Friday 31 January 2014

No Matter How I Look at It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular vol. 1 & 2 review

No Matter How I Look at It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Not Popular vol. 1 & 2 Story & Art by Nico Tanigawa Review

Tomoko Kuroki is an incredibly introverted girl whose just starting high school. She has no friends since starting high school or a boyfriend. Thus, there is one lingering question in her life: just how can she make herself popular?

Also known as Watamote (and will be referred to as thus for the remainder of the review) the series thus far manages to strike a good balance between poking fun at a specific type of person and sympathizing with them to some extent. At the very least it’s a fascinating exploration of this personality.  And it goes into painstaking detail about the thought processes of Tomoko.

That being said Watamote is not without flaw: the artwork is rather simple. However it excels in striking an emotional chord whatever that emotion may be.  Serialized in Gangan Online, the title has spawned a few spin-offs and a television series. In conclusion Watatmote, while not visually spectacular, is a pleasant read especially on a cold winter night.

Rating: 8/10


Watamote is available in print from Yen Press.   

Thursday 16 January 2014

GET READY FOR TURBO-CHARGED ACTION IN MAX STEEL: HERO OVERLOAD ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL AVAILABLE NOW FROM VIZ MEDIA’S PERFECT SQUARE IMPRINT

GET READY FOR TURBO-CHARGED ACTION IN MAX STEEL: HERO OVERLOAD ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL AVAILABLE NOW FROM
VIZ MEDIA’S PERFECT SQUARE IMPRINT

Teen Superhero Max Gets More Than He Bargained For When He Helps Train A Young Trio Of Heroes-In-Waiting

San Francisco, CA, January 16, 2014 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga, graphic novels and anime in North America, delivers a new installment of its ongoing series of original graphic novels based on the hit kids action adventure property, MAX STEEL™, with the release of MAX STEEL: HERO OVERLOAD.

MAX STEEL: HERO OVERLOAD features an original story by B. Clay Moore and artwork by Alfa Robbi. The full-color release from VIZ Media’s Perfect Square imprint is available now, rated ‘A’ for All Ages, and carries an MSRP of $7.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN. A digital version is also available for $4.99 U.S. / CAN from the Perfect Square App, which offers titles for the Apple iPad® and iPad® Mini. The Perfect Square App is available from the iTunes store. Fans can also find a digital version for the NOOK, Kindle Fire, and Kobo ereaders, as well as in the iBooks and GooglePlay Stores.

In the latest adventure, Max Steel realizes that he isn’t the only superhero around. Max encounters a trio of super-powered teens with mysterious skills who are in serious need of training. He takes on the task, but can Max get these new heroes up to speed before they have to battle a real threat? One of Max’s biggest baddies is waiting in the wings to strike... and Max is going to have to face him with a bunch of newbies!

Originally developed by Mattel, MAX STEEL is a global boy’s entertainment franchise spanning toys, publishing and consumer products. Season 1 of an acclaimed MAX STEEL CGI animated series, co-produced with FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment, has also captivated legions of fans of all ages on the Disney XD channel in the U.S. and Teletoons in Canada. In the TV and original graphic novel series, Maxwell McGrath™ is just an average 16-year-old boy… until he starts experiencing uncontrollable Turbo Energy! To control this amazing superpower, he must merge with a know-it-all alien Ultralink™ named Steel. Steel gives Maxwell the ability to harness his power and merge his own to create one unified super force – Max Steel – and together, this unlikely duo will battle to save the earth as the ultimate turbocharged superhero!

“In Hero Overload, the latest graphic novel featuring teen superhero MAX STEEL, Max encounters a new team of superhero peers that were created exclusively for this story by writer B. Clay Moore. The new characters have a design from Alfa Robbi that helps them fit perfectly into the world of Max Steel, and of course, they are not at all what you might think when you first meet them,” says Joel Enos, Editor for the MAX STEEL™ graphic novels. “As you can expect from a veteran comics writer like B. Clay Moore, the action jumps off from the very first page. And like all our Perfect Square books, readers of all ages can really dig into this turbo-powered new story!”

Writer B. Clay Moore has authored comic books for virtually every major publisher, including VIZ Media, Image Comics, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, WildStorm, Oni Press and Top Cow Productions. He is also the co-creator of a handful of critically acclaimed creator-owned titles.

Artist Alfa Robbi was born and raised in Semarang City, in Central Java, Indonesia. His published works include Planetary Brigade (Boom!) and Ev (TokyoPop). Robbi’s current focus is Papillon, a comic book art studio he founded with Fajar Buana in 2002. Alfa was also the illustrator for Perfect Square’s VOLTRON FORCE: RISE OF THE BEAST KING.

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 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, Australia, New Zealand 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.


