From Emmy winning Executive Producer Robert Halmi, Sr. comes this original prequel to author J.M. Barrie’s classic Peter Pan, now shooting in Italy and Ireland with a cast including Rhys Ifans (Pirate Radio, Notting Hill) as James Hook, Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies) as Captain Elizabeth Bonny, Oscar nominee Bob Hoskins as Smee (who previously played the character in Steven Spielberg’s feature Hook), Raoul Trujillo (Tin Man) and Charlie Rowe (Pirate Radio) as Peter Pan. Neverland is written and directed by Nick Willing (Alice, Tin Man).
Neverland introduces us to a young lad named Peter and his streetwise gang, who are mysteriously transported from turn-of-the-century London into an enchanting parallel world where time stands still and an adventure awaits like nothing you’ve ever seen before. In Neverland, no one ever ages and lost souls have been plucked out of time. The lost boys are soon caught in a war with the man who will become Captain Hook and change the fate of this mystical land forever.
Neverland will premiere in the UK on SKY MOVIES HD and in the US on Syfy (December 4, 2011).
I Am Maru by mugumogu
Hardcover (96 pages)
Recommended Reading Level: All Ages.
Meet Maru! This round, adorable Scottish Fold cat may be an internet sensation, but he knows how to keep his celebrity status from going to his fluffy head… mostly. Maru and his owner, mugumogu, give readers a peek into the low-key life of the world’s most famous cat. See all his favorite hiding places — trash cans, cupboards, cereal boxes… if it’s cozy, he’s there — meet his treasured toys, and learn what it means to wield just the right amount of cat-titude.
Anyone who spends time online and loves cat memes is doubtless already familiar with Maru, the cat with a passion for boxes of all sizes and shapes, through his popular YouTube Channel. If, however, you somehow have missed Maru’s cardboard escapades, then the trailer for his first book, I Am Maru, gives you an overview of what Maru’s so celebrated for:
I Am Maru was first published in 2009 (as Maru Desu) by Maru’s owner, who remains anonymous behind the username “mugumogu”, in her and Maru’s native Japan. Now English-speaking fans have access to the book in this new, translated version that gives readers the full experience of the original by retaining the Japanese text descriptions beneath the English translations. For those learning the Japanese language, I Am Maru makes a great primer, especially with such a fun topic as motivation!
The dust cover of the book reverses to reveal a glossy, full-colour poster of Maru, featuring one large picture in the center and two smaller images lining the top and bottom. The poster’s long, skinny format is ideal for hanging on the inside of a locker or on the panel of a closet door. Since the dust cover is intended to be removed, the cover of the book itself has been printed with the title and sepia-toned images of Maru so that it will still look attractive when displayed on your bookshelf. Inside the book, mugumogu’s full-colour photographs are printed on thick, semi-gloss white paper, of the kind found in quality art books, with English text printed in black and the Japanese text in a more muted brown ink. The photo reproduction is sharp and clean, without any of the muddy look that often characterizes books that include content from the Internet. A portion of the photos aren’t brand new, having previously been displayed as still images in Maru’s YouTube videos, but that doesn’t detract from enjoyment of the book. Just think of I Am Maru as an offline scrapbook, or family album, with bonus text available only in this format.
I Am Maru is divided up into sections, with photos grouped into categories like “As long as there is a box…” and “Funny face collections”. “Snapshots” offers a peek into Maru’s everyday life — sleeping, lounging, posing, playing, and eating, like any normal cat. Between groups of photos are selected blog entries, mostly written from Maru’s point of view, but augmented by some behind-the-scenes entries penned by mugumogu. The book opens with an in-depth biography of Maru, including a “résumé”, which is written like the character profiles typically found in manga. There’s even a complete floorplan of Maru’s current home, with notes on his favourite spots and where he typically does the things that fill his daily schedule. At the back of the book is an episode guide that highlights Maru’s most popular videos.
Not enough Maru for you in I Am Maru? Then check out mugumogu’s Maru blog (written in Japanese and English), Maru’s posts on Twitter, and, of course, mugumogu’s frequently updated YouTube Channel dedicated to Maru’s entertaining antics.
After years of legal battles over the film rights to The Last Unicorn, a settlement has finally been reached that opens tons of new and exciting doors for author Peter S. Beagle, such as giving the film a face-lift for its 30th birthday. You can check out the announcements for yourself over at Conlan Press, but there is one bit of info though that was just too good not to share with everyone!
