MIMOBOT unveils Hello Kitty Nerd MIMOBOT + more special releases at San Diego Comic-Con!

from Mimoco:

Celebrating 5 Years of MIMOBOT! SDCC ’10: July 22-25 Mimoco invades San Diego Comic-Con! Visit us and check out all our special releases! Booth #4938: Toy Growers. Booth #2913M: Star Wars Pavilion

San Diego Comic-Con Special Releases

Premiere: Hello Kitty Nerd MIMOBOT
Wearing thick-rimmed black spectacles, a pocket protector, and a checkered bow on her head, Nerd Kitty reflects Hello Kitty’s more studious and inner geek chic side. The character joins five other Hello Kitty MIMOBOT USB flash drive designs in Mimoco’s crossover line dedicated to Sanrio’s popular feline. Read more!

SDCC EXCLUSIVE: Lobot MIMOBOT, Limited edition of 1,000
Our first MIMOBOT dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, the Lobot MIMOBOT is a dual tradeshow exclusive (SDCC ‘10 and SW Celebration V). The mute Lobot was the chief administrative aide to Baron Administrator Lando Calrissian on Cloud City, over the planet Bespin. His brain was connected to the city’s central computer, allowing him to communicate directly with the city’s computer network. Now Star Wars fans can connect Lobot MIMOBOT’s brain to their computer via USB!

SDCC EXCLUSIVE: Isadore Glo MIMOBOT, Limited edition of 500
Isadore Glo, a 500 unit SDCC exclusive, and Dr. Knowledgeus’s favorite bit-eating specimen, is a blue glow-in-the-dark color variant of the original Isadore Core Series ‘bot, now also available in green.

Premiere: Dr. Knowledgeus MIMOBOT
Cruising in his zeppelin laboratory miles above his imperiled Planet Blõôh, the MIMOBOTs’ sickest genius scientist, Dr. Knowledgeus, formulated an experimental method of space transport and data transmission that could cure his sick comrades. Watch Dr. Knowledgeus!

2010 Taipei Toy EXCLUSIVE: Monster Molly MIMOBOT, limited edition of 500
The design is a three-way collaboration between Mimoco, Monster Taipei (organizers of the Taipei Toy Festival) and Kenny Wong, popular Hong Kong-based designer of Kennyswork and the pioneering designer toy collective, Brothersfree. His Molly character has appeared in many iterations and now as Monster Molly MIMOBOT wearing a green monster suit to celebrate this year’s Toy Festival theme, “Monsters vs. Toys.”

Video Premiere: Inside San Diego Comic-Con!
Nothing gets our mimo-hearts racing like Comic-Con Exclusives, so mimoZine roamed the floor during “Preview Night” to bring you a first look at all the great designer toys, artwork and other Exclusives from SDCC 2010! Check it out! WATCH NOW!

Weta: The “District 9” Exosuit is here!

from Weta:

Awesome new product
The Exosuit from District 9!

Since we announced all the products below, we have received the final details and launched for pre-order Greg Broadmore’s awesome exosuit from District 9. You know the one that goes completely berzerk with Wikus van der Merwe inside in the film’s final battle.

Since we first announced our District 9 line, we have been inundated with requests for an Exosuit statue and now it’s here! It’s on our website and on display at our booth at Comic-Con if you are in San Diego.

In a strictly limited edition of 600, this won’t last long, so make sure you get your pre-order in. You pay when it’s delivered early next year.

Pre-order yours here!

To re-cap — these are some of the other products on display at Comic-Con:

District 9 — Assault Rifle
Dr. Grordbort’s — Pomson 6000
The Lord of the Rings — The One Ring
The Wind in the Willows — Bookends
Dr. Grordbort’s — The Divine Ray
Dr. Grordbort’s — The Iron Tiger
Dr. Grordbort’s — Der Adler
The Lord of the Rings — Bag End
The Lord of the Rings — The Prancing Pony

Follow Weta Online! Twitter | Facebook

Check Out What’s New for Celebration V This Week

from StarWars.com:

Only 3 Weeks Left Until Star Wars Celebration V!

Star Wars Celebration V Announces Date and Time for the Main Event
The highly anticipated, hour-long interview between comedian Jon Stewart and Star Wars creator George Lucas will happen on Saturday, August 14 on the Celebration Main Stage. The event is currently scheduled for 11:00 AM. Because we want as many fans as possible to enjoy The Main Event as it happens, we have created a wrist band entry system. Please read this FAQ and prepare to make the most of this historic event! It’s not too late to book your tickets and submit questions that could be included in the show!

