Announcements – Page 110

VIZ Media Announces New DVD Releases for March 2010

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced their list of DVD titles scheduled for release in March 2010. This includes the final box set release of Honey and Clover, the next installments of the Pokémon Elements series, as well as the latest episodic releases of the popular Bleach and Naruto: Shippuden series. Also releasing is the live action feature film — Hisashi Tenmyouya: Samurai Nouveau from VIZ Pictures. VIZ Media DVD titles are distributed (in English) in the U.S and Mexico by Warner Home Video and in Canada by Allegro.

Honey and Clover Box Set 3
Rated “T+” for Older Teens
MSRP: $59.90 US / $85.99 CAN
Available March 16

Yuta returns from his journey of self-discovery only to find everyone around him deep in their own struggles to shape their futures. Ayumi finds herself increasingly included in projects involving Takumi and Rika, and the strain is breaking her. Far away in America, Shinobu and his brother’s endless quest for money finally helps them achieve their ultimate goal, while back home Hagumi must face the devastating consequences of an accident that could change her life forever. Can the pursuit of happiness and the pursuit of art ever be one and the same?

Contains Season 2, Episodes 1-12. For more information on Honey and Clover, please visit honeyandclover.viz.com.

Shonen Jump releases include:

Bleach Volume 26
Rated “T” for Teens
MSRP: $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN
Available March 23

The Bount leader Jin Kariya has obtained the Jokai Crest and is absorbing its immense power. While Ichigo and the others rest and prepare for their next battle, the Soul Reapers are warned by Rantao that there are many Crests within the Seireitei, and all may explode if Kariya’s Crest is released. Head Captain Yamamoto mobilizes all Soul Reapers to find and seal the remaining Crests. Then, atop Sokyoku Hill, Ichigo faces Kariya in their final clash!

Contains episodes 105-109. For more information on Bleach, please visit bleach.viz.com.

Naruto: Shippuden Volume 7
Rated “T+” for Older Teens
MSRP: $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN
Available March 9

In their battle with Sasori, Granny Chiyo and Sakura must make life-or-death choices to bring the puppet master down. Outside the Akatsuki hideout, Team Guy have fought the copies of themselves to the point of exhaustion, but Rock Lee’s plan sets fire to their fighting spirits. Meanwhile, Naruto and Kakashi have caught up to Deidara, and Kakashi prepares to unleash his newest jutsu — the Mangekyo Sharingan!

Contains episodes 27-30. For more information on Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden, please visit naruto.com.

Pokémon releases include:

Pokémon Elements, Volume 9: Ghost
Rated “A” for All Ages
MSRP: $9.98 US / $14.99 CAN
Available March 23

Pokémon Elements, Volume 10: Rock
Rated “A” for All Ages
MSRP: $9.98 US / $14.99 CAN
Available March 23

Following the Pokémon All Star series set, the Pokémon Elements collection consists of the most important episodes commemorating the different types of Pokémon characters. Each disc showcases a Pokémon type with three all-time favorite episodes.

From VIZ Pictures (Live Action Feature Films):

Hisashi Tenmyouya: Samurai Nouveau, NEW PEOPLE Artist Series Volume 4
MSRP: $24.92 US / $35.99 CAN
Available March 9

A graphic designer turned contemporary artist, Hisashi Tenmyouya brings his own style of NEO-Traditional Japanese Painting to the art world. Tenmyouya reveals his soul through melding of modern urban subjects with traditional methods of painting.

For more information on VIZ Pictures, please visit viz-pictures.com.

VIZ Media Blends Man & Machine in New “Biomega” Manga Debut

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will debut the cyberpunk action manga series Biomega on February 2nd. The new series, rated “M” for Mature Audiences, will be published under the VIZ Signature imprint and will carry a MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $16.99 CAN.

