VIZ ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF SHOJO BEAT MAGAZINE

[MattBrady]

Press Release

New publication to be the only dedicated monthly shôjo anthology available in North America

VIZ, LLC, which recently announced its upcoming merger with ShoPro Entertainment, Inc. to form one of the entertainment industry's most innovative, comprehensive manga and animation licensing and publishing companies, has announced the launch of SHOJO BEAT magazine. The publication will be a new monthly manga anthology inspired by the growing popularity of manga graphic novels with significant appeal to young female consumers. The first issue, July 2005, will hit newsstands in June with a cover price of $5.99 and VIZ will offer a special six-month introductory annual subscription special of $29.95 to coincide with the debut. There will be a special preview issue available at specialty retailers beginning in May and also distributed at summer anime, manga and comic conventions.

SHOJO BEAT will offer a format modeled after the tremendously popular, easy-to-read SHONEN JUMP Magazine, also published by VIZ. It will carry a “T+” rating for older teens and feature six ongoing titles each month from Japanese publishing giants Shogakukan, Inc. and Shueisha, Inc. (both parent companies of VIZ), as well Hakusensha, a subsidiary of Shueisha, another one of Japan’s leading manga publishers. The premiere issue of SHOJO BEAT will launch several serials that include CRIMSON HERO and NANA (from Shueisha), KAZE HIKARU and ABSOLUTE BOYFRIEND (from Shogakukan), and GODCHILD and BABY AND ME (from Hakusensha). To further complement the new magazine’s launch, VIZ will also simultaneously debut a SHOJO BEAT graphic novel line, which will offer an ongoing library of new shôjo titles from all three publishers at $8.99.

No longer just for male readers, manga has become a fast growing trend among teenage and young adult females in North America. Shôjo manga often depict plots set around love, family, responsibility and identity. The level of fantasy, artifice or artistic ambition involved in most shôjo stories are endearing, and the universal appeal of these subjects has helped to drive the genre’s popularity. VIZ has been a leading proponent of shôjo manga and the debut of SHOJO BEAT will further affirm the company’s belief in the continuing viability and success of the trend.

“This will be the only dedicated monthly shôjo magazine offered in North America, and the first time a single manga publication will contain serialized titles from three different Japanese publishers,” says Yumi Hoashi, editor-in-chief and vice president of the magazine division for VIZ, LLC. “The successful format and dedicated fan base, combined with the continued growth of the shôjo genre among both males and females, is sure to make SHOJO BEAT magazine a hit. VIZ is committed to bringing the highest quality and most innovative manga titles to North American shores by choosing the best shôjo titles from these three publishers and we look forward to readers embracing SHOJO BEAT with the same fervor that they support SHONEN JUMP Magazine and other VIZ titles.”

The first six titles to be offered in SHOJO BEAT will cover a wide range of subject matter and will represent some of the most popular serials straight from Japan.

Summaries of the first six serials to be offered in SHOJO BEAT follow:

KAZE HIKARU by Taeko Watanabe

Kaze Hikaru is a story set in nineteenth-century Japan that’s packed with action, drama, comedy, historical fiction, and—of course—a little romance. Kamiya Seizaburou is a young girl determined to avenge her murdered father and brother. To do so, she disguises herself as a man and joins the Shinsengumi, a group of swordsmen who her brother greatly admired and who supported the shogun government during the turbulent Bakumatsu Revolution. Amidst learning how to fight and fighting to keep her identity safe, she falls for Okita Sôji (an actual historic figure), one of the most charismatic members of the Shinsengumi. Kaze Hikaru has been called the shôjo equivalent to the immensely popular title RUROUNI KENSHIN—the setting, some aspects of the storyline, and even some of the historical personages are the same.

ABSOLUTE BOYFRIEND by Yuu Watase

Absolute Boyfriend shows us what happens when iRobot gets Orlando Bloom’s good looks.

Riiko Izawa’s idea of the perfect boyfriend is someone cute, stylish, smart, and nice. He’s a great cook and all-around athlete. And he always wins a fistfight. Too bad Riiko has zero luck with boys. She’s a gawky high school student and has never even been kissed, let alone been anyone’s girlfriend! Her plots to attract the opposite sex never work—and the aloof boy next door, Soshi, is constantly teasing her about her lousy love life.

