Save 15% for Father’s Day! Plus, Announcing a SDCC ’11 MIMOBOT Exclusive!

from Mimoco:

Celebrate Father’s Day with MIMOBOT! 20% off all Star Wars & DC Comics MIMOBOTs now until Saturday June 18th! Shop Now!

Announcing a MIMOBOT SDCC ’11 exclusive! HARLEY QUINN! See Sneak Peek!

FREE Shipping on ALL Orders Over $50! (Excludes Hawaii, Alaska)

Innovative Multimedia Group Blends Technology and Pop Sensibilities for New Album Featuring Vocals by Virtual Pop Culture Star Hatsune Miku

from VIZ Media:

Sony Music Direct (Japan), Inc., a division of Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Inc., has announced the U.S. release of the full-length major label debut from the Japanese pop group, Supercell, on Tuesday, June 21st. Supercell blends catchy pop melodies and technology-inspired vocals with captivating anime-influenced imagery and notably features the world’s first virtual pop star, Hatsune Miku. The new record will be available exclusively on iTunes and Amazon.

The album for Sony Music Direct is titled Supercell Featuring Hatsune Miku and features a striking cover illustration of the singer by renowned manga artist Shiro Miwa. The record’s first single, “The World is Mine,” was released in North America on May 10th on iTunes and Amazon and placed as high as Number 4 on the iTunes World Music charts.

Supercell is a group of multimedia creators and artists led by composer/lyricist Ryo. Hatsune Miku, whose name means, “first sound of the future,” is a digital female avatar and the most popular of the Vocaloid Character Series software originally created by Crypton Future Media using Yamaha’s Vocaloid 2 engine to create synthesized vocal tracks.

Supercell Featuring Hatsune Miku features 12 upbeat tracks that are driven by the singer’s bright vocals supported by lush electronic, pop and rock-inspired melodies. “Because Hatsune Miku is portrayed as a 16 year-old girl, I wanted to compose love songs that would be believable for a teen like her to sing,” says Ryo.

He adds, “I’m very intrigued with the new possibilities for creativity that vocaloid technology and virtual personalities like that of Hatsune Miku present. This is the ultimate hybrid of organic human creativity combined with the latest technological innovation to produce a whole new kind of pop group. I’m very excited at the prospect of U.S. audiences discovering Supercell!”

In Japan, Hatsune Miku is a major national phenomenon appearing in many popular video games and music videos. She’s also played several sellout “concerts,” where she performed on stage as a 3D hologram backed by a live band. Her international notoriety is spreading to North America, where she’s currently featured in a new commercial for the 2011 Toyota Corolla. Hatsune Miku is also scheduled to perform her first U.S. concert with an event called “MIKUNOPOLIS in LOS ANGELES,” at the 2011 Anime Expo in Los Angeles, CA July 1-4. Information on the concert is available at: mikunopolis.com.

More information on Supercell is available at: facebook.com/supercell.JPN.

VIZ Media Announces Product License for Hot New Anime Action Series “Tiger & Bunny”

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced it has been named the exclusive U.S. product licensor for the new animated crime-fighting action series Tiger & Bunny. The company will showcase the property to a variety of potential merchandise partners during the 2011 Licensing International Expo, held in Las Vegas, June 14th-16th, 2011. VIZ Media will be located in Booth #2481.

The Licensing International Expo is held at Mandalay Bay Convention Center and is the preeminent marketplace for the hottest international brands and properties. The event features a show floor of more than 7,000 properties from all of Hollywood’s major film studios, global entertainment companies, Fortune 500 consumer brands, sporting teams, interactive properties, fashion labels, and cutting-edge artists and designers. The annual event celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2010.

Tiger & Bunny currently simulcasts the same day it debuts in Japan on Hulu (Hulu.com) and VIZAnime.com, the company’s own exclusive web destination for anime. Tiger & Bunny Blu-ray currently rank Number 1 on Amazon Japan, and a wide variety of toys, collectables, and other products are already licensed for the Japanese market.

“We’re very excited to participate again at the Licensing International Expo, and this year we’ll showcase Tiger & Bunny, a new series that has been the subject of tremendous buzz among fan circles,” says Tracy Hanchett, Director, Consumer Products. “With its multi-textured characters and unique blend of comedy and over the top action, the Tiger & Bunny brand is ideally suited to a range of product merchandising options across all categories for the key male 14-25 demographic. We look forward to meeting with leading product partners at the show to explore the exciting range of possibilities for this hot new property.”

