"Black Clover" Brings the Magic to VIZ Media

VIZ MEDIA LAUNCHES THE FANTASY ACTION ADVENTURE SERIES BLACK CLOVER

New Title Straight From The Pages Of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Debuts As Its Own Print And Digital Series This Summer

San Francisco, CA– VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premiere company in the field of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, delivers a brand new fantasy action adventure about a young boy’s quest to master his newly-gained magical powers with the launch of the manga series, BLACK CLOVER.

Created by Yuki Tabata, BLACK CLOVER has been thrilling readers in the pages of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP since 2015 and is available in print and digital editions under the Shonen Jump imprint with a rating of ‘T’ for Teens. Print editions carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. BLACK CLOVER digital volumes are available via VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology and Google Play. Future volumes of the ongoing series will be published in English on a bi-monthly basis.

In BLACK CLOVER, Asta is a young boy who dreams of becoming the greatest mage in the kingdom. Only one problem–he can't use any magic! Luckily for Asta, he receives the incredibly rare five-leaf clover grimoire that gives him the power of anti-magic. Can someone who can't use magic really become the Wizard King? One thing's for sure–Asta will never give up!

“BLACK CLOVER offers an exciting story packed with magic, adventure and a cast of memorable characters that manga readers are going to love,” says Alexis Kirsch, Editor. “Born without any magical abilities, Asta is a hero readers will root for as he fights against the odds to fulfill his dreams.”

Manga creator Yuki Tabata received his big break in the 2011 Shonen Jump Golden Future Cup with his winning entry, Hungry Joker. He began the magical fantasy series BLACK CLOVER in 2015.

For additional information on BLACK CLOVER and other manga titles published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.


About VIZ Media, LLC
Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premiere company in the field of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.

Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at www.VIZ.com.

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SuBLime Release "Don't Be Cruel" Yaoi Manga in a 2-in-1 Edition

GLOBAL YAOI IMPRINT SUBLIME ANNOUNCES WORLDWIDE DEBUT OF YONEZOU NEKOTA’S NEW SERIES DON’T BE CRUEL

A 2-in-1 Omnibus Edition Of A Highly Requested Manga Series About Classroom Hijinks Between A Playboy And His Studious Classmate Launches This Summer

San Francisco, CA – SuBLime, the leading global English-language yaoi manga (graphic novel) publisher, announces the launch of adored creator Yonezou Nekota’s series DON’T BE CRUEL.

This newest title to join the SuBLime catalog is rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers and is now available as a 2-in-1 omnibus edition in print and digital. The print edition carriesan MSRP of $16.99 U.S. / $19.99 CAN. The digital version will carry an MSRP of $7.99 U.S. and offers readers two methods of digital access to the volume on SuBLimeManga.com – a DRM-free downloadable PDF that is viewable on any enabled eReader device and computer as well as via the online manga viewer found on the SuBLime website.

In DON’T BE CRUEL, playboy Maya catches studious Nemugasa cheating on a test and, to ensure his silence, blackmails him into doing whatever Maya wants. Twice a week, Nemugasa must go to Maya’s room for some steamy action, but as dense and oblivious as Nemugasa is, he fails to notice Maya’s true feelings for him. With college entrance exams around the corner, Nemugasa must focus on his studies, but Maya won’t stop distracting him, causing him to finally snap! Can a relationship built on blackmail ever become something more?

“Yonezou Nekota enjoys a dedicated fan base that has looked forward to the release of DON’T BE CRUEL in English, and we are very happy to launch this highly requested series in expanded 2-in-1 omnibus editions,” says SuBLime Editor, Jennifer LeBlanc. “What begins as a case of emotional extortion quickly escalates, and readers will enjoy all of the torrid drama that ensues.”

DON’T BE CRUEL is Yonezou Nekota’s first English-language release, but she is already renowned in yaoi fan circles for her title Mousou Elektel. She is also a prolific doujinshi (independent comics) creator. Fans can find out more about Yonezou Nekota at her website, http://komeya.sub.jp/, or her Twitter page, @yonekozoh.

For up-to-date news and release information, please visit the SuBLime website at www.SuBLimeManga.com, or follow SuBLime on Twitter at @SuBLimeManga, on Facebook at facebook.com/SuBLimeManga, and on Tumblr at sublimemanga.tumblr.com/.