Exclusive Postmark Thursday
Fans of Star Wars and collectors of post memorabilia will have the exclusive opportunity to get a “Celebration Station” postmark on Thursday, August 12 at the Orange County Convention Center. Featuring Boba Fett on the iconic logo of Celebration V, the postmark was created especially for the fan convention. Starting at 3:00 pm on Thursday, fans can visit the Celebration Station Post Office in room W221, to purchase commemorative Celebration V postcards, and have their envelopes and postcards stamped with the exclusive postmark. The Celebration Station post office will be open from 3:00pm – 6:00pm on Thursday, August 12 at Star Wars Celebration V! Don’t miss this historic, and commemorative, opportunity!

Celebration Station Post Office
Thursday, August 12
3:00pm – 6:00pm
Room W2212

Star Wars Artists at Celebration V
Star Wars artists of extraordinary vision will be exhibiting and selling their original prints at Celebration V. Forty-four artists have been announced, and you can see all the prints and all the bios online at the Art Show page here. All our guest artists will be appearing either in the Celebration Exhibition Hall or the ACME Art Show.

Get Tattooed Live at Celebration V
The Star Wars tattoo program at Celebration V is back, and this time with a new twist. Starting next week, you’ll be able to make an appointment with one of a selection of renowned tattoo artists who will be tattooing live at the event in Orlando. All four days of the show fans can also drop in to see if there is time available to get that awesome Star Wars tattoo they have always wanted. What better place to get a permanent memento of Star Wars fandom than at the biggest Star Wars Party this side of the Galaxy? Marc Draven is heading up the Celebration live tattoo area. Check back next week for appointment information. Shane Turgeon, author of The Force in the Flesh, is returning to Celebration to coordinate another fantastic Star Wars tattoo show, schedule for Sunday morning, August 15. Sign up for the event at the Celebration V Tattoo Pavilion on the show floor. While you are there, check out the many skateboard decks designed and painted by exceptional artists. The decks will be auctioned off for charity at the Celebration Make-A-Wish Auction Sunday afternoon. Turgeon is coordinating “The Empire Skates Back” project, and has contacted some incredible talent to create these decks. Rare, one-of-a-kind works of art, they are not to be missed!

Celebration Tattoo Pavilion
Celebration Experience Exhibit Hall
10:00am-7:00pm Thursday through Saturday
10:00am-5:00pm Sunday

SeaWorld Orlando Ticket Offers
Love cuddly sea creatures as much as Jedi knights and Imperial armies? SeaWorld Orlando is located about a mile from the Convention Center and offers great marine exhibits and attractions, such as Discovery Cove and Aquatica. Click here for more information!

Get Your Exclusive Celebration V Gear — Only Available Online Until July 25
There’s only a few days left to pre-order exclusive Celebration V t-shirts in advance of the event to ensure they don’t sell out before you get yours! Onsite quantities will be limited. Check out the website for details on mailing/pick up.

Speed Dating is Live and Taking Orders
Want to fall in love? How about multiple times? Sign up for Star Wars’ Speed Dating event taking place over the course of the Celebration! Visit the dedicated page to review the available days and times, as well as fill out the application form.

Weta: New Product Launches at Comic-Con!

from Weta:

Comic-Con Madness has started!

Richard Taylor, Greg Broadmore, David Tremont and Tim Launder have just opened the floodgates in San Diego.

Here are some of the new products on show for the very first time (more to come!):

District 9 — Assault Rifle
Dr. Grordbort’s — Pomson 6000
The Lord of the Rings — The One Ring
The Wind in the Willows — Bookends
Dr. Grordbort’s — The Divine Ray
Dr. Grordbort’s — The Iron Tiger
Dr. Grordbort’s — Der Adler
The Lord of the Rings — Bag End
The Lord of the Rings — The Prancing Pony

Follow Weta Online! Twitter | Facebook

Shout! Factory: Headin’ Down to Comic-Con

from Shout! Factory:

So we’re taking off for the big event in a matter of minutes. It’s set to be a great year for Shout! Factory. As a reminder, we wanted to let you know about our “whats and wheres.” The Roger Corman: King of the Independents panel is in Room 25ABC on Friday at 5:30. It stars Roger and Julie Corman, directors Joe Dante and Allan Holzman, actors Sid Haig and Mary Woronov and moderator Alex Stapleton, who recently completed a film about the beloved filmmaker.