Starting early next year and running through the middle of 2013, there will be more than 80 special digital theater screenings of The Last Unicorn taking place in America, Canada, Great Britain, and Germany. Peter will be at every one of these events to do audience Q&A, meet people, and sign stuff.
The screening tour will launch with a spectacular event at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood, then go on from there.
If you live within 100 miles of a major city, odds are pretty good there will be a screening somewhere near you. We’re working on booking all the locations now, and will post dates on a special tour website as they are finalized. That site should be up for everyone to see by the end of the year.
Of course, there’s another reason for this tour. Peter won’t just be showing the current version of The Last Unicorn and answering questions about it. He’s also going to be keeping everyone informed on the progress of a VERY SPECIAL project, and showing off bits and pieces of it as they are completed…
VIZ Media, the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, announces the countdown to the launch of Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha (Weekly SJ Alpha), a weekly serial anthology of some of the most popular manga series in the world: Bakuman, Bleach, Naruto, Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, One Piece, and Toriko. The first issue of Weekly SJ Alpha goes on sale January 30, 2012, and will be available through VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga apps for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.
Each new digital issue of Weekly SJ Alpha brings manga fans in North America the latest chapters of their favorite series only two weeks after it debuts in Japan’s massively popular Weekly Shonen Jump Magazine. Currently,
Japanese releases are often several months to years ahead of North American print titles; Weekly SJ Alpha eliminates the delay in unprecedented fashion.
“Simultaneously publishing an official translation of the most popular comics magazine in the world has been a dream since manga publishing began in North America in the 1980s,” said Alvin Lu, Senior Vice President & General Manager. “This is how manga is meant to be read in English – weekly, current, authorized and on the go. Now with Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha, it’s about to happen for real.”
Weekly SJ Alpha will be made available through an annual membership that provides access to 48 weekly issues for 52 weeks for just $25.99. Single issues of Weekly SJ Alpha can be read for a four-week rental from the time the reader purchases it for only $0.99. Each issue, once received on one device, can be read on all other enabled devices through the easy-to-use integrated VIZ Manga app and website.
To prepare fans for the debut of Weekly SJ Alpha, VIZ Media is also offering the Shonen Jump Digital Warp, a limited collection of digital graphic novel speed-ups that will bring North American readers up-to-date with Japanese releases. In some cases, the digital speed-ups will jump ahead of the print releases in North America. The Shonen Jump Digital Warp will begin with Naruto Volume 53 (available now) and Bleach Volume 49 (coming soon).
As more fans migrate to the digital Weekly SJ Alpha edition, VIZ Media plans to phase out the print edition of Shonen Jump Magazine. The popular, one-of-a-kind monthly magazine led the rapid growth of the manga market for much of the last decade and was VIZ Media’s flagship publication since it launched in 2003. The farewell April 2012 issue hits newsstands March 2012.
For more information on Weekly SJ Alpha and exclusive subscriber offers, please visit ShonenJump.viz.com or VIZManga.com.
In this edition of The Clairvoyant: ABSOLUTELY FREE SHIPPING – on every order over $40… so you can be ready for Halloween! ALSO… the Magic Pumpkin (what is that you ask… read on to find out)!
One incredible FREE SHIPPING offer is going on NOW at alivans.com … no coupon is necessary and the special is good on every order over $40. Just visit alivans.com right now and we pay your entire shipping cost (now through 10/18/11).
The Magic Pumpkin is our brand new Halloween assortment that includes a VERY, VERY COOL CONTEST as well… click here to check out this great Halloween value and get the details on how to win a FREE TIE at the same time!
Magically,
Finneas Alivan
P.S. Our patches and pins make great additions to Halloween costumes. Click here to see the whole assortment.
It’s about that time when our friendly local procrastinators start wondering if they should attempt a costume this year or carry a towel and shamble around in a bathrobe. (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was published today in 1979, you know.) Whether your plans are big or small for this Halloween, we’ve collected some pretty awesome swag for you. Skulls, zombies, and Jack Skellington, oh my!
So don’t panic; put on your robe and wizard hat and join us.
Plush Zombie Hat
Ever have a feeling that your brain is empty when you’re sitting at your desk, staring at your monitor? Maybe it’s because there’s a zombie chewing on your head. The Plush Zombie Hat is a soft and warm beanie that will warm your noggin while looking quite stylish. If you consider having one of the walking dead munching on your head to be stylish, that is. ThinkGeek is not responsible if wearing the Plush Zombie Hat leads to loss of neural pathways.
Take $10 Off – We found a ghost!
