VIZ Media Debuts New RUROUNI KENSHIN Manga 3-in-1 Editions

VIZ Media notably expands its catalog of omnibus manga releases with the announcement of RUROUNI KENSHIN 3-in-1, Vol. 1 on January 3rd. Creator Nobuhiro Watsuki’s acclaimed saga of a drifting swordsman in Meiji Era Japan is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teen and the new 3-in-1 editions will carry a print MSRP of $14.99 U.S. / $19.99 CAN each. New omnibus volumes will be published on a quarterly basis.

In RUROUNI KENSHIN, Himura Battosai was once an assassin of ferocious power during the violent upheaval of the Bakumatsu era. But as the Meiji Restoration heals the wounds of civil war, Battosai takes up a new name and a new calling. As Himura Kenshin, he now fights only to protect the honor of those in need.

RUROUNI KENSHIN made its first appearance in Japan in 1992 as an original short story in Weekly Shonen Jump Special and went on to garner fans around the world. Later rewritten and published as a regular, continuing manga series in 1994, RUROUNI KENSHIN ended serialization in 1999 but it continued in popularity, as evidenced by the 2000 publication of Yahiko no Sakabato(Yahiko’s Reversed-Edge Sword) and the 2015 publication of RUROUNI KENSHIN: RESTORATION in WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP. The series also has inspired novels, anime and feature films. Creator Watsuki is also the author of the popular series, BUSO RENKIN, which is published by VIZ Media.

Dragonball Super English Dub to Premiere on Toonami

Dragon Ball fans everywhere just received the biggest gift of the holiday season. Toei Animation Inc., Funimation©Entertainment and Adult Swim are pleased to announce their partnership to bring “Dragon Ball Super” to TV audiences starting next January. “Dragon Ball Super” is the first new storyline in more than 18 years from original creator Akira Toriyama and the Dragon Ball franchise, which was first introduced to the U.S. more than 20 years ago. Adult Swim will begin airing the U.S. English dub of “Dragon Ball Super” Season 1 during the Toonami block starting on January 7, 2017 at 8 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. ET. Season 1, which totals 26 episodes, encompasses the Battle of Gods and Resurrection ‘F’ story arcs. New episodes of “Dragon Ball Super” will air each Saturday.

”Dragon Ball Super” is more than the latest adventure in the Dragon Ball saga – It’s a collaboration between the series original creator, Akira Toriyama and a passionate team of men and women who are both longtime partners and talented newcomers. “Dragon Ball Super” comes with everything viewers can hope for after waiting 18 long years for a new series – impressible dangers to overcome, the reuniting of beloved characters, and new additions to the mythos that will rock Dragon Ball’s very foundation,” said Masayuki Endo, President and CEO of Toei Animation Inc. “We are very excited to return “Dragon Ball Super” to its U.S. broadcast home on Adult Swim.”

“Toonami and the Dragon Ball franchise have a long and storied history together in the U.S.,” said Jason DeMarco, senior vice president of on-air for Adult Swim. “We are thrilled to be premiering “Dragon Ball Super” to our audience and keeping Dragon Ball on Toonami!”

Funimation will be producing the U.S. English dub of “Dragon Ball Super” that will air on Toonami The “Dragon Ball Super” cast features veteran voice actors from previous Dragon Ball series including Seán Schemmel (Goku), Christopher R. Sabat (Vegeta), Jason Douglas (Beerus), Ian Sinclair (Whis) and Sonny Strait (Krillin) – all of whom starred in last year’s hit movie “Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’,” which became the 9th highest grossing anime film of all time in U.S.A..

“We’re extremely pleased to join with Toei Animation in this broadcast partnership with Adult Swim to bring “Dragon Ball Super” to a whole new generation of TV audiences,” said Gen Fukunaga, CEO and founder of Funimation. “I have no doubt that ‘Dragon Ball Super’ will eclipse the television success of the original Dragon Ball series that first aired here more than 20 years ago when anime was still new to the U.S. Those kids that grew up watching Dragon Ball now have kids of their own.”

As part of the English dub production and in advance of the broadcast television premiere, a new DragonBallSuperOfficial.com website has been launched that serves as a hub for all things Dragon Ball. The site will feature exclusive content, videos, graphics and character bios as well as the latest news on the franchise.

 Series Synopsis

With Majin Buu defeated, Goku has taken a completely new role as…a radish farmer?! With Earth at peace, our heroes have settled into normal lives. But they can’t get too comfortable. Far away, the powerful God of Destruction, Beerus, awakens to a prophecy revealing his demise at the hands of an even more formidable being. When his search for the Saiyan God brings him to Earth, can Goku and his friends take on their strongest foe yet?

