This year VIZ Media has something truly special planned, it’s a 32-page Shonen Jump sample (rated T for teens) featuring one chapter of Ultimo, one of the newest serialized manga adventures in the best-selling monthly manga anthology.

Manga, you say? But not just any manga. Ultimo is the historic collaboration between comic book legend Stan Lee, creator of many iconic superheroes, including Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men, and Hiroyuki Takei, the creator of the popular Shaman King manga series. The new series, which is serialized in Shonen Jump, is an incredible collaboration of East and West with the majesty of manga and the sultan of superheros.

Also included in the Sampler is a special look at every single SHONEN JUMP manga series, an Ultimo pinup (of a character that may look familiar to Stan Lee fans), and an insightful interview with both Stan Lee and Hiroyuki Takei.

So make sure you stop by your local comic book shop this Saturday to pick up the special Shonen Jump sampler and all of the free comics. For more information visit www.shonenjump.com or stop by www.freecomicbookday.com to locate a participating location near you.

Cover art courtesy of VIZ Media.

Post from: SF Universe

It’s not a major motion picture or another run on TV, but how about a comic based on Jericho? Will that suffice?

Devil’s Due Publishing (DDP) has announced a deal with CBS Consumer Products to publish a new comic book based on the series. The comic book series will pick up where the television program left off, answering many questions for its passionate fans. DDP has teamed up with the show’s creators and producers to develop an authentic story that will hit comic book retailers this fall.

“Jericho is alive and well, thanks to the amazing fans who’ve driven us to find new and fresh ways to tell the Jericho story,” says Dan Shotz, Co-Executive Producer of Jericho.  “Josh Blaylock and the DDP team are great partners and have shown a true love for our show.  We are so thrilled about this comic book series and the endless possibilities for the future of Jericho.”

Joining Shotz in developing the comic book will be most of the original creative team including Jon Turteltaub, Carol Barbee, Karim Zreik, and Jon Steinberg.

“I can’t tell you how cool it is for DDP to be able to continue the Jericho story in comic book form,” says DDP President Josh Blaylock. “We plan to give fans the story they’ve been craving.  This is going to be epic stuff.”

Photo: Robert Voets/CBS ©2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Post from: SF Universe