Tiger & Bunny (rated TV-14) is directed by Keiichi Sato (director of Karas), with original character designs by Masakazu Katsura, creator of the manga series, I”s and Video Girl Ai (also published by VIZ Media). Stern Bild is a metropolitan city where superheroes called NEXT help to maintain peace. Sporting sponsor logos on their suits, these heroes work to solve cases and save people’s lives in order to earn Hero Points, while also helping to improve the public image of their corporate sponsors. Their activities are documented and broadcast by the popular show “HERO TV,” in which each superhero strives to become the “King of Heroes” of the year.

One such hero is Wild Tiger (real name Kotetsu T. Kaburagi), a veteran superhero who relies on his years of experience and instincts to fight crime. Though obligated to work for his boss’s best interest, Kotetsu follows his own code of honor and is even willing to cause destruction to public property for the sake of protecting the lives of his fellow citizens. Over time, he has grudgingly earned the nickname “Crusher for Justice.” Now, Kotetsu suddenly finds himself forced to team up with rookie hero Barnaby Brooks Jr.

To view the official trailer and to follow Tiger & Bunny on the official Facebook page, please visit www.facebook.com/TigerAndBunny.

For more information on Tiger & Bunny and other animated titles from VIZ Media please visit VIZAnime.com.

Tickets on Sale Today for “Star Wars” Celebration VI

from StarWars.com:

Star Wars Celebration VI Sets Its Sights on Orlando, August 23-26, 2012
Tickets on Sale Now — Buy Today!
After the impressive (most impressive) success of last year’s Empire-themed Star Wars Celebration V, we are thrilled to announce that the biggest party this side of the galaxy, Star Wars Celebration VI, is setting down August 23-26, 2012 back at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida!

With official Celebration host hotels starting as low as just $65 per night, it’s never been more affordable for fans to vacation in Orlando on any budget. Orlando is a destination for fans and families from around the world, with highlights including the all-new Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Traveling to Celebration VI will provide the perfect opportunity to experience the all-new Star Tours adventures with Star Wars fans from around the world!

Tickets
Tickets to Star Wars Celebration VI are available now! Be among the first to grab your ticket and guarantee your spot at this not-to-be-missed Star Wars event! All-new memories begin with a ticket to the convention, and it’s not too soon to start planning your trip today! Don’t miss out on all of the exclusive merchandise, interviews with cast and crew — and MORE! Buy Tickets.

Hotels*
SAVE when you reserve your hotel room through starwarscelebration.com. Our official travel desk will land you great rates at a number of host hotels in the Orlando area starting at just $65/night. And booking through the official site will also grant you access to ride the Celebration VI Shuttle bus back and forth to the convention center! Don’t wait, reserve your room(s) today!
*Note: the ONLY official Celebration VI travel partner is powered by onPeak. Don’t be fooled! Book your travel today by visiting starwarscelebration.com and receive our “Best Rate Guarantee.” We cannot honor room rates reserved through other travel groups.

Bigger, Better… and All About You
Like the Empire’s second Death Star, Celebration VI is shaping up to be even BIGGER than all previous iterations — and also like the second Death Star, it’s all still under construction. That means that we’re still planning the programming, the panels, guests, special events and activities, and we want to hear from YOU to help make this the best Celebration yet! What do YOU want to see?

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to let us know what you think.

Celebrations are for YOU, the fans, whether you saw Star Wars when it first premiered or you’re just now exploring that galaxy far, far away for the very first time. So send us a tweet or write on our wall. We’ve got more than a year until Celebration VI, and we’re going to build it together! When completed, this ultimate Celebration will spell certain fun for Star Wars fans across the galaxy.
 
We thank you for all your support and passion. It’s the fans who have sustained the Saga for all these years, and — come August 2012 — we’re excited to welcome you back to our galaxy.

May the Force be with you!

Factory Entertainment: SDCC Exclusive “Green Hornet” Diecast!

from Factory Entertainment:

Factory Entertainment is delighted to reveal the first of its exclusives for this year’s San Diego Comic-Con July 21-24th 2011.

Stop by the Factory Entertainment booth (#3751) to pick up this numbered limited edition of just 1000 pieces, while supplies last!