About SuBLime
SuBLime is a global yaoi/boys’ love manga publisher presenting English-speaking fans everywhere with a broad selection of high quality titles. SuBLime will offer titles digitally worldwide available at www.SuBLimeManga.com, with many available in Download-to-Own format, and selections in print also available in English-language editions worldwide.

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Disney's "Frozen Northern Lights" Begins July 2016

Disney to Debut “Frozen Northern Lights”

New story to launch with books in July along with website and Frozen-inspired Instagram

Series of animated shorts from the LEGO Group to air on Disney Channel and digital platforms in fall

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Disney announced Frozen Northern Lights, an original story from the kingdom of Arendelle spanning a collection of books, animated shorts from the LEGO Group and new digital extensions. Beginning in July 2016, Frozen fans can follow Anna, Elsa, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven on an epic adventure to restore the glimmer of the Northern Lights.

    “We’re excited to share this new adventure and offer fans great new ways to connect with their favorite characters thanks to a host of related books, digital games and activities.”

“Natural phenomenon meets cultural phenomenon in this all new story, Frozen Northern Lights,” said Andrew Sugerman, Executive Vice President, Disney Publishing Worldwide. “We’re excited to share this new adventure and offer fans great new ways to connect with their favorite characters thanks to a host of related books, digital games and activities.”

The story titled, Disney Frozen Northern Lights: Journey to the Lights, published by Random House, will be introduced as a deluxe novelization in July ahead of an extended collection of books featuring the familiar characters fans know and love, as well as a brand new protagonist named, Little Rock. The storyline will be reimagined by the LEGO Group with four new animated shorts and a full compilation airing on Disney Channel this fall. The shorts will bring the unique brand of stylized animation and witty LEGO humor to the world of Frozen, with the voice talent from the movie reprising their roles.

In celebration of Frozen Northern Lights, the website http://frozen.disney.com/ will be updated with fun activities tied to the new story and Disney will launch a Frozen-inspired Instagram account @DisneyFrozen. Fans can continue to enjoy Frozen by liking @DisneyFrozen on Facebook. For more information on Disney Frozen Northern Lights: Journey to the Lights, visit http://bit.ly/JourneytotheLights.

Walt Disney Animation Studios' animated feature Frozen launched a worldwide phenomenon in 2013, becoming the highest-grossing animated feature ever released with more than $1.27 billion in global box office. Frozen has received multiple honors, including two Academy Awards®, the Golden Globe®, BAFTA® Award, PGA Award, five Annie Awards and two Grammy® Awards. A new live show, Frozen – Live at the Hyperion, opened at the Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure Park on May 27, 2016, and will be followed by the opening of the new Frozen attraction, Frozen Ever After in the Norway pavilion of Epcot on June 21, 2016. Frozen will make its television debut this holiday season on ABC and a Broadway musical inspired by Frozen is scheduled to open in New York in 2018.


About Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media
Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media (DCPI) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) that brings our Company's stories and characters to life through innovative and engaging physical products and digital experiences across more than 100 categories, from toys and t-shirts, to apps, books and console games. DCPI comprises two main lines of business: Disney Consumer Products (DCP), and Disney Interactive (DI). The combined segment is home to world class teams of app and game developers, licensing and retail experts, a leading retail business (Disney Store), artists and storytellers, and technologists who inspire imaginations around the world.

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Image Comics Sends "Seven to Eternity"

SEVEN TO ETERNITY A PERFECT TEN

Remender and Opeña will enchant the comics industry

Bestselling writer Rick Remender (BLACK SCIENCE, DEADLY CLASS, LOW, TOKYO GHOST), artist Jerome Opeña (Uncanny X-Force, Fear Agent), and colorist Matt Hollingsworth (TOKYO GHOST, WYTCHES) launch an all-new, jaw-dropping ongoing series in SEVEN TO ETERNITY this September 2016.

In SEVEN TO ETERNITY, The God of Whispers has spread an omnipresent paranoia to every corner of the kingdom of Zhal; his spies hide in every hall spreading mistrust and fear. Adam Osidis, a dying knight from a disgraced house, must choose between joining a hopeless band of magic users in their desperate bid to free their world of the evil God, or accepting his promise to give Adam everything his heart desires.

