San Diego Comic Con

Special Dragon Ball Super Event Panel Being Held During Comic-Con @ Home

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

The official English-language Twitter account for the Dragon Ball franchise has announced a very special panel being held during this year’s edition of the Comic-Con @ Home virtual convention, hosted by San Diego Comic Con.

The Dragon Ball Super Movie Announcement Panel will feature legendary voice of Goku Masako Nozawa, Akio Iyoku, the Executive Producer of the Dragon Ball series as well as an editor for author/creator Akira Toriyama, Norihiro Hayashida, the producer of TV animation and movies for Dragon Ball, including 2018’s Dragon Ball Super: Broly along with frequent series music composer and JAM Project member Hironobu Kageyama.

The new Dragon Ball Super anime feature film was first announced in May 2021 with a 2022 release date, and Toriyama confirmed being involved in its development through a special message released with the announcement. The panel will be held on Friday, July 23, 2021 at 10 a.m. PDT.

Source: Crunchyroll

San Diego Comic-Con Canceled Due to COVID-19

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

The organizers of the San Diego Comic-Con convention have announced that this year’s event has been canceled due to the COVID-19 situation and California Governor Gavin Newsom’s statements. This year’s event was originally scheduled for July 23-26, 2020 at the San Diego Convention Center. Customers who purchased badges for Comic-Con 2020 will have the option to request a refund or transfer their badges to next year’s event, which will take place on July 22-25, 2021.

The situation also affects Comic-Con’s renovation of Balboa Park’s Federal Building for the grand opening of the Comic-Con Museum in Summer 2021. The organizers are re-phasing the museum’s planned major renovations, but they will not scale back the visitor experience for the opening.

Source: ANN

VIZ Media Announces Panels, Special Guests and Retail Exclusives for Comic-Con 2019

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

VIZ Media prepares for one of the nation’s biggest annual pop culture events with panels and signings for SHONEN JUMP and Seis Manos at Comic-Con International in San Diego, California.

Check out the Seis Manos panel, an upcoming Netflix Original Anime Series and VIZ Media’s first original animated property. The panel features a star-studded cast and crew including Mike Colter (Luke Cage), Jonny Cruz (Overwatch), Angelica Vale (Jane the Virgin) and Danny Trejo (Machete) alongside creators and series’ writers. Panel guests will also participate in an official autograph session in the Sails Pavilion.

Additional events planned for the show include the SHONEN JUMP panel where voice actor guest Robbie Daymond will share insights on his role as Mitsuki in the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations anime series. Fans will have the opportunity to meet Robbie during a signing session at the VIZ Media booth post-panel. Meanwhile the VIZ Originals imprint will participate in the official Comic-Con portfolio review sessions. Reviews will be conducted by Fawn Lau, Executive Editor for VIZ Originals, at the Portfolio Review Area located inside the Sails Pavilion. For more details please visit: viz.com/originals.

There’s even more excitement at VIZ Media Booth #2813. Fans can participate in a Sailor Moon photo opportunity. Attendees pose with Sailor Moon, share their experience directly via social media, and get entered in a sweepstakes to win Sailor Moon-themed prizes. In addition, the VIZ retail shop is the destination for a wide array of convention specials and exclusive products, and each purchase comes with an exclusive 2019 tote bag featuring Pokemon or Sailor Moon (while supplies last).

Notable VIZ Media Comic-Con 2019 exclusives include:

  • ONE-PUNCH MAN Volume 1 with Variant Cover $10
  • ONE-PUNCH MAN Pin Set $18
  • SAILOR MOON: SAILOR STARS T-SHIRT $20
  • JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE GOLDEN WIND Pin $12
  • JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE GOLDEN WIND Figure $45
  • MY HERO ACADEMIA & ONE-PUNCH MAN Manga Replicas $15 each

VIZ Media Comic-Con 2019 Panels & Signings:

Friday, July 19, 2019

1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. SHONEN JUMP Panel
Room 6A

Hang out with Team SHONEN JUMP for the latest developments on new series from Japan, all-time fan favorites and what we’re doing to bring you the world’s best manga. We’ll also be chatting up prolific voice acting star Robbie Daymond (Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, One-Punch Man and more).