We’ll be in booth #3749 again. That’s Hall D in the back row near the concession stand (yes, we planned it that way). We’ve scheduled a slew of signings! In chronological order: Thursday at 2:00 p.m. with Larry Blamire, Trish Geiger, Susan McConnell, Andrew Parks, Frank Dietz and Mark Redfield (Dark and Stormy Night and The Lost Skeleton Returns Again); Friday at 11:00 a.m. with Roger Corman, Julie Corman and Joe Dante (the Roger Corman’s Cult Classics series, including Piranha [1978]); Friday at 3:00 p.m. with Stephen Collins (Tales of the Gold Monkey); Saturday at 3:00 p.m. with Gregg Berger (the animated G.I. Joe: The Movie and The Transformers); and Saturday at 6:00 p.m. with Jim Beaver (Dark and Stormy Nights / Supernatural).

We’ll be selling many of our new and upcoming releases and offering special gifts with purchase for these titles: Max Headroom: The Complete Series (an 8×10 cast photo), Dark and Stormy Night and The Lost Skeleton Returns Again (a bonus DVD called Tales from the Pub), Gamera, The Giant Monster and Gamera Vs. Barugon (an 8-pack postcard set), G.I. Joe: The Movie (a dogtag flash drive) and Piranha (a 16×20 poster). All items are limited edition, while supplies last.

Lastly, we’ll have a Max Headroom photo booth set up where you can “become” Max Headroom. Stand behind the cut-out, sport the nifty Max glasses and have your picture taken. Max sunglasses are also limited in numbers, so come by early! The booth will be open at these times and days: Wednesday at 5:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday at 10:00-noon and 4:00-6:00 p.m., Friday at 5:00-7:00 and Saturday and Sunday from 9-noon. See you at the Con!

This ‘N’ That

Hey sci-fi fans! Mikes Kurosky just debuted his new video for “The World Won’t Last the Night.” Watch it at RawkBlog.

We’re offering an ode to Comic-Con sale, with an exciting list of titles at greatly reduced rates! Check out the goods.

Keep up with the latest Shout! news throughout your day by following us on Twitter and Facebook. Plus, visit our YouTube page for trailers, clips and music videos.

Abrams ComicArts at San Diego Comic-Con

from ABRAMS:

ABRAMS and Abrams ComicArts at San Diego Comic-Con July 21-25, 2010

Author Panels and Signings, Sneak Peeks at Upcoming Titles, and Exciting Giveaways! Visit Booth #1216!

ABRAMS will once again have a strong presence at San Diego Comic-Con 2010, just two years after launching the Abrams ComicArts imprint. Critically acclaimed books such as Matt Groening’s The Simpsons Futurama Crossover Crisis, The Topps Company’s Wacky Packages New New New, Todd Hignite’s The Art of Jaime Hernandez: The Secrets of Life and Death, and Dan Nadel’s Art in Time: Unknown Comic Book Adventures, 1940-1980 have helped make this year at Abrams ComicArts a resounding success.

Still to come this fall on the Abrams ComicArts list are: Archie Marries… by Michael Uslan; Jerry Robinson: Ambassador of Comics by N. C. Christopher Couch; The Night Bookmobile, an original graphic novel by Audrey Niffenegger; The Horror! The Horror! Comic Books the Government Didn’t Want You to Read! by Jim Trombetta; Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal by Chip Kidd and Geoff Spear; and Krazy Kat & the Art of George Herriman: A Celebration edited by Craig Yoe.

Other fall ABRAMS books of interest include: Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Writers and Artists Who Made the National Lampoon Insanely Great by Rick Meyerowitz; Faeries: Deluxe Collectors Edition by Brian Froud and Alan Lee; Star Trek: The Original Series 365 by Paula M. Block with Terry J. Erdmann; The Art of Avatar by Jody Duncan and Lisa Fitzpatrick; Kidrobot’s I Am Plastic, Too: The Next Generation of Designer Toys by Paul Budnitz; and Star Wars: Visions with a foreword by George Lucas. All of these upcoming books will be represented at the Abrams ComicArts booth (#1216). Abrams ComicArts will hold several in-booth signings and has organized panels for this year’s show. Check the schedule below for dates and times.