Zoichi Kanoe plunges into the depths of 9JO, a sprawling island city in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, in search of Eon Green, a girl with the power to transmute the N5S virus. The deadly contagion is spreading across the world, turning humans into disfigured, zombie-like “drones.” But he’s not the only one looking for her. Agents of the Public Health Service’s Compulsory Execution Unit are also in hot pursuit, with sinister designs of their own. Zoichi and his trans-human allies have no time to waste; the countdown to the apocalypse has begun!

“Tsutomu Nihei created Biomega with a jaw-dropping, intensely powerful art style that reflects his background in modern architecture,” says Leyla Aker, Editorial Manager, VIZ Media. “The main characters — the “enhanced” human Zoichi and Fuyu, the AI in his rocket of a motorcycle — navigate this apocalyptic landscape in a story that offers pure speed, action, and suspense. Both manga and American comics fans won’t want to miss this exciting debut!”

Tsutomu Nihei debuted with the acclaimed manga short story Blame!, which was nominated for North America’s Harvey Award and won the Shiki Award in Japan. The artist also created NOiSE, a manga prequel to Blame!. His visually striking Wolverine tie-in Snikt! was published by Marvel Comics along with a commission by Bungie Studios for the Halo graphic novel.

For more information on this title, or others from VIZ Media, please visit viz.com.

Factory Entertainment Presents: Universal Monsters

from Factory Entertainment:

Universal Monsters

Factory Entertainment is pleased to announce that it has entered into a multi-year license agreement with Universal Studios to produce a range of collectibles associated with classic Universal horror films, including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, The Mummy and The Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Product to be released will include scaled and full-sized replicas of props and scenes from the films, collectible jewelry and costume accessories, collectible die cast vehicles, trading cards, lithographs and more. Products will begin launching in early 2010.

For all the latest product info as well as updates and preproduction previews, click here.

VIZ Media Announces the Release of “Dinosaur King”

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, has announced the release of Volume 1 and 2 of the new VIZ Kids series Dinosaur King. This manga is rated “A” for All Ages and will carry a MSRP of $7.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN.

Dinosaur King by creator Yohei Sakai tells the story of Max who is obsessed with dinosaurs. He knows his Tapejara from his Pteranodon and can find fossils better than a trained paleontologist. When he discovers a stone tablet that transports him to the age of dinosaurs, it’s a dream come true — until it becomes a nightmare. From King, his new dinosaur friend, Max learns that an evil genius named Dr. Z has enslaved the dinosaurs so he can use their hidden powers to take over the world! Now Max has to defeat Dr. Z and his Alpha Gang to save the ancient beasts and life as we know it. Volume 1 will release February 2, 2010.

In Volume 2, which will release in April of this year, King’s mother is trapped somewhere in Alpha Mountain, and it’s up to Max to rescue her. But Dr. Z has set perilous traps for him at every turn! He and King are more in sync than ever with their attacks, but will it be enough to defeat the Alpha Gang and conquer Alpha Mountain? Both volume one and volume two contain bonus trading cards inside, limited quantities available. Volume 2 will be releasing in April 6, 2010.

The titles under the VIZ Kids imprint offer engaging manga and manga-related content intended specifically for a younger audience. All VIZ Kids products share the same core values of strong storytelling, eye-popping graphics, empowering themes, and lots of good humor in an effort to delight a whole new generation of readers.

For more information on this title or other VIZ Kids titles, please visit vizkids.com.

Dark Horse and EA Announce the New Smash Hit Comic, “Mass Effect: Redemption”

from Dark Horse Comics:

Tomorrow, the year’s most anticipated video game Mass Effect 2 is released nationwide. In celebration, Dark Horse and Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced that the comic will be released to the iPhone mobile comics platform.

