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