Viz Media is launching a new comics platform in the US for original one-shot stories.
According to a press release via Anime News Network, Viz Media revealed that it is launching a new one-shot submission portal as part of its Viz Originals line. The manga platform will produce unique short stories specially created by writers in the US. Hisashi Sasaki, former editor-in-chief of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, will supervise and guide the writers. selected. Viz Media will publish the successful one-shots digitally. Published one-shots can also lead to the company licensing and establishing IP, turning the story into an anime, and producing other property-related merchandise.
Back in May, Viz Media launched its digital comics service. The service’s catalog includes unprecedented simultaneous releases in English of ongoing manga from Shogakukan and classic manga titles. The digital manga service platform has over 10,000 chapters of both Shueisha and Shogakukan titles. Viz Manga is available in the US and Canada for a monthly subscription fee of $1.99. The company continues to offer a separate Shonen Jump service. Viz Media launched the graphic novel publication Viz Originals in 2019 to collaborate with manga authors on developing new stories.
The launch of Viz Media’s new platform comes after controversy surrounding former official translator Lightning, who ceased most social media activities following ongoing copyright strikes from the publisher and Japanese media conglomerate Shueisha. Lightning translated and provided notes on the popular manga Nue’s Exorcist, and used their social media platforms to provide translations of interviews with famous mangakas and additional notes on Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man . Japan has strict copyright laws due to the rampant level of leaks in the country’s manga community.
Lightining’s statement explaining the decision to remove all materials related to Shueisha read: “All I want to do is help the community for the manga I love, dispel the notion mistakes and create fun yet informed discussions. I never take it for granted.” of a community. I tried my best to help and respond to everyone. But now I have ways that I can help the community without having to be in this hostile environment. I will continue to work behind the scenes on official translation + localization notes for both Nue & Jiu-Jitsu […] I so sorry. I can’t in the sense that supporting manga legally and helping readers understand and enjoy the series more will still get you targeted by publishers, but spreading illegal leaks won’t. What are the consequences?”
Jujutsu Kaisen, My Hero Academia, Dragon Ball Super and Nue’s Exorcist are all available on Viz Media’s digital services platform.
Source: Anime News Network
