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VIZ Media announced it will be releasing the following shojo manga series during the first quarter of 2009.

Published under the company's Shojo Beat imprint, the new series will include "Heaven's Will," The Magic Touch" and "Otomen" as well as VIZBIG editions of "Fushigi Yugi" and "Hot Gimmick."

The VIZBIG titles is bigger than a regular manga and has new cover art and added content such as author interviews, updated text and character art.

"FUSHIGI YUGI VIZBIG · Rated "T+" for older teens. $17.99. Available now. The fantasy series is from Yu Watase, one of Japan's top manga creators. It is a tale of a normal junior-high-school girl who is transported into a fictional version of ancient China after reading a strange book called "The Universe of the Four Gods". While there she becomes a High Priestess and encounters an array of villains and dashing heroes but yet she still manages to worry about her grades and her next school banquet. Each VIZBIG edition contains three volumes, bonus color content, and updated text.

HOT GIMMICK VIZBIG · Rated "T+" for older teens. $17.99. Available March 17, 2009
In tiny, company-owned rabbit-hutch apartments live tenants who can't afford to live anywhere else. This apartment complex, in which high-school girl Hatsumi Narita lives, is ruled over by the rumor-mongering, self-righteous Mrs. Tachibana. Get on her bad side and life becomes hell. One day Hatsumi buys a pregnancy test for her popular but flirty sister Akane. Mrs. Tachibana's son, Ryoki, who used to bully Hatsumi as a kid, promises not to tell the world about Hatsumi's secret, only if she will become his slave. Soon after a boy named Azusa, who was Hatsumi's protector in their youth, reappears to save her again! He's moving back into the neighborhood, and despite a budding romance between Hatsumi and Azusa, Ryoki continues to have control over her through the secret pact that could ruin the lives of everyone in Hatsumi's family. Usually a sensible and mild-mannered young girl, Hatsumi suddenly finds herself in a swirl of drama that threatens to drive her totally crazy.

Miki Aihara, who created "Hot Gimmick", made her debut in 1991 with Lip Conscious!, which was published in the Bessatsu Shojo Comic anthology and she remains a major contributor to the magazine.

HEAVEN'S WILL · Rated "T" for Teens. $8.99. Available now
Sudou Mikuzu has a very special talent/power - she can see ghosts. And because of this, she's become a magnet for all sorts of unwelcome spirits and monsters. Lucky for her she's just met Seto, a friendly, cross-dressing young exorcist. Sudou needs protection from all the creepy phantoms bugging her and Seto needs to practice his exorcism skills. Consequently, the pair decides to team up and help each other. In return for Seto's help, Sudou promises to bake him a cake every time a ghost gets zapped!

Created by Satoru Takamiya, HEAVEN'S WILL first appeared as a short story in Chu Chu magazine, a Japanese shojo manga anthology for teen girls published by Shogakukan.

THE MAGIC TOUCH · Rated "T+" for Older teens. $8.99. Available February 3, 2009.
Aside from being the star of her high school's Massage Research Society club, Chiaki Togu is a normal, quiet girl--until she falls head over heels in love with a gorgeous back, which happens to belong to Yosuke, the hottest guy at her school! Unfortunately, Chiaki's attraction to Yosuke is thwarted by her own insecurity and the scheming of other girls, especially those of her twin sister Sayaka! Although Yosuke seems out of Chiaki's league, she will do almost anything to give him a massage. The two eventually strike a deal where she will be allowed to touch his back if she can make him fall in love with her. What Chiaki doesn't know is the real reason Yosuke wants to hang around her: to avenge his younger brother, who was allegedly deceived and dumped by somebody named Chiaki Togu! Is this a simple case of mistaken identity or the beginning of a tragedy?

THE MAGIC TOUCH was created by Izumi Tsubaki, who began drawing manga during her first year of high school. She was soon selected to be among the Top 10 artists selected by manga anthology Hana to Yume and went on to win the publication's Big Challenge manga contest. THE MAGIC TOUCH was a best seller in Japan.

OTOMEN · Rated "T" for teens. $8.99 US. Available February 3, 2009
Asuka Masamune is a guy who loves girly things-sewing, knitting, making cute stuffed animals and reading shojo manga. But in a world where boys are expected to act manly, Asuka must hide his beloved hobbies and instead play the part of a masculine jock. Ryo Miyakozuka, on the other hand, is a girl who can't sew or bake a cake to save her life. Asuka finds himself attracted to Ryo, but she likes only the manliest of men! Can Asuka ever show his true self to anyone, much less to the girl that he's falling for?

