Tag Archives: manga

VIZ Media’s Haikasoru Imprint Releases Sci Fi Novel The Cage Of Zeus

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A RACE OF GENETICALLY MODIFED HUMANS BATTLES

GENOCIDE AND EXTINCTION IN THE CAGE OF ZEUS,
NEW FROM VIZ MEDIA’S HAIKASORU IMPRINT

Award-Winning Author Sayuri Ueda Delivers A Kinetic Action Story With A Distinctly Japanese View Of Gender Politics

San Francisco, CA, September 14, 2011 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced the release of the newest novel to be published under its popular Haikasoru imprint. THE CAGE OF ZEUS, by author Sayuri Ueda, will debut on September 20th and will carry an MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN. The eBook edition will also debut the same day on the Amazon Kindle, the Apple’s iBooks Store and the Sony Reader Store for $8.99.

Haikasoru publishes some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy stories for English-speaking audiences, and is the first imprint based in the U.S. dedicated to Japanese science fiction and fantasy in translation.

THE CAGE OF ZEUS introduces readers to the Rounds, humans with the sex organs of both genders. Artificially created to test the limits of the human body in space, the Rounds are a minority, despised and hunted by the terrorist group, Vessel of Life. Aboard Jupiter-I, a space station orbiting the gas giant that shares its name, the Rounds have created their own society with a radically different view of gender and of life itself. Security chief Shirosaki keeps the peace between the Rounds and the typically gendered “Monaurals,” but when a terrorist strike hits the station, the balance of power and tolerance is at risk…and an entire people is targeted for genocide.

“Sayuri Ueda is one of Japan’s most interesting new science fiction authors, and her work has won or been nominated for a number of awards,” says Haikasoru Editor Nick Mamatas. “THE CAGE OF ZEUS delivers an optimum mix of hard science fiction and thriller, combined with a distinctly Japanese view of gender politics, and the future of humanity itself.”

Born in Hyogo Prefecture, Sayuri Ueda is one of the most innovative science fiction authors in Japan. She won the 2003 Komatsu Sakyo Award with her debut novel, Mars Dark Ballade. Her second novel, The Cage of Zeus, was originally published in 2004. Her recent short fiction collection, Fish Boat, Animal Boat, was highly acclaimed in the sci-fi community and was nominated for the 2009 prestigious Japan SF Award. Ueda has also been nominated for the Seiun Award in the short story category for The Grave of the Bird. Her latest novel, The Ocean Chronicles, won the first prize of Best Science Fiction 2010 in SF Magazine and was one of the most noteworthy books of the year in any genre.

For more information on CAGE OF ZEUS and the Haikasoru imprint, please visit the dedicated website at www.haikasoru.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan’s largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

The Cage of Zeus

Samuel Hadida’s Davis Films Acquires Acclaimed Japanese Manga Golgo 13

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SAMUEL HADIDA’S DAVIS FILMS ACQUIRES ACCLAIMED JAPANESE MANGA GOLGO 13

Major Film Franchise Potential for Longest Running & Most Popular Manga in Japan

Toronto – September 10, 2011: Samuel Hadida announced today that his company, Davis Films, has acquired film rights from Leed Publishing Co. Ltd. to the iconic Japanese cult classic Golgo 13, the longest-running manga (now in publication over forty years), written and illustrated by manga master Takao Saito.

Golgo 13 was introduced in 1968, and the manga series, including compilation books, has sold over 200 million copies worldwide.  It has been made into two live action films (the first starring Ken Takakura and the second starring Sonny Chiba), two animated films, a television series, and various video games. Leed Publishing serves as Saito’s representative and has overseen worldwide licensing of all rights to his work.

Golgo 13, otherwise known as ‘Duke Togo,’ is a hired gun sniper with unbelievable combat skills, a cross between Dirty Harry and James Bond.  He is a professional assassin with a strict personal code that makes him a modern day samurai. His world of contract killing is not unlike the complex world of espionage.

“We are unbelievably excited about this great property, and the opportunity to bring it to the big screen, “Hadida stated.  “I have long admired Takao Saito’s great work as one of the top gekiga style artists.  We are looking forward to bringing his style sensibilities and this great character to worldwide film audiences.”

The deal was brokered for Davis by Tetsu Fujimura at Filosophia, Inc.

