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Viz Confirms Shojo Beat Manga Magazine's End in June (Updated)

The North American publisher Viz Media has released the following statement about its Shojo Beat manga magazine on Tuesday:

Yes, the final issue of Shojo Beat magazine will be the July 2009 issue which is on newsstands June 16th.

We are very proud of the past issues of Shojo Beat magazine and the efforts of the entire team. The magazine developed quite a fan base but unfortunately in today's difficult economic climate we felt the need to place our resources elsewhere at this time.

Of course all of our great shojo manga titles previously serialized in Shojo Beat magazine will still be published and available as graphic novels under the Shojo Beat imprint from Viz Media. 

Each Shojo Beat Subscriber will be receiving a free copy of the August issue of Shonen Jump magazine with the pertinent information on what their subscription/refund options will be.

Subscribers and fans of shojo manga can get the latest information on all new Shojo Beat titles and news by visiting www.shojobeat.com.

Shojo Beat debuted on newsstands in June of 2005, after an "Issue 0" had shipped two months earlier. The magazine's initial manga lineup was Baby & Me, Crimson Hero, God Child, Kaze Hikaru, NANA, and Absolute Boyfriend. Viz Media soon expanded the Shojo Beat brand to graphic novels, text novels (Socrates in Love, Kamikaze Girls), and videos (Full Moon, Lovely Complex). The May 2009 issue featured Rasetsu, Honey Hunt, Crimson Hero, Vampire Knight, Sand Chronicles, Honey and Clover, and Haruka: Beyond the Stream of Time-. Other titles in the magazine included Backstage Prince, a Tail of the Moon preview, the Yume Kira Dream Shoppe short stories, and a special appearance of Osamu Tezuka's original Princess Knight manga (which was arguably the first shōjo manga in Japan). The July issue will be the magazine's 49th and final issue.

Yumi Hoashi served as Editor-in-Chief until she left Viz in 2006. Marc Weidenbaum became the second Editor-in-Chief, although he left Viz this past February.