OTOMEN, created by Aya Kanno, is currently being serialized in Japan's BetsuHana magazine. OTOMEN is a best seller in Japan, with each new volume appearing in the Top 15 of Japan's Tohan rankings that chart manga popularity and sales."

I enjoys fansubs like a lot of anime fans because I get to watch a series airing currently or just finished airing in Japan. However, I always make a point to buy the licensed versions of shows I like.

With the advent of the Internet, it has made it easier and faster for anime fans to see current shows. Not surprisingly, some anime companies are opting to license a series even before it finishes its run in Japan or they're choosing to show episodes online.

VIZ media announced that beginning January 15, it will begin streaming "Naruto Shippuden" just days after being shown in Japan. It will be free and available at www.Naruto.com There will also be an accelerated publishing plan for the "Naruto" manga beginning in February 2009.

"Naruto Shippuden" picks up the tale after a now 15-year-old Naruto returns to Konoha from his training with Jiraiya. Everyone in his group has advanced in rank except him. Gaara is now Kazekage and Sakura is now a medical ninja.

Here's the release from VIZ:

"This campaign is the latest expansion of VIZ Media's ongoing strategy to utilize the web to its maximum potential to stream a variety of hit animated properties.

Beginning on January 15, the latest episode of "Naruto Shippuden" (English-subtitled) will be available for free viewing on the official "Naruto" website, www.Naruto.com, within days of its original air date in Japan. A new English-subtitled episode will be added every Thursday thereafter.

On January 2nd, VIZ Media will also debut for free, eight uncut, English-subtitled episodes from the beginning of the "Naruto Shippuden" series on www.Naruto.com. Each Friday thereafter there will be an additional eight uncut, English-subtitled episodes added on Naruto.com until the series eventually catches up to the current third season of the hit program. Also, coming this week, an exclusive sneak peek of "Naruto Shippuden" debuting on Naruto.com.

On the manga side, VIZ Media has unveiled an accelerated publishing schedule for upcoming editions of the "Naruto" series, making them available to North American audiences sooner than ever before offered by VIZ Media. Beginning in February 2009, 11 new volumes of "Naruto" will be released over three months, moving the series from Volume 34 (February 2009) to Volume 44 (April 2009) before returning to a quarterly release schedule beginning with Volume 45 (July 2009).

Earlier "Naruto" episodes are also currently available for free through a variety of web-based, video streaming outlets that have partnered with VIZ Media, including HULU and JOOST."

A recent addition to VIZ Media's Shoujo Beat Manga lineup is "Time Stranger Kyoko" which is definitely aimed for the teen and pre-teen crowd.

It is now the 30th century and for some inexplicable reason, earth's countries decided to band together and just become one kingdom called Earth Nation. It's ruled by a king who keeps himself young thanks to the latest technology (plastic surgery, I suppose) and has a weird cat/android pet named Chocola.

His heirs are his twin daughters: Kyoko and Ui Suomi. But Ui has been asleep since she was a baby. She's actually trapped in time.

Kyoko has been attending a local school incognito because she refuses to take the throne. She's watched over by Sakataki Jin and his older brother, Hizuki Jin, who are the last members of the Dragon tribe. They're dragon/human hybrids.

We meet Kyoko just before her 16th birthday bash which she refuses to attend because she thinks she won't be able to go to school and mingle with the commoners anymore. This despite her father telling her people are rioting and want her to take over her responsibilities.

She comes off as very selfish in the first chapter of Volume 1 and I must say, Kyoko did not endear herself to me when her father offered her an out and she grabbed it. If she wakes up her sister Ui, the younger twin can take over the royal mantle and she would be free. In a side note, the author, Arina Tanemura, took the time to explain to readers Kyoko probably sounds selfish but she isn't really. Uh huh, right.

To wake up her sister, Kyoko must start the giant clock underneath Ui's bed. In order to do that, she must find the 12 God stones scattered around the planet along with the 12 telepaths who can use the stones. The first stone was easy since it and a pocket watch were hidden undernearth the clock.

When The Destroyers, a band of thieves led by a guy called Witzig, appears outside the school gates, Kyoko finally unveils who she is to protect her classmates. The time stone that she couldn't activate then starts yakking at her and turns into the Scorpion Cane which can manipulate time. She whacks Witzig on the head and the smitten fool retreats.

Witzig would pop in and out of later chapters often riding his giant pet snake. He's obviously the comedy relief.