Davis Films is known for its successful adaptations of Japanese media, including Crying Freeman, Silent Hill, and the Resident Evil films. “We see with Golgo 13 the same franchise potential,” Hadida added.

About Davis Films

Based in Paris and Los Angeles, Davis Films is one of the world’s leading independent production companies and has been directly involved in the production of over forty feature films including the Resident Evil and Silent Hill franchises.  Along with leading French distributor Metropolitan FilmExport, Davis Films is owned and managed by Samuel and Victor Hadida.   Hadida’s first production was Tony Scott’s True Romance, based on Quentin Tarantino’s script. Davis Films’ production credits additionally include Tony Scott’s Domino, 88 Minutes, George Clooney’s Good Night, and Good Luck, Roger Avary’s The Rules of Attraction Killing Zoe, David Cronenberg’s Spider, and the Robert E. Howard properties Solomon Kane and Conan.

About LEED Publishing

Leed Publishing Co. Ltd has long been known as one of the leading publishers of “gekiga” graphic novels, a preeminent style of contemporary Japanese manga involving adult stories with realistic drawings.  Leed was originally founded in 1960 as the publishing division of Saito Production Co., Ltd., and was spun off to become an independent publishing firm in 1974.  Leed has published a wide variety of manga books and magazines for over fifty years.

Free Back Issues, Brothel Boys, and A Story about an Ordinary Girl

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Free Back Issues, Brothel Boys, and A Story about an Ordinary Girl

GEN Manga Announces the Release of  GEN  4

GEN 4 will be available nationwide August, 2011

NEW YORK, NY – GEN Manga Entertainment, Inc. announces the upcoming release ofGEN 4.  (GEN 4 156 pages, black and white, $2.99) will be available August, 2011.  Limited time discount available on subscriptions here: www.genmanga.com/discount

Indie Manga from the Tokyo Underground released simultaneously in North America and Japan, GEN, continues to stir the industry with new release of free back issues. GEN will now make all digital back issues free! GEN 4, released August 2011, will also mark the free release of GEN 2.

GEN 4 will introduce two exciting new stories. Souls, by Arisa Karino, will enter a newchapter: Sold out of the back door of an otherwise straight bordello to clientele with a taste for young boys, Wanu is the brothel boy of the famed Kamiki whorehouse. The Japanese aristocrats and samurai who frequent this brothel must be discrete and the despicable owner is much obliged to keep things that way. Meanwhile, Wanu’s soul is trapped in a vessel on loan to the homo-erotic fantasies of important men.

Sorako, by Takayuki Fujimura, will also be introduced in GEN 4: Sorako lives an ordinary life. And this is an ordinary story. She has friends and family, loves her dog, thinks about life, and occasionally looks for work (kinda). These are the adventures into a typical girl’s life.

In GEN 4 the serialization of KAMEN continues, where readers finally witness the mysterious masked man’s powers unfold. The plot and characters continue to develop in the retro boxing drama of Wolf and the teens and aliens of VS Aliens continue to keep readers guessing as the story nears it’s conclusion.

GEN stories are published nowhere else in the world. These stories are created by the elusive doujin creators in Tokyo’s secret underground circles, otherwise known in the west as independent creators and hard core fans.

Presenting new indie manga circles from Japan, GEN, a monthly publication, will be released in the US and Japan simultaneously. Digital format and print editions for GEN are available now. Based in New York, GEN Manga Entertainment (www.genmanga.com) endeavors to publish new and unseen graphic work from Japan, being in the unique position to bring readers work first, more original and untamed manga will be sure to come!

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The weekend is here and I plan on catching up on three weeks worth of books and begin the backlog of reviews.  There’s still quite a few cons coming up, so planning begins for those as well.  While I do that, what are folks plan for the weekend?  While you contemplate that, here’s the news you might have missed.

Around the Blogs:

The Mary Sue – Womanthology Sets the Record Straight On Where Its Funds Are Going – One take on the controversy.

The Beat – Womanthology: $100k may go to help start a new comics imprint — UPDATED – Another take on the controversy.

The Beat – One Piece set record with 2 million sold in 4 days – See, sales can be good.

ICv2 – Wahlberg Ready to Strap on ‘2 Guns’ – Another comic movie!

Ars Technica – Spoilers don’t spoil anything – An interesting article about spoilers and if they really ruin things.

