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Viz announces Pokemon, FY graphic novels
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Two of Viz Comics' most popular series are going to be getting the graphic novel treatment. Both the Pokémon and Fushigi Yûgi manga series will see a combined release in summer, 1999.
In their monthly press release, Viz announced the compilation of their best-selling manga series of all time, Pokemon: The Electric Tale of Pikachu. The four-issue series will be reproduced in book form, and will contain the original cover art of the single comic releases -- in color. The manga, which is written and drawn by Toshihiro Ono, has sold 100,000 copies in five printings, making it the best-selling black and white comic release in America. The graphic novel, which is planned for release in August, is 164 pages long and will retail for $12.95.
The popular Fushigi Yugi series (as seen in Animerica Extra) is also getting a graphic novel release. Installments from Animerica Extra vol. 1 issue 1 to Vol. 2 issue 4 will be covered for a combined total of 200 pages. It will hit shelves in July for a suggested retail price of $15.95. Also seeing a July graphic novel release are fellow Animerica Extra series Steam Detectives (vol. 2) and X/1999 (Sereade).
Also seeing a release that month is the third and final volume of the Video Girl Ai OAV series, and the first issue of the 5-part conclusion to Black and White, the manga by Taiyo Matsumoto originally serialized in Pulp. In that publication, Black and White will be replaced with Bakune Young by Toyokazu Matsunaga. (This was originally to be one of Pulp's debut titles, but was held back so that special retouch artists could take on the assignment.)