Mass Effect: Redemption tells the exciting back-story that led up to the events of Mass Effect 2, the eagerly anticipated video game developed by the award-winning creative team at BioWare. The game’s lead writer Mac Walters takes up the pen to give fans exclusive insight into the events that unfolded between the conclusion of the original Mass Effect, and the beginning of Mass Effect 2. Scripted by John Jackson Miller (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, The Invincible Iron Man) and drawn by Omar Francia (Star Wars: Legacy), this four-part series explores the exotic and dangerous future Milky Way of Mass Effect, revealing previously unseen locations, aliens, and enemies of this rich science fiction landscape.

The Mass Effect trilogy is an epic science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players will step into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, commanding a crew of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a mission so challenging that it’s potentially suicidal. Featuring intense shooter action, a rich futuristic storyline, stunning space exploration and emotionally engaging characters, the game delivers an unparalleled cinematic experience. Mass Effect 2 is scheduled for release on the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system and PC on January 26, 2010 in North America and January 29, 2010 in Europe and has been rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB and “18+” by PEGI (please visit esrb.org and pegi.eu for more information on ratings). For more news from the development team, please follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/masseffect2 or visit the game’s official website at masseffect.bioware.com.

“We’ve been trying to figure out a way to not only profit from these new technologies, but to use them in a way that it would drive customers into the stores of our loyal retailers,” said Dark Horse Director of Communications, Dirk Wood. “We came up with the idea of this staggered release in hopes of accomplishing just that.”

Mass Effect: Redemption is the fifth title to arrive in Dark Horse’s ever-growing stable of comics available on the iPhone platform. Other titles available now include Gerard Way’s smash hit Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite, Hellboy: Seed of Destruction, Terminator: Death Valley, and multiple titles in the critically acclaimed line of Star Wars comics. The first issue will hit iTunes February 3rd, just in time for the release of the second issue of the series.

For more information, please visit www.darkhorse.com/Features/Mobile.

“The Guild” Season 3 comes to DVD & iTunes

from The Guild:

The Guild is pleased to announce the official release dates of the Season 3 DVD and ALL our episodes to iTunes! And soon you’ll be able to stream seasons 1 and 2 on Netflix! Whew, that’s a lot of stuff! Keep reading for details!

First, on Monday, January 25th, The Guild seasons 1 through 3 will be available for purchase on iTunes for the first time! Because of the short length of our episodes, on iTunes they will sell as bundles of 2-3 episodes (each approximately 10 minutes in length) so it’s a bit confusing at first glance, but all the episodes are there, we promise! (See the end of this post for the complete iTunes episodes listing).

Season 1 will be available in standard definition for $0.99 per iTunes episode bundle or $2.97 for the full season of 10 episodes. The first episode bundle from Season 1 (episodes 1-3) will be available for FREE download.

Seasons 2 and 3 will be available in both standard and high definition, priced at $0.99 per episode bundle (SD) or $1.99 per episode bundle (HD). Full “Season passes” are $5.99 (SD) or $9.99 (HD). Note: The iTunes downloads are episodes only. Downloads are US and Canada only, with a UK release coming soon.

As an exclusive bonus, the iTunes Season 3 Season Pass will include the free bonus extra: “Tips on Making a Web Series” with producer Kim Evey, director Sean Becker and creator Felicia Day. The three answer questions, submitted by fans through Twitter and our website, about how to make a web series. Er, the title explains it all. 🙂

Then, on Tuesday, February 15th, Season 3 arrives on DVD exclusively on Amazon.com with a retail price of $14.95!

Bonus features on the DVD include “Do You Want to Date My Avatar” Music Video, The Making of “Do You Want to Date My Avatar,” the Halloween episode, Guild Applicant Rejects, How to Build Vork’s Sword, Audio Commentary with the Cast, Audio Commentary with the Creator, Director and Producer, Axis of Anarchy Interviews, Gag Reels, PDF of Script, Play All Feature and English Subtitles. The Amazon.com DVD release comes on two DVD-R discs by Amazon’s Create Space, and is NTSC format, region-free.

Later in the spring, Season 3 will be released to YouTube and to retail stores via a DVD from New Video (with identical content and cover art but on a single disc).

