VIZ Media Launches a Special Summertime “Heroes of Anime” Sweepstakes Contest

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, announced the kick-off of a special Heroes of Anime summer sweepstakes. The contest, which also celebrates VIZ Media’s 25th Anniversary, runs throughout the summer. Entry details and more information are available at: viz.com/25years.

The Heroes of Anime Grand Prize will award one lucky winner with 2 passes to attend the exclusive U.S theatrical premiere of the latest Naruto feature film — Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds — set to take place in New York City around New York Comic-Con. The winner will also receive airfare and hotel accommodations for themselves and a guest as part of the Grand Prize package.

Follow-up prizes will include an Apple iPad, awarded to one lucky contestant, as well as several prize packages that will go to other winners and will include fun tchotchkes and collectibles from a variety of top VIZ Media anime properties.

In Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds, 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.

“Fans won’t want to miss their chance to win a special trip to New York City to attend the U.S. theatrical premiere of the newest Naruto Shippuden feature film,” says Candice Uyloan, Director, Marketing. “It will be a truly memorable event that will feature some fun interactive activities, celebrity appearances, and plenty of photo opportunities. Come help us celebrate our 25th Anniversary and submit your entry for the Heroes of Anime sweepstakes today!”

More information on Naruto is available at Naruto.com.

DC Comics’ Green Lantern X MIMOBOT

from Mimoco:

NEW! DC Comics Green Lantern is finally here! See the latest addition to the DC Comics collection. Learn More!

Video Spotlight: Check out the trailer of the upcoming Green Lantern movie opening this Friday! Watch Now!

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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)

Receive 20% Off “Naruto” Digital Manga with New VIZ Manga App Promotion

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media has just launched a special digital promotion for its Naruto manga (graphic novel) series. Digital versions of Volumes 1-27 of the classic action adventure story are available via the VIZ Manga App for the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch for only $3.99 — 20% off the normal MSRP. The promotion kicks off today for a limited time only and ends Friday, June 17th at midnight PST.

Created by Masashi Kishimoto in 1999, Naruto (rated ‘T’ for Teens) quickly became Japan’s most popular ninja manga targeting tweens and teens and has sold more than 85 million copies to-date. Naruto is also one of the most popular anime/manga properties in North America. The Naruto manga and animated series depict the adventures of a young boy named Uzumaki Naruto who trains to become a ninja. Naruto, cursed with the spirit of the nine-tailed fox demon sealed within his body, is forced to live a bullied life discriminated against by his fellow villagers. But Naruto is resilient and undaunted and his determination often inspires those around him. Through the adventures, the young ninja learns the importance of friendship, teamwork, loyalty, hard work, creativity, ingenuity and right vs. wrong. More information on Naruto is available at Naruto.com.

The VIZ Manga App is the leading application to read Japanese manga on the iPhone iPod Touch, and iPad. The app is free to download through the iTunes store, and volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada for only $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) each.

An extensive library of over 250 volumes is available now, including popular series such as Bleach, Blue Exorcist, Death Note, Naruto, One Piece and many more. 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/.

VIZ Media’s Anime Fantasy Adventure Series “MÄR” Launches on Netflix

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media has announced the availability of the anime series, MÄR, on Netflix, Inc., the world’s leading Internet subscription service for enjoying movies and TV shows. 52-episodes of the animated fantasy adventure story will be available to stream to subscribers in the U.S. beginning May 31st.

MÄR (rated TV-PG, subtitled) is based on the hit 15-volume manga series created by Nobuyuki Anzai (Flame of Recca), published in North America by VIZ Media. The series joins several other popular VIZ Media anime titles such as Bleach, Death Note, Naruto, and InuYasha, which can now be instantly streamed from Netflix.

An ordinary middle-school boy with an overactive imagination, Ginta Toramizu dreams about fairy tales and make-believe lands. One day at school, a gate appears and he enters the World of MÄR, the world of his dreams. Within the World of MÄR exist ÄRM: accessories with unique powers. Soon, Ginta stumbles upon Babbo, an ÄRM that can speak, and learns that he has been summoned to this mythical world to stop the Chess Pieces, a group of rogue soldiers, from destroying the World of MÄR. Now part of Team MÄR, Ginta and Babbo fight in War Games against the Chess Pieces to save the MÄR World. But will Ginta’s mission be compromised by his ally’s secrets?

To learn more about MÄR anime and manga series, please visit VIZAnime.com or ShonenSunday.com (free Chapter 1 manga preview available).

Boom! Studios Offering Up Stan Lee Comics App

from The Associated Press:

Stan Lee, whose career writing comic books has run from the golden age to contemporary times, is going digital.

Boom! Studios said Monday that the man who helped create modern marvels like the Fantastic Four and X-Men will see his current crop of comic series available online and on mobile devices through his own app by way of the Los Angeles-based comic and graphic novel publisher.

Dubbed the “Stan Lee BOOM! Comics App,” the program is being offered through Apple’s iTunes app store. Lee’s superhero comic series Soldier Zero, The Traveler and Starborn are also being made available through it and through Boom!’s own app.

