VIZ Media Announces New Digital Manga Releases for May 2015

VIZ MEDIA LAUNCHES A VARIETY OF NEW CONTENT IN THE LATEST DIGITAL MANGA UPDATE FOR MAY

Exclusive New Manga Series Debuts As Well As New Digital Bundle Promotions Offering Substantial Savings On BLEACH, NARUTO, ONE PIECE And SHAMAN KING Multi-Volume Packages

VIZ Media offers manga (graphic novel) fans plenty of reading options for May as it announces its latest monthly digital update. New content includes the debut of 5 new titles as well as scores of new volumes for a variety of other acclaimed continuing series.

Leading the publisher’s roster of new titles this month are launches for the shojo fantasy comedy, CHEEKY ANGEL, the sci-fi inspired adventure of EUREKA SEVEN, and the clairvoyant drama of FLOWER OF THE DEEP SLEEP. Also debuting in May is a pair of brand new single-volume releases including the prequel to HONEY BLOOD, TALE ZERO, and GLASS WINGS, a poignant collection of manga short stories.

Throughout the month, VIZ Media also continues its Digital Manga Bundle Promotion offering manga readers specially curated selections each containing between 10 and 20 full volumes from critically acclaimed and fan-favorite titles such as BLEACH, NARUTO, ONE PIECE, YU-GI-OH! and SHAMAN KING at substantial savings over the regular digital MSRPs. These latest manga bundle selections are available to readers for a very limited time during May on VIZManga.com and through the comiXology platform.

VIZ Media and WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP will also run the original chapters of YU-GI-OH! in the weekly digital magazine as a part of their Jump Back campaign.  The first chapter will be released in the May 11th issue and will continue to reintroduce readers to the series for the next four weeks! In addition, WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP offers fans a chance to win the incredibly rare Yu-Gi-Oh! Card - Digvorzhak, King of Heavy Industry with a special sweepstakes starting this month! Fans can enter the contest by purchasing or renewing a WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Annual Subscription.  The contest will run from May 11th to June 7th and winners will be chosen randomly.  To enter the contest and for more information, fans can visit http://shonenjump.viz.com/yugiohsweep.

Additional noteworthy updates include new volumes for 15 other continuing VIZ Media series. Included in this latest update are not-to-be-missed volumes for KISS OF THE ROSE PRINCESS (Vol. 4), ONE-PUNCH MAN (Vol. 7), RATMAN (Vol. 3), SGT FROG (Vol. 9) and TOKYO GHOUL (Vol. 2), as well as the series finale for ROSARIO+VAMPIRE SEASON II (Vol. 14) and many more!

New May 2015 Digital Manga Series Debuts:

HONEY BLOOD (TALE ZERO) · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · DIGITAL MSRP: $6.99 (U.S. / CAN) · Available Now! 
HONEY BLOOD (TALE ZERO) is where Hinata and Junya’s love story originally began. In addition to the one-shot chapters that made HONEY BLOOD’s serialization possible, this volume also contains two bonus short stories from series creator Miko Mitsuki.

CHEEKY ANGEL, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · DIGITAL MSRP: $6.99 (U.S. / CAN) · Available May 12th! 

Megumi, a nine-year-old martial arts enthusiast and all around rapscallion always wanted to be, "the manliest man on Earth." After saving a sorcerer from a group of local toughs, Megumi is presented with a magic genie which can grant any wish. Unfortunately, this genie misconstrues Megumi's desire as wanting to become the, "womanliest woman on Earth," and in a flash, Megumi's Y chromosome is swapped for an X. Six years later...Megumi is the hottest girl in school, but has stayed true to his/her tough talkin', punk stompin' ways. If that's not enough, Genzo, the baddest dude in town, is smitten by Megumi's womanly wiles...

GLASS WINGS (Single Volume) · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · DIGITAL MSRP: $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) · Available May 12th! 