Lastly, on February 1 you will be able to watch all of Season 1 or Season 2 on Netflix. All episodes have been edited together with only beginning and ending credits, so you can watch them like continuous movie, like the “Play All” DVD feature.

Whew, that’s all for now. We know you’re impatient for Season 4, we are working as quickly as we can on it, promise! More info to come as soon as we have it.

Thanks so much for your support!
The Guild Management

The Guild on iTunes Episode/Episode Bundles list:

Season 1 Episode Bundles:
Episode 1: Wake up Call — Zaboo’d — The Macro Problem (FREE ON ITUNES)
Episode 2: Cheesybeards — Rather Be Raiding
Episode 3: Total Wipe — Home Invasion — Tipping Point
Episode 4: Owning Bladezz — Boss Fight

Season 2 Episode Bundles:
Episode 1: Link the Loot — Block’d
Episode 2: Quest Accepted! — Heroic Encounter
Episode 3: Sacking Up — Blow Out
Episode 4: Panic Attack — Emergency!
Episode 5: Grouping Up — Socializing Sucks
Episode 6: Collision Course — Fight!

Season 3 Episode Bundles:
Episode 1: Expansion Time — Anarchy!
Episode 2: Player Down — Get it Back!
Episode 3: Application’d — Newbtastic
Episode 4: Coping and Stuff — +10 to Bravery
Episode 5: Wit’s End — The Return!
Episode 6: LAN Off — Hero
Tips on Making a Web Series (FREE WITH SEASON)

From the “Star Wars” Archive: Reflections on “Empire”

from StarWars.com:

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back. For the entire year, Lucasfilm is celebrating this landmark movie, including making Empire a central theme to this year’s Star Wars Celebration event in August. Look for retrospective features on StarWars.com throughout the year, as well as here, in the Homing Beacon.

Back in 1990, Empire celebrated its first major milestone at ten years old. Then, Lucasfilm Fan Club Magazine asked director Irvin Kershner to recall how he came to be director of Episode V.

“I had a phone call from [producer] Gary Kurtz who asked me if I would be interested, and I said I would think about it. I talked about it with my agent and I said, ‘Oh, what a hard act to follow! Star Wars! I don’t know.’ I was kind of put off by the enormity of the job and having to not top it. I never believe in topping, I believe in just making something which stands on its own terms. I thought, ‘What a difficult job!’ I met with George Lucas at Universal over lunch and he began talking about what he wanted to do and how important the second film was, because if the second one worked, then he could make more. If the second one didn’t work, then that would be the end of Star Wars. So I thought about it and said, ‘Well, why do you want me? Of all the younger guys around, all the hot-shots, why me?’ And I remember he said to me, ‘Well, because you know everything a Hollywood director is supposed to know but you’re not Hollywood.’ I liked that.

“Of course, I’ve always liked George and respected him. I loved his little films and his stuff at USC. I had some seminars with him when I was teaching and he was making some little films. I remember THX 1138 and, in fact, did my best to make Warner release it. They were reluctant to release it. So I finally decided, ‘Why not direct this Star Wars film.’ However, I didn’t know it would take me almost three years! So, I went up to see George and he took me to his office and showed me these drawings of what would later be Skywalker Ranch. He said, ‘This is what this film will pay for.’ He showed me drawings of the buildings, etc. But he said, ‘This will only happen if Empire works.’ And that was something else I had to carry on my shoulders. I thought, ‘Wow, what a dream! That’s incredible!’ You know, it’s not like saying, ‘Look, we’re going to make a lot of money!’ It’s saying, ‘We’re going to build something.’ And that was the difference for me. That’s what hooks me every time. You know, money itself means nothing. It’s what’s done with it that matters.

“So, George convinced me. Actually, he didn’t have to try very hard.”

