New Ultimo Releases & Takei’s Cardfight!! Vanguard Card

With Viz’s new faster volume release schedule, Ultimo volume 4 was released today in the USA. It is $9.99 for chapters 13-16. The ISBN is 978-1421539522 and is 200 pages. Viz’s summery:

Karakuri New Dawn Yamato wakes up again on the 21st century day that he first encountered Ultimo, and soon learns that he was sent back in time and it’s up to him to prevent total world annihilation. But does he really have the ability to stop the apocalypse–and save Ultimo!–in just 24 hours? On a breakneck tour to meet up with all the dôji, Yamato gets into a skirmish with Iruma and Jealousy and must again go back (way back) in time to make things right…

Being released later on March 4th, is Ultimo volume 6  (機巧童子ULTIMO　6巻) in Japan. It will be priced at 460円. It will be 194 pages and the ISBN is 978-4088702025. The final cover image is shown on the left. It will contain chapters 21 through 24. These chapters have not yet been released by Viz in English.

In other Ultimo news, Ultimo chapter 26 will be released in JumpSQ next month. This chapter will feature a color page.

In a previous news story, Takei commented that he has drawn some card artwork for the new series, Cardfight!! Vanguard. Shown on the left is the card that Takei drew. This creature has been featured in the Anime series (which can be seen on Crunchyroll), though doesn’t follow Takei’s exact design. More information about the card (in Japanese) can be found on the official website.

Sources: Negative Syndicate, Bushiroad Inc.

Ultimo Removed from SJ USA, no new chapters for months

In a shocking turn of events, Ultimo has been removed from the monthly manga line-up of Shonen Jump USA. In the March 2011 issue (issue #3, available now at some news stands), on page 122 this announcement was printed. This single page announcement was stuck between chapters of Bleach. The leading lines of the announcement read; “You noticed it. You told us about it. You said you wanted it! We’re giving it to you!” In the previous issue (Feb 2011, #2), there was a preview for Ultimo in the upcoming March 2011 issue. Chapter 21 was not published in this issue. Chapter 21 will be published in volume 6, which has not been printed in Japan yet, and does not have a US release date and will not be released for at least 4 months.

There is an extra bubble near the title, (which refers to it as “Big Ultimo News”) which states that it is “Uncut! Uncensored! Unbound!” It is possible that the newer volumes of Ultimo may be more graphic and use more mature language than the Shonen Jump edition had. Previously Bakuman was censored for the Shonen Jump publishing, but fixed for the volume print. Ironically, Viz re-published Death Note chapter 2 in this issue and Hiroyuki Takei is listed for the cover art for the issue (though he has no artwork on the cover). Hiroyuki Takei’s previous series, Shaman King, was also cut early from Shonen Jump and given graphic novel-only treatment.

Ultimo volume 4 will go on sale March 1st, 2011 and volume 5 will go on sale June 7th. After the 5th volume, we do not know the release schedule, the release of Chapter 21 (first chapter of volume 6) will have to be sometime after June 7th and effectively put the series on hiatus for at least 4 months, if not at least 6-8 months. It is possible that Ultimo volume 6 could be released in the US sometime August at the earliest, but could be as late as October depending on Viz’s release schedule.

Ultimo volume 4 and 5 release dates updated

Earlier today, the fifth Graphic Novel volume of Ultimo has been announced for release by Viz. It will be released on June 7th, 2011 for $9.99 USD. The ISBN will be 9781421539539 and will be 200 pages. The back of volume summery will be the following:

Returning from his time travels, Yamato lands back on the day before the Hundred Machine Funeral. Will his newfound knowledge about Iruma help him divert the inevitable, or will it only help him mess things up more? In a fierce continuation of the battle that started Yamato’s first time around, both Maruyama and Yamato are injured. Sensing weakness, Vice takes things into his own hands…

This volume will contain chapter 17 through 20, all of which have been released by Viz in Shonen Jump.

At the end of Ultimo volume 3, the release date for Ultimo volume 4 was June 2011. The new release date for volume 4 will be on March 1st, 2011.

Last Tuesday, the final volume of the original series of Shaman King, volume 32 was released. The higher the sales for the final volume of Shaman King there are, the better chance that Viz will license the “Kang Zeng Bang” or “Perfect Edition” of the manga. Since Ultimo is selling well enough to gather a faster release schedule, this could also help Shaman King gain a re-release as well.

New SK and Ultimo USA release covers

Recently images for the final volume of the Shaman King manga series, volume 32 have been released. Additionally, the cover for the 4th volume of Ultimo, which was officially announced at the end of volume 3, have been released. A comparison to the Japanese release is provided below (Japanese on left, English on right). Click on the image to see the full size.

This is the second time Viz has changed the binding picture for Shaman King. The first time was with volume 19 (From Matamune to Anna). Shaman King volume 32 will be released on January 4th, 2011. Ultimo volume 4 will be released on March 1st, 2011.

English Ultimo Volume 4 Release Date Announced

Today Viz released it’s list of new series it has licensed and some of the titles that will be released in Spring and Summer 2011. Sadly, Shaman King: Kang Zeng Bang, or Shaman King Perfect Edition was not included in those announcements. However, Ultimo volume 4 has been given a release date. There is no English cover art for this volume yet, but it should mirror the Japanese version, including it’s contents.

