Raving Toy Maniac

VISIT VIZ MEDIA AT COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL, BOOTH #2819

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES EXCITING BOOTH ACTIVITIES, SHOW EXCLUSIVES, AND OTHER EVENTS FOR 2013 COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL

VIZ Media Showcases Digital Manga, WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP, And Neon Alley Anime Channel, And Offers Collectable Giveaways, Fun Booth Activities, Panel Discussions And Much More At The Nation's Largest Comics And Pop Culture Convention

San Francisco, CA, July 15, 2013 - VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, prepares to delight legions of anime, manga (graphic novel), and pop culture fans at the 2013 Comic-Con International as it announces a wide array of special events, unique giveaways, informative panel discussions, and other fun activities and convention exclusives.

Comic-Con International is the nation's biggest comic book, science fiction and pop culture event, and takes place July 18th-21st at the San Diego Convention Center, in San Diego, CA. VIZ Media will be located in Booth 2819. Complete details on Comic-Con are available at: www.comic-con.org.

Visitors to the VIZ Media booth are invited to try out the digital manga experience on the Apple iPad® - bring an entire manga library wherever you go! Over 130 series and 1,500 volumes are now available through VIZManga.com, as well as the exclusive WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP digital manga magazine that features the world's most popular series released simultaneously with Japan!

Want the latest information on new and upcoming VIZ Media manga and graphic novel releases? Want to enter to win a special signed UGLYDOLL poster? Booth visitors can get their badges scanned in the Kids Corner and get signed up for the VIZ Media newsletter and receive an exclusive TIGER & BUNNY collectible card pack! And don't forget to also charge your mobile device at the special MAX STEEL charging station!

Fans are further invited to participate in a fun ONE PIECE stamp rally and enter to win a new iPad® Mini! Pick up a treasure map at the VIZ Media booth and collect stamps at partners Namco Bandai (Booth 121) and FUNimation (Booth 4135). For an extra chance to win, also visit the WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP truck on Saturday afternoon (7/20) during the SHONEN JUMP Fan Meet Up at the 5th Avenue landing behind the convention center!

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP show specials continue at the VIZ Media booth throughout Comic-Con. Fans can receive a limited edition SHONEN JUMP button by getting their badge scanned and can also sign up for an annual membership at a $19.99 SDCC exclusive price. The show special includes the 2013 WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Yearbook and a choice of an exclusive YU-GI-OH! card OR an exclusive glow-in-the dark Shonen Jump button set!

VIZ Media also invites Comic-Con attendees to check out its Neon Alley 24/7 anime channel, which recently expanded to deliver online web access from Mac and PC devices in addition to offering access on the Xbox 360® and Xbox LIVE® and the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) gaming system and the PlayStation®Network. During Comic-Con, booth visitors can fill out a Neon Alley survey and receive a free 30-day trial membership to the channel and a tote bag! Or join Neon Alley and test your skills to win a prize - the higher the score, the more awesome the prize!

Additional Comic-Con giveaways will include an array of special VIZ Media manga samplers, posters, buttons and more. And don't forget to check out the extensive Comic-Con anime screening schedule for an array of VIZ Media titles to be screened throughout the weekend, including the highly anticipated BERSERK THE GOLDEN AGE ARC II - THE BATTLE FOR DOLDREY, ACCEL WORLD, and many more!

Sunday, July 21st is Kids Day at Comic-Con. VIZ Media will offer a full day of fun booth appearances and signings, including one by UGLYDOLL co-creator David Horvath and UGLYDOLL graphic novel artist Ian McGinty. HELLO KITTY® graphic novel artist Jacob Chabot and MAX STEEL graphic novel writer Tom Pinchuk. The young and the young-at-heart can also learn more about VIZ Media's kid's titles and upcoming plans during a special "Kids Comics: Here to Stay!" panel discussion. VIZ Media will release additional details on all of its Kid's Day activities.

VIZ Media Comic-Con Panels & Special Events Include:

Thursday July 18th

4:00 - 5:00PM VIZ Media Panel
(Room 7AB) - Special Announcements at Panel!
Get the latest updates and exciting news directly from VIZ Media staff on your favorite manga and anime! You'll also get the scoop on new acquisitions, upcoming releases, and special new projects to be announced!

Friday July 19th

1:00 - 2:00PM VIZAnime Featuring Neon Alley Panel
(Room 32AB)
Find out what's new and hot in the world of VIZ anime, distributors of Japan's super hit NARUTO, BLEACH and many more. Come join members of the VIZ Media animation team for special announcements, fun prize giveaways, and get an exclusive look at Neon Alley, the 24/7 anime streaming experience that's like nothing ever seen before.

Saturday July 20th

4:00 - 5:00PM WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Podcast - Live Recording!
(Room 5AB)
Join podcast controller Urian Brown and the rest of the WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP team at our first-ever LIVE podcast recording session, only at Comic-Con! We'll also be giving away a ton of prizes!

2:00PM WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Fan Meet Up!
(5th Avenue Parking Lot)
Join other fans at the 5th Avenue Landing Parking Lot (Exit the convention center past Hall H and walk down Convention Way toward the harbor and follow the signs) for a special SHONEN JUMP meet-up. Get energized with the SHONEN JUMP team - attendees will receive free sodas and energy drinks featuring Naruto and the rest of your favorite SHONEN JUMP characters. Get there early for a chance to design your own custom-printed SHONEN JUMP t-shirt. Free while supplies last!

Sunday July 21st

12:00 - 1:00 PM Panel: Kids Comics: Here to Stay!
(Room 28DE)
What do BABYMOUSE, HELLO KITTY®, UGLYDOLL, NINJAGO, MAX STEEL, and BEN 10 have in common? They're now all part of the incredible world of kids' comics! Moderated by author/librarian and Good Comics for Kids contributor Scott Robins, the panel features Eisner-nominated BABYMOUSE creator and CBLDF board member Jennifer Holm, UGLYDOLL co-creator David Horvath, artists Ian McGinty (UGLYDOLL, HELLO KITTY) and Jolyon Yates (NINJAGO), VIZ Media editor Traci Todd (HELLO KITTY, UGLYDOLL), and Jesse Post, Director of Marketing for Papercutz.

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan. Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages. VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products. Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.