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi now available on RiffTrax

from RiffTrax:

Return of the Jedi. For sixteen years, it was widely regarded as the worst chapter in the Star Wars saga. We now look back upon this period of time, appalled and embarrassed at how naive we were. For while Return of the Jedi may be slow to get started, while it may delay the final confrontation between Luke and Vader in favor of an endless Ewok/Stormtrooper battle, while it may feature C3PO as its main character for the first twenty minutes and while it may have killed off Salacious Crumb instead of making him the focus of the entire movie, consider this: nobody utters the line “Yippee”.

Continue reading (and buy the riff) here.

Weta News: January 2010

from Weta:

Happy New Year!

We hinted before we went on summer holidays that this year was going to be very exciting. We stand by that.

Avatar has truly set new benchmarks for creativity and box office takings as well as taking home two of the most coveted Golden Globes. And Richard Taylor and Weta have been recognised at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards for Best Makeup!

And we have a couple of new product ranges up our sleeve and we’re continuing our journey through Middle-earth.

Our two Weta Cast hosts, Daniel and Magnus, are feverishly working on a round table discussion between Richard Taylor and some of the artists and craftspeople behind the beautiful designs, maquettes and props from Avatar. This will be an AWESOME podcast.

Announcement — District 9 Collectibles!
We are ENORMOUSLY pleased to be able to announce a range of collectibles and merchandise from District 9, last year’s perhaps most unexpected blockbuster. More details will follow shortly. Keep an eye on our News page.

Master Chief & Arbiter — Master Chief & Flood! Now Shipping!
The most dynamic Halo piece in the galaxy, The Master Chief & Flood, is now shipping, making its way to our warehouses along with The Master Chief and Arbiter — a terrific study in determination and menace. The two pieces join Cortana in our range of Halo sculptures. More about our Halo range here!

Seen Daybreakers yet?
Weta’s been heavily involved in making special makeup effects and prosthetics on a very exciting new movie called Daybreakers. Starring Ethan Hawke, Sam Neill and Willem Dafoe and directed by Australian directors the Spierig Brothers, Daybreakers promises to be a big hit not only among vampire genre fans. Currently showing in the US and other parts of the world, other territories (like New Zealand) will have to wait until March. More here!

Now is the time to get a complete Doctor Who helmet collection!
We’re taking £10 off the price of each helmet until Monday 1 February. That means the Sycorax, Sontaran Officer Linx, The Ice Warrior and the Industrial Welding Mask are only £22 (US$41 | NZ$58+GST) and that The Cyberman Leader Helmet and Lord President Borusa’s Headdress are £28 (US$44 | NZ$62+GST). Save £60 (US$93 | NZ$133+GST) on a whole set! Top reasons why you should get Weta’s Doctor Who helmet collection? They’re absolutely exact replicas of the full size props. Modelmaker David Tremont (who is a complete and utter Who-ligan) has had access through his extensive contacts to some of the originals to ensure accuracy. They’re 1/4 scale, which means “fist sized”, cast in white metal, weigh about 2 lbs (1kg) each and perfectly capture the menace of a Doctor Who baddie. They are AWESOME. Especially when all six are lined up. Get your set now!

Bag End update from Daniel Falconer
Says Daniel: One of the first things to do when the notion of producing Bag End as a miniature collectible environment was mooted was to get some artwork for us all to look at and discuss. We can talk about a piece all we want but it’s impossible to really begin meaningful discussion until a visual exists that defines the bounds of the piece. With a common visual to reference the team can discuss specifics, like, “Will it include the tree? If it does, how big does that necessitate the collectible being…” Check out the article for more. And Pictures!

Have you noted the sweet, sweet smell of VICTORY?
We’ve had some really flattering reviews come in for Greg Broadmore’s latest book, VICTORY — Scientific Adventure Violence for Young Men and Literate Women. Read the reviews on our VICTORY page!