3:00 p.m. Robbie Daymond Signing
VIZ Media Booth #2813

Voice actor Robbie Daymond (voice of Mitsuki in Boruto) will visit the booth to sign posters for attendees. Signing is first come, first served, at the time of the event.

Saturday, July 20, 2019

10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. VIZ Media Presents SEIS MANOS Panel
Room 6BCF

Meet the incredible lineup of voice cast and creative talent behind Seis Manos, an upcoming Netflix Original Anime Series. Join lead cast members Mike Colter, Jonny Cruz, Angelica Vale and Danny Trejo alongside creator and showrunner Brad Graeber, writer and co-creator Alvaro Rodriguez, and writer Daniel Dominguez, as we dive into the action-packed world of Seis Manos.

12:30 p.m. SEIS MANOS Cast & Staff Signing
Autograph Area, Sails Pavilion

Meet the cast and crew of the upcoming Netflix series Seis Manos and receive a poster. This is a pre-ticketed event; the drawing for tickets will be held Saturday at 9:00 a.m. PDT in the Sails Pavilion Autograph Area.

Media Do International Licenses Keisuke Itagaki’s Baki Manga

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Media Do International announced at the Manga Publishing Industry Roundtable panel at San Diego Comic-Con that it has licensed Keisuke Itagaki’s Baki manga. The company will release the manga digitally first, with a possible print release in the future.

Itagaki’s original Baki The Grappler manga ran for 42 volumes in Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine from 1991 to 1999. The manga has more than 63 million copies in circulation. Media Do International’s license is for the Baki sequel manga, which ran for 31 volumes from 1999 to 2005. The company clarified that it is also interested in releasing the original manga, but it is waiting to see how its Baki release does.

Source: ANN

Udon Entertainment’s Announcements at San Diego Comic-Con

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Udon Entertainment made the following announcements during the company’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con:

  • Udon Entertainment announced that it will release the FLCL Archives book in English in February 2019. The book, which shipped in Japan in November 2016 features character and mecha designs, key visuals, and the original pitch for the FLCL anime with hand-written notes from the creators.
  • The company also announced it will release Hitoshi Ariga’s 48-page Mega Man X: Mega Mission one-shot manga for the first time in English in January 2019.
  • Udon Entertainment also announced that its release of Telegenic! Atsushi Nishigori Animation Works is now scheduled for December 2018.
  • The third and fourth volumes of Ukyō Kodachi and Tatsuma Ejiri’s Infini-T Force: Arc to the Future manga are scheduled to be released in October 2018 and December 2018, respectively.

Source: ANN

VIZ Media Welcomes My Hero Academia Creator Kohei Horikoshi at Comic-Con International 2018

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

VIZ Media will welcome My Hero Academia creator Kohei Horikoshi for his first-ever North American professional appearance at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2018.

Kohei Horikoshi is scheduled to participate in a variety of events during the convention including the official My Hero Academia panel discussion. The panel will feature several notable voice actors including Christopher R. Sabat, voice of All Might, and Justin Briner, voice of Deku, from the anime adaptation of the popular series. The creator will also be a part of VIZ Media’s Weekly Shonen Jump panel. A pair of autograph sessions are also scheduled to take place during the show. Event times and additional information will be announced soon.

Comic-Con International is one of the nation’s largest comic book, science fiction, and pop culture events, and will take place July 18–22, 2018 at the San Diego Convention Center, in San Diego, California. VIZ Media will be located in Booth #2813. Complete details on Comic-Con are available at: comic-con.org.

Kohei Horikoshi was born in Aichi, Japan, in 1986. He received a Tezuka Award Honorable Mention in 2006, and after publishing several short stories in Akamaru Jump, his first serialized work in Weekly Shonen Jump was Oumagadoki Doubutsuen in 2010. Barrage and his current series, My Hero Academia are published in English by VIZ Media.

