enemy will unexpectedly come to our friends’ aid...?

In the Emerald arc volumes, one of Team Rocket’s Three Beasts turns against its leader Giovanni and seeks to usurp his power. Silver learns a shocking secret about his family. Red and Mewtwo hazard a daring escape. And—whoa! The Team Rocket airship is about to crash-land! Then, in a battle between powerful Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo and Mythical Pokémon Deoxys, who will triumph...?!

POKÉMON is one of the most successful international entertainment franchises of all time. To date more than 270 million POKÉMON video game titles and over 21.5 billion Pokémon Trading Cards have been sold in more than 73 countries in addition to substantial publishing and merchandise sales. VIZ Media and its Perfect Square imprint are the official North American publishers for POKÉMON manga graphic novel series including POKÉMON ADVENTURES X•Y, POKÉMON ADVENTURES, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: DIAMOND & PEARL, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: GOLD & SILVER, POKÉMON ADVENTURES: BLACK & WHITE as well as a variety of POKÉMON animated feature films.

VIZ Media’s Perfect Square imprint focuses on delivering original comics, manga (graphic novels) and other children’s books with an emphasis on strong storytelling, eye-popping graphics, empowering themes, and a dash of irreverence, that captures the imagination of a whole new generation.

Additional information on titles published by Perfect Square is available at www.PerfectSquare.com.

For more information on other manga and anime titles 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 ONE PIECE, 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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Pre-Orders for "Sailor Moon R, Season 2, Set 1" Blu-ray and DVD Now Open

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES PRE-ORDERS FOR THE UPCOMING HOME MEDIA RELEASE OF SAILOR MOON R, SEASON 2, SET 1

Second Season Of The Legendary Anime Series Features Episodes 47-69 Available This Summer As A Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack And Standard Edition DVD Set

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, prepares the interstellar action of the second season of the classic SAILOR MOON anime series on Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack and also as a Standard DVD edition with the home media release of SAILOR MOON R Set 1 on July 14th, 2015. Pre-orders are available now from all major online retailers. Fans that pre-order from Rightstuf.com will receive a special gold-tone memorial coin featuring Usagi’s Crystal Star transformation brooch (while supplies last).

The new SAILOR MOON R Set 1 Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack and Standard DVD Set are rated “TV-PG” and contain Episodes 47-69 along with special premium packaging and some notable bonus features. Uncut English dubbed as well as original Japanese subtitled dialogue options are available on both formats. The Limited Edition SAILOR MOON R Set 1 Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack will carry an MSRP of $79.98 U.S. / $93.99 CAN; the Standard Edition DVD will carry an MSRP of $44.82 U.S. / $51.99 CAN.

The Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack will contain a deluxe, 6-disc collection (3 DVDs & 3 Blu-rays), packaged with a beautiful reflective holofoil slipcover with specialty printing. The Combo Pack also offers bonus content including a 96-page full-color episode guide along with exclusive interviews with the English cast, a special behind-the-scenes peek at the recording sessions to create the fresh English dub, and a video art gallery and official series trailers. Blu-ray episodes are presented in 1080p video preserving the original 4:3 aspect ratio.

The SAILOR MOON R Set 1 Standard DVD Set features 3 discs with beautifully illustrated variant O-card packaging and embossed holofoil printing. Episodes will be presented in 480p standard video format. Uncut English dubbed as well as Japanese subtitled dialogue options are available.

“The greatest magical girl anime series of all time reawakens with the start of the exciting second season of SAILOR MOON,” says Charlene Ingram, Senior Marketing Manager, Animation. “Fans can continue to expand their personal SAILOR MOON home media collections with 22 exciting un-cut episodes available for the first time ever on Blu-ray and loaded with never-before-seen extras. Pre-orders are available now from leading online anime and video retailers!”

In SAILOR MOON R, Usagi and her friends return to their normal lives after their epic battle, but the Sailor Guardians are called back into action when powerful new enemies appear. By the power of the Legendary Silver Crystal, Sailor Moon gains strength with a dazzling new attach and transformation. The coming battle won't be easy, but things get even more complicated when a mysterious pink-haired girl falls form the sky and goes after Mamoru!