Monthly/Quarterly Sales:

ICv2 – ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ #666 Tops July Sales

ICv2 – Top 300 Comics Actual–July 2011

ICv2 – Top 300 Graphic Novels Actual–July 2011

Around the Tubes Reviews:

IGN – The Amazing Spider-Man #667

CBR – Amazing Spider-Man #667

IGN – American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #3

IGN – Artifacts #9

IGN – Batgirl #24

IGN – Batman and Robin #26

IGN – Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #522

IGN – Booster Gold #47

IGN – Criminal: The Last of the Innocent #3

IGN – Daken: Dark Wolverine #12

IGN – Deadpool #41

IGN – Fear Itself #5

CBR – Fear Itself #5

IGN – Fear Itself: Uncanny X-Force #2

IGN – Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #3

IGN – Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #3

IGN – Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #3

IGN – Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #3

IGN – Ghost Rider #2

IGN – Hellboy: The Fury #3

CBR – Hellboy: The Fury #3

IGN – The Incredible Hulks #634

IGN – Morning Glories #11

IGN – The New Avengers #15

IGN – PunisherMAX #16

IGN – The Red Wing #2

IGN – Spider-Island: Cloak & Dagger #1

IGN – Spider-Island: Deadly Foes #1

IGN – Ultimate Comics: Fallout #5

IGN – The Unwritten #28

IGN – Vengeance #2

IGN – War of the Green Lanterns: Aftermath #2

IGN – X-Men #15.1

IGN – X-Men Legacy #253

Paste Magazine – Comic Book & Graphic Novel Round-Up (8/10/11)

IGN – Comic Book Reviews for 8/10/11

Viz Media’s Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys Wins a 2011 Eisner Award

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Manga Masterpiece Recognized With The Comic Book Industry’s Most Prestigious Award

San Francisco, CA, July 28, 2011 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, is proud to announce that NAOKI URASAWA’S 20th CENTURY BOYS was recognized with an Eisner Award in the Best U.S. Edition of International Material – Asia category during award ceremonies held at the recent Comic-Con International event in San Diego, CA. NAOKI URASAWA’S 20th CENTURY BOYS is published in North America by VIZ Media’s Signature imprint. Volume 17 of the series will be released in August.

20th CENTURY BOYS is the story of a group of boys who try to save the world. Humanity, having faced extinction at the end of the 20th century, would not have entered the new millennium if it weren’t for them. In 1969, during their youth, they created a symbol. In 1997, as the coming disaster slowly starts to unfold, that symbol returns.

For Kenji, a simple convenience store manager who once dreamed of becoming a rock ‘n’ roll musician, a host of memories from his past come rushing back when one of his childhood friends mysteriously commits suicide. Could this new death be related to the rise of a bizarre new cult that’s been implicated in several other murders and disappearances? Determined to dig deeper, Kenji reunites with some of his old buddies in the hope of learning the truth behind it all.

“We’re elated to have NAOKI URASAWA’S 20th CENTURY BOYS recognized by the comic book industry such a prestigious award,” says Andy Nakatani, Editorial Director at VIZ Media and editor for the title. “Urasawa‘s tense and dramatic storylines have firmly established him among the very top echelon of manga creators. With this, and other acclaimed series such as NAOKI URASAWA’S MONSTER and PLUTO: URASAWA ´ TEZUKA, Naoki Urasawa continues to push the boundaries of the manga genre, and we look forward to this award bringing his work to the attention of many new fans across North America.”

The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards are considered the “Oscars” of the comic book industry and are named for renowned cartoonist Will Eisner (creator of The Spirit and several award-winning graphic novels). The awards are handed out each year in a gala ceremony at Comic-Con International in San Diego, the largest and oldest comic book convention in the United States.

Naoki Urasawa’s career as a manga artist spans more than twenty years and has firmly established him as one of the true manga masters of Japan. Born in Tokyo in 1960, Urasawa debuted with BETA! in 1983 and hasn’t stopped his impressive output since. Well-versed in a variety of genres, Urasawa’s oeuvre encompasses a multitude of different subjects, such as a romantic comedy (YAWARA! A FASHIONABLE JUDO GIRL), a suspenseful human drama about a former mercenary (PINEAPPLE ARMY; story by Kazuya Kudo), a captivating psychological suspense story (NAOKI URASAWA’S MONSTER), a sci-fi adventure manga (NAOKI URASAWA’S 20TH CENTURY BOYS), and a modern reinterpretation of the work of the God of Manga, Osamu Tezuka (PLUTO: URASAWA X TEZUKA; co-authored with Takashi Nagasaki, supervised by Macoto Tezka, and with the cooperation of Tezuka Productions). Many of his books have spawned popular animated and live-action TV programs and films, and 2008 saw the theatrical release of the first of three live-action Japanese films based on NAOKI URASAWA’S 20TH CENTURY BOYS.