“Before our time at Marvel, Jerome and I began working together at Image ten years ago on titles such as Strange Girl and Fear Agent so it’s very fitting we return now to tell the tale of the Seven to Eternity,” said Remender. “All those years ago we began discussing doing an epic fantasy tale at some point, should the planets ever align. A unique take on the familiar genre full of action, unexpected twists, totally unique characters and a villain who might end up stealing the show. It’s taken us a decade to get it together, but the wait was worth it. During the past decade we’ve collaborated on numerous projects and fine-tuned our mighty nerd skills to a point where what we produce here will eclipse our past collaborations and consume all evil in the universe and give a new pony to every child. This is without question Jerome’s best work to date and when you add super champion of color jive Matt Hollingsworth, once their powers are mixed into the art cauldron, something new and terrifying is born, a new level of sequential science.”

Opeña added: "It's been a long time coming, so it's amazing that Rick and I are seeing a project we've been developing for years finally become a reality. Having Matt Hollingsworth join up with us makes it even more exciting and I hope readers will enjoy what we've all been tirelessly working on."

SEVEN TO ETERNITY takes readers on a hard road through the strange fantasy world of Zhal. All men have surrendered their freedom for fear. Now, one last free man must choose.

SEVEN TO ETERNITY #1 Cover A by Opeña and Hollingsworth (Diamond Code JUL160664), Cover B by Tony Moore (Diamond Code JUL160665), and Cover C by Andrew Robinson (Diamond Code JUL160666) will hit comic book stores on Wednesday, September 21st, 2016. The final order cutoff deadline for comic book retailers is Monday, August 29th, 2016.


ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

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Kobe Bryant to Be Honored at Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Sports 2016

NBA Champion and All-Star MVP Kobe Bryant to Be Honored with the Legend Award at Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Sports 2016

Telecast Hosted by Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson Airs Sunday, July 17, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT)

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following his 20th and final season with the Los Angeles Lakers, five-time NBA Champion, four-time NBA Finals MVP and two-time Olympic gold medalist Kobe Bryant will be honored with the Legend Award at Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Sports 2016. Bryant will receive the award in recognition of his record-breaking achievements, unrivaled talent and outstanding sportsmanship on and off the basketball court.

    “It’s an honor to receive Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Sports Legend Award. This is a great opportunity to inspire kids to never lose their imaginations and to dream bigger than what they think is possible. If you stay true to that, the hard work, dedication and success will always follow.”

Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Sports 2016 will be hosted by Seattle Seahawks two-time Super Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson, and will air on Sunday, July 17, 2016, from 8-9:30 p.m. (ET/PT), from UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.

The Legend Award honors athletes who are the ultimate role models to kids across the globe, inspiring generations year after year. Bryant, is the third recipient of the award, with soccer legend David Beckham receiving the inaugural golden sliming in 2014, and five-time World Series champion Derek Jeter following in last year’s ceremony.

Said Bryant, “It’s an honor to receive Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Sports Legend Award. This is a great opportunity to inspire kids to never lose their imaginations and to dream bigger than what they think is possible. If you stay true to that, the hard work, dedication and success will always follow.”

Bryant is a five-time NBA Champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, NBA MVP, four-time NBA Finals MVP and a 15-time All-NBA player. He recently retired from the game having played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He has appeared in 18 NBA All Star Games, earning three NBA All Star MVP recognitions. He became the League’s youngest player ever to be named to the NBA’s All Defensive Team, to start an All-Star Game, and to earn All-Rookie honors. In December 2014, Bryant became the League’s 3rd all-time leading scorer, surpassing his basketball muse, Michael Jordan. On April 13, 2016, Bryant played his final NBA game, setting a season-high 60 points.

Kids’ Choice Sports 2016 is the only show that celebrates kids and families’ love of sports and top professional athletes. With special guests and outrageous competitions, the one-of-a-kind event will be bursting with fun, unforgettable moments, epic slimings and sheer ‘fan’-demonium that can only happen on Nickelodeon. Kids from around the country will show their support for their favorite athletes, teams and sports moments and decide who will take home a cherished, one-of-a-kind Nickelodeon orange mohawked blimp trophy.

Nick.com/sports will serve as the official destination for everything Kids’ Choice Sports 2016, where kids can cast their votes for their favorite athletes and all-star moments from the past year, play a brand new Kids’ Choice game, watch sports-themed short-form videos and check out photo galleries of athletic all-stars online and on the Nick App. To stay up to date on everything Kids’ Choice Sports 2016, use #KidsChoiceSports on Instagram and Twitter. Follow NickelodeonTV on Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat.

