News
Viz Confirms D.Gray-Man, Naruto Spinoff Books
posted on by Gia Manry
The North American anime and manga distributor Viz Media has confirmed with ANN that it plans to release two manga-related spinoff books currently listed by the online retailer Amazon. The first is D.Gray-man Illustrations, which will ship for a US$21.99 (C$25.99) suggested retail price (SRP) on December 6. The second is Naruto: The Official Character Data Book, which will ship with a US$14.99 (C$16.99) SRP on January 10, 2012. Both books are listed as paperback releases.
A Viz representative also informed ANN that the D.Gray-man volume will include a double-sided poster and transcripts from question-and-answer sessions in which D.Gray-man creator Katsura Hoshino speaks with two manga creators who has inspired her work: Takeshi Obata (Death Note, Hikaru no Go) and Osamu Akimoto (Kochikame).
Viz also confirmed today that it will release the Pokémon: Black and White manga series. The company will also publish original graphic novels based on Voltron Force and the Mr. Men and Little Miss franchises, and the Mameshiba: On the Loose! graphic novel and Meet Mameshiba character guide. Viz will also act as distributor for the American cartoon seires Hero: 108, with DVD releases starting in May and digital episodes launching in June.
Hoshino's D.Gray-man manga is set in an alternative fantasy version of the early 20th century and revolves around Allen Walker, a young man who becomes an exorcist for a group called the Black Order. The group attempts to protect mankind from the evil Millennium Earl. Naruto is Masashi Kishimoto's popular manga about the titular young ninja-in-training; Viz Media releases both the anime and manga in English in North America.
Thanks to Rachel S. for the news tip.
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