1:50 Scale high quality die cast model of The Black Beauty featuring a ‘Camouflage’ white paint scheme, as seen in the final scenes of Columbia Pictures’ movie The Green Hornet.

“But I cannot make it to Comic-Con” we hear you cry… fear not! A limited quantity will be made available to order online via our website soon! (For shipment after the convention strictly while stocks last). Stay tuned for further updates.

“Star Wars” Disney Weekends Are Almost Here!

from StarWars.com:

Star Wars Weekends 2011 will be a Tour de “Force” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, celebrating the grand opening of the new Star Tours attraction as the Walt Disney World Resort theme park welcomes Jedi, Sith, Ewoks, Wookiees, galactic bounty hunters and stormtroopers once again for the park’s annual celebration of all-things-Star Wars.

The fun takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 20-June 12, 2011.

Once again, Jedi Mickey and Princess Leia Minnie will be joined by some of the brightest stars from the saga. Celebrity Hosts for the event this year are James Arnold Taylor (voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Clone Wars) and Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars). Ashley will host “Clone Wars: Behind the Force,” a closer look inside the popular animated TV series. James will present another event-first: he will star in a one-man show that showcases some of the many voices he has performed throughout his career, including those from The Clone Wars.

Star Wars Weekends will also will feature celebrities from the live-action feature films and voice artists from The Clone Wars. Here is the schedule as it stands. Please note this list and these dates are subject to change.

Weekend I (May 20th-22nd): Opening weekend will kick off the month-long event in grand fashion, as fan favorite Anthony Daniels, who brought C-3PO to life and is the only actor to appear in every theatrical chapter of the Star Wars saga, will make a golden return to the event. Daniel Logan, who played young Boba Fett in Episode II and The Clone Wars animated series will attend. Dave Filoni, the talented artist and supervising director of The Clone Wars, also will be a special celebrity guest for Weekend I.

Weekend II (May 27th-29th): Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) returns, joined by Bruce Spence (Tion Medon from Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith) and Dee Bradley Baker, the voice of Captain Rex and all the clones in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Weekend III (June 3rd-5th): Ray Park (Darth Maul from Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace), Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett from Star Wars: Episodes V and VI and Captain Colton from Star Wars: Episode III) and Matt Lanter (Anakin Skywalker from The Clone Wars).

Weekend IV (June 10th-12th): Ray Park returns, joined by Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca from Star Wars: Episodes III, IV, V and VI) and Tom Kane, the voice of Yoda and Admiral Yularen from Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

And while the stars shine, a galaxy-full of events, shows, parades and activities also take place throughout the park during the month.

An event highlight for many is meeting the Star Wars characters, and this year is no exception. More than 60 Star Wars characters will be roaming the theme park, posing for pictures and signing autographs.

From the special “welcome” Guests receive at the turnstile areas from the stormtroopers and Star Wars trivia contests to Jedi Training Academy and the spectacular Hyperspace Hoopla, Star Wars Weekends 2011 will have more fun than you can shake a gaffi stick at. And of course, throughout the event Star Wars Weekends Guests will have the chance to take a ride aboard Star Tours — The Adventures Continue, when the attraction launches in 3-D on May 20.

Can’t get enough Star Tours and Star Wars Weekends news? Be sure to keep checking the Disney Parks Blogs for more updates, and if you’re on Facebook, be sure to like Star Tours — another source of breaking news, exclusive announcements, and online fun!

“Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology” Exhibition: Join the Adventure Today!

from X3 Productions:

Don’t Wait in Line
Buy Your Tickets Online!

Indiana Jones landed in Montréal! Indeed, the Montréal Science Centre presents the world premiere of the Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology exhibition, from April 28 to September 18, 2011. The exhibition will then embark on a tour of museums in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The exhibition uses the Indiana Jones film series as both a starting point and a backdrop for an exciting and educational introduction to the real science of field archaeology.

Showcasing items from four different collections, Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology is far more than a static display of movie props. The entire experience is enhanced with the handheld interactive video companion that informs visitors about what they see with audio, text and video, and it gives all a chance to create their own “quest” through the exhibition. An interactive treasure hunt lets children, young and old, experience the science of archaeology while having fun.

