Viz Delivers The Creeps This Halloween With 4 Horror Manga Releases, New Issue of Shojo Beat and a Night at a Haunted Attraction

VIZ Media Delivers The Creeps This Halloween With Four Acclaimed Horror Manga Releases, Hot New Issue Of Shojo Beat Magazine And A Sponsored Night AT A Haunted Attraction

San Francisco, CA, September 28, 2007 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, will spook mature-aged manga fans nationwide with an array of horror manga just in time for Halloween. Known for stories that blend the supernatural with the surreal, the horror genre of manga is truly one of the most unique and perhaps underrepresented, but definitely worthy of exploration. VIZ Media will offer four acclaimed titles that are guaranteed to scare this October under its Signature imprint. The titles include PORTUS, Vol. 8 of DRIFTING CLASSROOM and 2nd Editions of UZUMAKI and GYO.

UZUMAKI (2nd Edition) - Rated "M" for Mature - MSRP: $9.99 - Available October 16, 2007
A new 2nd Edition of this unique horror manga from Junji Ito, UZUMAKI, depicts a town's creepy obsession with spirals. Slowly but steadily, people become variously fascinated with, terrified of, consumed by and ultimately killed by the countless occurrences of the spiral in nature - seashells, ferns, whirlpools in water, and whirlwinds in air. Junji Ito is one of Japan's most acclaimed horror manga creators, winning the prestigious Umezu prize for horror. UZUMAKI was also turned into a live action film in 2000 and set off a run of popular Japanese horror films including Ju-On and Ringu. UZUMAKI will make an impression with the reader as the hapless town inhabitants are pulled ever deeper under the spiral's spell, as if into a whirlpool from which there is no return. The 2nd Edition features a trim black cover with red lettering.

GYO (2nd Edition) - Rated "M" for Mature - MSRP: $9.99 - Available October 16, 2007
Another horror masterpiece from Junji Ito offers a fishy horror tale that will guarantee a second thought before a trip to the seashore! From the mind of Eisner-nominated manga artist Junji Ito comes this diabolical tale of a peaceful town terrorized by waterborne monstrosities. Something is rotten in Okinawa as the rank odor of death floats over the island. A strange, legged fish appears on the scene and so begins teenager Tadashi's wild adventure into the horror (and stench) of the sea. The new 2nd Edition features a trim black cover with red lettering that complements the 2nd Edition of UZUMAKI.

PORTUS - Rated "M" for Mature - MSRP: $9.99 - Available October 9, 2007
Asami's best friend Chiharu has stopped coming to school and isn't answering her phone. It seems she has found something that's a little more addictive than the school art club. But when Chiharu mysteriously commits suicide, all Asami finds in her room is a strange video game called Portus. With the help of two of her teachers, Asami hopes to solve the mystery behind her friend's macabre death and the bizarre game. But is she prepared for the horrors of entering the twisted world of Portus, a game where, if you lose, death is your only option? Creator Jun Abe debuted with his manga Nedan wa Ii-yo in 1990, and followed with several other titles including The Yamada-ke and Miruo-Pon in Weekly Young Sunday, and Japanese Ahokko Kids in Monthly Sunday GX. PORTUS is notable for beautiful, precise illustrations reminiscent of the work of Takeshi Obata (DEATH NOTE).

DRIFTING CLASSROOM Vol. 8 - Rated "M" for Mature - MSRP: $9.99 - Available October 16, 2007
Without warning, a Japanese elementary school is transported out of the world they know, and into a nightmarish wasteland. Have they gone to another planet, or is this toxic world actually a vision of Earth's future? Soon, the students and teachers must struggle to survive in impossible conditions, besieged by terrifying creatures and beset by madness. Part Lord of the Flies, part post-apocalyptic Kid Nation, THE DRIFTING CLASSROOM (1972-1974) by Kazuo Umezu is a classic can't-put-down manga series that was also adapted into a Japanese live-action movie (1987). Volume 8 of the 11-volume series finds Sho, a 6th grader and leader of the marooned group of kids, forced into slavery by the crazed former cook of their school. Sho and a small band manage to escape and make it into the wrecked Tokyo subway where they encounter a world of horror, but also perhaps the answer to the end of the world.

"The Halloween season is a perfect time for the release of this collection of horror manga titles," states Alvin Lu, Vice President, Publishing, VIZ Media. "Each of these stories is unique and we are pleased to offer an exceptional selection of content under our Signature imprint to make this year's Halloween an especially scary one. Horror manga is not yet widely known in North America and we look forward to fans discovering this under-appreciated genre through these terrifying new releases!"

more VIZ Media Halloween news...

SHOJO BEAT Magazine
Don't miss the October issue of Shojo Beat magazine - it includes tons of Halloween content, including two Halloween hot lists, a Do It Yourself guide to throwing an awesome Shojo Beat-themed Halloween party, and a four-page feature on the most terrifying movies, manga and myths in Japan! Plus, a story on traditional Japanese sweets (including an easy recipe for mochi!), an intimate interview with Japanese rock stars An Café, an interview with a gothic lolita designer who's making waves in the US, and an exclusive manga preview! In addition, the goddess of gothic Shojo manga, Junko Mizuno, creepily renders our Beat Girl. The issue includes a deliciously dark poster from the vampire-romance series Vampire Knight! The October issue of Shojo Beat Magazine also includes the chance for readers to win the Limited Edition perfumes; 'Vampire Tears' and 'Midnight Kiss', inspired by SHOJO BEAT and created by Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs, these can also be purchased at www.blackphoenixalchemylabs.com

Haloween Event!
VIZ Media will be sponsoring a night of Halloween fun October 18th at New York city's premier haunted attraction, Blood Manor. Blood Manor is a first class Haunted Attraction comprised of approximately 5,000 square feet of themed rooms, corridors, and a labyrinth of passageways designed to maximize one's fears! The first 500 attendees on October 18th will receive a SHONEN JUMP + SHOJO BEAT gift bag filled with Halloween filled goodies including magazines, a DEATH NOTE calendar, VAMPIRE KNIGHT poster, BLACH DVD sampler and SHOJO BEAT inspired perfumes 'Vampire Tears' and 'Midnight Kiss' by Gothic scent specialists Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs. For more information about this exciting month long Haunted Attraction go to www.bloodmanor.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan's largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages.