| June 23, 2009
It’s a Men’s World!
Men, pasta, laksa… Whatever you call them, noodles are the ultimate comfort food.
For centuries mothers have been preparing these starchy treats for their families in steaming bowls of broth or cheesy casseroles.
Rumors say Marco Polo was so moved after experiencing what was then Asia’s best-kept secret that he had to take some home with him.
Today Kentaro Kobayashi has collected some of the best this 4000-year-old delight has to offer in his new book Noodle Comfort.
In the second book of his Easy Japanese Cooking series, Kentaro guides foodies on a
culinary world tour, covering everything from pho and soba to linguine and gnocchi. A world of flavor, Old and New,
come together in this collection of 50 mouth-watering simple recipes sure to tickle taste buds and warm hearts.
Times are tough and money is scarce. We already have so much to strain our noodles
over already. Why worry about dinner, too? Pick up a copy of Kentaro’s Noodle Comfort today and reacquaint yourself
with an old-world dish with a long tradition of taste and comfort. Your brain, and stomach, will thank you later.
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| June 23, 2009
Vertical Vednesday—Yanki-Doodle Dandy
What do Yanki and Yankees have in common? Clearly there is a collective sense of passion
for community and brotherhood that cannot be measured by numerical means. Many Japanese Yanki and 18th Century American
patriots also have been known for their hair as much as their willingness to take to arms…But that is where the similarities end.
Modern day Yanki are a mix of old-skool rebel charm and toughness wrapped in hip-hop threads and punk-rock
bling. Being a Yanki is as much about the attitude as it is the outfit, and after being sent to reform school by PTAs and mass media for
more than a decade these fictional thugs for life are once again taking the J-Pop scene by storm.
In the latest edition of Vertical Vednesday our Japanese pop-culture themed book club will carefully take
on the world of Yanki in manga, prose and film. From the bad boys of Be-Bop High School to Hiroshi Takahashi’s modern day rebels
without a clue, Yanki have repeatedly shown why nice guys always finish last.
Location:
Books Kinokuniya New York, 1073 Avenue of the Americas
Date: June 24, 2009 (Wednesday), 6:30-8:00~
Drinks and snacks will be provided.
Please RSVP by emailing ed@vertical-inc.com
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| June 9, 2009
No Cat = No Happy
Ever live with a cat before? While they might not be man’s best friend, the furry little balls of fun have won over the hearts and homes of people worldwide to often become more than just friends…they are now family.
And like a sibling or cousin-once-removed they are equally capable of providing warmth and affection as well as guile and wickedness. No one knows what motivates a cat’s finicky heart, but a cat-owner’s heart is overflowing with love and respect for their feline companions.
In Mariko Koike’s The Cat in the Coffin the Naoki Award winner introduces readers to a household that revolves around its cat. So when kitty meets a tragic end, life in this once spirited home falls apart as one by one darkness consumes its occupants.
Everyone knows cat love is an unconditional yet painfully one-sided kind of love, so go give your tabby a hug and then go buy a copy of The Cat in the Coffin. You will never think twice about cleaning out the litter box again
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| June 5, 2009
Caravan of Cute Continues on the West Coast
With Camel taking care of everything kawaii in Japan, Snakie and Mr. Snake led the rest
of the Aranzi Caravan crew up the West Coast to wrap up their U.S. tour with a trip to the City by the Bay, San Francisco.
Starting this Saturday, June 6th, the Aranzi Aranzo Caravan will set camp at Books Kinokuniya located in the
Kinokuniya Building in San Francisco’s Japantown, where they will once again have one-of-a-kind displays and unique wares to sell.
This will be your last chance to experience the Caravan before it heads back home to Japan.
Kinokuniya will be stocked will all your favorite Aranzi titles, so come experience the cute crafts and goodies first hand.
Check out photos from Snakie’s recent adventures in LA and NYC.
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| May 26, 2009
Knocking Out Take-Out, One Recipe at a Time
There was a time when the name Chen Kenichi struck fear in the kitchens of chefs worldwide.
As the longest-serving Iron Chef, no other cook in the history of Kitchen Stadium has fought in as many battles. And nearly
a decade after the Iron Chef participated in his last battle his consecutive win streak still stands at fourteen.
Iron Chef Chen may no longer be competing on international television, but in the many kitchens
of his Shisen Hanten restaurants he continues to wage war against Chinese cuisine’s greatest rival—take-out.
