Jaco the Galactic Patrolman

VIZ Media’s Digital Manga Updates for January 2015

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

VIZ Media opens 2015 and offers fans a fun way to begin the New Year with fresh digital manga for January 2015.

The company also has extended its holiday digital manga promotion through January 15, 2015. Take advantage of this special opportunity to save up to 70% off on digital manga volumes across scores of favorite series featured on VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App. Many volumes are available for only $1.99 each. Also check other digital manga partner sites for similar special pricing.

Readers can look forward to the launch of five brand new manga titles throughout the month, including the shojo series, Meteor Prince, Dragon Ball Z creator Akira Toriyama’s quirky comedy Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, and the release of Shirahime-Syo and Duklyon: CLAMP School Defenders, by the legendary manga creative team of CLAMP. Also scheduled to make its digital debut in January 2015 is the post-apocalyptic cyber thriller, The Third.

Additional digital manga updates for the month include 17 new volumes for other acclaimed titles including the exciting not-to-be-missed series finales for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Part 1 – Phantom Blood (Digital MSRP: $10.99), Mouryou Kiden: Legend of the Nymph (Volume 3), and Mikansei No. 1 (Volume 2). Other continuing series receiving January 2015 updates include Case Closed (Volume 53), Kiss of the Rose Princess (Volume 2), Lucky Star, My Love Story!! (Volume 3), Nisekoi (Volume 10), One Piece (Volume 73), Sgt. Frog (Volume 2), two volumes of Video Girl Ai (Volumes 10-11), Zone-00 (Volume 4) and many more.

Readers can enjoy all of these new manga titles that are available on VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App for the iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones and 7″ tablets. Titles also may be purchased through the NOOK, Kindle, Kobo, comiXology, iBooks and Google Play stores. These dynamic digital platforms offer fans the opportunity to explore and enjoy a massive catalog of new and classic manga titles that spans more than 2,450 volumes across more than 215 different series.

New January Digital Manga Series Debuts:

METEOR PRINCE Volume 1
Rated “T” for Teens
MSRP: $6.99 U.S. / CAN (Sale Price $4.99)
Available Now

Strange accidents always seem to happen around Hako Natsuno – so much so that she’s been dubbed the “Queen of Bad Luck.” It’s hardly surprising then that a naked alien prince falls from the sky to tell her that out of all the girls in the universe, he’s come to Earth to mate with her. Does this mean Hako’s luck has changed, or…?

JACO THE GALACTIC PATROLMAN Volume 1
Rated “A” for All Ages
MSRP: $6.99 U.S. / CAN (Sale Price $4.99)
Available Now

Manga legend and creator of Dragon Ball Z, Akira Toriyama, is back with the quirky comedy Jaco the Galactic Patrolman. Retired scientist Omori lives alone on a deserted island while continuing his research into time travel. His quiet life is interrupted when galactic patrolman Jaco crash-lands and decides to move in with him. This agent from space claims to be elite, but sometimes it can be a little hard to believe. Can Jaco get along with the old man long enough to save the earth from a dangerous threat?

SHIRAHIME-SYO (Complete In One Volume)
Rated “T” for Teens
MSRP: $4.99 U.S. / CAN (Sale Price: $3.99)
Available January 13, 2015

Legends say that when it snows, it is because the snow princess is crying. From CLAMP, creators of Chobits and Cardcaptor Sakura, comes a collection of five tragic tales, all connected by the bond of snow. SHIRAHIME-SYO is CLAMP’s return to traditional Japanese form and storytelling. Featuring luscious watercolors and gentle brushstrokes, it is a beautiful departure from CLAMP’s usual fare. Discover for yourself the mystery behind the snow.