But when Riiko ends up helping out a mysterious salesman, he agrees to grant her wish for a boyfriend (for a three-day trial, anyway) in return! As it turns out, the gorgeous guy pictured on the sales website is part of a Nightly Lover series—an artificial being programmed to love his owner completely and absolutely. One kiss from Riiko is all he needs to come alive…

CRIMSON HERO by Mitsuba Takanashi

Crimson Hero takes volleyball and bends it like Beckham in a story that pits family obligation against the love of the game. All that matters to 15-year-old Nobara Sumiyoshi is volleyball; she’s an awesome player with big-time ambitions. Nobara doesn’t care that she’s not feminine and pretty like her younger sister, Souka, but unfortunately her family does. As the eldest daughter, she’s expected to work at her family’s ryotei, an old-fashioned Japanese restaurant where she’ll have to dress in traditional clothes and makeup and accommodate the patrons’ every whim. No thanks!

Nobara knows exactly what she wants—now she has to figure out how to get it. She enters Crimson Field High School, known for its top-notch volleyball team, but her mother is willing to stoop to dirty tricks to keep Nobara off the court. With assistance from her feisty Aunt Momoko, who’s got some helpful connections at Crimson Field, Nobara decides to start playing offense.

NANA by Ai Yazawa

Nana takes us to Tokyo to follow the tumultuous lives of two young women who have very different dreams. Nana Komatsu has endured an unending string of boyfriend troubles. Moving to Tokyo, she’s hoping to take control of her life and put those messy misadventures behind her. She’s looking for love, and she’s hoping to find it in the big city.

Enter Nana Osaki. Confident and focused, she kicks down the doors to Tokyo’s underground punk scene. Beautiful, charismatic, and tough as nails, this Nana wants to be a rock star, and she’s not going to let anything get in her way.

The two Nanas soon meet, and their new lives step into high gear: love blooms, tempers flare, and egos clash. The world of Nana is a thundering ball of excitement sparked by sex, music, fashion, gossip, and all-night parties.

GODCHILD by Kaori Yuki

Deep in the heart of nineteenth-century London, a young man named Cain emerges from the shadowy cobblestone streets. Forced to become an Earl upon the untimely death of his father, Cain assumes the role of head of the Hargreves, an aristocratic family with a dark past that seems to unfold one scandalous revelation at a time.

Lost, lonely and disenchanted with his fate, Cain develops an obsession with lethal poisons and an uncanny ability to solve the mysterious murders that seem to follow him wherever he goes.

With the aid of Riff, his faithful manservant who has a background in medicine, and Oscar, his long-time friend, Cain wades through his tormented life and struggles to find the truth behind his father’s mysterious death and alleged involvement with a sinister secret society.

BABY & ME by Marimo Ragawa

Baby & Me is a moving story about a boy who is forced to grow up quickly and who, through sacrifice, shows us the true meaning of love. Takuya Enoki isn’t your average 11-year-old Japanese elementary student. The tragic death of his mother puts him in the difficult position of taking care of his 2-year-old brother while their father works long hours. Takuya must devote all of his free time to becoming his brother’s guardian.

Cooking, cleaning, sewing, and scolding become an integral part of the young boy’s life—responsibilities usually reserved for adults. Baby & Me follows Takuya and his brother through their unique new life together, filled with trials and tribulations, humor, and adventure.

[tania del rio]

All I can say is that this makes me very happy. I hope it does well! As an Ai Yazawa fan, I'm especially looking forward to Nana

[al_capone]

Yay! I do love my shojo! I certainly hope this sells well and, if priced reasonably over here (where I'm guessing it will be an import, like 'Shonen Jump' is) I'll be sure to pick it up every month.

[samnoir]

That is fantastic news! "Archie Digest" for a new generation of female readers!

At a time when the direct market is wondering where the readership has gone, it's refreshing to see the return of comics to the newstands and corner stores in this new format for the younger generation of readers that are growing up on Manga and Anime.

_____________________________________

GI JOE VINTAGE ACTION FIGURES HUGE HARDCOVER BOOK FOR SALE ON EBAY!