No stranger to accolades and awards, Urasawa is a three-time recipient of the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award, a two-time recipient of the Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize, and has received the Kodansha Manga Award. Urasawa has also become involved in the world of academia, and in 2008 accepted a guest teaching post at Nagoya Zokei University, where he teaches courses in, of course, manga.

For more information on NAOKI URASAWA’S 20th CENTURY BOYS and other VIZ Media manga titles, please visit www.viz.com/manga.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan’s largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular monthly manga anthology SHONEN JUMP magazine and blockbuster properties like Naruto, Bleach and InuYasha, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

20th Century Boys #1 Cover

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The weekend is so near and that just means last minute planning for those of us heading to San Diego Comic-Con 2011.  Have to say I’m very excited and hopefully we do you all proud as far as news.  Well, while you contemplate what you hope to see and hear, here’s the news you might have missed.

Around the Blogs:

Business Wirew – G4TV.com Teams with Graphicly to Give Fans Free Digital Comics – Be interesting to see how this goes.

Con Coverage:

Bleeding Cool – San Diego Debut: Octobriana

Bleeding Cool – San Diego Debut: Neil Gaiman In Hero Comics 2011

Kotaku – The Big Games and the Can’t Miss Events of Comic-Con 2011

CBR – Hero Initiative Announces Auctions for Comic-Con International in San Diego

Bleeding Cool – Trade In Your Copies Of Twilight For 30 Days Of Night At San Diego Comic Con

Bleeding Cool – San Diego Debut: Epoch #1 by Kevin McCarthy & Paolo Pantalena

Bleeding Cool – Marvel To Announce The Defenders At San Diego Comic Con

Bleeding Cool – San Diego Debut: Ties: A Chronicle Of Letters by Emily McGuiness

Culture Mob – Comic Con 2011 – 6 Days And Counting

MTV Geek – SDCC 2011: Animation Round-Up

Comics Alliance – The San Diego Comic-Con Exclusives Worth Standing In Line For

Bleeding Cool – San Diego Debut: Echoes HC by Joshua Hale Fialkov and Rahsan Ekedal

The Mary Sue – Steven Spielberg to Descend on Comic Con to Promote Tintin

MTV Geek – Manga at San Diego Comic-Con

MTV Geek – See ‘Gantz’ and ‘Gantz II: Perfect Answer’ At SDCC

MTV Geek – Places You Don’t Want To Be At SDCC

Bleeding Cool – San Diego Debut: Stripperella #1 Actually Written By Stan Lee

Around the Tubes Reviews:

IGN – The Amazing Spider-Man #665

IGN – American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #2

IGN – Batgirl #23

IGN – Batman: The Dark Knight #3

IGN – Detective Comics #879

Mouth London – The Dylan Dog Case Files

IGN – Fear Itself: Spider-Man #3

IGN – FF #6

IGN – Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #2

IGN – Flashpoint: Deathstroke – The Curse of the Ravager #2

IGN – Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #2

IGN – Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #2

IGN – Ghost Rider #1

IGN – Gladstone’s School for World Conquerors #3

CBR – Green Lantern #67

IGN – Green Lantern #67

IGN – Green Lantern Corps #61

IGN – The Incredible Hulks #632

IGN – Journey Into Mystery #625

IGN – Loose Ends #1

IGN – Mystery Men #3

IGN – The New Avengers #14

IGN – The Red Wing #1

IGN – Star Wars: The Old Republic – The Lost Suns #2

IGN – Superman #713

IGN – Ultimate Comics: Avengers vs. New Ultimates #6

IGN – Ultimate Comics: Fallout #1

CBR – Ultimate Comics: Fallout #1

ICv2 – Uncouth Sleuth

IGN – Wolverine #12

IGN – Comic Book Reviews for 7/13/11

eigoMANGA Heads To San Diego Comic-Con

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(San Francisco, San Diego) – July 12, 2011 – San Francisco based comic book publisher, eigoMANGA unveils their event schedule for San Diego Comic-Con 2011, which takes place on July 21 to 24, at the San Diego Convention Center.

eigoMANGA will be exhibiting at Booth #5532.