Kids’ Choice Sports 2016 sponsors are Always®, FCA US LLC, Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes®, Nationwide® and Popsicle®.

Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Sports 2016 is produced by Done + Dusted in association with Nickelodeon Productions. Jay Schmalholz and Shelly Sumpter Gillyard are executive producers. Constance Schwartz and Michael Strahan of SMAC Entertainment will serve as executive producers, alongside Ian Stewart and Hamish Hamilton of Done + Dusted with Hamilton also serving as director of the show.


About Nickelodeon:
Nickelodeon, now in its 37th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).

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VIZ Media Releases "Everyone's Getting Married" Manga

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF NEW JOSEI SERIES EVERYONE’S GETTING MARRIED

Romantic Comedy About A Career Woman’s Quest For Wedded Bliss Debuts In Print And Digitally This Summer

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premiere company in the field of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, launches a new josei manga series about a career woman’s pursuit of a committed relationship with the debut of EVERYONE’S GETTING MARRIED, available today.

The new series, by creator Izumi Miyazono, is rated ‘M’ for Mature readers and carries a print MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. The series is also available digitally via VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App, as well as from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and GooglePlay stores. Subsequent volumes of the continuing series will be published in English three times a year.

Successful career woman Asuka Takanashi has an old-fashioned dream of getting married and becoming a housewife. After her long-term boyfriend breaks up with her to pursue his own career goals, she encounters popular newscaster Ryu Nanami. Asuka and Ryu get along well, but the last thing he wants is to ever get married. This levelheaded pair who want the opposite things in life should never get involved, except…

“EVERYONE’S GETTING MARRIED is a contemporary romance about two busy professionals who are trying to figure out their own happy ending,” says Nancy Thistlethwaite, Senior Editor. “This series will appeal to our adult readers as well as fans of Japanese and Korean romantic TV dramas—except this is steamier!”

Manga creator Izumi Miyazono debuted in 2005 with Shunmin Shohousen (A Prescription for Sleep). In 2014 she began EVERYONE’S GETTING MARRIED, which is serialized in Japan in Petit Comic.

For more information on titles available from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.


About VIZ Media, LLC
Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premiere company in the field of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.

Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at www.VIZ.com.

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I Reads You Comics Review: SECOND SIGHT #1

SECOND SIGHT No. 1
AFTERSHOCK COMICS – @AfterShockComix

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: David Hine
ARTIST: Alberto Ponticelli
COLORS: John Kalisz
LETTERS: Jimmy Betancourt
COVER: Alberto Ponticelli with John Kalisz
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (February 2016)

For mature readers

Second Sight created by David Hine

Chapter 1: “Vision in Red”

Second Sight is a new comic book series created and written by David Hine and drawn by Alberto Ponticelli.  The series focuses on a man who once became a celebrity because of his ability to see through the eyes of psychotic killers... before he was eventually accused of being a killer.

Second Sight #1 (“Vision in Red”) introduces Ray Palmer, owner of “The Bibliomaniac,” a bookstore that focuses on antiquarian and rare second-hand books.  Of late, he is plagued by bad dreams, and now two journalists, interested in his past, have added to Palmer's woes.

Once upon a time, Palmer was renowned psychic, Ray Pilgrim.  Now, that past has returned because of Ray's daughter, Toni.  She is using her blog to dig into a sex scandal involving The Wednesday Club, a rumored, secret club for the powerful.  Something else has also returned, threatening to reopen the darkest period in Ray's life.

I have read very little of David Hine's work, but what I have read I have found to be highly-imaginative and also inventive in a way most mainstream comic books are not.  In 2008, I read his original English language (OEL) manga, Poison Candy (TOKYOPOP), and was quite impressed.  Because of that American manga, I thought that Hine had the potential to be the next “great” British comic book writer in America.

After reading this first issue of Second Sight, I still believe that Hine's potential is largely untapped.  I think Hine's imagination will show itself in this series with stomach-turning aplomb.  Secret societies, child murders, pedophilia, sadism, masochism, serial killers, and some family dysfunction to cleanse the palette – it's almost more than I can digest... almost.

Alberto Ponticelli's twisty drawing style, edgy compositions, and darkly sweet storytelling is perfect for Hine's sweetly dark story.  I don't think that I can wait an entire month for #2...

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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