News
Shonen Jump Alpha to be Available in U.S., Canada Only
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
The North American manga publisher Viz Media revealed at New York Comic Con on Friday that its new digital magazine Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha will only be available in the United States and Canada. The new magazine will launch on January 30, 2012.
On Friday, Alvin Lu, Vice President and General Manager of Viz Media, noted that there are no plans right now to expand the magazine to other countries, however, he added he wouldn't deny the possibility of doing that in the future. Lu added that if Viz "can get this right," then the company can then look into expanding the magazine into other countries.
Viz Media had also revealed on Friday that its Shonen Jump print magazine will end publication next March with a "farewell April 2012 issue."
Each issue of Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha will have installments of Bakuman., Bleach, Naruto, Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, One Piece, and Toriko two weeks after their print debut in Japan's Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. The magazine will be available on VizManga.com and Viz Manga apps for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices. An annual membership will cost US$25.99 for 48 weekly issues. (Weekly Shonen Jump takes a few weeks off during the year in Japan.) Single issues will cost US$0.99 for a four-week rental. Any issue on one device can be read on another device with the same user account via VizManga.com or the Viz Manga app.