DUKLYON: CLAMP SCHOOL DEFENDERS Volume 1
Rated “T” for Teens
MSRP: $4.99 (U.S. / CAN)
Available January 20, 2015

In a crisis, a team of justice appears from nowhere. People call them Duklyon, the Clamp School Defenders. To defend our peaceful life, they carry on struggling rain or shine. The enemy, a secret society of evil, is out to conquer the Earth. Go and fight, our Duklyon. Save our Earth. Don’t miss the exciting adventure by CLAMP.

THE THIRD Volume 1
Rated “T+” for Older Teens
MSRP: $4.99 (U.S. / CAN)
Available January 27, 2015

Many years after a devastating war, Earth is now being watched by a group of beings known as The Third, named for a third red eye on their forehead that can access various computer networks. Navigating this barren, apocalyptic landscape is Honoka, a jill-of-all-trades who uses her powers to keep her friends from The Third’s deadly grasp. This prequel to the action packed anime series takes readers to a time before Honoka is known as the formidable but graceful Sword Dancer, to the beginning of her quest to save the world, to a time when she scarcely understands the powers with which she has been blessed…

Manga Review: Jaco the Galactic Patrolman

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Jaco the Galactic Patrolman was Akira Toriyama’s first serial in 13 years, and it has ties with his most popular work, the Dragon Ball franchise. This volume collects all 11 chapters that were serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump, as well as a bonus Dragon Ball story.

Jaco the Galactic Patrolam
Written by: Akira Toriyama
Publisher: Shueisha
English Publisher: VIZ Media
Release Date: January 6, 2015

The main character of the series is Jaco, an alien Galactic Patrolman who has a strong sense of justice. He’s been sent to Earth with a mission to intercept a projectile that has an alien in it and defeat the alien. I have to admit that when I saw Jaco doing his posing as he introduces himself, it reminded me so much of the Great Saiyaman in Dragon Ball Z.

When Jaco crash lands on Earth, he comes across an island with only one inhabitant: a former scientist named Omori, who lost his wife in an accident on the island. While the experiment he was working on was terminated, he stays alone on the island in order to be by his wife’s grave. Omori also hates humans, which is another reason why he lives such an isolated life. When Omori first meets Jaco, he thinks that he’s some weird guy in a mask. But after he realizes Jaco is really an alien, Omori reluctantly decides to try to help Jaco repair his ship. I have to admit that when I saw Omori in this volume, I couldn’t help but think that his face looked very similar in design to King Piccolo from Dragon Ball.

Jaco and Omori end up becoming friends when Katayude from the government police arrives on the island and tells Omori that he has to leave so it can become a resort facility for politicians. Omori is given a week to move. So now not only is Omori under pressure to try to fix Jaco’s spaceship, he also has to figure out how he can stay on the island.

When the two go to the capital, Jaco rescues a girl named Tights. In the process, he accidentally assaults a couple of police officers. Jaco becomes a wanted criminal, and he receives help from both Omori and Tights. It turns out that Tights is an aspiring science fiction writer, and that she is the older sister of Bulma Briefs from the Dragon Ball franchise.

My favorite part of this volume is when five-year-old Bulma comes to visit Omori’s island with her parents, and how she manages to show up both Omori and her father when it comes to figuring out Jaco’s spaceship. And right at the end of the 11th chapter, the ties between Jaco the Galactic Patrolman and the Dragon Ball franchise are cemented by insinuating that she makes a visit to Omori right before the point the audience first meets Bulma in Dragon Ball.

Jaco the Galactic Patrolman may not be an action-packed story like Dragon Ball, but it’s an enjoyable enough read with its humor and its story of friendship. In some respects, the humor reminds me very much of the type of humor that was seen in the early part of the Dragon Ball franchise that takes place when Goku is a little boy. I believe that fans of Toriyama’s work, especially the early part of the story in the Dragon Ball franchise, will enjoy reading Jaco the Patrolman. However, I should add that you don’t have to be knowledgeable about Dragon Ball to get enjoyment out of this story. While elements and references are made to Dragon Ball, they’re included in a way where knowledge of that franchise isn’t necessary to understand what’s going on. But their inclusion in the story will definitely appeal to Dragon Ball fans.