In this collection by manga creator Misuzu Asaoka, a boy struggles with a dreaded affliction that comes between him and his true love; an orphan has the power to take on the sickness of others; a disfigured boy confronts the inner conflict between his need to survive and his desire to love. In an uncompromising blend of magic and realism, GLASS WINGS reveals love's capacity to overcome all obstacles and to replenish the human spirit in the direst of times.

EUREKA SEVEN, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · DIGITAL MSRP: $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) · Available May 19th! 

Renton Thurston is a young 14-year-old who is tired of his monotonous life. His feelings of frustration come from his life of toil in his grandfather's garage and being the son of an enigmatic, legendary hero. The only thing that makes Renton happy is when he lifts, an extreme form of aerial hover-boarding. One day, a large LFO (Light Finding Operation) craft called Nirvash falls from the sky and a beautiful young girl named Eureka emerges and asks for repairs. When a smitten Renton literally falls over himself. Don’t miss this extraordinary series written by Jinsei Kataoka (DEADMAN WONDERLAND), with artwork by Kazuma Kondou (DEADMAN WONDERLAND).

FLOWER OF THE DEEP SLEEP, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · DIGITAL MSRP: $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) · Available May 26th! 

In this series created by Yuana Kazumi (HARU HANA, MILLION TEARS), Yuuki has the power to dream of the future, but with such a gift comes a great burden. Can she manipulate what's about to happen? And, more importantly, should she? In a haunting vision, Yuuki sees a mysterious little girl with whom she shares a secret connection. Who is this girl? Does she have an even greater power to influence events? In this hypnotically gripping tale that blurs.

Don’t miss the latest titles featured in VIZ Media’s Digital Manga Bundle Promotion which continues through May 31st on VIZManga.com as well as comiXology.

The Following Digital Bundles Are Available From May 11th-31st Only

BLEACH Bundle · Promo MSRP $81.00

Bundle includes:
·         BLEACH Vols. 22-48

NARUTO Bundle · Promo MSRP $33.00

Bundle includes:
·         NARUTO Vols. 17-27

ONE PIECE Bundle · Promo MSRP $36.00

Bundle includes:
·         ONE PIECE Vols. 12-23

SHAMAN KING Bundle · Promo MSRP $51.00

Bundle includes:
·         SHAMAN KING Vols. 16-32

Yu-Gi-Oh! Bundle · Promo MSRP $21.00

Bundle includes:
·         Yu-Gi-Oh! Vols. 1-7

Readers can enjoy all of these new manga titles that are available on VIZManga.com and the VIZ MANGA App for the iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones and tablets. The titles also may be purchased through the Nook, Kindle, Kobo, comiXology, iBooks and GooglePlay stores. These dynamic digital platforms offer fans the opportunity to explore and enjoy a massive catalog of new and classic manga titles that spans over 2,550 volumes across more than 225 different series.

The free VIZ Manga App continues to be the top application for reading digital manga and features a massive library of the most popular series in the world. Through the innovative VIZ Manga digital platform registered users are able to use one account to view their purchased manga across more devices than ever. New series and volumes are added every Tuesday. Fans can also find these titles and more for the NOOK, Kindle Fire, and Kobo eReaders, as well as in the comiXology, iBooks and GooglePlay Stores.

Most manga volumes are available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the VIZ Manga application starting from only $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) each. Readers can also explore free Chapter 1 previews of every series. For more information, please visit VIZManga.com or www.VIZ.com/apps.

To learn more about VIZ Manga, please visit www.vizmanga.com.

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Webcomics Update: Grumble #2, Page 4

Grumble Chapter Two, Page 4 is here:  http://www.comicbookbin.com/grumbletwopage004.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

Negromancer News Bits and Bites for the Week of May 10th to 16th, 2015 - Update #5

NEWS:

From YahooMovies: Just in time for her lesbian romance, Carol, Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett talks about her own lesbian romances.