The comics come with a free preview of the first issues but cost $1.99 for subsequent issues. The iVerse Media-developed app will also be linked to Lee’s Twitter musings.

The titles will also be available for download on desktops, including Windows and Mac, through ComiXology, Graphic.ly, iVerse and MyDigitalComics.

The three new series, penned by Lee, made their debut last year in association with his company, Pow! Entertainment.

Lee said that given the proliferation of comic books into the digital sphere, it made sense to bring his own titles to market that way, too.

“What’s great about releasing this app is that it enables us to bring the joy and wonder of comics to the mobile fan and a whole new generation of readers,” Lee said. “Comics are a medium that transcends age, appealing not only to today’s young readers, but older ones as well. And by giving them an unprecedented level of access, we’re ensuring that the fantastic stories, characters and worlds found only in comics will endure for many years to come.”

Digital comics have gained popularity and acceptance in recent months with most, if not all, major publishers — DC, Marvel, IDW, Dark Horse, Zenescope Entertainment, among others — embracing the platform. It lets comic readers carry their favorite titles on their phone or access them on their laptop without having to cart around numerous issues.

Boom!, whose roster of titles include Irredeemable, Dracula: The Company of Monsters and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, has put its lineup in its own app, too.

“With the easy accessibility of digital comics, we’re excited to be able to turn everyone with a computer, iOS or an Android device into a lifelong comics fan,” said Chip Mosher, marketing director of BOOM! Studios. “Anyone who’s ever been curious to try comics now has the power to read them instantly with just a click of a button.”

boom-studios.net
www.powentertainment.com

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.

Capture Digital “Dragon Ball” Manga for 20% Off with New VIZ Manga App Promotion

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media announces a special invitation to manga fans and followers of the popular Dragon Ball series with news of a brand new VIZ Manga App promotion that offers digital versions of the classic action adventure story for the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch for only $3.99 — 20% off the normal MSRP. The promotion starts today for a limited time only and ends on Monday, May 16th at midnight PST.

Creator Akira Toriyama’s classic manga series, Dragon Ball (rated ‘T’ for Teens), introduces a young monkey-tailed boy named Goku (a wry update of the classic Chinese “Monkey King” legend), whose quiet life changes when he meets a girl named Bulma who is on a quest to collect seven “Dragon Balls.” If she gathers them all, an incredibly powerful dragon will appear and grant her one wish. She’s on a mission to find the seven orbs, but first she must convince young Goku to join her on her quest. With a monkey tail, super-human strength, and a magic staff for a weapon, Goku’s ready to set out on the adventure of a lifetime…

Renowned worldwide for his playful, innovative storytelling and humorous, distinctive art style, Akira Toriyama burst onto the manga scene in 1980 with the wildly popular Dr. Slump. His hit series Dragon Ball (published in the U.S. as Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z) ran from 1984 to 1995 in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, and is published in North America by VIZ Media. Toriyama is also known for his design work on video games such as Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, Tobal No. 1, and most recently, Blue Dragon. His recent manga works include Cowa! (also published by VIZ Media), Kajika, Sand Land, Neko Majin, and a children’s book, Toccio the Angel.

The VIZ Manga App is the leading application to read Japanese manga on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. The app is free to download through the iTunes store, and volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada for only $4.99 (U.S. / CAN) each. An extensive library of almost 200 volumes is available now, including popular series such as Bleach, Blue Exorcist, Death Note, Naruto, One Piece and many more. 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/.

“The Cape: The Complete Series” Comes to DVD July 5th

The Cape: The Complete Series

The live-action comic book series The Cape met a quick death at the hands of NBC, being pulled off the air without even airing the final episode. While the series was a tiny bit hokey, in the way you expect a comic book to be, it showed a lot of promise with a well-developed backstory, interesting plot twists and characters that you can empathize with. Friends of mine who hate sci-fi, fantasy or anything else slightly geeky became quick fans of the show and were frustrated along with the rest of us by its sudden disappearance and by the cliffhanger ending. Now, we’ll all finally have a chance to see the entire series on DVD, including the unaired episode. While we may never get all of our questions answered, hopefully the DVD will include some goodies to shed a bit of light on the mystery.

He’s righteous. He’s heroic. He’s The Cape. Vince Faraday (David Lyons, TV’s ER) is an honest cop on a corrupt police force. But when he’s framed for murder and presumed dead he finds that he must go into hiding leaving behind his wife Dana (Jennifer Ferrin, TV’s Life on Mars) and son Trip (Ryan Wynott, TV’s Flash Forward). Determined to battle the criminals who now control his hometown Vince takes the law into his own hands and becomes The Cape — his son’s favorite comic book superhero. Featuring an incredible supporting cast including James Frain (TV’s The Tudors), Keith David (Death at a Funeral), Summer Glau (TV’s Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Dorian Missick (The Manchurian Candidate), Martin Klebba (Pirates of the Caribbean), and Vinnie Jones (Snatch).

Pre-order your copy of The Cape: The Complete Series at Amazon, or look for it in your favorite video store on July 5th.

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: