Viz Media Promotes Alvin Lu to Executive Vice President, Publishing

San Francisco, CA, April 16, 2012 – Viz Media, the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga, graphic novels and anime in North America, has promoted Alvin Lu to Executive Vice President of Publishing.

“Compelling content has been driving our business for 25 years,” said Ken Sasaki, President and CEO of Viz Media. “Alvin always made sure Viz Media had the best manga titles direct from Japan, and his creative instincts are unparalleled in the industry.”

Alvin Lu, who among other accomplishments has overseen the remarkable growth of VIZ Media's graphic novel publishing line over the years, will head the publishing team. In his new role, he will focus on maintaining Viz Media's position as the leading trade graphic novel publisher in North America and taking the program in bold new directions. Lu began his career at Viz Media in 2000 as the Editor-in-Chief of the critically renowned PULP magazine and has since worked to serve as one of the main bridges between the North American and Japanese publishing industries during the years of manga's phenomenal growth. More recently he has led Viz Media's charge into original graphic novel content and digital delivery.

“Manga is more than a term that translates as ‘comics from Japan’,” said Lu. “It's a unique art form with its own grammar, history, and pedigree. Increasingly, it's become a visual language that can be read by young people around the world and a form for young artists to aspire to. I see Viz Media as being at the heart of the global migration of the language of manga.”

For more information, visit www.viz.com.