The Abrams ComicArts booth will also have exciting GIVEAWAYS including: posters of The Art of Jaime Hernandez, Faeries, The Night Bookmobile, and Manga Kamishibai: The Art of Japanese Paper Theater; DVDs of The Horror! The Horror!; reading group guides of The TOON Treasury of Classic Children’s Comics; and playing cards of Jerry Robinson’s concept sketch for the Joker. For Comic-Con Kids’ Day on Sunday, July 25, there will be several fun giveaways from the ABRAMS children’s imprint Amulet including: Diary of a Wimpy Kid water bottles, bookmarks, and tattoos; and galleys for Barry Deutsch’s upcoming graphic novel Hereville and Michael Buckley’s N.E.R.D.S. Book Two: M is for Mama’s Boy. In addition, Jason Shiga will be signing copies of his bestselling graphic novel Meanwhile.

Abrams ComicArts Signings
Booth #1216

Thursday, July 22
1-2:00 pm, Ethen Beavers, N.E.R.D.S. Book Two: M Is for Mama’s Boy
2-3:00 pm, Chip Kidd, Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal

Friday, July 23
11-12:00 noon, Brian and Wendy Froud, The Heart of Faerie Oracle
3-4:00 pm, Jaime Hernandez and Todd Hignite, The Art of Jaime Hernandez: The Secrets of Life and Death

Saturday, July 24
10-11:00 am, Jaime Hernandez and Todd Hignite, The Art of Jaime Hernandez: The Secrets of Life and Death
2:30-3:30 pm, Lela Lee, Angry Little Girls, Angry Little Girls in Love
4-5:00 pm, Brian and Wendy Froud, The Heart of Faerie Oracle

Sunday, July 25
2-3:00 pm, Jason Shiga, Meanwhile

Abrams ComicArts Panels

Friday, July 23
1:30-2:30 pm, Spotlight on Jerry Robinson, Room 9
One of the true legends of comics, Comic-Con special guest Jerry Robinson is a writer, artist, historian, curator, and creator rights activist. Jerry discusses his seventy years in comics — from his contributions to the Batman mythos to the creation of the Joker and development of Robin, Alfred, Penguin, Scarecrow, and Two-Face. Jerry is interviewed by Michael Uslan, the executive producer of the Batman movies, comics historian, and author of upcoming Archie Marries… (Abrams ComicArts). In their discussion, Robinson and Uslan will take the audience from behind the scenes of the Golden Age of comics to the filming of The Dark Knight and Jerry’s latest book projects including the upcoming Jerry Robinson: Ambassador of Comics (Abrams ComicArts).

4-5:00 pm, Krazy Kat’s 100th Anniversary Celebration!, Room 4
An exclusive multimedia show of unpublished strips, drawings, and paintings presented by Craig Yoe, author of Krazy + Ignatz in Tiger Tea (IDW) and the upcoming Krazy Kat & the Art of George Herriman: A Celebration (Abrams ComicArts). The panel will explore a century of Krazy-ness, with Greg Goldstein (IDW), R. C. Harvey (The Art of the Funnies), Charles Kochman (executive editor, Abrams ComicArts), Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics), and Peter Maresca, (editor/publisher, Sunday Press Books). Plus a thrilling bonus: a never-before-seen home movie of Krazy’s creator, George Herriman.

Saturday, July 24
11:30-12:30 pm, Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal, Room 9
Author/designer Chip Kidd (Mythology, Bat-Manga, Rough Justice), author/producer Michael Uslan (Archie Marries…), and Charles Kochman (executive editor, Abrams ComicArts) celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Big Red Cheese in this panel and slideshow discussion celebrating Kidd’s upcoming fall release from Abrams ComicArts, Shazam! The Golden Age of the World’s Mightiest Mortal.

Follow us on Twitter: @abramscomicarts
abramscomicarts.com

Milky Way and the Galaxy Girls: Chibi Contest: Only Two Days Left!!!

from Milky Way and the Galaxy Girls:

There are 3 hand-made, 15 inch, polar fleece Milky Way CHIBI DOLLS that need a home here on Earth. Wouldn’t you like to be a celestial caretaker for one of these cosmic cuties?

Well if the answer is yes, then you only have TWO MORE DAYS to enter yourself into the MWGG Summer Chibi Contest and win a Milky Way Chibi made by creator Lauren Faust.

Contest, and the 25% off all T-Shirts, comes to an end on July 21st. So don’t delay. Grab $15 worth of merchandise from the MWGG Webstore, or buy a plush doll @ FAO.com, and enter today before this deal disappears into the black cosmic void of the space time continuum…

For more details on the contest: click here.

News that Squishes

from Squishable:

Hey Folks!

If you were running through a journalism rainstorm, well you wouldn’t want that precipitation to be made of hard, scary news. No, indeed. You’d want your weather in the form of soft, splashy, Squishy News! And here it is!