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From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the May 8th to 10th, 2015 weekend box office is Avengers: Age of Ultron with an estimated haul of $77.2 million, the second highest second weekend in box office history.  The first Avengers film has the record for best first and second weekends.

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From TheVox:  Batman would have been in the public domain...


COMICS:

From BleedingCool:  So DC wants a sequel to "The Killing Joke?"  What a joke.


STAR WARS:

From PopularMechanics:  There was apparently a lot of deleted material from the first Star Wars, as this documentary tells it.

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From PopularMechanics:  Movies don't have to make sense, says George Lucas.

Deadline Comics Announces "Solarman"

Deadline Comics launches in USA with Solarman, published by Scout Comics and produced by Deadline Comics. Once written and concieved by David Oliphant and Stan Lee for Marvel Comics, it's now rebooted for a new generation, with a variant cover by Neal Adams.


About Deadline:
Deadline create and publish exciting new properties for comics, movies, TV and games, through ComicPlus, ComiXology, Ingrams and Diamonds in collaboration with high caliber creators and legends in the entertainment business.

Deadline history:
Deadline's creative core consists of comic book legend Neal Adams - and Amikael (known to produce 'quickies' - under 60 minutes each - and posting them at http://www.facebook.com/artofamikael.). Amikael created Sweden's first ever superhero comic book, Agent Marc Saunders. Standalone episodes in full color. An ongoing, quarterly comic book at 104 pages in every issue, where he did both the writing and all the art. A huge 'one man job', done in a hyper-detailed realistic style, that quickly got the approval of american comic-book legends. After being bought out of the very title that he himself created, he turned to the states to form Deadline comics, joined by Neal Adams and entrepreneur Jim Odenbjork, and thus Deadline made its first appearance at New York Comic Con with Ardden Entertainment, now Scout Comics.

Website: www.deadlinecomics.com

Archie Comics Launches Kickstarter Campagin For Three New Comic Books

Archie Comics Expands on World of Archie #1 with Three New Titles via Kickstarter Crowdfunding Platform

Publisher to launch new JUGHEAD, BETTY & VERONICA and LIFE WITH KEVIN comic book series with help of dedicated fandom

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Archie Comics, the acclaimed and bestselling comic book publisher that is home to some of the best-known pop culture creations in the world, including Archie, Jughead, Betty & Veronica, Josie & The Pussycats, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and the hit AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE series, announced today that it would launch a historic crowdfunding campaign via the popular Kickstarter platform.

    “When I first stepped into the Archie offices, the brand was frozen in time. The stories felt stiff and dated. That’s no longer the case”

The Kickstarter campaign’s call to action is a simple one: Help Archie Comics build a New Riverdale. Specifically, the Kickstarter will ask fans to help fund a slate of titles that build off the surefire success of ARCHIE #1 — the debut issue of a new, ongoing ARCHIE series from writer Mark Waid (Daredevil, Kingdom Come) and artist Fiona Staples (Saga). The series will be crafted by some of the biggest names in the comic book industry and feature the most beloved characters in comic book history.

The three new titles, launching over the next 18 months, include:

JUGHEAD — Featuring the adventures of Archie’s hamburger-loving best friend, from acclaimed writer Chip Zdarsky (Sex Criminals, Howard the Duck) and an artist TBA. An off-the-wall series full of laughs, unexpected twists and a modern sense of humor.

BETTY AND VERONICA — Girl-next-door Betty Cooper and wealthy socialite Veronica Lodge are best friends and fiercely competitive. While they both have a history with that guy Archie, the series puts the focus squarely on them — their friendship, their high school lives and adventures beyond Riverdale. Written and drawn by comic book legend Adam Hughes (Wonder Woman, Before Watchmen: Doctor Manhattan).

LIFE WITH KEVIN — Kevin Keller, the hugely-popular and historic character that broke new ground in Riverdale by being the first gay character in the company’s publishing history returns in a new ongoing series. Writer/artist Dan Parent (Kevin Keller) and inker J. Bone (The Spirit) tell a tale of an older, more experienced Kevin as he navigates a new city, new romance and leaving home.