The SAILOR MOON anime series depicts the adventures of Usagi Tsukino, a cheerful 14-year-old schoolgirl who often finds herself in unwanted trouble. One day, she saves a talking cat named Luna from some mean kids, and her life is changed forever. Luna gives Usagi a magic brooch that transforms her into Sailor Moon, guardian of love and justice! Now Usagi must work with Luna to find the other Sailor Guardians and the Moon Princess, whose Legendary Silver Crystal is Earth’s only hope against the dark forces of the evil Queen Beryl!

The SAILOR MOON anime series is inspired by the bestselling manga (graphic novel) series created by Naoko Takeuchi (published in North America by Kodansha). In the series, Usagi Tsukino is a clumsy but kindhearted teenage girl who transforms into the powerful guardian of love and justice, Sailor Moon. Meeting allies along the way who share similar fates, Usagi and her team of planetary Sailor Guardians fight to protect the universe from forces of evil and total annihilation! 

For more information on SAILOR MOON, or other award-winning anime titles 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 ONE PIECE, 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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ECBACC Announces 2015 Glyph Awards Nominations

The nominees for the 2015 Glyph Awards were announced Saturday, April 4, 2015.  The Glyph Awards recognize the best in comics made by, for, and about Black people.  The 2015 Glyph Awards recognize comics made in 2014.  The winners will be announced on Friday, May 15, 2015, from 6:30p.m. – 9p.m., at the at ECBACC  in PhIladelphia. This is the 10th year for the Glyph Awards.

Some of the comics nominated can be read at http://peepgamecomix.com/

2015 / 10th Glyph Award nominees:

STORY OF THE YEAR
• BASS REEVES: TALES OF THE TALENTED TENTH ; Joel Christian Gill, Writer and Artist
• MATTY’S ROCKET; Tim Fielder, Writer and Artist
• SHAFT; David F. Walker, Writer; Bilquis Evely, Artist
• STRANGE FRUIT: UNCELEBRATED NARRATIVES FROM BLACK HISTORY; Joel Christian Gill, Writer and Artist

BEST COVER
• AJALA A SERIES OF ADVENTURES; Walt Msonza Barna
• MATTY’S ROCKET; Tim Fielder
• OFFSET #1 – THE MAN WHO TRAVELS WITH A PIECE OF SUGARCANE; Tristan Roach
• TECHWATCH; Ernesto (Nesto) Vicente

BEST WRITER
• Keef Cross; DAY BLACK
• Tim Fielder; MATTY’S ROCKET
• Joel Christian Gill; STRANGE FRUIT: UNCELEBRATED NARRATIVES FROM BLACK HISTORY
• Nigel Lynch; LIFE AND DEATH IN PARADISE BOOK 4

BEST ARTIST
• Nelson Blake 2; ARTIFACTS
• Russ Leach; INTERCEPTOR
• Dan Mora; QUIXOTE
• Stacey Robinson; KID CODE

BEST MALE CHARACTER
• Merce; DAY BLACK; Keef Cross, Writer and Artist
• Marsalis J. Parker; BLACKWAX BOULEVARD; Dmitri Jackson, Writer and Artist
• Bass Reeves; BASS REEVES: TALES OF THE TALENTED TENTH ; Joel Christian Gill, Writer and Artist
• John Shaft ; SHAFT; David F. Walker, Writer; Bilquis Evely, Artist

BEST FEMALE CHARACTER
• Markesha Nin; KAMIKAZE; Alan and Carrie Tupper, Writers and Artists; Havana Nguyen, Artist
• Ajala Storm; AJALA A SERIES OF ADVENTURES; Robert Garrett, Writer; N Steven Harris and Walt Msonza Barna, Artists
• Emily Tanaka – The Geisha; PROJECT GEISHA; Eli Ivory, Writer and Artist
• Matty Watty; MATTY’S ROCKET; Tim Fielder, Writer and Artist

RISING STAR AWARD
• Alverne Ball and Jason Reeves, Writers; Lee Moyer and Ari Syahrazad, Artists; ONE NATION: OLD DRUIDS
• Deron Bennett, Writer; Dan Mora and Khary Randolph, Artists; QUIXOTE
• Joel Christian Gill, Writer and Artist; STRANGE FRUIT: UNCELEBRATED NARRATIVES FROM BLACK HISTORY
• Eric Dean Seaton, Writer and Artist; LEGEND OF THE MANTAMAJI:BOOK 1 AND LEGEND OF THE MANTAMAJI: BOOK 2