In his first English language cookbook Iron Chef Chen’s
Knockout Chinese the Master of Mapo takes on fast food, Styrofoam containers, and MSG with an unbeatable combination of
familiar ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes guaranteed to score a KO with gourmands and casual diners alike. With
Knockout Chinese anyone can have Kitchen Stadium-quality food every night of the week without fear of taste pretenders.
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| May 26, 2009
Health Care for the Manga Generation
In these difficult economic times people are cutting back on their expenses. The
cost of food is up. Tuition fees have been increasing at a rate faster than inflation. Medical costs are still
out of control. But one thing remains constant—Black Jack.
Volume 5 of Osamu Tezuka’s original brand of manga health care is now available
for the affordable price of $16.95. That’s at least 20% lower than the co-pay for most PPO’s! There is no
monthly premium for this plan and each story is self-contained. So Black Jack readers can have access
to fourteen of Tezuka’s most entertaining stories without worrying about a long-term commitment. Best of
all, with each installment of the Black Jack plan readers are provided a wide range of services including:
cosmetic surgery, cardiology, respiratory medicine, pediatric care, and transplantation surgery. As an added bonus,
readers of Volume 5 will also get full anesthesia and acupuncture coverage at no additional cost.
Check out what others are saying about Black Jack.
Get yourself some peace of mind by securing your copy of Black Jack, Volume 5 today!
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| May 13, 2009
Web Sources Confirm Global Outbreak of Donburi Mania!
While much of the mainstream media seems to have contracted a seasonal flu, a growing
number of journalists appear to be coming down with a mouth-watering strain of Donburi Mania.
According to The Daily Yomiuri’s Tom Baker, Donburi Mania can be traced back to the Tokyo kitchen of
best-selling author Kentaro Kobayashi. Notes Baker, “Early this week, six of Kentaro‘s cookbooks were listed
in the top 100 best-selling cookbooks on amazon.co.jp…Now he is going international. Donburi Mania, the first
volume in his ‘Easy Japanese Cooking’ series, was recently published by Vertical, Inc.”
Across the globe in the United Kingdom the Mostly Food Journal makes a point of how easily
foodies can catch this culinary fever, stating, “It couldn’t be simpler. No exotic equipment needed and more
importantly…no special skills. I’ll be eating my way through each of Kentaro Kobayashi’s tempting recipes.”
Back in the U.S. a vaccine is nowhere in sight. Kobayashi’s wickedly good, simple
recipes have people reconsidering going out (for dinner). About the surge of self-imposed quarantines Bookotron says,
“You could easily and very cheaply cook three meals a week out of this and probably not receive any complaints.
Prepare for compliments instead. In hard use, over a couple of weeks, Donburi Mania has proved to be a sturdy,
excellent cookbook. It’s well worth your money and time, and I look forward to the remaining volumes in the series.”
Even the seasoned food journalists at Ochef.com agree Donburi Mania recipes may be
the genesis of a new evolution in cooking instruction, “The book offers simple, fast food, with good flavor, and
some personality that is lacking in more than a few of today’s cookbooks.”
As the pandemic reaches critical mass Vertical recommends picking up a volume to build up
resiliency, and your pantry, for the next wave of Kentaro Kobayashi’s killer cookbooks.
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| May 4, 2009
Vertical Hires New Marketing Director
Not long ago new Marketing Director Ed Chavez was a humble salaryman-in-training
learning the ins-and-outs of editing in the offices of Tokyo-based publishing giant Kodansha, Ltd. Now back home
in America, he is in the NYC working with the most provocative catalogs of J-Pop culture around. A former journalist
and blogger, Ed has long been regarded by the media as a man of manga, but a love for all things print is what led
him to Vertical. Where else could a bibliophile like Ed work closely on Osamu Tezuka in the morning, Iron Chef Chen
Kenichi for lunch, and Beat Takeshi before punching out at night? The answer was obvious to Mr. Chavez—only Vertical.
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| April 28, 2009
Taking Puzzles to a Higher Level
Don’t let the title of our latest logic puzzle book fool you.
O’Ekaki Heaven, our newest collection from the God of Puzzles, will not be very forgiving.
Based on a series of religious motifs, these handcrafted puzzles could turn the toughest of puzzlers to prayer.