I originally read the bonus Dragon Ball story when it was included in the April 7, 2014 issue of Weekly Shonen Jump. My thoughts on this story haven’t really changed in the intervening time, so I’ll just include what I originally wrote after I read this in Weekly Shonen Jump.

Goku’s father, Burdock, is out fighting a battle, only to be told that Freeza has ordered all the Saiyans to return to Planet Vegeta. When Burdock returns, he learns through various conversations that one of Freeza’s men was asking around about a Super Saiyan. Then, we see Freeza declare that since the Saiyans are a bit too proud to truly be loyal to him, it’s time to wipe them and their planet out. He decides to carry his plan out in a month’s time. We get to see a young Vegeta and a young Raditz, as well as Burdock’s wife, Gine. We learn that Kakarrot (aka Goku) has been in an incubator for three years. After seeing Kakarrot, Burdock decides he’s going to steal a space pod at night and launch him to a different planet for Kakarrot’s safety, because Burdock senses that Freeza’s up to something. Burdock programs the pod to head to a place called Earth. Then we see that Jaco the Patrolman has been sent to find the projectile from Planet Vegeta after it lands on Earth.

Now, wait a minute here… doesn’t this conflict with what was presented in Dragon Ball Z? From what was stated in the main series, Kakarrot was sent to Earth on a mission to take it over… but this one shot is now saying that it was his parents who sent him to Earth. While it was neat to finally see Goku’s mom, I wish the story didn’t present such a contradiction! While it’s a good story, I have a hard time buying it since it contradicts already established facts. The only way I can truly enjoy this is to think of it as some kind of alternate timeline story.

When it comes to the art, some of the characters have similar looks to characters from the Dragon Ball franchise, such as Omori’s face looking similar to King Piccolo’s. But I’ve come to expect this, though, since Toriyama has developed a particular art style. As soon as you see it, you know it’s something that was drawn by Toriyama.

But in the end, I overall enjoyed reading Jaco the Galactic Patrolman. For me personally, the main weakness of the volume was the bonus Dragon Ball story, simply due to the fact that I’m used to the origin story that was presented in the Dragon Ball Z anime series. Readers who aren’t familiar with the anime shouldn’t have the problems reading the bonus Dragon Ball story that I did. I’d recommend this volume to readers who are interested in becoming familiar with Toriyama’s work but don’t want to commit to a long-running series like the Dragon Ball franchise.

The reviewer was provided a review copy by VIZ Media

VIZ Media Opens 2015 With the Release of Akira Toriyama’s Manga Comedy Jaco the Galactic Patrolman

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

VIZ Media prepares to thrill manga readers and fans of legendary creator Akira Toriyama with the launch of Jaco the Galactic Patrolman in print and digital on January 6, 2015.

The complete-in-one-volume interstellar comedy will be published under the company’s Shonen Jump imprint. Jaco the Galactic Patrolman is rated “A” for All Ages and will carry a print MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

A digital version of Jaco the Galactic Patrolman also debuts on January 6, 2015 for $6.99 (USD/CAN) from VIZManga.com and through the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones. The digital volume of Jaco the Galactic Patrolman can also be purchased through the NOOK, Kobo, comiXology, Kindle, iBooks and Google Play stores.

“Jaco The Galactic Patrolman is Akira Toriyama’s first new release in over a decade and notably features some must-read Dragon Ball Z content related to the parents of Goku, the hero of his other bestselling manga series,” says Alexis Kirsch, Editor. “Jaco is an alien who is very proud, but also extremely clumsy. Together with the reclusive scientist, Omori, and Tights, a mysterious girl that dreams of becoming a sci-fi novelist, the stage is set for fun and zany adventures. Readers of all ages won’t want to miss this fun new series by one of the greatest names in manga!”

