It's in no way news that I've often been a vocal critic of the publishing practices of VIZ Media. I was also a skeptic when I heard that VIZ was starting to publish the Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha line, the publisher's response to all the various scan groups. However, I do respect that they are responding to the market demand. For the past year, VIZ has offered some of the latest chapters of Japan's popular WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP magazine, but with a two week delay. That's about to change in less than a week's time.
Starting on January 21, 2013, VIZ will be presenting Weekly Shonen Jump -- sans the alpha -- with the same day releases as Japan. This will mean no more delays. As it's released in Japan, we will be getting it online with full translation. Subscribers will also get a full year of issues that they now own. These will no longer expire, as they used to. It can be read on your computer, IOS, or Android devices via the appropriate apps.
This is a huge leap in innovation, and I hope the translators aren't pushing themselves too hard. With the inclusion of new series to the line up, and the finale of BLEACH building. These people are going to have a big year ahead of them.
I purchased my membership last week on the computer. Reading the magazine on the computer was a bit awkward. The interface tools are not incredibly responsive while trying to zoom in and scroll the page. It's far too easy to accidentally hit the next page button and lose your place. It does show two pages at once for all those big action scenes.
The reading experience on my Kindle Fire was remarkably improved, and the app was free. Zooming in to read some of the finer print was smooth, and I would imagine that reading on the larger screen of an iPad would be even easier, Only downside I saw was that the Kindle Fire version only shows the images by the page. It cuts off multi-page panels. I can't speak to how this works on Apple devices. I greatly look forward to using this source as I continue to review the Shonen Trilogy for Anime Vice.
-Kristoffer Remmell ( FoxxFireArt) is a freelance graphic artist, writer, and over all mystery geek.- Follow for news updates: @AnimeVicers/ @ FoxxFireArt
This is awesome news, do hope they pick up Assassination Classroom. (I really want to read it)
Anyway, I hope they pick up a lot of different Manga titles (the future is looking bright)
@Destinyheroknight:
The only series it's confirmed to be adding is ONE-PUNCH MAN, but it does make mention of various other series. I wouldn't expect this service to provide any other series that SHONEN JUMP titles.
I would add that I discovered that you can view both pages together on a Kindle Fire, but you have to hold it sideways.
@FoxxFireArt:
Well, I think the limit is JUMP titles, since Blue Exorcist is in and it in the monthly one.
@FoxxFireArt: Thanks for the heads up. Will look into this. I dont do the kindle fire but do use a 24 dell ultra sharp screen. Curious on how it would work for reg pc.
I wish there was a way to subscribe to a series, to be able to get the new releases of a series, then get the full volumes in the mail when they are available. Still, this is a great development.
Well at least I know my subscription wont go to waste this time. I paid last year to support the creators even though I still read the scans since they were more current. But I do appreciate the higher res straight from the source material.
@AgentJ:
You can preorder volumes of manga months in advance from Amazon, and possibly from other online retailers.
@Om1kron:
It's nice to know that users will now own the issues they paid for with the subscription. I play to still check scans on the chance of censorship.
:)
@FoxxFireArt: Yeah, I preorder them through Rightstuf, but a subscription package where I could read the chapters digitally as they come out, then receive the volumes, for the price of the books or slightly higher, would be a big plus for me.