VIZ Media is keeping busy as ever this week. On top of finalizing its event plans and retail exclusives for Otakon 2017 this weekend (Aug. 11-13 in Washington DC), the leading North American purveyor of anime, manga and licensed goodies inspired thereby announced this week a home video release for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures and a 20th birthday art book for Pokemon Adventures.
VIZ will be on the floor at Otakon 2017 (www.otakon.com) at Booth #1436, where booth activities include the Sailor Moon Crystal Quest for New Power (Help the Sailor Guardians on their quest and win a special prize from Sailor Moon herself!), giveaways and free premium items while supplies last. Retail exclusives at the con include One-Punch Man and One-Piece manga replicas ($15), Sailor Moon Crystal T-shirt ($15), pre-orders for Sailor Moon Crystal Season 3 Combo Pack ($65), and a raft of bundles and gift-with-purchase offers.
Around the convention center, fans can learn more about the company’s plans and meet their idols at the VIZ Media Panel on 8/11 at 5:30 p.m. in Panel Room 1 (exciting announcements, exclusive first looks at new titles, and prizes); Sailor Moon Panel on 8/12 at 2:15 p.m. in Panel Rm. 7 (news and updates on the series, as well as some special guest appearances); and Sailor Moon English Voice Cast Autograph Session on 8/12 at 4:30 p.m. in Autograph Rm. 2, featuring Stephanie Sheh (Sailor Moon) Sandy Fox (Chibi-Usa), Michelle Ruff (Luna), and the recently announced Chris Niosi (Pegasus).
To enable your binge-watching tendencies, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Season 1 is available now as a Limited Edition Blu-ray set, offering the first 26 episodes of the hit series inspired by Hirohiko Araki’s groundbreaking manga (published by VIZ, rated T+). The opening season is set in late 19th century England, where rivals and surrogate brothers Jonathan Joestar and Dio Brando discover a mysterious stone mask. The mask is an artifact of an ancient Central American culture and is capable of granting its wearer eternal life, but only at a heavy price. As the dark powers of the Stone Mask are unleashed, the brothers’ actions will define legacies that span generations.
The Blu-ray release features all-new English subtitles and bonus material such as a 168-page booklet with episodes summaries, director commentary, storyboard art and more; digital character art gallery; and collectible art cards based on art from the original Japanese Blu-ray releases. The set comes in a hinged chipboard collector’s box, decked out with foil highlights.
Available now, The Art of Pokemon Adventures marks the 20th anniversary of the popular manga title, written by Hidenori Kusaka. The vibrant volume brings the fantastic characters and settings of the Pokemon world to life with beautiful full-color pieces by longtime Pokemon illustrator Satoshi Yamamoto. The book includes exclusive sketches and storyboards, four pull-out posters and a brand-new manga side story published in English for the first time. Yamamoto began working on Pokemon Adventures in 2001 with Vol. 10, and is currently working on its 12th and 13th story arcs as well as Pokemon X-Y, Pokemon Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, in collaboration with Kusaka. (MSRP $24.99 US / $33.99 CAN)