Buddha, Christ, Ganesha, Orion, and even the God of Puzzles himself, Tetsuya Nishio, make cameos to guide fans
towards gaming Nirvana. Even with more than a hundred puzzles to solve Vertical does not guarantee enlightenment,
but we do believe at least a few of them will leave you talking in tongues. Via con dios!
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| April 14, 2009
Chicken Toppings for the Cash-Strapped Soul
The wait is over! Here comes Donburi Mania, the first
installment of charismatic Chef Kentaro’s Easy Japanese Cooking series and Vertical’s
first-ever cookbook! Named after the bowl in which they’re traditionally served, donburi are
“over rice” meals topped with anything that suits your mood. In this book you’ll find
traditional donburi recipes along with inventive new conceptions, as well as a grand assortment of soups and
sides. The best part? The recipes are as wallet-friendly as they are hunger-satisfying.
The Tokyo Mango blog says “Donburi Mania is a fun Japanese
cookbook… I really want to make a killer oyakodon and I kinda wanna try the Melty Cheesy Meat Sauce Donburi.”
Also check out this rave review!
If you’ve been a fan of our literary fare’s unique blending of quality and
visceral satisfaction, then you gotta taste this one.
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| March
24, 2009
The Devil Strolls Into Town!
Sudoku
Hell, the latest and greatest in logic-based torture,
is here! Infernal taskmaster Tetsuya Nishio is delivering us into
evil with these new puzzles; hours of sinful play to keep us warm
from the seemingly never-ending chill this season. His latest
installment features all the notorious fun of his other puzzles
with some added tricks and twists to keep you pulling your hair
out. After you’ve finished torturing yourself with Nishio’s
addendum of purgatorial pleasure, be on the lookout for his
next surprise, O’Ekaki Heaven, out on the stands
April 28th. |
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| March
17, 2009
Lucky Day for the Doctor
Most of the American public is
enjoying a beer on this beautiful St. Patty’s Day, and Doctor
Black Jack is cutting a rug into town to help celebrate. Black
Jack, Vol. 4 goes on sale today, and with any luck you’ll
get to pick up your copy before it’s sold out! In this edition,
you’ll be tearing up over each page with tender, heartwarming
moments of friendship and love; and of course there are the insane
scenarios of surgery that only our beloved recluse can perform.
Black Jack even shows his sensitive side when an unrequited love
sends him a favor. Pinoko continues to pour affection, and the
doctor’s cup runs over when an unexpected detour turns into
a quest for lost love.
Check
out the reviews for this phenomenal series here. |
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| March
13, 2009
East Meets West
This Saturday, the Aranzi
Caravan finally arrives in America!
Kicking off their U.S. tour, the
Aranzi team is heading over to New York City. Fully stocked with
books and crafts you can purchase, the tour starts off at Kinokuniya
Books in Manhattan and remains on display until April 13th. After
that, the Caravan
moves to the West Coast, so if you can't get to New York, you'll
still have a chance to see them! And for this Saturday (Mar. 14)
only, you don't want to miss out on an opportunity to see Ms.
Kinuyo Saito; maybe she'll even tell you what new project she's
working on!
Kinokuniya Books is ready and stocked
with your
favorite Aranzi titles, but they've hauled in some special
goodies as well! Now you can have all the fun of Aranzi without
the long ride to Japan!
We have a few photos
of the New York City Caravan. Be sure to stop by!
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| March
3, 2009
Guin Hits the Small Screen
Just when you thought you’d
seen it all… The Guin
Saga is coming to television! Covering the first few
volumes of the series, the animated Guin Saga will be
broadcast across Japan in April. The trailer is available for
viewing on the official
website and also can be seen on
YouTube. While the series is in Japanese right now, it'll
probably only be a matter of time before someone brings it stateside!
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| February
17, 2009
Calling in “Too Cute to Work!”
You may have to call in sick this
week. Aranzi Aronzo is melting our hearts and warming up February
with their latest release, Baby
Stuff, in stores today! The cute-inclined duo is back
for what might be their cutest book ever. Aranzi and babies: how
can they lose? 17 entirely new crafts geared toward making life
a little easier for baby and parents! Filled with easy-to-make
crafts like bibs, finger puppets, and mobiles, Baby Stuff
is sure to pacify even the novice crafters! As usual, the team
has simple instructions and full color pictures that will leave
you squealing, “Oh my god, it’s sooo cute!”