Take Your Squishy to Work Day… for the Gulf! Since it seems like no one knows what to do about the oily mess down in the Gulf, your Squishable is taking matters into his own hands! This Thursday, July 22nd, bring a Squishable into your office, classroom, or underground secret lair. For each image you submit of your Squishable exploring the perils and excitement of your workplace, we’ll donate a dollar to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation for the Environment of the Gulf Fund! And to thank you for caring about the environment, we’ll also give everyone at your office a 10% off coupon to use during the following week.

Warn your coworkers! Tell that cute girl or guy who lives down the road! Check out the official Take Your Squishy to Work 2010 page for all the details, including how to submit pictures and get your coupon. And check back on the 22nd when we’ll be updating the site with your #gulfsquishy Tweets all day! This is some seriously good karma stuff, folks!

New Understudies! We’ve got some!

Squirrel Understudy — How cool are squirrels? Very! They can live just about anywhere including under your bed, where not even your mom dares to venture! Hug a squirrel!

Hedgehog — This fuzzy, squishy hedgehog is recursive! That means it’s a hedgehog that itself helps other hedgehogs. Every one of these Hedgehogs helps to finances the rescue, rehabilitation and eventual release of orphaned wild animals. Which is great!

Summer Camp Care Packages — Ohhhh summer camp, time of marshmallows, campfires, and bug spray. You know what would make it even more awesome-er? A Squishable! Unlike those candy bars you stored in your bunk, Squishables rarely get eaten by raccoons. Send a Squishable Summer Camp Care Package!

New gallery pictures — Aaaaand there are new pictures of Squishables and their very attractive humans up in the Gallery! Wanna kill some time? We’ve got you covered.

Thanks folks!

Zoe and Aaron
squishable.com

Emily at San Diego Comic-Con Booth #4639

from Emily the Strange:

Visit Emily at San Diego Comic-Con 2010!

Plans for San Diego Comic-Con are getting DOUBLE STRANGE!
We are proud to announce that Cosplayers Twin Bee Modeling and Design will be appearing as Emily AND Other Me from Stranger and Stranger on Friday and Sunday during the Convention! See you there — and Emily x 2!!

Meet the twisted minds behind Emily the Strange!
Meet Creator ROB REGER & Illustrator BUZZ PARKER

Signing Times:
Friday July 23 12pm-1pm
Smith Micro Booth #5238

Emily the Strange Panel Experience
Sunday July 25 10am-11am
Smith Micro Room 3

Sunday July 25 12pm-1pm
Dark Horse Comics Booth #2615

Also,
TWO Comic Con Exclusive Emily Contests!
Details at the Emily Booth #4639

See u @ The Con!
Mystery

Find Emily on: Twitter | Facebook | MySpace | YouTube

Announcing a RiffTrax Live contest! Get your jokes into Reefer Madness!

from RiffTrax:

RiffTrax wants your jokes! We’ve provided you with some choice clips from Reefer Madness, along with 10 different spots for you to write jokes to get included in our LIVE broadcast of Reefer Madness! The winners (picked by the guys themselves) will receive a RiffTrax Swag Bag and have their names featured on-screen when their joke is said!

More info here.

Important JoCo News

from Jonathan Coulton:

Hello mailing list!

Three things! One of them is a cruise!

1. A NEW RECORD

In my last dispatch I mentioned a super secret project that I was excited about. In case you never look at my site (because why would you? I never post anything) I am telling you now that it’s A BRAND NEW RECORD. I’ve been writing new songs, rehearsing with a band, and planning a trip into an actual recording studio. It’s all new and scary and fantastic. One song is about mustaches.

2. SHOWS WITH A BAND WHEREIN WE TRY OUT SOME NEW SONGS

I’ll be trying out six new songs with this band at a couple of shows in MA:

Iron Horse in Northampton on 7/22 — tickets

Somerville Theater in Somerville on 7/23 — tickets

The band is a power trio with me on “electric” guitar, Marty Beller from TMBG on drums, and Chris Anderson NOT from Wired magazine on bass. I cannot urge you strongly enough to come out and see these shows, because, well, they’re going to be awesome one way or another. They may be unmitigated disasters for instance, you wouldn’t want to miss that. Alternately, we might make music so fantastic that your socks fly right off your feet, THROUGH YOUR SHOES.