About Max Steel

Developed by Mattel, Inc., Max Steel™ is an immersive franchise that brings a positive and relatable superhero to kids, supported by a captivating storyline and compelling multi-platform content for today’s tech-forward kid. Featuring an animated superhero series, Max Steel draws upon turbo-charged teamwork, laughter and friendship to help kids overcome life’s obstacles — from the everyday, to the out-of-this-world. With worldwide distribution partners, the franchise launches include content and a robust portfolio spanning toys, digital platforms and consumer products. For more information, visit www.maxsteel.com

Friday 10 January 2014

VIZ MEDIA CELEBRATES 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND LAUNCHES EDGY SCI-FI ACTION MANGA SERIES ALL YOU NEED IS KILL IN SPECIAL WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ISSUE

VIZ MEDIA CELEBRATES 2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY AND LAUNCHES EDGY SCI-FI ACTION MANGA SERIES ALL YOU NEED IS KILL IN SPECIAL WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ISSUE

Popular Weekly Digital Manga Anthology Celebrates Sophomore Anniversary With Special Weekend Issue Featuring The Premiere Of Sci-Fi Series By Creator Of DEATH NOTE and BAKUMAN

San Francisco, CA, January 10, 2014 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, marks WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP’s 2 Year Digital Anniversary with the debut of ALL YOU NEED IS KILL, by acclaimed manga (graphic novel) creator Takeshi Obata, in a special issue debuting THIS Saturday, January 11th. The bestselling weekly serial manga anthology features the synchronized latest chapters of the world’s most popular series debuting digitally on the same day as the Japanese Weekly Shonen Jump counterpart.

Weekly Shonen Jump takes a short break in Japan next week, but to launch this highly anticipated new series, VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump editors have prepared a very special Takeshi Obata-themed edition that coincides with the sophomore anniversary of the digital launch of the publication.

Scheduled for a Saturday release, this bonus issue will feature Chapter 1 of ALL YOU NEED IS KILL along with previews of Obata Sensei's greatest hits. ALL YOU NEED IS KILL is the story of a futuristic soldier who dies in battle and is reborn each day to defend Earth against deadly alien invaders called Mimics. Takeshi Obata is a renowned artist of several massively successful manga series including DEATH NOTE, BAKUMAN, RALΩGRAD, and HIKARU NO GO (all titles also published in North America by VIZ Media)

The original ALL YOU NEED IS KILL novel, by author Hiroshi Sakurazaka, has been called, “science fiction for the adrenaline junkie,” and is published in North America by VIZ Media’s Haikasoru imprint. The novel been notably adapted into a forthcoming sci-fi live-action blockbuster, titled Edge of Tomorrow, scheduled for release this summer from Warner Bros. and starring Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt and Bill Paxton.

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is the world’s leading ambassador for manga content and, aided by the advent of digital technology, we are able to oversee the simultaneous release of the latest chapters of some of the world’s most popular series to fans in North America as well as in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Oceania,” says Editor-in-Chief Andy Nakatani. “We were honored to be the first publication to bring Takeshi Obata’s newest work to North American readers and we look forward to him reaching an even wider international fan base with the debut of the ALL YOU NEED IS KILL manga.”

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is the world’s premiere manga brand and leading weekly manga magazine. VIZ Media offers North American fans single issues for only $0.99 each and 1 Year Memberships are available for only $25.99 and include 48 weekly digital issues as well as exclusive Yu-Gi-Oh! Collectable Trading Cards, special one-shot manga, exclusive digital-only promotions, and access to additional subscriber-only content including creator interviews and insightful promo videos. Current subscribers can also access their accounts via VIZManga.com, the VIZ Manga App, or with the Apple iPad Newsstand App.

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is further available to North American fans as well as readers in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa via the Newsstand App for the Apple iPad® and iPad® Mini or the WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP App on the Google Play Store for Android devices. International issues debut each Monday at 10:00am (PST) and monthly subscriptions are available with automatic monthly renewals. (*Note: Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are not available to iPad Newsstand or international subscribers) Additional information on international subscriptions is available at: http://shonenjump.viz.com/international-wsj-app.

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP International Subscription Pricing:

U.S. - $2.99 / month
UK - £1.99 / month
Ireland - 2,69 € / month
Australia - $2.99 (AUD) / month
New Zealand - $4.19 (NZD) / month
South Africa - R24.99 / month

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP features an award-winning roster of the very latest chapters of popular ongoing manga series such as BLEACH, BLUE EXORCIST, NARUTO, NISEKOI, ONE PIECE, ONE-PUNCH MAN, SERAPH OF THE END, TORIKO, WORLD TRIGGER, YU-GI-OH! ZEXAL and a colorized version of the classic DRAGON BALL.

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

For more information on VIZ Media manga titles, 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.