Check out what
the crafting world is saying about the latest Aranzi release.
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| February
10, 2009
Comic-Con Sweeps Through
Three days of dazzling cosplay,
panels, interviews, and massive amounts of attendees, New York
Comic-Con was a blast. Vertical’s panel on Friday night
was attended by our favorites, and we were thrilled to give away
two signed copies of Keiko Takemiya’s To
Terra… Vol. 1 and a grand prize of volumes 1 and
2 of Black Jack. Saturday
our table was hit with a fever of people; thank goodness we brought
our own nurse along! Resident Nurse Megumi wants to remind one
and all to be safe, and to check out our site for more entertaining
things to come.
We all had a great time at the
show and were thrilled to talk with our beloved reviewers and
fans alike. We know it's been a rough winter for many and we appreciate
everyone coming out and showing us so much love! We can't wait
to see you all again, and hope everyone had a great Con.
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| February
4, 2009
’Tis the Season… for COMIC-CON!
This Friday marks the beginning
of the three full days of non-stop manga and anime at NEW
YORK COMIC-CON. Vertical will be there in the main hall
at booth number 1626 so be sure to stop by on
Saturday and Sunday. We'll be arriving late on Friday due to schedule
conflicts but we'll be there in time for our 6:00 panel
in room 1A22. There will be a giveaway
at the end of the panel so be sure to check it, but if you can't
make it, there will be more free stuff at the booth! We hope to
see you all in your best cosplay at the show!
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| January
20, 2009
Could Her Luck Finally Change?
As the inaugural bashes around
the country dwindle down, 44th President Barack Obama must step
up and do serious damage control. Among those awaiting attention
is the ever-so-patient mother of Megumi Yokota. Abducted on her
way home from school in 1977 and never heard from since, Megumi
Yokota is one of 13 Japanese citizens who were robbed of their
freedoms and rights by a dangerous totalitarian regime. If alive,
Megumi Yokota is still prisoner of North Korea’s espionage
plans, which included kidnapping citizens from other countries
to train its spies.
North
Korea Kidnapped My Daughter is Sakie Yokota’s heartbreaking
memoir of life since the fateful day of her daughter’s disappearance.
It vividly describes her panic and helplessness during the first
weeks, and provides detailed reports of each new event in her
daughter’s case. A mother’s bond to her child can
never be broken, and Sakie Yokota is a perfect example of that
bond. After 30 years of searching for her daughter, Sakie Yokota
is still waiting.
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| January
20, 2009
Three Times a Charm!
The latest in Tezuka love comes
from the third volume of Black
Jack! In this volume, our favorite doctor pushes the
limits of medicine: saving a long-abandoned infant; finding the
cause of a literally shrinking population; even operating on himself!
And Black Jack has more than just medical problems to contend
with—he continues to ward off the romantic advances of his
faithful sidekick Pinoko, and meets his match when the equally
shadowy Doctor Kiriko arrives to treat one of Black Jack’s
patients.
But you don’t have to take
our word for it. Check out the
Black Jack page to see what the critics are saying,
or to preview stories from the first three volumes! |
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| January
16, 2009
Vote for Dororo and Black Jack!
The polls are up and running at
About.com’s Best Manga of 2008. There is one main page with
all the categories, and we are pleased to spread the word that
Dororo and Black
Jack have been nominated in the Classic Reissue Group!
Not only that, Black Jack has also been nominated for
Best Manga of 2008. So tell your friends, and everyone else you
come across, to go vote for their favorites of 2008 on About.com᾿s
Manga Polls. It’s up to the readers to decide who’s
the best of 2008!
Dororo
and Black Jack in the Classic Reissue Poll
2008
Best Manga Poll
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| December
16, 2008
Toyota Teaches the How? of Decision-Making
In tough economic times it’s
not uncommon to see businesses going under due to poor management
decisions; sound business decisions and effective corporate culture
provides a strong foundation, no matter what size the business
is. In The Toyota Leaders: An
Executive Guide, car industry expert Masaaki Sato delves
into the established management of Toyota and examines how their
unique corporate culture provides a foundation for a strong business.
Mr. Sato reveals the behind-the-scenes to Toyota’s rise
to number 1 and explains the How? so many businesses
search for during hard times.