Kyoko learns more of what the cane can do in other adventures and readers learn the history of the Dragon Tribe and why its last two surviving members ended up as bodyguards to this teenage princess.

Our heroine also adjusts her goal from fobbing off her duties to a younger sibling to waking up said sister who she believes is in distress.

The character designs are classic shoujo meaning huge eyes, small mouth and lots of long wavy hair. Except for the chapter about the Dragon Tribe's demise, volume 1 is mostly light on drama and heavy on the comedy.

So if you're looking for a soap opera-like manga, this is not the series for you.

Attention "Bleach" fans. (I'm referring to the anime show and manga not the liquid bleach here folks.)

Ahem. Back to the news.

The Bleach movie called "Memories of Nobody" will be shown in 300 movie theaters on June 11 and 12. You can start buying tickets May 9 from the theaters or at www.FathomEvents.com But subscribers to SHONEN JUMP e-mail newsletter can buy advance tickets from May 2 to 8, according to the folks at VIZ Media.

Here's a synopsis of the movie from the VIZ Media press release: "Unidentified beings known
as “Blanks” start popping up. They are soon followed by a Soul Reaper named Senna who makes them disappear. Puzzled by these unknown beings and the even more mysterious girl, Ichigo and Rukia set out to learn more, but uncover an evil plot when a menacing clan tries to kidnap Senna.

Banished from Soul Society long ago, the clan’s leader has sent the World of the Living and Soul Society on a collision course, and Senna seems to be the key to his diabolical plot for
revenge."

Cue suspense music.

This from VIZ Media. The company is producing a special issue of its Shonen Jump magazine and will be giving it away gratis during Free Comic Book Day which falls on May 3.

The special edition will be distributed for free at participating stores nationwide.

I've never heard of the event but then again I haven't been haunting comic bookstores since I was in high school. I get my manga from the local bookstore and the anime shop.

According to the VIZ press release, the annual event was "developed by Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. and is designed for comic book retailers across North America and around the world to offer a range of select titles for free to further spread awareness of new and upcoming series and highlight the diversity of the comics and manga (graphic novel) genres."

In my simple mind that just translates to FREE comics for one day. Drool. I wonder if a customer will be limited to one comic book only.

The special edition 32-page Shonen Jump will feature snippets from various series like
"Naruto", "Bleach" , "One Piece" and "Slam Dunk." There's going to be a "Bleach" poster included as well.

www.freecomicbookday.com.

A gothic manga set to hit stores April 8 is Shin Mashiba's "Nightmare Inspector: Yumekui Kenbun" which chronicles the cases of Hiruko and the people who seek his help. Hiruko, who hangs around the Silver Star Tea House, is not human but a creature who eats your dreams in lieu of payment. Suffice it to say his clientele is made up of folks plagued by nightmares.

Published in America by VIZ Media, "Nightmare Inspector" is geared for teens and comes with a price tag of $9.99. Each chapter is a story of a client who has found himself or herself at the tea house for one reason or other.

The artwork is beautiful and several of the stories have a twist to them such as the fan obsessed with an actress. He finds to his cost that life does imitate art. The story of the young man who yearns for the woman who he only knows as a voice at other end of his phone is actually a tale about narcissism. And the woman who dreams she is literally falling apart has a bloody secret to hide.

Volume One hints there is more to Hiruko than meets the eye; calling him as someone no longer human. So how did he become a nightmare inspector? Why is his base the teahouse? Hopefully latter episodes will answer these questions.

It reminds me of the horror comics I read while growing up in the '70s and '80s. "Nightmare Inspector" doesn't break new ground but it's a nice read.

The manga was published in Japan by Square Enix, the publisher of the first manga series from Shin Mashiba.

I am happy to anounce that there will be a second season of "Sayonara Despair Teacher", "Kekkaishi", "D.Grayman" and "xxxHolic". The latter refers to the adventures (he would say misadventures) of orphan Kimihiro Watanuki when he meets with the time witch Yuuko.

Watanuki can see spirits and they like to chase him around. Seems he's downright delectable to the denizens of the spirit realm. He is working as the housekeeper/cook/gofer/etc. at Yuuko's shop in order to earn enough credit to get his wish. Yuuko grants wishes for a price.

The show is ugly at times because what looks elegant on paper (the elongated style of the drawings) doesn't translate that well to animation. But the characters' quirks came through loud and clear though.

Here's the opening song of the first season courtesy of a fan who posted it on YouTube.