June 3, 2003 (San Francisco, CA) – VIZ, LLC, North America’s leading publisher of manga, announced today seven new graphic novels to be released at major retailers nationwide this August. All titles will be available for the first time in graphic novel format, with six of the seven titles making their English-language debut.

Themes of VIZ’s new titles will appeal to the romantic superhero in everyone! Below is a list of the seven new August paperback titles by VIZ which includes a brief synopses of each:

BASARA, VOLUME 1
Winner of the 38th Annual Shogakukan Manga Award, this graphic novel is a classic in Japan. An apocalypse of the world turns Japan into a pre-technological desert wasteland where a prophesied “Child of Destiny” is born along with his twin sister, bringing hope to the country. The first of 26 action-packed volumes from the author of CHICAGO!
Price: $9.95 U.S./$16.50 CAN
Pages: 200

BOYS OVER FLOWERS - HANA YORI DANGO, VOLUME 1
Tsukushi Makino is accepted into the prestigious Eitoku academy. Life changes dramatically for Tsukushi when her only friend, Makiko falls on Tsukasa Domyoji, the explosive leader of the “F4,” a group of the four most handsome and richest young men at the school. Domyoji refuses to accept Makiko’s apology and Tsukushi steps in to protect her friend. A red tag appears in Tsukushi’s locker the next morning—a sign from the F4 that she is to be bullied by the school. Also available on DVD this fall from VIZ!
Price: $9.95 U.S./$16.95 CAN
Pages: 216

EXCEL SAGA, VOLUME 1
Today the city—tomorrow, the world! That’s the plan of Il Palazzo, the haughty, pretty-boy leader of ACROSS, a secret society based somewhere deep beneath the streets and sewers of Fukuoka, Japan. It’s a good thing he’s starting small, because ACROSS begins its bid for global domination with just two members—Il Palazzo and Excel, the teenaged girl smitten with him. The inspiration for the outrageous hit anime series, containing scenes that the anime’s director knew he’d never get away with!
Price: $9.95 U.S./$16.50 CAN
Pages: 200

FLAME OF RECCA, VOLUME 1
Meet Recca Hanabishi, a regular high-school kid who hopes one day to become a ninja, and whose life is unexpectedly thrown for a loop the day he meets a cute and mysterious girl named Yanagi. Suddenly, the teenager discovers he’s had super ninja secret powers all along. Inspired the hit Japanese TV series!
Price: $9.95 U.S./$16.50 CAN
Pages: 192

PROJECT ARMS: THE FIRST REVELATION, VOLUME 1: AWAKENINGS
From the creators of SPRIGGAN (STRIKER by VIZ) comes a new tale of nano-machines, cybernetic assassins, powerful telekinetic opponents, and a secret organization dedicated to bring forth the next evolution of man. Ryo Takatsuki is a pretty normal high school student, until he learns that his arm has been secretly replaced with a powerful nano-machine driven weapon called ARMS. Quickly ripped from his ordinary life into one of mayhem Ryo must face those who try to obtain his power by any means possible. Now available on DVD from VIZ!
Price: $9.95 U.S./$16.50 CAN
Pages: 216

TUXEDO GIN, VOLUME 1
High school student Ginji Kusanagi is a tough, motorcycle-riding kid, who’s about to make his debut as a professional boxer. He’s also just met the girl of his dreams. Unfortunately, Ginji is dead...and has been reincarnated into a penguin! Although Ginji is still sentient and thinks like his former human self, in his new life as a penguin, he can’t talk to humans anymore. In this most silly of romantic love-comedies, is there a chance for love to bloom between a boxing penguin and a beautiful girl!?
Price: $9.95 U.S./$16.50 CAN
Pages: 200

WEDDING PEACH, VOLUME 1
In a world where the wedding chapel has become a war zone between good and evil, three young girls transform themselves into mighty morphin’ warriors of love. Transforming into demon-fighting superpower angels when they aren’t busy mooning over the captain of their school soccer team, will the power of love help them save the day? Only Aphrodite knows for sure!
Price: $9.95 U.S./$16.50 CAN
Pages: 200

VIZ, LLC

Founded in 1986, VIZ is a multi-media entertainment company specializing in Japanese entertainment properties for U.S. audiences. VIZ offers an integrated product line including magazines, comics, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks. VIZ publishes over 20 titles every month including DRAGON BALL Z, GUNDAM, HAMTARO, INU-YASHA, POKEMON, RANMA ½, SHONEN JUMP, and YU-GI-OH!.

Based in San Francisco, VIZ is one of the top five comics publishers in the U.S. and a subsidiary of Shogakukan and Shueisha Inc., two of the top publishers in Japan. VIZ is the leading publisher of manga for English speaking audiences, serving a growing market of dedicated fans of all ages. Estimating a core audience of nearly 15 million fans, the company holds more than a 50% market share of Japanese comics in the U.S. With some of the most innovative products in the industry, VIZ has expanded its offerings to its loyal fans through web sites such as www.animerica-mag.com, www.shonenjump.com and its corporate site, www.viz.com.

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