Viz Media Launches New Space Battle Fantasy Manga Series Barrage In Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha June 4th Issue

New Series Kicks Off In North America Just Two Weeks After Japanese Debut

Leading manga publisher Viz Media thrilled fans last weekend during its panel discussion at the FanimeCon 2012 anime convention with the announcement of the launch of the new manga (graphic novel) series – BARRAGE – in the company's digital WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA magazine beginning Monday, June 4th. New chapters of BARRAGE will debut every week.

BARRAGE is an exciting space battle fantasy series by creator Kōhei Horikoshi that just debuted in Japan in Weekly Shonen Jump on May 21st. The series is set on a planet called Industria, which is in a state of chaos, and its fate lays in the hands of Astro, a kid from the slums!

Each new digital edition of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA treats manga fans across North America to the latest chapters of some of the world's most popular manga series only two weeks after they debut in Japan's massively popular WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP magazine.

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA is available through an annual membership that provides 52 weeks of digital access to 48 weekly issues for just $25.99. Single issues of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA can be read for four weeks for only $0.99. Each issue may be read on VIZManga.com/sj-weekly, and also on the updated Viz Manga App for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA members also receive an annual collector's yearbook, 4 Yu-Gi-Oh! cards throughout the year delivered to your door, and access to exclusive content, including creator interviews and exclusive videos.

For more information on WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA and exclusive subscriber offers, please visit www.SJAlpha.com.