BEST COMIC STRIP OR WEBCOMIC
• BLACKWAX BOULEVARD; Dmitri Jackson, Writer and Artist
• KAMIKAZE; Alan and Carrie Tupper, Writers and Artists; Havana Nguyen, Artist

BEST REPRINT PUBLICATION
• ANT HILL THE ANTHOLOGY VOL 2; Starr Skills Studios
• TECHWATCH; Chameleon Creations

FAN AWARD FOR BEST WORK
• BLAZE BROTHERS VOL 1; Vernon Whitlock III and Matthew Scott Krentz, Writers; Marat Mychaels and Dietrich Smith, Artists
• INTERCEPTOR; Brandon Easton, Writer; Russ Leach and Max Dunbar, Artists
• KAMIKAZE; Alan and Carrie Tupper, Writers and Artists; Havana Nguyen, Artist
• ONENATION: SAFEHOUSE; Jason Reeves, Writer; Samax Amen and Deon De Lange, Artists

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Webcomics Update: Grumble #2 - Title Page Teases

Title Page is here: http://www.comicbookbin.com/grumbletitlepage002.html

NOTE:  Last year, I printed some promotional copies of Grumble: Chapter One through a POD printer.  I will sign and number a copy of this "rare" comic book for $5 post paid, which you can purchase here or http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/p/i-reads-shopping.html

"Betty and Veronica #275" Now in India

BETTY AND VERONICA #275

The girls have arrived in Mumbai, India! They’re ready to move into their temporary homes… and their new identities as Veronica takes on the role as “Betty,” and Betty takes on the role as “Veronica”! Will anyone catch onto their little game? Meanwhile, back in Riverdale, the boys are enjoying the acquaintances of the new transfer students Violette and Banni! But can these two new transfers ever really take the place of their beloved Veronica and Betty? Plus, we’re commemorating this milestone 275th issue with a double-sized issue featuring plenty of bonus content and multiple collector covers!

Script: Michael Uslan
Art: Dan Parent
Cover: Dan Parent
275th Variant Covers: Ramona Fradon, Adam Hughes, Genevieve F.T., Brittney Williams
On Sale Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2015
48-page, full color comic
$4.99 U.S.

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"Chilling Adventures of Sabrina" Returns with Second Issue

CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA #2

On the eve of Sabrina’s sixteenth birthday, as she faces a choice that will determine her destiny as a half-witch/half-mortal, an unspeakable terror arrives in Greendale, and her name is… Madam Satan! At long last, the secret history of the Queen of Hell is revealed, as she sets her vengeful gaze upon the Spellman family. No one, especially those close to Sabrina, is safe, and very, very soon, the quiet streets of Greendale run red with blood…

Harvey Award-winning writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and artist Robert Hack bring this dark re-imagining of Sabrina the Teenage Witch’s occult origin to spine-tingling life.

Writer: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Art: Robert Hack
Cover: Robert Hack
Variant Cover: Francesco Francavilla
On Sale Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2015 (in comic book stores)
32 pages, full-color
$3.99

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Kathryn Lance Talks the Close of Her Pandora's Trilogy, "Pandora's Promise"

According to her website, Kathryn Lance (KL) has been both a professional writer and a ghostwriter of fiction and nonfiction.  She has also been an editor, a writing instructor, and a writing consultant.  She has authored more than 50 books and also written hundreds of articles.

Lance's most recent work of fiction is the recently released novel, Pandora's Promise.  This is the third book in her Pandora's trilogy, a science fiction adventure/romance series that takes place in a future world devastated by a recombinant-DNA disaster.  The first book in the series, Pandora's Genes (Questar, 1985), won Romance Times' “Best New Science Fiction” award in 1986.  Pandora's Gene also made Locus magazine's “Recommended List” in 1986.  The second book, Pandora's Children (Questar 1987), continued the story begun in the first book.  Pandora's Promise, which stands alone as a novel, features telepathic elephants and an intense and unusual love triangle.

The following is a list of questions and answers prepared by the Kathryn Lance for press and media:

Q:  What’s the best thing about being a writer?

