Shojo Beat Announces Debut Line-Up

In major publishing news, the new Viz anthology Shojo Beat is set to debut in June with six series taken from Hakusensha (a subsidiary of Shueisha), Shueisha (Viz's Greg Evigan) and Shougakukan (Viz's Paul Reiser). Drawn from comics material that have appealed more traditionally to female readers as opposed to the 70-percent male audience for the works in Shonen Jump, Shojo Beat will run 250-300 pages at $5.99 a pop, with a $29.99 six-month subscription offer at launch. Viz plans on distributing a free issue #0 beginning in April and throughout the summer convention seasons in order to help drum up support. The serials planned are two from Shueisha, NANA by Yazawa Ai and Beniiro Hero by Takanashi Mitsuba; two from Shougakukan, Zettai Kareshi by Watase Yuu and Kaze Hikaru by Watanabe Taeko, and two from Hakusensha, Godchild by Yuki Kaori and Akachan To Boku by Marimo Ragawa (volume pictured).

Kevin Melrose links the titles up here. Knowledgeble fans discuss the serial choices here. A manga-savvy comic shop employee gets excited about the book here. The press release: ShojoBeat.doc

The potential importance of this effort cannot be overstated because not only will it test a wider market for manga of this type, but with the successful Shonen Jump it may become one of two or three comic books distributed in many smaller North American towns.
 
posted 6:04 am PST | Permalink
 

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