My Hero Academia asks… What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks”? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere. Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course. But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

An instant best seller, My Hero Academia has also been adapted into a hit anime series available from FUNimation; the Season 3 SimulDub™ is currently streaming on funimation.com. My Hero Academia Volume 13 will be available in print and digital editions in June 2018. Free chapters of the spin-off series, My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, inspired by the popular manga, are currently available on viz.com.

VIZ Media Details Special Guests, Events, and Convention Exclusives for Comic-Con 2017

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

VIZ Media announces special guest appearances, panel discussions, autograph sessions, promotional giveaways and a variety of exclusive and pre-street retail items available for purchase at Comic-Con International 2017.

Comic-Con International is one of the nation’s largest comic book, science fiction and pop culture events, and will take place July 19–23, 2017 at the San Diego Convention Center, in San Diego, California. VIZ Media will be located in Booth #2813. Complete details on Comic-Con are available at: Comic-Con.org.

This year, VIZ Media is proud to present the English voice casts from the anime series, Boruto and Sailor Moon, as special guests. Fans can catch them in panel discussions as well as special autograph sessions. Other guests appearing at the VIZ Media booth will include Magic: The Gathering writer James Wyatt and artist Tyler Jacobson as well as My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic head writer Meghan McCarthy and series songwriter Daniel Ingram.

VIZ Media Comic-Con 2017 Events

Thursday, July 20, 2017

4:00pm–5:00pm VIZ Media Official Panel Room 7AB
Join us for exciting announcements, exclusive first looks at new titles, and prizes.

Friday, July 21, 2017

3:30pm–4:30pm Shonen Jump Panel with Special Guests Room 5AB
Come hang with your Shonen Jump pals and select English Boruto voice actors. We’ll be making announcements, discussing Shonen Jump manga, and giving you the chance to answer ridiculously easy trivia for prizes.

5:30pm BORUTO English Voice Cast Autograph Session VIZ Media Booth #2813
Stop by the VIZ Media booth after the panel for a special Boruto: Naruto Next Generations voice cast signing. See the booth’s front desk for full details.

Saturday, July 22, 2017

1:30pm–2:30pm Official SAILOR MOON Panel Room 5AB
Join the Sailor Moon team for all the news and updates on the legendary anime series, as well as some special guest appearances.

3:30pm SAILOR MOON Voice Cast Autograph Session VIZ Media Booth #2813
Catch the voice cast after the panel for a special signing session at the VIZ Media booth starting at 3:30pm. Stop by the booth’s front desk for full details.

Fun activities taking place at the VIZ Media booth will include:

In-Booth Signing Sessions
THE ART OF MAGIC: THE GATHERING – Meet Magic: The Gathering writer James Wyatt and artist Tyler Jacobson and get a free signed art card – Thursday, July 20, 2017 at 2:30pm and Friday, July 21, 2017 at 11:00am

THE ART OF MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE – Meet My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic head writer Meghan McCarthy and get a free signed sneak peak of the upcoming art book and movie – Thursday, July 20, 2017 at 11:00am and Friday, July 21, 2017 at 1:00pm (with series songwriter Daniel Ingram)

BORUTO – THE NEXT GENERATION – The race to become the next Hokage starts at Comic-Con. Get a premium poster tube and three exclusive Boruto posters.

ONE-PUNCH MAN – What Hero Rank Are You? Find out your Hero Association Rank.

Manga sampler, poster and postcard giveaways – Stop by the VIZ Media booth’s front desk for a variety of freebies (while supplies last)

The VIZ Media booth’s retail area will offer a variety of Comic-Con exclusives, pre-sale items, and more. Each purchase comes with a special VIZ Media 2017 exclusive limited edition tote bag offered in three designs. Select from Sailor Moon, Shonen Jump (featuring One-Punch Man and Boruto), or Pokemon themed tote bags.

