FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

VIZ MEDIA TO DAZZLE MANGA AND SUPERHERO FANS WITH A SPECIAL SHONEN JUMP MANGA SAMPLER FEATURING ULTIMO FOR

2009 FREE COMIC BOOK DAY

 

32-Page Sampler Of Best Selling Monthly Manga Anthology Features Groundbreaking Adventure

 Created By Stan Lee And Hiroyuki Takei

 

San Francisco, CA, April 30, 2009 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will participate in the annual 2009 Free Comic Book Day – Saturday, May 2^nd – with a special 32-page SHONEN JUMP sampler (rated ‘T’ for Teens) featuring a chapter of Ultimo, one of the newest serialized manga adventures in the best-selling monthly manga anthology. Free Comic Book Day is held annually on the first Saturday in May when thousands of comic book stores, publishers and retailers give away select comic titles for free. The event is designed to reach out to those not yet familiar with comics and manga and also to preview exciting new titles to existing fans.

 

Ultimo is the historic collaboration between comic book legend Stan Lee, creator of many iconic superheroes, including Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men, and Hiroyuki Takei, the creator of the popular Shaman King manga series. The new series, which is serialized in SHONEN JUMP, represents a unique East-meets-West partnership between a creative titan of the manga genre with the man who is synonymous with superhero comics. Also included in the Sampler is a special look at every single SHONEN JUMP manga series, an Ultimo pinup (of a character that may look familiar to Stan Lee fans), and an insightful interview with both Stan Lee and Hiroyuki Takei.

 

“We’re very pleased to announce SHONEN JUMP’s participation in Free Comic Book Day,” says Grant Lowery, Editor-In-Chief, SHONEN JUMP Magazine. “SHONEN JUMP is the nation’s top selling manga anthology combining chapters from some of the most popular action manga in the world with informative game, entertainment and cultural editorial, creating a unique destination for readers looking to broaden their shonen experience. Our special Sampler for the 2009 Free Comic Book Day will interest both superhero fans and readers of Western comics as well as manga fans and also those brand new to the comic book genre. We invite everyone to visit their local participating comic book shop or retailer on Saturday to pick up this special copy!”

 

For more information on SHONEN JUMP please visit www.shonenjump.com.

 

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.