PR: VIZ Media Opens 2012 with Brand New Digital Manga Update for January

VIZ MEDIA OPENS 2012 WITH A BRAND NEW DIGITAL MANGA UPDATE FOR JANUARY

Updates Include WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA “Issue Zero” & “Issue Origins” Debut and Launch of Preorder Promotion; SHONEN JUMP DIGITAL WARP Continues For BLEACH And ONE PIECE

VIZ Media begins 2012 with a brand new update of manga (graphic novels) titles available on VIZManga.com and for digital download on the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad^®, iPhone^® and iPod^® touch.

The countdown to the January 30^th debut of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA (WEEKLY SJ ALPHA), North America’s only near-simultaneous digital manga magazine, continues with the debut of the free WEEKLY SJ ALPHA “Issue Zero” and “Issue Origins.” Get a taste of WEEKLY SJ ALPHA in “Issue Zero,” featuring the recently released-in-Japan chapters of BAKUMAN。, BLEACH, NARUTO, NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN, ONE PIECE and TORIKO. In “Issue Origins,” read where each story began in full first chapter previews, and see why millions of readers worldwide have fallen in love with these series.

Fans can now pre-order an annual subscription or gift a subscription to WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA at SJ.viz.com/preorder. All preorders include entry to win a 16GB WiFi iPad 2. This special limited time promotion will end January 30^th at 10AM Pacific.

Subscribers to WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA will receive a full year’s subscription (48 issues), an annual collector’s yearbook, and access to exclusive content, including creator interviews and videos. The first interview, featuring NARUTO creator Masashi Kishimoto, debuts the same day WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP ALPHA launches on Monday, January 30^th.

The SHONEN JUMP DIGITAL WARP continues with the release of the latest BLEACH Vol. 52 and ONE PIECE Vol. 63. The SHONEN JUMP DIGITAL WARP is a ‘speed-up’ of selected titles to bring U.S. readers up-to-date with Japanese releases and prepare for the launch of WEEKLY SJ ALPHA.

Manga volumes launching this week include:

BLACK BIRD Vol. 12
BLEACH Vol. 52
DENGEIKI DAISY Vol. 8
ONE PIECE Vol. 63

VIZ Media’s multiple digital manga platforms allow for universal access to read manga from an iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and now, on VIZManga.com for desktop/laptop computers as well as Android-powered devices with built-in web browsers. With one account, registered users may access their purchases across even more devices than ever.

The free VIZ Manga App continues to be the top app for reading manga and features a rapidly growing library of the most popular manga series in the world. Over 45 series and 500+ volumes are currently available, with new additions and free Chapter 1 previews added weekly.

For more information, please visit VIZManga.com or www.VIZ.com/apps.