Deadpool The Duck #1

PRESS RELEASE

What do you get when you take one cynical anthropomorphic duck (named Howard) and cross it with the smelliest (and most annoying) mercenary in the Marvel Universe? DEADPOOL THE DUCK #1! Coming to comic shops and digital devices everywhere on Janurary 4th, its high-stakes avian antics as two of Marvel’s most beloved, and crass, heroes merge for an all-new series brought to you by Stuart Moore (CLOAK & DAGGER, THANOS: DEATH SENTENCE Novel) and Jacopo Camagni (DEADPOOL’s SECRET SECRET WARS).

When Deadpool is sent on a mission from S.H.I.E.L.D. to capture a high-profile E.T. that is rampaging across the high plains, the snatch-and-grab turns out to be much more complicated than the Merc with a Mouth anticipated. One unfortunate wrong place at the wrong time accident later leaves Deadpool and Howard fighting for control as the newest mercenary of the Marvel Universe!

So strap in, break out your chimichangas and crusty bread scraps and hang on! Because you’re in for: rabid raccoons, secret laboratories, cramped spaceships, evil corporations, gastric distress, and S.H.I.E.L.D. Did we mention that’s only issue one?! Flap your wings over to your local comic shop on January 4th to get your hands on DEADPOOL THE DUCK #1!

Valliant teases its upcoming XO Manowar movie

Despite the story of the Valiant Universe’s cornerstone character coming to a true conclusion with the final issue of his self-titled comic in September of 2016, the armored hero known as X-O Manowar is poised to return in as the lead in an all-new series early next year.

Today, Valiant Entertainment teases the next chapter in the saga of X-O Manowar with a new piece of art. But will Aric of Dacia once again don the iconic armor, or is there a new hero waiting to take up the mantle? After all, when it comes to superhero comics, a character’s story is never truly over, but heroic legacies can be the stuff legends — and franchises — are made of.

Whatever the answer, readers will learn more when “X-O Manowar” #1 arrives in March 2017, just in time to celebrate the character’s 25th Anniversary. The creative team has not yet been announced, but the teaser art (below) announcing the upcoming series is by Monika Palosz.

FINAL FANTASY Trading Card Game Coming to North America

Following a six-year run in Japan with 15 expansions, 3.5 million booster packs sold and over 2,000 different cards to date, Square Enix®, Inc., today announced that the FINAL FANTASY® Trading Card Game will be available in North America on October 28^th.

The FINAL FANTASY Trading Card Game ("FFTCG") is the result of a close collaboration between Hobby Japan and Square Enix. Designed by former trading card game champion Taro Kageyama, the game received high praise for its blend of strategy, luck and fast-paced gameplay making it very versatile and appealing to all kinds of audiences.

The first set, entitled "Opus 1", will feature 216 cards with iconic designs from highly acclaimed artists including Tetsuya Nomura, Yoshitaka Amano and Akihiko Yoshida, covering nearly 30 years of FINAL FANTASY. New cards themed after FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE™, DISSIDIA®, and WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY™ will also make their debut in Opus 1.Each card in Opus 1 will also have  a premium “foil” version, making this set a must have for all the collectors out there.

Opus 1, the first set from the FINAL FANTASY TRADING CARD GAME, will be available in major hobby stores on October 28, 2016. More information on the cards is available athttps://www.fftradingcardgame.com/

Valiant's Faith named as Official Comics Ambassador for Breast Cancer Prenvention Non-Profit

Image Credit: Valiant Comics

Press Release

Valiant Entertainment – the award-winning publisher of the largest independent superhero library in comics – and The Keep A Breast Foundation – the leading global youth-based breast cancer prevention organization – are proud to announce a new ongoing partnership dedicated to furthering the California-based non-profit’s ongoing mission with new initiatives in educational publishing, fundraising merchandise, convention and exhibitions outreach around the world, and much more.

As detailed today at Fast Company, the new face of this first-of-its-kind collaborative partnership will be Valiant’s own leading super-heroine, Faith, who will make her debut as Keep A Breast’s official “comics ambassador” at New York Comic Con 2016. Faith will then subsequently be utilized throughout a number of Keep A Breast promotional endeavors globally in 2016 and beyond.

“The foundation of everything Keep A Breast does is art, and it absolutely thrills us to team up with people, like Valiant Comics, that are breaking the norm in their own industries,” said Keep A Breast Founder & CCO Shaney jo Darden. “When we read Faith, we were so excited to see a hero that was so funny, real, and full of self-love. Art has the power to heal and impact people in the best way, and this partnership will further prove how art can put a spotlight on real issues and start important conversations that can save lives.”