“Our fans are part of our family — they’re an integral part of everything we do,” said Archie Comics Publisher/Co-CEO Jon Goldwater. “We’re not flush with corporate cash like Marvel or DC. But we’re also not afraid to take calculated risks. With this Kickstarter, fans have the chance to get in on the ground floor of an exciting and forward-thinking initiative. Fans can help build a New Riverdale, brick-by-brick. We’ve put together a stellar lineup of titles — featuring the best and the brightest creators working on our top characters. With your help, we can make this New Riverdale a reality. The best part? This is only the beginning.”

The crowdfunding initiative marks the latest part of the company’s 75th anniversary celebration — while also marking the beginning of a new era for the long-running publisher. With the launch of ARCHIE #1 on July 8, the company will be poised to reimagine its core characters while retaining the humorous and edgy elements that made them instant sensations when they first appeared.

“When I first stepped into the Archie offices, the brand was frozen in time. The stories felt stiff and dated. That’s no longer the case,” Goldwater said. “This is a new Archie. A new Jughead. A new Betty and Veronica and a new Kevin. We’re holding onto the things that made them great — the humor, the love triangle, the friendship and youthful exuberance — but presenting them in a way that can appeal to everyone, from classic comic fans to new readers who might not know every nook and cranny of our history. Each part of this is a brick that will help build a New Riverdale. But we can only do it with your help.”


ABOUT ARCHIE COMICS:
Archie Comics is the leading mass market comic book publisher in the world and the home to a wide array of the most popular humor, action-adventure and superhero characters in entertainment, including Archie, Jughead, Betty and Veronica, Reggie, Kevin Keller, Josie and the Pussycats, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Afterlife With Archie, the Dark Circle Comics superhero characters (The Black Hood, The Fox, The Shield and more), Li’l Jinx and many more. Archie Comics have sold over 2 billion comics worldwide and are published around the world in a number of languages. In addition to comics, Archie characters have been featured prominently in animation, television, film and music. Follow Archie Comics on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and the Archie Comics Store.

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VIZ Media to Display Its Anime Wares at the 2015 Licensing Expo

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Charles Vess Among New Guests Announced for Baltimore Comic-Con 2015

Artists Bastian, Cho, Petersen, and Vess at Baltimore Comic-Con 2015

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - The 16th annual Baltimore Comic-Con returns to the Baltimore Convention Center the weekend of September 25-27, 2015. Come to the beautiful Inner Harbor of Baltimore to meet artists Jeremy Bastian, Frank Cho, David Petersen, and Charles Vess.

Jeremy Bastian is the creator and illustrator of Cursed Pirate Girl from BOOM! Studios and Archaia Comics. He is renown for his delicate detail, whimsical characters, and strange creatures, all drawn at the actual print size with a very small brush! Cursed Pirate Girl beckons to the 19th century in both subject and style. He has also contributed to Guild: Tink from Dark Horse Comics, Mouse Guard: Legends of the Guard from BOOM! Studios/Archaia Comics, Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream from Locust Moon Press, and Under the Moons of Mars: New Adventures on Barsoom from Simon and Schuster. His Cursed Pirate Girl Annual will be released by BOOM! Studios in June of this year

Harvey and Eisner award nominee Frank Cho launched his career as a comic strip artist at the University of Maryland-College Park student newspaper, penning University2, which was the predecessor of his creator-owned syndicated strip and comic series, Liberty Meadows. His body of work also includes Marvel Comics' New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Shanna the She-Devil, New Ultimates, and X-Men: Schism, as well as Jungle Girl for Dynamite Entertainment. His recent work can be seen on covers from Marvel's Where Monsters Dwell and Image Comics' Shutter,

