Ultimo vol 3 planned for Japan, vol 2 annouced for USA

Amazon has listed “機巧童子ULTIMO 3” (Karakuridouji Ultimo vol 3) ready for pre-order. The price is 500yen, and is set to be released on March 4th, 2010. This is only two months after volume 2 has been released. The ISBN-10 is 4088700171 and ISBN-13 is 978-4088700175.

Ultimo is currently being published in JumpSQ in Japan with a new chapter released every month.  On March 4th, a new issue of JumpSQ will also be released. This will contain the 14th chapter in the series, with 45 pages and a color page, totaling 46 pages.

Ultimo volume 2 has also been annouced for release in August in English by Viz. This annoucement came in the back of volume 1 of the manga on February 2nd, 2010. There has been no annouced plans for volume 3 in the United States, and it is unlikely that volume 3 will follow as shortly behind as the Japanese releases.

Ultimo is being released monthly in Shonen Jump USA by Viz.

Source: Ultimo vol 3 (amazon)

March 2009 Releases

March has a bunch of releases all over the world, from Japan, to the USA, and the UK. So, let’s start where it all comes from, Japan.

KZB25LQOn March 4th, Shaman King Kang Zeng Bang ( シャーマンキング　完全版 ) volumes 25 and 26 will be released. Each volume will sell for 932yen (plus tax). Volume 25 contains reprints of chapters 267-277, Visionz 4, and Funbari No Uta 4. Chapters 269-277 were originally chapters 267-275 printed in Volume 31.  Chapters 278-279 were originally chapters 276-277 printed in Volume 32. The ISBN is 978-4-08-874227-4 and contains 260 pages.

KZB26LQ

Volume 26 contains chapter 280-286 was originally Chapters 278-284, from Volume 32. Chapter 287 was originally chapter 285, only released in Volume 32, however, this chapter for the Kang Zeng Bang has been rewritten and the original should be discarded as an alternate story. Finally, chapters 287-291 are new chapters only printed in this KZB release. A preview for chapter 288 was released online for free on Feb 28th, 2009 which can be found here. The ISBN is 978-4-08-874228-1 and contains 248 pages.

The final Shaman King Kang Zeng Bang volume, 27, will be released on April 4th and contain all new chapters and the final conclusion to the Shaman King manga.

Also in Japan, Ultimo chapter 2 will be released Jump SQ on March 4th as well.

SK20USASK21USAOn March 2nd, Shaman King volume 20 will be released in the UK in Enlgish. This is the same release as Viz’s English USA release. Volume 21 will be released May 5th and volume 22 on July 6th in the UK.

On the following day, March 3rd, Shaman King volume 21 will be released in English in the United States by Viz.  Volume 22 wil be released on May 5th, volume 23 on July 7th, and volume 24 on September 1st.

Shaman King Vol15 Review

On March 4th, Viz officially released Shaman King Volume 15.  This volume begins “Funbari Hot Spring’s” first battle in the Shaman Fight’s official tournament against the “Ice Men.”

Shaman King Volume 15 cover by Viz
MSRP: $7.95USD 
Length: 200 pages (actually 192, but who’s counting?)
ISBN: 1421516578

 I am extremely surprised on how few edits there are in this volume. This volume has ALL of the original background signs and lettering on “Funbari Hot Springs” clothing remain in Japanese. Sometimes an English translation is provided, other times not. It is assumed that once you read the translation once, you’ll remember it. Thanks Viz for doing less work. Sadly, the SFX is still being translated and wrote over with English replacements. However, this volume they don’t pop-up very much, and they have done a great job of keeping it small and not removing as much of the artwork as before. If you read my previous review, you’ll also notice that I was really against the “whiteboxing.” Thankfully, the whiteboxing has been removed, and the traditional placement of text, overlapping artwork (without a box) has returned. John Hunt did an excellent job redrawing in the images, instead of just adding bigger text. Very few spots were missed. There was so few edits, I don’t feel there is a need to do a chapter by chapter breakdown! Yes, it’s very good, quite possibly the single best volume of Shaman King released to date (in terms of edits). Personally, I think the story is dragged on a bit much here, so it’s not one of my more favorite volumes in terms of story. Also, alot of the material for the Shaman King Character Book “Man.Ji.En” came from this volume. However, Viz has no plans to release this special book at this time. If the book were to be released, it would be released around the time after Volume 20. This would be a 2009 release, if it were to happen.

So, if you haven’t purchased this volume yet, get on it! Volume 16 will be released on May 6th.

Weekly Shonen Jump ad for Vol. reprints

Weekly Shonen Jump adIn the latest issue of Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan, this ad for Shaman King Volume reprints (Kang Zeng Bang) was printed. The top of the ad contained the same information that was previously reported. The body of the ad contains the following translations:

- There will be 380 pages for the new ending (more than two normal volumes!)
- There will be more than 200 color images in total, includying new information profiles for the characters
- There will be 27 new “oversoul covers”, all of them with shaman + spirit overlay

Yoh is saying, “Sorry for the wait, but I had to keep it a secret.”

Under that is explaining about how it’s been 10 years since Shaman King was first printed and that the volumes will be reprinted starting on March 4th, 2008.

Finally, at the bottom right we can see the final version of Volume 1 and Volume 2. The was some changes made to Volume 1 compared to the original image of it. Nothing major, and the cover looks about the same, unless you look for the changes.

Shaman King manga volume reprints will be on sale starting March 4th in Japan. Shaman King Nation will have a complete review of both volumes on March 10th.

(News Story tip by Dit)
(Image scan from http://anime3.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/rcomic/1203612597/ )