VIZ Media, one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced its continued global expansion with a new distribution agreement with Madman Entertainment to offer a wide variety of Shueisha manga (graphic novel) series to the burgeoning market in Australia and New Zealand.

Shueisha Inc., is one of Japan's largest publishers and is a parent company of VIZ Media.

VIZ announced Friday the initial titles to be published will include smash hit properties like NARUTO, set to debut in March, BLEACH, scheduled to launch in April, and DEATH NOTE, which will be introduced in May.

Several popular shojo series such as THE GENTLEMEN'S ALLIANCE, FULL MOON, LOVE*COM and NANA are also set for publication this year along with action favorites that include ONE PIECE, D. GRAY MAN, BLACK CAT and CLAYMORE.

Madman is Australia's number one distributor of manga (graphic novels), with a wide range of popular titles already available, including some of the industry's biggest licenses.

In late 2006 to early 2007, Madman was a key sponsor of the Tezuka -- The Marvel of Manga exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria and the Gallery of New South Wales, and also launched a dedicated manga section on its website, www.madman.com.au.