David Petersen began his career in 2004 with the release of Voices - a self-published anthology from ComiXpress. Possessing a distinctive art style reminiscent of A.A. Milne (creator of Winnie the Pooh), Petersen has worked on such comics as The Dark Crystal, Snowy Valentine, and Muppets & Fairytales from Archaia, as well as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro-Series from IDW. His artwork also graced the cover for the 2012 Baltimore Comic-Con program, as well as the show-exclusive t-shirt. In 2008, David won the Eisner award for Best Publication for Kids (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 and Winter 1152) and Best Graphic Album - Reprint (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 Hardcover). In 2010, he was nominated for a Harvey Award for Best Artist (Mouse Guard: Winter 1152). In addition to continuing his Mouse Guard series through BOOM! Studios, David's art graces variant covers at Action Lab Entertainment for Skyward.

Eisner award-winning Charles Vess began his freelance illustration in the 1970s after receiving a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. His early work included working on publications like Heavy Metal, Epic Comics, and National Lampoon. His art has graced both covers and interior pages at Marvel Comics (Spider-Man, Raven Banner, and Kull the Conqueror) and DC Comics (Sandman, Swamp Thing, Books of Magic, and Stardust). More recently, he has provided art on Little, Brown & Company's The Cats of Tanglewood Forest, provided a pin-up in Locust Moon Press's Little Nemo: Dream a Little Dream, and was featured in Dark Horse Comics' Drawing Down the Moon: The Art of Charles Vess.

"What a stunning set of artists," said Marc Nathan, promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "Each of these gentlemen brings an amazing line and fine detail to their work, and each is lauded for their skills and contributions to their art, both in and outside of comics. We couldn't be happier to have them all appearing in 2015."

This year's confirmed guests for the show include: Neal Adams (All-New Captain America); Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl); Christy Blanch (The Damnation of Charlie Wormwood); Mark Buckingham (Fables); Sean Chen (Secret Origins); Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman); Frank Cho (Jungle Girl); Steve Conley (Bloop); Amanda Conner (Harley Quinn); Katie Cook (Gronk); Darwyn Cooke (Richard Stark's Parker); Ramona Fradon (Spongebob Annual-Size Super-Giant Swimtacular); John Gallagher (Buzzboy); Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (Batman '66: The Lost Episode); Cully Hamner (Convergence: The Question); Dean Haspiel (The Fox); Jaime Hernandez (Love and Rockets); Klaus Janson (Superman); Dave Johnson (Inhumans: Attilan Rising); JG Jones (Strange Fruit); Denis Kitchen (The Best of Comix Book: When Marvel Went Underground); Barry Kitson (Empire: Uprising); Seth Kushner (Schmuck); Paul Levitz (Convergence: World's Finest Comics); Mark Mariano (The Other Side of Hugless Hill); Ron Marz (Convergence: Batman and Robin); Terry Moore (Rachel Rising); Tom Palmer (The Avengers); Jimmy Palmiotti (The Con Job); Dan Parent (Archie); Andrew Pepoy (Afterlife with Archie); David Peterson (Mouse Guard); Ron Randall (Convergence: Catwoman); Budd Root (Cavewoman); Don Rosa (Donald Duck); Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo); Matteo Scalera (Black Science); Bart Sears (Bloodshot); Louise Simonson (Convergence: Superman - The Man of Steel); Walter Simonson (Convergence: Superman - The Man of Steel); Andy Smith (Earth 2); Charles Soule (Uncanny Inhumans); Marcio Takara (Armor Wars); Ben Templesmith (Gotham by Midnight); Frank Tieri (Suicide Squad); Peter Tomasi (Green Lantern Corps); John Totleben (Swamp Thing); Rick Veitch (Saga of the Swamp Thing); Charles Vess (Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream); Mark Waid (Daredevil); John Watson (Red Sonja); Kelly Yates (Doctor Who); and Thom Zahler (My Little Pony: Friends Forever).

In the coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.

Contact Information
Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:
press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution
registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com- for exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley registrations
harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com - for the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet
general@baltimorecomiccon.com - for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries


About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 16th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.

About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 10 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.

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