The robot order-filler monkeys have been hearing mysterious noises in the dark corners of the warehouse. Upon further investigation, they found a monkey ghost busy flinging poo into outgoing shipments. (Sorry, guys!) He even managed to get into our computers and set up his own discount code. Use code GHOSTPOO for $5 off orders of $25 or more or $10 off orders of $50 or more, good until the ghost poo disappears at 11:59pm ET on 10/14/2011.
Buy 1 Get 1 Free Eviltron – Free. Evil. Freevil.
Want to spice up your Halloween party? What if there was the ghost of an evil little girl giggling in your bathroom? A mysterious scratching sound coming from behind the beer fridge? The ThinkGeek Eviltron has 5 evil sound effects to freak out your guests. Turn it on, hide it, and watch the freakouts commence. Add 1 Eviltron to your cart and watch the second magically appear — for free! Get spooky soon, though; this offer is for a limited time only.
Jim Hanley’s Universe is offering comic fans a warm up for the New York Comic Con festivities with a huge signing event featuring a variety of creators from a selection of innovative titles. On October 12th, the day before NYCC, Mark Texeira (Red Spike, Wolverine), Ben McCool (Pigs, Choker), Nathan Edmondson (Who is Jake Ellis?), Chris Houghton (Reed Gunther), Shane Houghton (Reed Gunther), Edwin Huang (Skullkickers), Richard Starkings (Elephantmen), Charles Soule (Twenty Seven), Jeff Cahn (Red Spike), Owen Wiseman (Samurai’s Blood), David Baxter (Marksmen), Chris Giarrusso (G-Man) and more will be on hand to sign copies of their latest comics books.
The first 50 people to buy a comic from any of the attending creators will receive a FREE copy of the September 2011 edition of HEAVY METAL magazine. We’ll have drinks and snacks available on hand and plan to party down with our diverse lineup of personalities.
The Jim Hanley’s Universe Creator MEGA Event will take place in New York City at Jim Hanley’s Universe on October 12th, 2011 starting at 6:30 P.M. at 4 West 33rd St., across from the Empire State Building. For more information, please call (212) 268-7088.
About Jim Hanley’s Universe
Since 1985, Jim Hanley’s Universe has been America’s best and most progressive comic book store. At Jim Hanley’s Universe, we work extra hard to stock the full range of comic titles and related merchandise that is available today.
We carry comics from Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse, IDW, Dynamite, Avatar, BOOM, Oni, Fantagraphics, Drawn & Quarterly, Pantheon, 2000AD, Picturebox, Viz, Del Rey, Tokyopop, and more! We carry kids comics, international comics, literary comics, mature-readers titles, Manga, graphic novels, small press indies, zines and mini-comics, and more! We have an extensive back issue collection, and we also carry statues, collectibles, action figures, apparel, DVDs, trading cards, books, comics and gaming supplies and more!
Some of you have reported receiving the BlizzCon contest newsletter after it ended. We want to make it up to everyone with a different contest we conjured up. We’re giving you a chance to walk away with something pretty kickass: two lucky winners will receive a brand-spanking new Kindle Fire. Not just that, we’re hooking you up with a $100 Amazon Gift Card so you can load it up with your favorite movies, music, and apps on Day 1.
So, we’re bringing you a shiny new J!NX Quest: Win a Kindle Fire. This is maybe the easiest Quest we’ve ever done, as all you have to do is tell us what your favorite book is and why.
There is, of course, some legal involved, so be sure to check out the contest page for all details.
VIZ Media opens the Fall season with a bevy of new manga (graphic novels) titles that will be available on VIZManga.com and for digital download on the VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
October first half of the month updates are highlighted by new additions to 16 top VIZ Media manga series. The update includes the continuation of a manga “speed up” for Bleach and One Piece that will bring both series up to date with their North American print counterparts by December. Two other notable releases — Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan Vol. 5 and Hyde & Closer Vol. 6 — are also scheduled to launch digitally a day ahead of their print counterparts.