JACO THE GALACTIC PATROLMAN © 2013 by BIRD STUDIO/SHUEISHA Inc.

VIZ Media Announces Fall 2014 Manga Acquisitions From the Shonen Jump and VIZ Signature Imprints

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

VIZ Media has announced the acquisition of several new manga titles that are scheduled for release in Fall 2014 from the company’s Shonen Jump and VIZ Signature imprints.

Leyla Aker, Vice President of Publishing says, “Manga fans will have an action-packed array of new titles from our Shonen Jump and VIZ Signature imprints to look forward to this winter. There will be plenty to captivate readers, from the crazy carnival ride of Assassination Classroom, to the debut of Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball tie-in Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, to high-seas adventure in the new One Piece Box Set 2 and zombie attacks in Resident Evil.”

Assassination Classroom and Jaco the Galactic Patrolman will debut in print and also digitally on VIZManga.com and the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, and Android-powered smart phones. They will also be available on the NOOK, Kindle Fire, and Kobo ereaders, as well as in the iBooks and GooglePlay Stores

New Shonen Jump Manga Titles

ONE PIECE BOX SET 2: SKYPEIA AND WATER 7 · Rated “T” For Teens
MSRP: $185.99 U.S. / $185.99 CAN · Available November 2014

Catch all the high seas pirate adventure in the second premium manga box set of One Piece, one of the most beloved and bestselling manga series of all time. The new set includes Volumes 24-46, which comprise the third and fourth story arcs of the series, Skypiea and Water Seven. Also included are the “Strong World” mini-comic and a full-color double-sided poster.

ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM · Rated “T+” For Older Teens
MSRP: $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN · Print & Digital Available December 2014

A humorous and action-packed story about a class of misfits who are trying to kill their new teacher – an alien octopus with bizarre powers and super strength. The teacher has just destroyed the moon and is threatening to destroy the earth – unless his students can destroy him first. What makes things more complicated is that he’s the best teacher they’ve ever had! The bimonthly ongoing series will also be available digitally.

JACO THE GALACTIC PATROLMAN · Rated “T+” For Older Teens
MSRP: $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN · Print & Digital Available January 2015

Akira Toriyama, manga legend and creator of Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, is back with the quirky comedy Jaco the Galactic Patrolman. Retired scientist Omori lives alone on a deserted island while continuing his research into time-travel. His quiet life is interrupted when galactic patrolman Jaco crash-lands and decided to move in with him. Can Jaco get along with the old man long enough to save the earth from a dangerous threat? The debut volume features new, bonus Dragon Ball Z content related to the parents of Goku, the hero of the best-selling manga.

New VIZ Signature Manga Titles

RESIDENT EVIL · Rated “M” For Mature Audiences
MSRP: $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN · Available in Print November 2014

The highly virulent C-virus became a global disaster, but where did the outbreak start? In this five-volume manga prequel to the hit Resident Evil 6 game with story and art by Naoki Serizawa, the terrifying origins are revealed. At the prestigious and elite Marhawa High School in Singapore, a female student suffers a horrifying transformation. Called in to investigate, Professor Doug Wright and his nephew Ricky find themselves caught up in a deadly and growing tragedy. As things get rapidly out of hand, Chris Redfield and his team from the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance arrive on the scene, while behind it all a mysterious figure looms.

VIZ’s Weekly Shonen Jump Adding New Akira Toriyama Manga Series

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

VIZ’s Weekly Shonen Jump digital magazine announced in its July 1st issue that Akira Toriyama’s new manga series, Jaco the Galactic Patrolman will premiere in the July 15th edition of the publication. This is one of three new manga in the 33rd issue of Sheisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump on July 13, 2013 to mark the 45th anniversary of the magazine in Japan.

Also in its July 15th issue, the English Weekly Shonen Jump will also include “special super-color” chapters of One Piece and Naruto, as well as an all-color version of One-Punch Man.

Source: ANN