Made possible by Lucasfilm Ltd., presented by the National Geographic Society and produced by Montreal’s X3 Productions, the exhibition is aimed at kids of all ages, Indy fans, history buffs and budding adventurers and explorers.

CONTEST!
Join the adventure on a special Indiana Jones evening June 15 at the Science Center!
Win a pair of tickets to the exhibition and attend a lecture on archaeology in the company of Fredrik Hiebert, Archaeologist and Associate Professor at the National Geographic Society and scientific advisor to the exhibition.

To participate click here.
Winners will be drawn on June 6th!
Contest rules are available at the main office of X3 Productions:
400, Maisonneuve Blvd West, 9th floor, Montréal (Québec), H3A 1L4

Exhibitions Inc. is not a sponsor of this Sweepstakes.
All Sweepstakes winners must release Exhibitions Inc. and its subsidiary, affiliated or related entities and divisions and their respective officers, employees, directors, shareholders, successors, licensees, agents or assigns.

montrealsciencecentre.com
indianajonestheexhibition.com
Montreal Science Centre Box Office
2, De la Commune Street West

Free Comic Book Day Is This Weekend!

from Free Comic Book Day:

The plans are set and the FREE comic books are waiting for you — FCBD 2011 is finally this weekend — Saturday, May 7th!

Go check out the official site to find the latest info and your closest participating shop!

The official FCBD Shop Locator

PLUS, check out these other links:

VIZ Media Celebrates 25th Anniversary

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, the largest distributor of anime and manga in the North America, will celebrate its 25th Anniversary on July 7th, 2011.  Over its 25 year history, VIZ Media has led the transformation of manga and anime from a niche category sold only at specialty retailers into a mass media phenomenon popularized on Cartoon Network, Hulu and iTunes, and available at Barnes & Noble and Walmart. Today, VIZ Media is North America’s largest distributor of anime and manga, and is leading the global anime and manga industries to their digital futures. To celebrate 25 years of pioneering new paths in global entertainment and publishing, later this year VIZ Media will be unveiling new properties, marketing programs, and distribution partnerships.

Since 1986, VIZ Media has primarily distributed titles exclusively owned by its parent companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Co., Ltd.. In 2011, VIZ Media will diversify its award-winning library further by licensing properties from other global content creators as well as creating its own content. On the digital front, VIZ Media has created partnerships with Apple, Hulu, Netflix, Google and more, leading the way to new paths for distribution of manga and anime.

“For 25 years, VIZ Media has been telling stories that resonate with audiences and fans all over North America,” said Hidemi Fukuhara, President and CEO of VIZ Media. “Even after two-and-a-half decades of explosive growth, we still see tremendous potential to adapt, grow and leverage our library of world-renowned and beloved characters. With a full slate of new anime and manga releases planned this year, VIZ Media has something for everyone.”

The VIZ Media library includes global blockbuster franchises like Naruto, InuYasha, Pokémon, Dragon Ball Z, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Bleach, Vampire Knight, and Death Note. VIZ Media’s manga titles are available at mass retailers everywhere, and through VIZ Media’s free VIZ Manga App for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch, the first manga-dedicated app in North America. VIZ Media anime titles can be seen on Disney XD, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, is available for Download-to-Own/Download-to-Rent via iTunes, PlayStation Network, Amazon Instant Video and Zune on Xbox LIVE, and for streaming on the company’s own VIZAnime.com, Hulu and Netflix, and is available for purchase on DVD at mass DVD retailers.

“Star Wars: The Complete Saga” on Blu-ray

"Star Wars: The Complete Saga" on Blu-ray

from Lucasfilm:

Bring home the adventure and share Star Wars with your whole family — when Star Wars: The Complete Saga comes to Blu-ray Disc from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment! To be released beginning on September 12 internationally and on September 16 in North America, the nine-disc collection brings the wonder of the entire Saga direct to your living room, where you can revisit all of your favorite Star Wars moments — in gorgeous high definition and with pristine, 6.1 DTS Surround Sound. Dive deeper into the universe with an unprecedented 40+ hours of special features, highlighted by never-before-seen content sourced from the Lucasfilm archives.

The comprehensive collection also features numerous deleted, extended and alternate scenes, new documentaries and a cross-section of the countless Star Wars spoofs that have appeared in pop culture over the past three decades. Marking the first time ever that the full Saga is available in one complete collection, Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray also features a coveted peek into the making of the Saga with vintage documentaries, audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes moments, interviews, prop and costume turnarounds, retrospectives and more.

