Forum - View topicViz's "new" direction...
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Kagemusha
 Posts: 2783 Location: Boston |
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As many of you know, Viz has recently announced that they have licenced Iou Kurida's "Sexy Voice and Robo", a critically acclaimed manga that many people (myself included) felt would never be licenced (at least not for several years). For those of you who haven't read this manga, it's quite diffrent from typical mainstream manga; in both the offbeat (but highly skilled) storytelling and art (which is stunningly intricate). This licence comes as a suprise, since Viz seems to have abandoned most of their seinen/experimental manga in recent years.
I wouldn't call SVaR the greatest manga out there (no matter what alternative or artsy manga snobs preach). It's very, very good, with masterful writing that presents the story perfectly and a wonderful, organic style of art. I would certanly say it's one of the best licences in several years and something I look forward to with great anticipation, but it can't hold a candle to Iou's other works (Nasu and particuarly the epic Japan Tengu Party Illustrated). I would also rather see some other titles in english, most which are more mainsteam friendly. But SVaR's release in English is signifigant because it could signal a turning point in Viz's strategy. Perhapse we'll see more seinen manga by Viz this year. Even Tokyopop seems to be expanding, publishing thngs like STone and Dead End. Could these companys have decided to expand the scope of their matterial and try to appeal to new audiences? Like many people, I love many of the shonen and shojo being brought over lately, but the recent lack of seinen and manga aimed at older audiences has disapointed me. SVaR could signal the coming of similar manga. Who knows, maybe we'll see Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou soon. |
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GATSU
Posts: 15634 |
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I've always considered Tokyopop's line-up diverse. Of course they didn't always have must-have titles, but at least they recognize a market for older readers a lot more than Viz. Never heard of the title you're describing, but most likely, Viz will slap an editor's choice on the books, possibly jack up the price to $15.95, and force you to order it online.
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Kagemusha
Posts: 2783 Location: Boston |
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Tokyopop has a diverse line-up in terms of genres and types of manga, but they lack titles aimed at adults and, like you said, most of those aren't very impressive (huge thanks to them for following through with Planetes though). Even if you don't count their older titles and the Pulp line, Viz has still provided far better adult oriented manga than TP over the last two years.
And I don't think that they'll be unreasonable about SVaR. Blue Spring had a $10 price tag and is in almost every one the bookstores I've been to, and they've been consistantly stocking Vagabond, Saikano and Tough (all $10) in bookstores over the past couple of months. |
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milcor1
 Posts: 337 |
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Hey man I'm with you on SVaR. Can't believe we're actually getting it. I'm stoked and ready to get all 400 of those A5 pages in my grubby little hands. And for $19.99 that's a pretty good deal since each of the two volumes in Japan is 980 yen which makes it 18 dollars for both. If it does sell well I hope it gives a signal to viz that there is a market out there for critically acclaimed though slightly unknown mangas and not just popular shonen stuff. Maybe they'll also release the rest of No.5?! Oh my god pleaseeee
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Kagemusha
Posts: 2783 Location: Boston |
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Just saw your post on the "Favorite manga" thread; is that what the cover is gonna look like? Bleah, I was hoping
for a better design than that. Where did you find the picture? I had prieviously given up on No.5, but if Blue Spring turns out successful (which I believe it was to a degree), then it may be possible that they bring the other 6 volumes over. If Viz would actually reduce the manga's size and price so bookstores will carry it, I think it could do fairly well (it already has a fanbase, so if Viz would promote it in the right places they could definitally get the sales up). By the way, have you read Black and White? That's my personal favorite from Matsumoto, as well as one of my all time favorites. As for other thinks that Viz should finish, I'm rooting for a completed Spriggan (or as they call it, Striker). Definitally one of the better shonen manga that I've read; like a hyperactive Indiana Jones. Viz trashed it after three volumes and instead brought the artist's lousy Project Arms over, probobly because it had better art. |
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milcor1
Posts: 337 |
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Yea I own Black and White as well, also excellent. I got the SVaR pic off Amazon. If Blue Spring does indeed do well I also hope they would license Ping Pong too then.
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darkhunter
 Posts: 2992 Location: Los Angelas |
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I have read bits of SVaR and it looks really interesting. I'm looking foward to the 400 page book.
Usually any mature title, especially if it's offbeat and different like Blue Spring, it definitely got me interested. There's already too much standard fluffy shonen/action/shoujo titles already. Viz need to license more title for thier Editor's Choice line and I'm still waiting for them to license GANTZ (the art is really nice) I'm also waiting for 20th century boy's release but I haven't heard much about it since it was listed in the diamond. No ISBN number, no solicitation and it's not even on Viz's upcoming release list. I wonder if Viz going to release this or not? No word on Monster either. Tokyopop has too many shojo title lately. Kind of annoying, I usually overlook most of thier title even the american manga. I'm still collecting thier excellent GTO and Priest gn though. |
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Advent_Nebula
Posts: 932 Location: Colorado |
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Do we really want GANTZ to fall to VIZ media will all the negitive press about editing? I rather Dark Hourse get GANTZ.
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Kagemusha
Posts: 2783 Location: Boston |
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People, people...the only reason Viz edited I"s is because they felt that they could sell it better to a younger demographic (which is probobly right). I doubt they would touch any Editor's Choice titles considering to audience. Historically, Dark Horse has edited things far more frequently and severly than Viz; things that weren't aimed at 12 year old boys either. Tokyopop was even worse. While I doubt these companies would edit something like Gantz now, considering who they're selling it to, I wouldn't rule out the possibility that they would edit a shonen title to make it more accessable to younger readers. As for 20th Century Boys, since it was soliceted in Diamond, it's pretty much a sure thing that it's going to be released over here. Monster was never solicited or confirmed, and the news that it was licenced was only based on an amazon listing. |
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milcor1
Posts: 337 |
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I AM dissapointed at the I's editing but I think some people are overreacting a bit. I mean, at its core I's is a love story. Editing some nipples does not detract from the purpose of the story and I don't see how not being able to see two nipples would make the manga any less meaningfull and so distracting that people would not buy it. Now if it was a pornography manga, then I'd be pissed at edited nipples. Yes I know blah blah, companies shouldn't mess with the integrity of the art. But with the insane reaction about it over at the AoD forums makes it seem like the apocalypse is coming.
Eyeshield 21 on the other hand is alot more dissapointing for me. The dumbing down of Hiruma's language really takes away from what his character is about. In this case the editing does in a way hurt or change the flow and meaning of Eyeshield 21. Ok, mini rants off  .
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darkhunter
Posts: 2992 Location: Los Angelas |
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Gantz is a Young Jump/Shueisha title. There hasn't been any other YJ title being license except Tough (by Viz). And of course most of Viz's license are Shueisha title. For example, the many shonen jump title. It's not who's going to pick this up, it's a matter of when Viz decide they will license and sell thier title to the U.S. market. I've been watching the Gantz anime lately, I like it but I felt like it wasn't as good as the manga. The first time I read Gantz I was totally blown away, the manga. Also they would not edit Gantz due to the anime that's already out. The anime is uncensored and unedited. Not only would they piss off all the old gantz fan, but they would piss off all the new gantz fan that seen the anime. The I's edit is mininal. I don't know why people are overreacting to it like it was the biggest edit in history. I would like to see Viz update thier site. They have a grip load of title like Baron the Cat Return, Wolf's Rain, Rahxephon, Blue Spring that isn't updated. I am hoping that news of 20th century boy's may 4th release date is true. So far I check all over the web to pre-order it and no place seem to have it with an ISBN number. |
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