“Creativity can be the catalyst for great change, and it is often said there is no medium more creative than comic books,” said Valiant Chief Operating Officer & CFO Gavin Cuneo. “With Faith at the forefront of a wide variety of upcoming Keep A Breast programs, we look forward to aiding them in their vitally important and all-too-needed cause of combating breast cancer through art, education, and the creative spirit. As one of the most optimistic heroes in comics today, Faith is already an inspiration to many. Now, in her new role as an ambassador on Keep A Breast’s behalf, it is our sincere hope that her unbeatable spirit will inspire a new contingent of fans and enthusiasts to join their campaign against this tragically common condition.”

Additionally, Valiant and Keep A Breast’s joint mission to promote breast health and cancer prevention across all facets of comics fandom and culture will continue with special fundraising endeavors throughout New York Comic Con 2016. From Thursday, October 6th through Sunday, October 9th, Valiant’s Faith will appear on two limited-edition collectibles, specially produced to benefit Keep A Breast and available exclusively at the publisher’s NYCC booth #1635.

Turner Licenses Rights to Iconic Star Wars Film Collection

Turner has entered into multi-year licensing agreements for the Star Wars movie collection through unprecedented domestic deals withThe Walt Disney Studios and 20th Century Fox that grant TNT & TBS the exclusive linear basic cable and companion ad-supported on-demand rights to Star Wars. The agreement with Disney for 10 films includes the network premiere windows to last year's record-breaking Star Wars: The Force Awakens and this year's highly anticipated Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which opens in theaters on December 16, 2016. The Disney agreement also includes five of the six original classic Star Wars films, as well as the network television premieres of the next three yet-to-be-released movies.  The installment that launched the franchise, Star W ars: A New Hope, comes to Turner through a separate arrangement with 20th Century Fox, thus making Turner the only company with basic cable rights to all 11 titles in the collection.

 "The Star Wars movies and characters are beloved across generations, captivating audiences and breaking box office records around the globe for nearly four decades," said Deborah K. Bradley,executive vice president of networks optimization, content strategy and commercialization for Turner. "Through this deal, TNT and TBS will be the exclusive basic cable home of one of the most iconic, enduring and valuable movie franchises of all time, giving viewers the chance to watch this amazing collection from the very beginning."

The Star Wars movies will come to Turner beginningTuesday, September 20, when TNT kicks off six consecutive nights of the original classic films(complete schedule below). The movies will also air in December, in conjunction with Disney's theatrical release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. TNT is set to premiere last year's blockbuster Star Wars: The Force Awakens in early 2018, followed in 2019 by this year'sRogue One: A Star Wars Story.

TNT presents the original six Star Wars films over six consecutive nights, starting Tuesday, Sept. 20

Tuesday, Sept. 20
8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
11 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

Wednesday, Sept. 21
8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
11:05 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Attack of the Clones

Thursday, Sept. 22
8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
11:05 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

Friday, Sept. 23
8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: A New Hope
10:45 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: A New Hope

Saturday, Sept. 24
10:45 a.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
1:45 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
4:55 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
10:45 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Sunday, Sept. 25
5:15 a.m. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
8:15 a.m. Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
11:20 a.m. Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
2:25 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: A New Hope
5:10 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
8 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
11 p.m. (ET/PT) – Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

2 a.m. (ET/PT) –Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

ALL NEW WOLVERINE #13 PREVIEW

Image Credit: Marvel

Press Release

Wolverine...murderer?! One of the most iconic Wolverine stories of all time is reborn this October as the new Wolverine runs a deadly gauntlet in ENEMY OF THE STATE II! Today, Marvel is pleased to present your first look inside ALL-NEW WOLVERINE #13 – the first chapter of Enemy of the State II, coming to you from blockbuster writer Tom Taylor and incoming artist Nik Virella (Return of the Living Deadpool, 1872)! Laura has fought hard to be something other than what she was programmed for. But the fight is over. The killing machine has returned, and Wolverine has blood on her hands. As her actions bring the forces of S.H.I.E.L.D. and some of her deadliest foes descending upon her, dark forces conspire to manipulate Laura for their own gains. Can the Wolverine outrun the demons from her past? Or will she be forced to give up all she’s built? The stakes have never been higher as the Wolverine faces her greatest challenge yet when ENEMY OF THE STATE II kicks off this October in ALL-NEW WOLVERINE #13!

Batman: Return to Arkham Release Date Set for October 18, 2016

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced that Batman: Return to Arkham will be available beginning October 18, 2016 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One. The bundle includes remastered versions of Batman: Arkham Asylum andBatman: Arkham City, as well as all of the Game of the Year edition bonus and downloadable content ever released.

The newly revealed Official Batman: Return to Arkham Side-by-Side trailer showcases the game’s improved graphics, upgraded models, environments, lighting, effects and shaders. Batman: Return to Arkham is being remastered by Virtuos using Unreal Engine 4, and will be available for a suggested retail price of $49.99/€49.9/£39.99.