JAPANESE ANIME, MANGA and MEMORABILIA FOR SALE ON EBAY! CAPTAIN HARLOCK, GO NAGAI DEVILMAN, ASTROBOY, NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY WIND

[Hebime]

Any news item that gives the 'manga is teh suk' crowd brain tumors is good news!



Personally, I am not a fan of shojo, but I'm not the target audience. I still do a happy dance everytime somehting like this happens, because it's good for the medium!


Yay comics, yay manga, aim for the top!


wooooo!

[Aaron]

Aw, this is cool news. I admit, I finally gave up on Shonen Jump. I really enjoyed the more mature-oriented Raijin Comics before it went under, but Shonen Jump is just too "aw-shucks" cute.

I'd like to see Viz do something a little more grownup, but there's nothing but good about news of this expansion.

Aaron

[Libby]

Happy happy, joy joy!

GodChild! Nana! Akachan to Boku!!!! *dies of glee*

Sooooooooo flipping awesome.

Viz is my new boyfriend!

[bluechokobo]

Originally posted by Hebime
Any news item that gives the 'manga is teh suk' crowd brain tumors is good news!

I can agree with that!
People tend to forget that there are more to comics than Superman, Spiderman, Batman and X-Men.

Any new readers can only be a good thing for EVERYONE

[Alfonso]

Interesting. Anything new item that says Viz is healthy and going strong is all I need to hear. I might buy this debut issue for the girlfriend.

[Bullwinkle]

Originally posted by tania del rio
All I can say is that this makes me very happy. I hope it does well! As an Ai Yazawa fan, I'm especially looking forward to Nana

Hey, it's Tania Del Rio!

Let me just say, Tania, that despite being a 30-year-old married male, I have been enjoying your run on Sabrina since the very first issue! It's great stuff to both look at and to read, and I wanted to let you know how much fun I think it is ....

Out of curiosity, is this some of the stuff that gives you your inspiration?! I've always found shojo manga to be most engrossing, even if it's meant 'for girls' .... Call me a modern man or something!

- Chris J. Thompson
Brisbane, Australia

[tania del rio]

Oh yeah, I am definitely influenced by Shojo manga. Until I discovered it, I wasn't aware of anything quite like it being made for an American audience except maybe an indie comic here and there. I'm a sucker for the over-dramatic storylines and the flowing art. Shojo's just the kind of thing I wish I had to read as a 9 year old so now I'm making up for lost time!
Plus- I'm in favor anything comic related that's geared more toward a female audience.
I'm glad you're enjoying Sabrina, by the way ^_^

[Victoronehalf]

Oh God, sign me up.

[Tivome]

Wow, never a shojo fan but look at the diversity of the titles. A lot of relationship stories like expected, but man, a Chobits like romantic comedy and a series about a young boy and his baby brother? A murder mystery? Wow, I'm impressed. This should blow a lot of preconceived notion about women and comics right out of the water.

For me this is the best news since the beginning of the manga boom. Hope it'll be a runaway hit!

[Alex Scott]

I'll just join in the chorus celebrating the good news. Viz's shonen releases have been kind of shaky, but their shoujo has been top-notch.

My only regret is that this is getting such a tepid reaction here. I know this is mostly about superhero comics, but I still expected better. A magazine like this is a huge step for any company, and with Viz, it might actually succeed where others have failed. Everyone here talks so much about getting comics to new markets and new audiences, but now that someone's actually doing it, they keep their mouths shut.

[Althalus]

Okay, since I've read parts of all but one of the series, here are some thoughts about the line-up:

KAZE HIKARU by Taeko Watanabe
Historical fiction with a large helping of comedy and the tiniest bit of drama, complemented with a side-dish of romance. I can see where Viz is going with mentioning "Rurouni Kenshin"... "Kaze Hikaru" probably will appeal to many of its readers. Notable differences: the absence of over-the-top, gimmicky villains (at least in the first volume, which is all I've read so far), a different art style (which I, personally, like better than that of RK), more focused on the day-to-day life of a teenage girl among a group of men not wanting to be found out, and romance.