The Lord of the Rings on Blu-Ray from Warner Bros.
What Entertainment Weekly describes as “The best film of the decade!” will shortly be available as a Blu-Ray box set direct from Warner Bros. It will even include a Weta discount coupon! Read more about this release.

Follow Weta Online! Twitter | Facebook

VIZ Media Announces the Highly Anticipated Release of Stan Lee and Hiroyuki Takei’s “Ultimo”

from VIZ Media:

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, in conjunction with Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment (PK:POWN) has announced the highly anticipated release of the new manga Ultimo on February 2nd. Ultimo is the result of a historic collaboration between comics legend Stan Lee, co-creator of many iconic superheroes including Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men, and Hiroyuki Takei, the creator of the popular Shaman King manga series. Ultimo, rated “T” for teens will carry a MSRP of $9.99 US/$12.99 CAN.

With girl and money troubles, life is hard enough for high school student Yamato, but then he stumbles upon Ultimo, a peculiar-looking puppet. Things only get stranger when Ultimo awakens and his archenemy, Vice shows up. Ultimo and Vice are Karakuri Dôji, the mechanical embodiment of pure good and pure evil, devoid of human emotions that can cloud one’s judgment. Their purpose: to battle to the death to prove once and for all whether good or evil is the most powerful force in the universe.

For over half a century, Stan Lee has been synonymous with superhero comics. In addition to creating countless memorable series and characters, including Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and Daredevil, he served as the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics. Lee remains a hugely respected and dynamic figure in the entertainment industry and continues to develop a variety of film, television and video game properties.

“I am indescribably thrilled to have the honor of working with the famous and extremely talented Hiroyuki Takei on our exciting creation Ultimo. I feel that Ultimo combines the very best of Western mythology with the very best of Japanese manga,” says Stan Lee. “It gives me the greatest pleasure to be associated with VIZ Media on such an exciting and ground-breaking project.”

Unconventional author/artist, Hiroyuki Takei began his career by winning the 1994 Tezuka Award. After working as an assistant to famed artist Nobuhiro Watsuki (Rurouni Kenshin), Takei debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997 with Butsu Zone, an action series based on Buddhist mythology. His multicultural adventure manga Shaman King debuted in Japan in 1998 and has been adapted into a popular animated television series. The Shaman King manga series is also published in North America by VIZ Media; for many years it was serialized in English in Shonen Jump magazine.

“While it’s epic in scope and rich in mythology, the Ultimo storyline is grounded in modern teen angst which is what fans will gravitate to. It’s manga, but it’s got that ‘Stan Lee’ feel of the teenager who suddenly has all this power and can’t believe how crazy that is,” says Joel Enos, Senior Editor for Shonen Jump Manga, VIZ Media. “This story has found a common ground between Western comics and Eastern manga. Here you have two amazing creators, all this action, robots, and the universal theme of pure good vs. pure evil, all the while staying in high school youth culture and the drama and depth of everyday kids.”

For more information on Ultimo, please visit shonenjump.com/ultimo.

Eric Powell’s Eisner-Winning “The Goon” Returns in 2010!

from Dark Horse Comics:

Fans and critics alike rejoiced in 2008, when creator Eric Powell took his redneck zombie noir, The Goon, monthly for an entire calendar year. Following the release of the landmark graphic novel Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker, Powell laid out his most complex story line to date, spanning twelve issues. In 2009, the creator celebrated the tenth anniversary of the title, releasing a special anniversary issue to coincide with a burlesque anniversary party in his honor in Nashville, followed by a special all-silent issue in November. While both were strong standalone issues, the significantly lighter release schedule left fans wondering what’s next for the madcap mercenary.

Now, The Goon goes digital, as both Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker and The Goon #7, which features Hellboy, are made available on the iPhone platform. Chinatown marks Powell’s first self-contained graphic novel, which chronicles the earliest adventures of Goon and his wisecracking sidekick, Franky. After a new figure in the crime scene begins taking out the Goon’s business operations one by one, the Goon’s darkest moment comes back to haunt him, when his mind and body were left scarred… and his heart was left black. This new platform promises to expose an all-new readership to comics’ most beloved brute.