KL: For me, the best thing about being a writer of fiction is that I get to make up whole worlds and get to know the characters who inhabit them. I say “get to know” the characters because, although they are obviously a product of my mind, I always feel that the characters are real people. This has been especially true of the characters in the Pandora’s books, who seem every bit as real to me as my actual friends. It’s very hard to let them go, as their stories continue in my imagination.

Q:  What are you currently working on?

KL:  I’m taking a break from long fiction just now and working on my writing and nature blogs, as well as a couple of articles. One is about the current book, which is my “encore” book, since the first two novels were published in the 1980’s!

Q:  Where did you get the idea for the Pandora’s Trilogy?

KL:  Years ago I read an article about attempts to clean oil spills using genetically-modified bacteria. I thought, “Great--but what if your car catches it?” From there I began to wonder what would happen if all oil and oil products abruptly disappeared from the earth. Later on, I had a dream in which I saw a good man who was about to do something he knew was morally wrong, but that he felt he had to do. The man turned out to be Zach, and his conflict between honor and duty is what drives him throughout the series. While writing Pandora’s Promise I was surprised to learn that Zach’s conflict could be resolved.

Q:  What do you say to potential readers who say they don’t like science fiction?

KL:  I say, “I don’t think science fiction is what you think it is.” I have adored science fiction since I was a child. It is interesting and exciting because it answers questions that begin “What if?” and it takes on societal problems in a way that mainstream fiction usually does not. (Think of 1984 and Brave New World.) Science fiction has always seemed more real to me than mainstream fiction. Though the genre has a reputation for being less-well-written than some other genres, that is not true. As with any fiction, some is good, some is bad, some is indifferent. To me, the story and characters are always the most important elements, whatever the category of literature.

Q:  How did you create the elephants?

KL:  I have always been fascinated by elephants, and have read a great deal about them over the years. In Pandora’s Promise, the empathic elephants, who call themselves “Dream Tasters,” seemed to me to logically belong in the Great Plains after the recombinant DNA disaster that set the story in motion and caused many extinctions and mutations throughout the world. Their empathic abilities, like those of the fox-cat, Baby, are explained as latent traits that appeared as humans disappeared after “The Change.”

Q:  Is Pandora’s Promise also a love story?

KL:  The whole Pandora’s trilogy is a love story, though I did not know that until the first book, Pandora’s Genes, won the “Best New Science Fiction” award from Romance Times in the year it was published. The series portrays a love triangle featuring the two male protagonists, Zach and Will, who both love Evvy, the young girl scientist. Although the love story is never in the forefront of the action, it is always in the background, and I’ve heard from many readers who had definite ideas how they wanted it resolved.

Q:  Will I understand Pandora’s Promise if I haven’t read the other two novels?

KL:  Definitely! I wrote it in such a way that you needn’t read the first two books to follow what is going on. Several readers who started with this book told me they liked it so much that they went back and read the first two novels just to spend more time with the characters.

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Description of Pandora's Promise for Amazon:
Pandora’s Promise, the long-awaited conclusion to the trilogy that began with the award-winning novel Pandora’s Genes, takes place in a world 100 years after a recombinant-DNA disaster destroyed all oil-based technology and caused widespread mutations. Due to an inherited genetic disease, the human race seems doomed to extinction. In this dangerous setting, Evvy, the brilliant young scientist trying to save humanity, sets out on a perilous quest, while Zach, the poet-warrior and Evvy’s self-exiled soul mate, faces deadly challenges among disparate human and animal societies. Unknowingly, both Zach and Evvy follow clues to the mysterious Eye--a source of hope? Of oblivion? Or merely a myth?

With this final volume in the trilogy, author and SFWA member Kathryn Lance answers all questions raised by the first two books while creating a stand-alone page-turner that explains how the initial disaster occurred and resolves the unusual love triangle involving Zach, Evvy, and Will the Principal, the charismatic but flawed leader of a society based in the ruins of Washington, D.C. Along the way readers are introduced to fascinating future societies, including the southern “Snake People,” who worship a genetically altered giant constrictor, The Pros, a group of farming communities whose society is built around a violent sports contest, and The Dream Tasters, a canny and loving group of empathic elephants.

Pandora’s Promise by Kathryn Lance
ASIN: B00T3O0676
Publisher: Amazon
Date of publish: February 2015
Pages: 306 - Kindle ebook
S.R.P.: $3.99

Readers can learn more about Lance and her work at her website: http://www.klance.com/home.html

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