Special Guests:

 

eigoMANGA welcomes Dr. Hyun Se Lee. Dr. Lee is regarded as Korea’s most renowned and acclaimed comic book creator. He is best known for his graphic novel series ‘Armageddon’, ‘Hard Boil Angel’, ‘Mythology of The Heavens’, and ‘Nambul War Stories’.

eigoMANGA also welcomes Dr. Chang Wan Han. Dr. Han is an author, teaches at Sejong University, and is a prolific television producer in Korea. He is the driving force of several Korean television shows such as ‘Korea Korea’ and ‘Future Forum 2050′.

Dr. Han and Dr. Lee will make appearances at eigoMANGA’s booth and participate in the company’s scheduled panels.

 
Animation Screenings:
 
 
‘Demian’ is a story about an elite government team that pilots a five into one super robot fighting force. They are called to take down their robot’s creator who is now a terrorist.
‘Break Ups’ is a slice of life story about a young couple with an on-and-off relationship. They stumble upon a time machine that takes them back to several periods in their lives as a couple.
‘Demian’ and ‘Break Ups’ screening schedule is listed in Comic-Con’s program guide.
Game Demo:
 
 As announced in Los Angeles, CA on July 2nd, 2011, eigoMANGA is forming an independent game studio code name, ‘Neko Neko’. The company is inviting attendees to play a game demo of ‘Vanguard Princess’ at their exhibition booth.

 

Panels and Workshops:
 

Showcasing The Best In Korean Comics – The panel is on Friday, July 22nd at 8:30pm to 9:30pm and is located at Room 8.

Jongmin Shin, producer of the animation ‘Demian‘ moderates a panel with Korea’s most renowned and acclaimed comic book creator Dr. Hyun Se Lee (Armageddon) and media scholar Dr. Chang Wan Han, as they introduce the best and latest trends in Korean comics. They will also give an exclusive world premiere of their latest productions.

Manga Drawing For Kids – The workshop is on Sunday, July 24nd at 11:00am to 12:00pm and is located at Room 30CDE.

David Karrow, creator of the children’s book ‘Alpha League’ will teach kids of all ages tutorials on manga illustrations and storytelling.

 

eigoMANGA’s Portfolio Review

Editors from eigoMANGA will be critiquing and soliciting new work from artists at the Portfolio Review during the following dates and times:

Thursday, July 21 – PR G 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Friday, July 22 – PR G 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 23 – PR G 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 24 – PR F 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

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Hope you had a great Fourth of July, and while you were out enjoy BBQ and blowing things up with fireworks, here’s the news you might have missed.

Con Coverage:

MTV Geek – Manga at Anime Expo: New titles from Viz, Digital, Bandai

Bleeding Cool – Avatar, Garth Ennis And George RR Martin At San Diego Comic Con

Bleeding Cool – San Diego Debut: Monsters Among Us

Bleeding Cool – San Diego Debut: Mr. Murder Is Dead

Around the Tubes Reviews:

Blogomatic 3000 – Aaron and Ahmed

Now Read This! – The Fantastic Four – Marvel Illustrated Books

CBLDF To Defend New Comics Criminal Case in Canada

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CBLDF Forms Coalition to Defend American Comics Reader Facing Criminal Charges In Canada

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund today announces that it is forming a coalition to support the legal defense of an American citizen who is facing criminal charges in Canada that could result in a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in prison for comics brought into the country on his laptop.  This incident is the most serious in a trend the CBLDF has been tracking involving the search and seizure of the print and electronic comic books carried by travelers crossing borders.

CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein says, “Although the CBLDF can’t protect comic fans everywhere in every situation, we want to join this effort to protect an American comic fan being prosecuted literally as he stood on the border of our country for behavior the First Amendment protects here, and its analogues in Canadian law should protect there.”

The CBLDF has agreed to assist in the case by contributing funds towards the defense, which has been estimated to cost $150,000 CDN.  The CBLDF will also provide access to experts and assistance on legal strategy.  The CBLDF’s efforts are joined by the recently re-formed Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund, a Canadian organization that will contribute to the fundraising effort.  Please contribute to this endeavor by making a tax deductible contribution here.