Not to worry, however: longtime fans will be rewarded with an all-new spinoff title based around Goon Year’s most notable character, Buzzard. Eric Powell gives one of his most beloved and mysterious characters his own highly anticipated, three-issue miniseries.

Following his brutal showdown with the loathsome Zombie Priest, Buzzard leaves his home, wandering aimlessly until he steps into the shadowy spirit realm of the forest. A dark path leads him to a small village living in fear of a bestial race of savages. More animal than man, these creatures hunt the villagers and drag them from their slumber in the depth of night.

“Buzzard has always been a personal favorite of mine from the Goon cast, and from the amount of requests I’ve gotten to give him his own series, I imagine he’s a favorite of the readers as well,” said Goon creator Eric Powell. “I’m really excited to finally be giving him his own story, along with the revival of Billy the Kid’s Old Timey Oddities!”

For those who missed Goon Year, Dark Horse will be giving this twelve-issue story line the deluxe treatment with the release of Fancy Pants Edition Volume 3: Goon Year on July seventh. Powell’s all-new Buzzard series will arrive on shelves later this fall.

Look for news forthcoming on the return of the Billy the Kid’s Old Timey Oddities short stories — a revival of the series from 2005 that paired Eric Powell with artist Kyle Hotz. The three-issue series will launch later this year.

Chinatown and the Mystery of Mr. Wicker is available for download today in the iTunes store. For a limited time, this heart-wrenching story is available for the sale price of 1.99. In addition, the celebrated one-shot The Goon #7 is available for free download for the next three days.

For more information, visit www.darkhorse.com/features/mobile.

There has never been a better time to find out what you’ve been missing!

VIZ Media Announces the Launch of the “Kekkaishi” Animated Series on Hulu

from VIZ Media:

Today, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, brings the animated demon-battling action and adventure of Kekkaishi to Hulu, an online video service that offers hit TV shows, movies and clips at Hulu.com and other online destination sites — anytime in the U.S. The series debuts with 5 episodes with new installments launching each week. To view Kekkaishi, please visit Hulu.com.

Kekkaishi is based on a hit manga series by Yellow Tanabe (also published in North America by VIZ Media). Mystical forces are powerful in the region called Karasumori. For over 400 years, it has been the duty of a clan of “kekkaishi” — barrier masters — to guard the land and exterminate the supernatural creatures that are drawn to the area night after night.

Yoshimori Sumimura is a junior high school student at Karasumori Academy. Following in the tradition that’s been passed down through generations, he is the twenty-second “kekkaishi” of the Sumimura clan. But by day, Yoshimori’s got other demons to battle: an addiction to sweets and a seriously crotchety grandfather! Yoshimori’s pretty neighbor, childhood friend and rival, Tokine Yukimura, is also a “kekkaishi,” but their families are feuding over who is the true practitioner of the art. Protecting people from danger while growing stronger himself, Yoshimori will battle the forces of evil again tonight!

“Kekkaishi is the latest series to join the VIZ Media family of animated titles available to U.S. audiences on Hulu and we hope that fans will enjoy its lively mix of adventure, comedy and demon-slaying action,” says Candice Uyloan, Director, Brand Management at VIZ Media. “We are committed to utilizing the web to deliver the best in anime through innovative web-based, video streaming outlets like Hulu. Kekkaishi is an exciting addition to all the other top-rated anime from VIZ Media and we invite audiences to dive into this new series!”

Other VIZ Media animated titles available on Hulu include: Bleach, Buso Renkin, Death Note, Hikaru no Go, Honey and Clover, InuYasha and InuYasha: The Final Act, Nana, Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden, and The Prince of Tennis.

For more information on Kekkaishi or other Shonen Sunday series, please also visit shonensunday.com or viz.com.