Release Date: June 7th, 2011 (6/7/2011)
ISBN: 978-1421539522
Price: $9.99 USD

Chapters 13-16 (No extras)

All of these chapters have been published by Viz in Shonen Jump in English.

(Source: AAAanime )

Japanese Ultimo and Jumbor volume release dates

Shueisha has recently updated it’s s-manga website with some new information about upcoming Ultimo and Jumbor releases. The following has been updated:

Ultimo volume 4 (機巧童子ULTIMO　4巻)
New release date:  August 4th, 2010
Old release date: July 4th, 2010
Price: 460yen

Jumbor Kanzenban volume 1 (ユンボル 完全版　上)
Release date: August 4th, 2010
Price: 490yen

Jumbor Kanzenban volume 2 (ユンボル 完全版　下)
Release date: August 4th, 2010
Price: 490yen

As reported earlier, these two reprint volumes of the Jumbor series are known as the “Security Editions.” However, on s-manga, they are listed as kanzenban, or “Complete Editions.” Shaman King also had kanzenban releases, but they were referred to as “Kang Zeng Bang.” The two Jumbor reprint volumes are referred to as “Up” and “Down,” instead of volume numbers.  We may have additional information about all of these releases in upcoming Ultra Jump and JumpSQ magazine issues.

(Source: s-manga)

Ultimo Volume 4 Release Date Announced

In the recent issue of JumpSQ it was announced that Ultimo volume 4 will go on sale in Japan on July 2nd, 2010. The price will be ￥500 (yen). There is no ISBN or cover art for this volume yet. Once this information is announced, it will be posted here.

Ultimo is currently being published in JumpSQ in Japan, Chapter 17 will be released on June 4th.

Reprint Volumes 3 & 4 released in Japan

Today, May 4th, Volumes 3 and 4 of the Shaman King reprints were released. Along with this release, Shueisha also updated their websites. Click on the following links to view a sample of each volume:

Volume 3 Preview
Volume 4 Preview

Kang Zeng Bang Volume 3 Cover Kang Zeng Bang Volume 4 cover

Volume 3 contains chapters 21 through 31. While Volume 4 contains chapters 32-42 along with a “Funbari No Uta” (or Funbari Stories) special chapter. This special chapter is the same as the original Volume 5 print stort story at the end. With this pattern, it will appear that each volume will contain 11 chapters. If that is the case, this is the following chapter breakdown for the remaining 23 volumes:

Volume 5 -> 43-53
Volume 6-> 54-64
Volume 7 -> 65-75
Volume 8 -> 76-86
Volume 9 -> 87-97
Volume 10 -> 98-108
Volume 11 -> 109-119
Volume 12 -> 120-130
Volume 13 -> 131-141
Volume 14 -> 142-152
Volume 15 -> 153-163
Volume 16 -> 164-174
Volume 17 -> 175-185
Volume 18 -> 186-196
Volume 19 -> 197-207
Volume 20 -> 208-218
Volume 21 -> 219-229
Volume 22 -> 230-240
Volume 23 -> 241-251
Volume 24 -> 252-262
Volume 25 -> 263-273
Volume 26 -> 274-284
Volume 27 -> 285-295

Outside of prediction, several changes were made with Chapter 21 in Volume 3 reprint. The first 2 pages were removed. These pages were replaced with a single “cover page” on the third page of the chapter. It’s also interesting to note that, the 2nd page in the reprint chapter was completely redrawn.  On the Volume 4 reprint table of contents there is a letter “q” placed on the page. This is most likely a printing error.

Shaman King Nation will have a complete comparison of Volumes 1 and 2 soon, with a general summery comparison of Volumes 3 and 4 will be made once scans are found.

Reprint Volumes 3 & 4

On April 4th, the second wave of reprint volumes will be released in Japan. Volumes 3 and 4, as listed below, are the two volumes to be released on this date. It is expected that Volume 3 will contain “Last Word Vol 2,” and both volumes to contain new Shaman Files. There has been no new updates on any additional extras in these volumes.

シャーマンキング　完全版 3
Shaman King Kang Zeng Bang 3
Kang Zeng Bang Volume 3 Cover

ISBN: 9784088742052
Format Size: A5
Pages: 232
Price: 1,000yen

シャーマンキング　完全版 4
Shaman King Kang Zeng Bang 4
Kang Zeng Bang Volume 4 cover
ISBN: 9784088742059
Format Size: A5
Pages: 236
Price: 1,000yen

Based on the images from “Last Word” Volume 1, we can assume, the following:
Volume 5: Horohoro
Volume 6: Tamao (possibly doubled with Manta)

Shaman King Kang Zeng Bang volumes 3 and 4 will go on sale this Friday in Japan. Shaman King Nation will have updates from these volumes, as well as a comparison and review of Volumes 1-2 next week.

Worldwide Release Updates

March 4th, 2008, it’s the begining of the end of Shaman King in Japan. So, I would like to take a moment to make note of the manga volumes that have been released:

United Kindom:
Shaman King Volumes 9 & 10
United States:
Shaman King Volume 15
Japan:
Shaman King Reprint Volumes 1 & 2

Please consult our Guide to Importing the Reprint Volumes for importing the reprint volumes from Japan. If you can, please purchase one of the books listed above. The fandom is based on purchasing these products. Shaman King Nation will have a review of Volume 15 once I go out and purchase it.

On a final note, Shaman King Reprint Volumes 3 & 4 will be released on April 4th, NOT April 1st, as originally predicted.