To mark their 100th manga for their iPad app, leading manga publisher Viz Media is launching several promotions, including the release of BAKUMAN #4 in digital form on March 28th, more than a week ahead of its April 5th print debut.
In addition, they are making all #1 manga volumes just 99 cents for the rest of March. Finally, BAKUMAN #1 is available for free for 24 hours, starting today at noon PDT. Created by the popular DEATH NOTE team of Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, BAKUMAN is a humorous look behind the manga business, following two students who are trying to break into the manga industry,
NURA: RISE OF THE YOKAI CLAN #1 by Hiroshi Shiibashi is also debuting today at the 99 cent price; Shiibashi is the manga-ka whose grueling work schedule stunned the internet a few months ago. It’s only decent to suggest checking out YKAI so that giving up his life wasn’t all for naught.
Although releasing a comic in digital before print is a sure way to outrage comics retailers, Viz doesn’t have as much goodwill to lose since their titles still sell more in bookstores.
Additional VIZ Media manga volumes available this week include:
BAKUMAN。Vol. 3
BLEACH Vol. 10
CAPTIVE HEARTS Vol. 3
CLAYMORE Vol. 5
D. GRAY MAN Vol. 6
DRAGON BALL Vol. 16
NARUTO Vol. 17
ONE PIECE Vol. 17
OTOMEN Vol. 4
and where can one find these downloads?
FOund it: USA only!
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Yay! They are finally getting it!
Manga is perfectly suited to present e-readers. The screen size is on par with the standard tank page, and an e-reader is much easier to carry about.
I’ve been a huge fan of electronic manga, it’s vastly superior to dead tree for portability and readability. I’m glad to see legal sources.
If they do it right I expect a big resurgence of manga, but publishers have to:
-Keep volume 1 onwards “in print” digitally
-Be reasonably timely with chapter by chapter releases.
-Offer fast turnaround subscription to titles.
I’d be overjoyed to pay a subscription in advance to get the latest chapters of my favourite manga automatically sent to an Android App.