Two Exciting New Sports Manga Series Launch From VIZ Media

Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen

VIZ Media, LLC, a premier company in the field of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, has announced the launch of a pair of new manga series. The riveting sports manga Haikyu!! comes to English readers with the print and digital debut of the series on July 5th while the smash hit manga series Kuroko`s Basketball kicks off with Volume 1 on August 2nd. Created by Haruichi Furudate, Haikyu!! depicts the on- and off-the-court drama of a driven young volleyball player. The series is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will be released under the Shonen Jump imprint with a print MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 U.S. Haikyu!! launches digitally on July 5th on VIZManga.com and also will be available via the VIZ Manga App, as well as from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and Google Play stores. Future editions of the ongoing series will be published in English on a monthly basis until it catches up with its Japanese counterpart. Ever since he saw the legendary player known as “the Little Giant” compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else? In the opening volume, after losing his first and last volleyball match of his middle school career against Tobio Kageyama, "the King of the Court," Shoyo Hinata swears to become his rival. But what happens when the guy he wants to defeat ends up being his teammate?! “Haikyu!! is extremely popular in Japan, whereit won the 2015 Shogakukan Manga Award in the Shonen category and continues to sit alongside other top popular series in Japan’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine,” says Marlene First, Editor. “Haikyu!! is one of the most requested series by fans and we are very excited to announce its official debut. With its captivating underdog story and high-energy, fast-paced storytelling, Haikyu!! will keep manga fans on the edge of their seats this summer!" Manga creator Haruichi Furudate began his manga career when he was just 25 years-old with the one-shot Ousama Kid (King Kid), which won an honorable mention for the 14th Jump Treasure Newcomer Manga Prize. His first dedicated series, Kiben Gakuha, Yotsuya Sensei no Kaidan (Philosophy School, Yotsuya Sensei’s Ghost Stories), was serialized in Japan in 2010 in Weekly Shonen Jump. In 2012, he began serializing Haikyu!! in Weekly Shonen Jump, where it has become his most successful work to date. Haikyu!! also has been adapted into a very popular anime series whose 3rd season is set to debut in Japan later this year.

Image courtesy of VIZ Media. © Tadatoshi Fujimaki/SHUEISHA Inc.

Kuroko`s Basketball was created by Tadatoshi Fujimaki and has become a global sensation. The series is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will debut in 2-in-1 omnibus editions under the Shonen Jump imprint with a print MSRP of $16.99 U.S. / $19.99 CAN. Kuroko`s Basketball also launches digitally on August 2nd on VIZManga.com and will be available via the VIZ Manga App, as well as the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and Google Play stores. Future omnibus editions of the ongoing series will be published in English on a bi-monthly basis. In Kuroko`s Basketball, when incoming first-year student Taiga Kagami joins the Seirin High basketball team, he meets Tetsuya Kuroko, a mysterious boy who`s plain beyond words. But Kagami`s in for the shock of his life when he learns that the practically invisible Kuroko was once a member of “The Miracle Generation” -- the undefeated, legendary team -- and he wants Kagami`s help taking down each of his old teammates! “Kuroko`s Basketball has been really popular in Japan, having sold more than 30 million copies, and overseas fans have been clamoring for it for quite some time now,” says John Bae, Editor. “There will be no time-outs taken while working on this series with2-in-1 omnibus volumes released every two months.Look out for the excitement hitting streets this summer!” Manga creator Tadatoshi Fujimaki made his debut in 2007 in Akamaru Jump with Kuroko`s Basketball, which was later serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump. It quickly gained popularity and was also adapted into an anime series in 2012. For additional information on Haikyu!!, Kuroko`s Basketball and other manga titles published in-print and digitally by VIZ Media, please visit VIZ.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the field of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine Weekly Shonen Jump and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan`s largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide. Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at VIZ.com.