Episodes I-III and IV-VI will also be available as distinct Blu-ray Trilogy collections.

Fans will get an exclusive first look at some of the collection’s extensive special features at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con International — which marks Lucasfilm’s 35th anniversary as a Comic-Con presence. In 1976, the fledgling film company was looking for innovative, grass-roots ways to promote its underdog release, a film no one expected to succeed — a space opera known (at the time) only as Star Wars. One of the first film companies to reach out directly to core audiences by way of fan conventions, Lucasfilm will return to the venue to showcase the full evolution of the epic story with a special first look at Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray.

Special Features:
Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray is presented in widescreen with 6.1 DTS Surround Sound. Special features include:

Disc One — Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, John Knoll, Dennis Muren and Scott Squires
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

Disc Two — Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll and Ben Snow
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

Disc Three — Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Rob Coleman, John Knoll and Roger Guyett
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

Disc Four — Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

Disc Five — Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

Disc Six — Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
o Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
o Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew

Disc Seven — New! Star Wars Archives: Episodes I-III
o Including: deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; a flythrough of the Lucasfilm Archives and more

Disc Eight — New! Star Wars Archives: Episodes IV-VI
o Including: deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; matte paintings and concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; and more

Disc Nine — The Star Wars Documentaries
o New! Star Warriors (2007, Color, Apx. 84 Minutes) — Some Star Wars fans want to collect action figures… these fans want to be action figures! A tribute to the 501st Legion, a global organization of Star Wars costume enthusiasts, this insightful documentary shows how the super-fan club promotes interest in the films through charity and volunteer work at fundraisers and high-profile special events around the world.
o New! A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later (2010, Color, Apx. 25 Minutes) — George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan and John Williams look back on the making of The Empire Strikes Back in this in-depth retrospective from Lucasfilm created to help commemorate the 30th anniversary of the movie. The masters discuss and reminisce about one of the most beloved films of all time.
o New! Star Wars Spoofs (2011, Color, Apx. 91 Minutes) — The farce is strong with this one! Enjoy a hilarious collection of Star Wars spoofs and parodies that have been created over the years, including outrageous clips from Family Guy, The Simpsons, How I Met Your Mother and more — and don’t miss “Weird Al” Yankovic’s one-of-a-kind music video tribute to The Phantom Menace!
The Making of Star Wars (1977, Color, Apx. 49 Minutes) — Learn the incredible behind-the-scenes story of how the original Star Wars movie was brought to the big screen in this fascinating documentary hosted by C-3PO and R2-D2. Includes interviews with George Lucas and appearances by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.
The Empire Strikes Back: SPFX (1980, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes) — Learn the secrets of making movies in a galaxy far, far away. Hosted by Mark Hamill, this revealing documentary offers behind-the-scenes glimpses into the amazing special effects that transformed George Lucas’ vision for Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back into reality!
Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi (1983, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes) — Go behind the scenes — and into the costumes — as production footage from Return of the Jedi is interspersed with vintage monster movie clips in this in-depth exploration of the painstaking techniques utilized by George Lucas to create the classic creatures and characters seen in the film. Hosted and narrated by Carrie Fisher and Billy Dee Williams.
Anatomy of a Dewback (1997, Color, Apx. 26 Minutes) — See how some of the special effects in Star Wars became even more special two decades later! George Lucas explains and demonstrates how his team transformed the original dewback creatures from immovable rubber puppets (in the original 1977 release) to seemingly living, breathing creatures for the Star Wars 1997 Special Edition update.
Star Wars Tech (2007, Color, Apx. 46 Minutes) — Exploring the technical aspects of Star Wars vehicles, weapons and gadgetry, Star Wars Tech consults leading scientists in the fields of physics, prosthetics, lasers, engineering and astronomy to examine the plausibility of Star Wars technology based on science as we know it today.

About Star Wars:
The May 25, 1977 theatrical debut of Star Wars — on a scant 32 screens across America — was destined to change the face of cinema forever. An instant classic and an unparalleled box office success, the rousing “space opera” was equal parts fairy tale, western, 1930s serial and special effects extravaganza, with roots in mythologies from cultures around the world. From the mind of visionary writer/director George Lucas, the epic space fantasy introduced the mystical Force into the cultural vocabulary, as well as iconic characters such as evil Darth Vader, idealistic Luke Skywalker, feisty Princess Leia, lovable scoundrel Han Solo and wise Obi-Wan Kenobi. Since its 1977 debut, Star Wars has continued to grow, its lush narrative expanding from modest beginnings into an epic, six-film Saga chronicling the fall and redemption of The Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker.

