Viz Media Launches Monsuno Combat Chaos Original Graphic Novel Series

™ & © Pacific Animation Partners LLC “Monsuno” ™ & © 2013 Jakks Pacific, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Licensed by FremantleMedia Enterprises

The Power Of The Human Heart Will Decide Whether The World Is Saved or Destroyed In An Epic Adventure Led By Mankind's Newest Teenage Hero

San Francisco, CA, July 10 2013 – Viz Media, LLC (Viz Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, delivers the newest release under its popular VIZ Kids imprint with the launch of the MONSUNO® COMBAT CHAOS™ original graphic novel series. Available now, the first volume of this new action title features a story written by Brian Smith and artwork by Erwin Prasetya, is rated ‘A’ for All Ages, and carries an MSRP of $7.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN.

The graphic novel is inspired by the popular MONSUNO animated series co-produced by Pacific Animation Partners LLC, a joint venture between Jakks Pacific, Inc. and Dentsu Entertainment USA, Inc., with FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment and The Topps Company, Inc. The animated series airs in North America on Nicktoons, as well as more than 140 markets around the world. The property has also spawned an array of collectible toys, electronic accessories, and other consumer products.

MONSUNO COMBAT CHAOS is an epic character-driven adventure that follows five teenagers as they create emotional bonds with huge monsters called Monsunos, mysterious creatures that were delivered to Earth via meteors millions of years ago.

In Volume 1 of the graphic novel, “The Moto Mutants,” main character Chase Suno and his Core-Tech teammates encounter an underground lab where scientists have been secretly performing extensive tests on the all-powerful Monsuno essence. One such scientist, Dr. Moto, tried to create a Monsuno of her own, but the experiments went horribly wrong. Trapped in an icy lab for years, Dr. Moto and her minions have continued her terrible experiments, and Chase, Bren, Jinja, Dax and Beyal have no idea what kind of horrifying creatures they are about to stumble upon.

“We're excited to expand our range of kids original graphic novel titles with the launch of MONSUNO COMBAT CHAOS,” says Viz Media Editor Joel Enos. “Our first comic, Monsuno Combat! Chaos: The Moto Mutants is based on the popular Nicktoons series and features a new villain, the mad scientist Dr. Moto, created for the Monsuno comics series by writer Brian Smith. She's bent on harnessing the power of Monsuno to rule the planet and beyond, and it's up to Chase Suno and his friends to stop her and her mutant Monsunos. The story of how Dr. Moto becomes integrated into the Monsuno universe is just the first in a series of new full-color, action-packed comics with all-new original stories launching this summer!”

MONSUNO COMBAT CHAOS writer Brian Smith is a former Marvel Comics editor whose credits include The Ultimates, Ultimate Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, and dozens of other renowned comic book titles. Smith is also the co-creator/writer behind the New York Times best-selling graphic novel The Stuff of Legend, and the writer/artist of the all-ages comic, The Intrepid Escape Goat. His other writing credits include Finding Nemo: Losing Dory, from BOOM! Studios, and SpongeBob Comics from Bongo. He also writes for the VOLTRON FORCE and MAX STEEL graphic novel series, both available from VIZ MEDIA.

Artist Erwin Prasetya is a Kudus-born artist working for Papillon Studios and has penciled multiple comic book series while based in Indonesia. Monsuno Combat! Chaos: The Moto Mutants also features eye-poppingly gorgeous colors by Papillon Studios' Fajar Buana and additional artwork by Alfa Robbi.

For more information on MONSUNO COMBAT CHAOS or other VIZ Kids titles, please visit www.vizkids.com.

About Viz Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Viz Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha, Inc., Shogakukan, Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., Viz Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, Viz Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. Viz Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products. Learn more about Viz Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

About FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators, producers and distributors of television entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of RTL Group, the leading European entertainment network, which is in turn majority-owned by the international media company Bertelsmann. FremantleMedia is responsible for many of the world's highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama, factual entertainment and kids & family programming, with market leading capabilities that extend from content creation to licensing, digital and branded entertainment, gaming and home entertainment. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes FremantleMedia North America, UFA, FremantleMedia UK, FremantleMedia Australia, Ludia, @radical.media and Original Productions, among others) has one of the most comprehensive global networks with operations in 22 countries, creating over 9,200 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles. The company also distributes more than 20,000 hours of content in over 150 countries. FremantleMedia has some of the world's most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally produces such programmes as: Idols, Hole In The Wall, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), Take Me Out, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife, Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten, and Neighbours.
www.fremantlemedia.com

About FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment
FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment was founded in 2009 and has quickly become a worldwide leader in the family entertainment business. With 15 titles in production in collaboration with top producers on four continents, FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment is already one of the most prolific independent producers and distributors of content in the sector today. Its growing portfolio of content spans across four key genres: preschool, kids comedy, action/adventure and tween/teen fare. FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment is bringing to networks around the world innovative and exciting shows for television and new media platforms that feature live-action, 2D animation, CGI, stop-motion, puppetry and real-time animation with programming targeting demographics ranging in scope from preschool through high school.