Exclusive Items:

  • One-Punch Man and One Piece manga replicas – $15 each
  • One-Punch Man Oppai T-Shirt – $20
  • Sailor Moon Crystal T-Shirt – $15

Pre-Street & Pre-Order Items:

  • Death Note: All-in-One Edition – $40
  • The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Volume 2 – $10
  • JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Season 1 Blu-ray Set (includes an exclusive bandana with purchase) – $65
  • Pokemon Adventures 20th Anniversary Illustration Book – $25
  • Sailor Moon Crystal Set 3 Combo Pack Preorder (includes an exclusive suncatcher with purchase) – $65
  • Vampire Knight: Memories Volume 1 – $10

Special Bundles & Gifts With Purchase:

  • One-Punch Man Special Bundle: includes One-Punch Man Limited Edition Blu-ray Set and Volume 1 manga; also receive an exclusive Hero Association silvertone metal pin – $60
  • Boruto manga and Movie Bundle: includes Boruto: Naruto the Movie Combo Pack and Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Volume 1 manga; also receive an exclusive Boruto postcard set – $32
  • The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Volumess 1-2 ­ – $15
  • The Art of Magic: The Gathering – Amonkhet: includes an exclusive poster as gift with purchase – $30
  • Premium Weekly Shonen Jump Annual Subscription: includes exclusive Weekly Shonen Jump hat and two Yu-Gi-Oh! Cards – $30

Eisner-Nominated Titles (available at Discount Price):

  • Blanc et Noir: Takeshi Obata Illustrations – $75
  • Goodnight Punpun Volume 1 – $20

TOKYOPOP Announces Events and Programming at Comic Con International

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

TOKYOPOP has announced its full programming for the 2017 Comic Con International.

TOKYOPOP returns to Comic Con with a new wave of new releases, news on the next phase of publishing, and exclusive programming for manga fans of all ages.

“It’s exciting to see mainstream pop culture embracing all things comics, and of course that includes manga,” said founder and CEO Stu Levy. “We plan to continue innovating – if you’re in San Diego this year, please stop by our booth or our panels to say hello and pick up some freebies!”

In addition to the company’s return to publishing and the show floor, TOKYOPOP will be hosting two exclusive events for manga fans attending the show:

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Manga Around the World (6pm – 7pm) @ room 28D
Examining the trends in an ever-evolving world of manga, TOKYOPOP looks at licenses in the US, Germany, China, Korea and around the world. From huge franchises like Attack on Titan and My Hero Academia to indie titles and original language series, learn about manga’s creation and development as Japanese comics continue to expand to a global audience.

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Disney Manga: Comics For All Ages (4pm – 5pm) @ room 29AB
With the explosion in manga’s popularity, parents have been rightfully concerned about child-friendly options. With series brought directly from Japan and our own original titles made in collaboration with Disney’s team, TOKYOPOP aims to break down the misconception that all manga is inappropriate for little ones and wants to encourage young readers with this fun line of graphic novels.

Fans can stop by booth #2445 to pick up the publisher’s full line of Disney titles, along with all-new original English manga titles like Sophie-chan’s Ocean of Secrets, and meet the team behind the manga innovator’s return to publishing the very best in manga.

VIZ Media Welcomes the English Voice Cast of Sailor Moon and Boruto at Comic-Con 2017

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

VIZ Media welcomes English voice actors from the anime series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations and Sailor Moon for special appearances and panel discussions at Comic-Con International 2017.

Comic-Con International, which is one of the nation’s largest comic book, science fiction and pop culture events, will take place July 19–23, 2017 at the San Diego Convention Center, in San Diego, California. VIZ Media will be located in Booth #2813. Complete details on Comic-Con are available at: Comic-Con.org.

Join the English voice casts of two of VIZ Media’s anime series as they participate in panel discussions and autograph sessions throughout the convention.

