VIZ LLC has announced the release of second editions of several of its manga series, including NEON GENESIS EVANGELION, Rumiko Takahashi's MAISON IKKOKU and Hayao Miyazaki's NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND. Other second edition titles from VIZ's Action catalog include INUYASHA, RANMA 1/2, BASTARD!!, BATTLE ANGEL ALITA and VIDEO GIRL AI. The shôjo manga (comics aimed at young girls) titles include BANANA FISH, REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA, and Yû Watase's CERES, CELESTIAL LEGEND and FUSHIGI YÛGI. The titles will be priced between $8.95 and $9.95. The new second editions began shipping in February with various new titles becoming available each month through fall 2004.
"The printing of these second editions validates the continuing fervor with which domestic audiences have embraced the manga genre," said Liza Coppola, vp of marketing for VIZ. "We are pleased to offer captivating content from artists and storytellers of such high caliber. VIZ is committed to making manga available to every demographic within North America and the availability of these second editions will make that a reality by servicing existing fans with proven favorites and attracting new ones with unique and compelling content."
Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki created the seven-volume NAUSICAÄ series, which features rustic sepia ink artwork from the original story that ran in ANIMAGE magazine in the early 1980s. The second editions will be presented in a new, extra-large book size and each of the seven volumes will feature a fold-out poster drawn by Miyazaki.
Founded in 1986, VIZ is a multi-media entertainment company specializing in Japanese entertainment properties for U.S. audiences. VIZ offers an integrated product line including magazines, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks. Based in San Francisco, VIZ is one of the top five comics publishers in the U.S. and a subsidiary of Shogakukan and Shueisha Inc., two of the top publishers in Japan. VIZ is the leading publisher of manga for English speaking audiences, Contact VIZ, LLC at: 655 Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA 94107-1612; tel.: (415) 546-7073; fax: (415) 546-7086; or Web: www.VIZ.com
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