The facts of the case involve an American citizen, computer programmer, and comic book enthusiast in his mid-twenties who was flying from his home in the United States to Canada to visit a friend.  Upon arrival at Canadian Customs a customs officer conducted a search of the American and his personal belongings, including his laptop, iPad, and iPhone. The customs officer discovered manga on the laptop and considered it to be child pornography.  The client’s name is being withheld on the request of counsel for reasons relating to legal strategy.

The images at issue are all comics in the manga style.  No photographic evidence of criminal behavior is at issue.  Nevertheless, a warrant was issued and the laptop was turned over to police.  Consequently, the American has been charged with both the possession of child pornography as well as its importation into Canada. As a result, if convicted at trial, the American faces a minimum of one year in prison. This case could have far reaching implications for comic books and manga in North America.

The CBLDF’s Board of Directors voted unanimously to aid the case by raising funds to contribute to the defense and to help the defense with strategy and expert resources.

Brownstein says, “This is an important case that impacts the rights of everyone who reads, publishes, and makes comics and manga in North America. It underscores the dangers facing everyone traveling with comics, and it can establish important precedents regarding travelers rights.  It also relates to the increasingly urgent issue of authorities prosecuting art as child pornography.  While this case won’t set a US precedent, it can inform whatever precedent is eventually set.  This case is also important with respect to artistic merit in the Canadian courts, and a good decision could bring Canadian law closer to US law in that respect.  With the help of our supporters, we hope to raise the funds to wage a fight that yields good decisions and to create tools to help prevent these sorts of cases from continuing to spread.”

Find out more on the case here. To help support the case, you can make a monetary contribution here.

About CBLDF
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1986 as a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights for members of the comics community. They have defended dozens of Free Expression cases in courts across the United States, and led important education initiatives promoting comics literacy and free expression. For additional information, donations, and other inquiries call 800-99-CBLDF or visit them online at www.cbldf.org.

About CLLDF
The Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1987 to raise money for the defense of a Calgary, Alberta comic shop whose owners were charged with selling obscene materials. The CLLDF has since been maintained on an ad hoc basis to provide financial relief for Canadian comics retailers, publishers, professionals, or readers whose right to free speech has been infringed by civil authorities.  Largely dormant since the early 1990s, the CLLDF is reforming to provide support for this case, and reorganizing to ensure that help will be readily available for future cases involving Canadian citizens or authorities.  To help the CLLDF in this mission, please go to www.clldf.ca.

GEN Manga Entertainment, Inc. Announces the Release of GEN – Discount on Subscriptions and First Issue Free

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GEN Manga Entertainment, Inc. Announces the Release of GEN
GEN will be available nationwide June, 2011

NEW YORK, NY – GEN Manga Entertainment, Inc. announces the upcoming release of GEN.  GEN 1 (ISBN: 978-0-9836134-0-4, Trade Paper, 136 pages, black and white, $9.95, Category: Graphic Fiction) will be available where fine books are sold June, 2011.

GEN 1 is presently available in digital format for FREE on the official website (www.genmanga.com).

Indie manga from the Tokyo Underground released in North America, GEN, marks a shift in manga publishing strategy. This original work of graphic fiction boldly challenges the industry while breaking new ground. It presents what manga readers are hungry for, the release of fresh underground work from Japan. GEN marks the release of a new serial publication that will continue to introduce a variety of new underground stories to readers as it progresses.

GEN stories are published no where else in the world. They come straight from the artists in Japan to readers in America. GEN presents this rough yet vibrant work as “seinen” the next step up from “shonen” for the maturing manga reader.

Four hard-lined, unpolished stories are presented in the first of GEN. Wolf is the emotional story of a young man that heads to the city to avenge his childhood abandonment. VS Aliens is the story of an average student duped (or not?) into going on a wild alien chase. A mysterious masked stranger in KAMEN holds secrets to hidden powers to protect innocents from massacre. And a young woman explores her psyche in the metaphysical journey of Souls.

GEN puts on no airs about how grand their authors are. In fact, they readily admit that their authors are underground. GEN is manga the way it should be without the flash, for the fans, raw and fresh.

Presenting new indie manga circles from Japan, GEN, a monthly publication, will be released in the US in June. Digital format for GEN is available on genmanga.com. Based in New York, GEN Manga Entertainment (www.genmanga.com) endeavors to publish new and unseen graphic work from Japan, being in the unique position to bring readers work first, more original and untamed manga will be sure to come!

GEN #1 Cover

You can check it out and get a discount on a subscription at http://genmanga.com/discount/

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