ABSOLUTE BOYFRIEND (Zettai Kareshi) by Yuu Watase
For me, this comes across as the "cash cow" title for the magazine, but it also is a nice series in itself. Watase is the big name in the line-up, and will probably draw in her readers from other series. The series itself feels more like "Imadoki" than other Watase titles like "Alice 19th" or "Fushigi Yuugi", although there is some supernatural activity. It's sort of a reverse mailorder-bride situation... a girl gets herself a mailorder-boyfriend, by accident. Ordered on the web, shipped overnight in a box right to your home. Great comedy, but also quite the relationship-drama at times.

CRIMSON HERO by Mitsuba Takanashi
The newcomer. No western release from this author, so far, although another of her series, "Akuma de Sourou", will be published over at DC's CMX as "The Devil does exist", next month. I haven't been able to catch a glimpse of "Crimson Hero" yet, but I've read a couple of chapters from "Akuma de Sourou" and that one's a straight romantic comedy. Don't know how prominently sports will figure in CH, but I'm betting it will be more to provide the setting, than being the main focus... probably like in "Girl got Game".

NANA by Ai Yazawa
For older readers. Personally, I don't like Yazawa's art and I don't like Yazawa's stories. But then, I (male, 26) am not in the target demographic. She sure is a big name as well, with a fanbase, but not as widely known than many others, I'd suspect.

GODCHILD by Kaori Yuki
"God Child", or "Count Cain". Bloody murder, literally. Gothic style, victorian age murder stories. I don't like it, but for some unfathomable reason it's been in all the shoujo magazines in Germany and France as well (it got voted out in Germany after the first year, though).

BABY & ME (Aka-chan to boku) by Marimo Ragawa
Another newcomer. A story about a teenage boy helping his single father raise his kid brother. Daily life episodes, about their relationship. Like, how do you react, when the Kindergarten calls in to complain your kid brother has been hitting other kids, when teased about not having a mommy. Nice to read, but extremely sappy / touchy-feely at times. It gets longer story arcs, or at least recurring elements, later on, IIRC.

All in all, it is a nice variety of themes, and I'd sample it, if I could. Unfortunately, like Shonen Jump, there's no legal way to get it, in Germany. I'll probably import some issues anyway, but since it won't be available through any of the major distribution channels, it'll probably take some time to get my hands on a copy.


~Althalus

[Killy]

Hello everyone. I am a librarian here in Salt Lake City, and I wanted to ask shojo fans if they think we should carry this periodical. First off, don't discount me because I am a librarian. I'm obsessed with manga. Bleach and Blame! are my two favorite series, not to mention the hundreds and hundreds of GNs that I've bought and scanlation series that I've read. But I am predominantly a shonen slanted reader, and I wanted a different view on it. Based on your reactions to Shojo Beat so far I would say yes. Like all government facilities we have a limited budget. Also we already carry Shonen Jump and Manga Blast not to mention our ever growing Graphic Novel section. Would this be a good addition to our periodical collection? So far I am leaning toward yes, but I am still on the fence.

[tania del rio]

I would say yes, definitely!

I think this is a wonderful periodical that has the potential to attract female readers into something they might not have discovered otherwise - manga (as well as comics in general). The fact that it's designed to look similar to a fashion magazine is a good draw for those who are not already familiar with manga and the stories are all very good, with strong female leads. I wish my library was as forward-thinking as to carry titles such as this one!
I admit I'm biased because I'm a shojo fan, and one of my hopes is that more girls get interested in comics and manga.

-Tania

[Libby]

Originally posted by Killy
Would this be a good addition to our periodical collection? So far I am leaning toward yes, but I am still on the fence.

Definitely carry it. It's a very professional-looking magazine with lots of great content, guaranteed to be a success with girl readers (and probably some of the boys, too!). My dad's a librarian, and I told him I'd never forgive him if his library didn't carry it. ^_^

[Killy]

Thank you for the input. We have decided to carry it, so if you find yourself in Salt Lake City and you want to read some Shojo stop by the Salt Lake City Main Library. If you are at all interested check my profile for our web page and browse our catalog. For a list of our graphic novels type "graphic novels" under the subject search and click the top of the list.