Additional new VIZ Media manga volumes launching include:
October 3rd:
Bleach Vol. 26 Dengeki Daisy Vol. 5 Kekkaishi Vol. 14 Neon Genesis Evangelion Ch. 9 Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan Vol. 5 — Debuts A Day Ahead Of Print! Oishinbo Vol. 3 One Piece Vol. 46 Ouran High School Host Club Vol. 11 Rurouni Kenshin Vol. 23
October 10th:
Bakuman Vol. 7 Bleach Vol. 27 Blue Exorcist Vol. 4 Fushigi Yûgi Genbu Kaiden Vol. 7 Grand Guignol Orchestra Vol. 4 Hyde & Closer Vol. 6 — Debuts A Day Ahead Of Print! Neon Genesis Evangelion Ch. 10 One Piece Vol. 47 Rosario + Vampire II Vol. 6 Saturn Apartments Vol. 3
VIZ Media’s digital manga platforms allow for universal access to read manga from an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and now, VIZManga.com for desktop/laptop computers and Android-powered devices with built-in web browsers. With one account, registered users may access their purchases across even more devices than ever.
The free VIZ Manga App continues to be the top app for reading manga on iOS devices and features a rapidly growing library of the most popular manga series in the world, currently offering over 40 series and 400+ volumes, with new additions and free Chapter 1 previews added weekly.
VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, is proud to announce the DVD and Blu-ray release of the latest Naruto feature film on October 25th. Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds will be the first Blu-ray release from the international anime franchise to hit North American shores, and is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens and priced at $24.98 (Blu-ray) and $19.98 (DVD) in both the U.S. and Canada.
Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds is packed with dynamic action and visually stunning fight scenes, giving devoted fans and newcomers alike a chance to experience Naruto Shippuden like never before! In the movie, a group of mysterious flying ninja have arrived from overseas to launch a sudden attack against the Hidden Leaf Village, leaving behind a wake of destruction. The group is revealed to be the “Sky Ninja” from the Land of Sky, a nation thought to have been destroyed by the Hidden Leaf Village long ago. To save their village, Naruto and his friends set out to stop this new threat. During the course of the mission, Naruto crosses paths with Sasuke, his friend who has parted ways from the Leaf Village.
“This is the second feature film in the Naruto Shippuden story arc and fans won’t want to miss even a second of the high flying ninja action in this latest anime adventure!” says Brian Ige, Vice President, Animation. “October will be a month full of Naruto fun as VIZ Media plans a special U.S. theatrical premiere of Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds during New York Comic Con and also celebrates the birthday of the world’s most popular ninja the same month. Look for this latest release coming soon to retailers nationwide!”
In the Naruto manga and animated series, Naruto Uzumaki wants to be the best ninja in the land. He’s done well so far, but Naruto knows he must train harder than ever and leaves his village for intense exercises that will push him to his limits. Naruto Shippuden begins two and a half years later, when Naruto returns to find that everyone has been promoted up the ninja ranks — except him. Sakura’s a medic ninja, Gaara’s advanced to Kazekage, and Kakashi… well he remains the same. But pride isn’t necessarily becoming of a ninja, especially when Naruto realizes that Sasuke never returned from his search for Orochimaru. Plus, the mysterious Akatsuki organization is still an ever-present danger. As Naruto finds out more about the Akatsuki’s goals, he realizes that nothing in his universe is as it seems. Naruto is finding that he’s older, but will he also prove wiser and stronger?
More information on Naruto is available at Naruto.com.
VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced the debut of the riveting action manga (graphic novel) series Psyren on October 4th. The new series, by Toshiaki Iwashiro, will be published under the company’s Shonen Jump imprint, is rated ‘T’ for Teens, and will carry an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. Psyren is also currently featured in VIZ Media’s monthly Shonen Jump magazine.
“Save me!” Those were Sakurako Amamiya’s last words to her friend Ageha Yoshina before she mysteriously went missing. Now Ageha’s on a quest to find her. He’s convinced that the mythical Psyren Secret Society has something to do with the recent rash of disappearances. And now he seems to be caught up as a player in their very deadly game…
“Ageha Yoshina embarks on a dangerous adventure in this action-packed new series where he attempts to alter the future and save the world,” says Joel Enos, Editor. “Readers will be transported to Psyren, a stark wasteland inhabited by insect-like monsters, where Yoshina and his friends must complete missions assigned by the mysterious Nemesis Q if they ever hope to return home. Psyren is a bestseller in Japan, where it also spawned a pair of popular novels. Don’t miss the new manga release coming in October!”
Manga creator Toshiaki Iwashiro was born in 1977, in Tokyo, and his debut manga series was the popular Mieru Hito (Divine Eye), which ran from 2005 to 2007 in Japan in Weekly Shonen Jump, where Psyren was also currently serialized.
For more information on Psyren, or other titles from VIZ Media, please visit ShonenJump.com.
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 The Cage of Zeus and the Haikasoru imprint, please visit the dedicated website at haikasoru.com.