VIZ Manga App Presents Four New Manga Titles for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media has announced four new manga (graphic novel) series that will be offered for digital download within the VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. The latest update offers two acclaimed works from celebrated manga creator Natsume Ono — House of Five Leaves and not simple — that are available now. Two additional new series — Maou: Juvenile Remix and Hyde & Closer — will debut for digital download on May 9th and May 16th respectively. Updates for the first half of May to 17 other popular manga series have also been announced.

The VIZ Manga App is now available for free for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch through the iTunes Store, and all manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada from within the application for only $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) per volume.

In Natsume Ono’s House of Five Leaves (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens), a wandering samurai, Akitsu Masanosuke, is a skilled and loyal swordsman, but his naïve and diffident nature has time and again caused him to be let go by the lords who have employed him. Hungry and desperate, he becomes a bodyguard for Yaichi, the charismatic leader of a gang called “Five Leaves.” Although disturbed by the gang’s sinister activities, Masa begins to suspect that Yaichi’s motivations are not what they seem. And despite his misgivings, the deeper he’s drawn into the world of the Five Leaves, the more he finds himself fascinated by these devious, mysterious outlaws.

Natusume Ono’s not simple (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) tells the story of Ian, a young man with a fractured family history, who travels from Australia to England to America in the hope of realizing his dreams and reuniting with his beloved sister. His story unfolds backwards through the framing narrative of Jim, a reporter driven to capture Ian’s experiences in a novel titled not simple.

Don’t miss Natsume Ono’s rare U.S. personal appearance at Kinokuniya Books in New York City on Tuesday, May 10th starting at 7:00pm.

Manga creator Megumi Osuga’s Maou: Juvenile Remix (rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens) features a boy with special powers who may be the key to stopping the spread of crime, big money and urban sprawl in a story of confrontation and determination. Ando is a high school student who has the power to make others say out loud what he’s thinking. Inukai is the mysterious leader of a vigilante group called Grasshopper, which is at odds with the city’s redevelopment plan. In this chaotic city, these two will come together to weave a story of courage.

The fantasy driven action of creator Haro Aso’s Hyde & Closer introduces readers to Shunpei Closer, your average… well, slightly below average kid in junior high who finds himself in the middle of a great battle of dark sorcery. With cursed dolls coming after him one after another, Shunpei Closer’s life is in danger! If that weren’t enough, Hyde, the teddy bear given to him by his grandfather, suddenly comes alive to rescue him. With Hyde’s help, can Shunpei save himself and live to see another day?

Additional new VIZ Media manga volumes available the weeks of May 2nd, May 9th and May 16th include:

May 2nd:
Absolute Boyfriend Vol. 3
Captive Hearts Vol. 5
Death Note Vol. 12
Dragon Ball Z Vol. 7
Kekkaishi Vol. 3
Naruto Vol. 24
One Piece Vol. 24
Rosario + Vampire Vol. 5
Rurouni Kenshin Vol. 12

May 9th:
Black Bird Vol. 3
Bleach Vol. 14
Claymore Vol. 9
D.Gray-man Vol. 10
Dragon Ball Z Vol. 8
Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden Vol. 2
Naruto Vol. 25
One Piece Vol. 25
Ouran High School Host Club Vol. 6

May 16th:
Absolute Boyfriend Vol. 4
Dragon Ball Z Vol. 9
Kekkaishi Vol. 4
Naruto Vol. 26
Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan Vol. 2
One Piece Vol. 26
Otomen Vol. 6
Rosario + Vampire Vol. 6
Rurouni Kenshin Vol. 13

The VIZ Manga App is the leading application to read Japanese manga on the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch, with an extensive downloadable library of the most popular manga series in the world. The app now offers almost 200 volumes available for download. Readers are encouraged to check the app regularly, as new additions to the store and free Chapter 1 previews of other forthcoming manga series are featured.

For more information on the VIZ Manga App, please visit VIZ.com/apps/.