3. JOCO CRUISE CRAZY

JoCo Cruise Crazy has just now become a reality. It’s a six day Caribbean cruise leaving from Ft. Lauderdale on Holland America’s ms Eurodam January 2-8, 2011. There will be comedy and music from me, Paul and Storm, John Hodgman, Wil Wheaton, Molly Lewis, Mike Phirman, and Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett from RiffTrax. Also, it is a cruise on a beautiful crazy giant boat with food all over the place. It’s what they call a win/win situation.

Tickets are available now. In fact, the first 250 people who book will get a discount on the entertainment fee, plus preferred seating at the (count em) TWO shows I’m doing during the cruise. We’re not at 250 yet, but things are moving pretty quickly.

Plenty of details, photos and a handy FAQ are available here: jococruisecrazy.com.

That is three things by my count. You know what to do.

-j

VIZ Media Delivers Sizzling Summer Reading with Three New Haikasoru Releases

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will deliver out-of-this-world summer science fiction and fantasy reading with the release of three new novels under its Haikasoru imprint this summer — Harmony by Project Itoh, Rocket Girls by Housuke Nojiri and Summer, Fireworks, and My Corpse by Otsuichi.

Haikasoru is a unique imprint with a dedicated focus on publishing some of the most compelling contemporary Japanese science fiction and fantasy for English-speaking audiences.

Harmony by Project Itoh
Price: $14.99 U.S. / CAN $19.99
Available July 20th
In the distant future, Utopia has finally been achieved thanks to medical nanotechnology and a powerful ethic of social welfare and mutual consideration. But this perfect world isn’t that perfect, and three young girls stand up to totalitarian kindness and super-medicine by attempting suicide via starvation. It doesn’t work, but one of the girls — Tuan Kirie — grows up to be a member of the World Health Organization. As a crisis threatens the harmony of the new world, Tuan rediscovers another member of her suicide pact, and together they must help save the planet… from itself.

Keikaku (Project) Itoh was born in Tokyo in 1974 and graduated from Musashino Art University. In 2007, he debuted with Genocidal Organs and took first prize in the “Best SF of 2007” in Japan’s SF Magazine. Itoh is also the author of Metal Gear Solid: Guns of the Patriots, a Japanese-language novel based on the popular video game series. After a long battle with cancer, Itoh passed away in March 2009. He wrote Harmony while in the hospital receiving treatment for the disease.

Rocket Girls by Housuke Nojiri
Price: $13.99 U.S. / CAN $18.99
Available September 21st
Yukari Morita is a high school girl on a quest to find her missing father. While searching for him in the Solomon Islands, she receives the offer of a lifetime. She’ll receive the help she needs to find her father, and all she must do in return is become the world’s youngest, lightest astronaut. Yukari and her half sister Matsuri, both petite, are the perfect crew and payload for the Solomon Space Association’s rocket launches, or they will be once they complete some rigorous and sometimes dangerous training.

Housuke Nojiri was born in Mie, Japan, in 1961. After working in instrumentation control, CAD programming and video game design, he published his first work in 1992, The Blind Spot of Veis, based on the video game Creguian. He gained further popularity with his subsequent works including the Creguian series and the Rocket Girl series. In 2002, he published Usurper of the Sun (published in English by Haikasoru in 2009) and ushered in a new era of science fiction in Japan. After first appearing as a series of short stories, Usurper went on to win the prestigious Seiun Award for Best Japanese Science Fiction Novel of 2002. Nojiri’s other works include Pendulum of Pinieru and Fuwa-Fuwa no Izumi.

Summer, Fireworks, and My Corpse by Otsuichi
Price: $14.99 U.S. / CAN $19.99
Available September 21st
Two short novels, including the title story and Black Fairy Tale, plus a bonus short story. Summer is the simple story of a nine-year-old girl who dies while on summer vacation. While her youthful killers try to hide her body, she tells us the story — from the point of view of her dead body — of the children’s attempt to get away with murder. Black Fairy Tale is classic J-horror: a young girl loses an eye in an accident but receives a transplant. Now she can see again, but what she sees out of her new left eye is the experiences and memories of its previous owner. Its previous deceased owner.

Born 1978 in Fukuoka, Japan, Otsuichi won the Sixth Jump Short Fiction/Nonfiction Prize when he was seventeen with his debut story “Summer, Fireworks, and My Corpse.” Now recognized as one of the most talented young fantasy/horror writers in Japan, his other English-language works include the short story collection Calling You and the Honkaku Mystery Prize-winning novel Goth.

For more information on Haikasoru, please visit the dedicated website at haikasoru.com.