Friday, July 21, 2017

3:30pm – 4:30pm Shonen Jump Panel with Special Guests Room 5AB
Come hang with your Shonen Jump pals and select English Boruto voice actors. We’ll be making announcements, discussing Shonen Jump manga, and giving you the chance to answer ridiculously easy trivia for prizes.

Catch key cast members from Boruto: Naruto Next Generations. Scheduled to appear will be:

  • Amanda Celine Miller (Boruto)
  • Cherami Leigh (Sarada)
  • Robbie Daymond (Mitsuki)

5:30pm BORUTO English Voice Cast Autograph Session VIZ Media Booth #2813
Stop by the VIZ Media booth after the panel for a special Boruto: Naruto Next Generations voice cast signing. See the booth’s front desk for full details.

Saturday, July 22, 2017

1:30pm – 2:30pm Official SAILOR MOON Panel Room 5AB
Everyone’s favorite Guardian of Love and Justice is back and better than ever. Join the Sailor Moon team for all the news and updates on the anime series, as well as some special guest appearances.

Catch the cast of Sailor Moon at the panel. Scheduled to appear will be:

  • Amanda Celine Miller (Sailor Jupiter)
  • Cherami Leigh (Sailor Venus)
  • Robbie Daymond (Tuxedo Mask)

3:30pm SAILOR MOON Voice Cast Autograph Session VIZ Media Booth #2813
Catch the voice cast after the panel for a special signing session at the VIZ Media booth starting at 3:30pm. Stop by the booth’s front desk for full details.

VIZ Media to Welcome the Creators of Pokemon Adventures at 2016 Comic-Con International

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

VIZ Media announces that it will welcome the creators of the Pokemon Adventures manga series—Hidenori Kusaka and Satoshi Yamamoto—for a very special, first-ever professional appearance at the 2016 Comic-Con International. Pokemon Adventures is published in English exclusively by VIZ Media.

Comic-Con International is one of the nation’s largest comic book, science fiction and pop culture events, and will take place July 20–24, 2016 at the San Diego Convention Center, in San Diego, California. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 2813. Complete details on Comic-Con are available at: www.comic-con.org.

Hidenori Kusaka and Satoshi Yamamoto are scheduled to make a series of appearances throughout Comic-Con. The pair will meet fans at the VIZ Media booth for signings and participate on a Pokémon panel event alongside VIZ Media editors. Other exciting Pokémon activities will be detailed soon.

“It’s a tremendous honor to welcome Hidenori Kusaka and Satoshi Yamamoto as special guests for the 2016 Comic-Con International,” says Beth Kawasaki, Senior Editorial Director for Perfect Square. “We know fans of all ages will be very excited for the opportunity to join in the fun as Pokémon celebrates its 20th Anniversary and VIZ Media celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year.”

Hidenori Kusaka writes and Satoshi Yamamoto creates artwork for Pokemon Adventures, where fans’ favorite Pokemon game characters jump out of the screen into the pages of this action-packed manga. The creative duo have developed several series within the Pokemon Adventures universe including Pokemon Adventures, Pokemon Adventures: FireRed & LeafGreen, Pokemon Adventures: Emerald, Pokemon Adventures: Diamond & Pearl/Platinum, Pokemon Adventures: HeartGold & SoulSilver, Pokemon Adventures: Black & White and Pokemon X•Y. They are currently working on the 12th and 13th story arcs, Pokemon X•Y and Pokemon ΩRuby αSapphire.

In addition to writing manga, Hidenori Kusaka also edits children’s books and plans mixed-media projects for Shogakukan’s children’s magazines. He uses the Pokemon Electrode as his author portrait.

Satoshi Yamamoto began drawing VIZ Media’s Pokemon Adventures in 2001, starting with volume 10. Yamamoto’s favorite manga creators/artists include Fujiko Fujio (Doraemon), Yukinobu Hoshino (2001 Nights), and Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira). He loves films, monsters, mysteries, punk rock music, and livin’ the good life. He uses the Pokemon Swalot as his artist portrait.