A thorough study of the individuals
who shaped a once-derided manufacturer into a preeminent worldwide
producer, The Toyota Leaders: An Executive Guide is a
must-read for anyone in a management role, whether or not in the
auto industry.
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| December
16, 2008
The Shark is Back!
Back on the streets and in the
stores, Arimasa Osawa’s acclaimed Shinjuku Shark
sequel goes on sale today. The second installment, The
Poison Ape, takes us even deeper into the dark, seedy
underworld of Shinjuku. The yakuza is protecting a wanted
man—a Taiwanese mafia leader who pissed off the wrong hired
gunman. Now the elite killer has entered Japan and is hitting
the streets of Shinjuku, picking off anyone who gets in the way
of his target. Detective Samejima needs to find the hitman and
stop him before he turns the streets of Shinjuku into a bloodbath
of revenge.
Check out what
everyone is saying about the Shark. |
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| November
17, 2008
Quick, Call a Doctor!
The highly-anticipated second volume
of Black Jack hits
stands tomorrow with an already overwhelmingly positive response
from the reviewers! Vertical is presenting the world’s most
celebrated doctor in 17 distinct volumes, along with 3 special
hardcover editions each featuring a long-unreleased story from
the vaults of Tezuka Productions. Volume 2 is packed with juicy
new stories, from the origins of Black Jack’s scars to a
tender friendship between the doctor and a killer whale. But you
don’t have to take our word for it; check out the list of
reviewers who are in love with Black Jack:
Volume 2 reviews at PopCultureShock
and Advanced
Media Network.
Volume 1 reviews at About.com,
Publishers
Weekly, and The
Comics Reporter
And if that doesn’t satisfy
your stomach for the solitary surgeon’s adventures, we also
have a free preview from Volume 3 available at
the Black Jack page!
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| October
28, 2008
Samurai and Ninjas and Geisha… Oh, my!
The
Blade of the Courtesans, Keiichiro Ryu’s epic historic
fiction is on sale today. Set in Japan’s Edo Period, this
tale of a samurai—trained by the legendary swordsman Musashi
Miyamoto—protecting the pleasure quarters of old Tokyo,
is filled with taut sword-fighting scenes, transcendant sexual
encounters, and deep explorations of Japan’s verdant history.
It’s a rich, exciting, yet complex drama, ideal for readers
who enjoy a little more substance, and sports a beautifully designed
hardcover, adorned with sepia photos of historic samurai and geisha.
The perfect seasonal gift or great to curl up with on a cold winter’s
night. And we’ve provided you with a tantalizing tidbit
to whet your appetite until you get your hands on a copy of your
own.
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| October
24, 2008
Historic Roundtable Discusses The Guin Saga
Following Vertical’s completion
of the English translation of the initial five-volume arc of The
Guin Saga—the world’s longest-running fantasy
series with 120+ best-selling volumes and counting in Japan—the
company hosted a gathering of industry commentators to discuss
the epic saga. In August 2008, Genji
Press proprietor Serdar Yegulalp and Ninja
Consultants Erin Finnegan and Noah Fulmor joined Vertical
Editorial Director Yani Mentzas in a fascinating examination of
not only the momentous first arc, “The Marches Episode”,
but also the series as a whole; its prolific author; the film
industry’s interest in the property; its influences and
others it has inspired; American fantasy vs. British fantasy;
Japanese publishing; and Guin’s future in The States. And
that’s only a fraction of the epochal discourse. A transcription
of the roundtable is now available for free on the Guin homepage
and in podcast
form at Ninja Consultants Show #64. You don’t have to
be a fan of the leopard-masked warrior, either. Fans of Japanese
literature; the inner workings of publishing; and both fantasy
and science fiction will find something of interest in this momentous
meeting.
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| October
21, 2008
Horrific Cautionary Tale about Nuclear Energy, On Sale
Today
Given the renewed interest in alternative
energy resources, A Slow Death:
83 Days of Radiation Sickness is a sobering reminder
of the dangers of nuclear power and man’s relative ignorance
in harnessing the power of the atom. After the worst nuclear accident
in Japanese history, the country’s public broadcaster NHK
(Nippon Hoso Kyokai) documented the step-by-step deterioration
and intense medical treatment of one of the workers. The resulting
documentary aired in 2001 and subsequently won the Gold Nymph
Award, the highest honor at the 42nd Monte Carlo Television Festival
in 2002. This book is the print version of that celebrated film
and includes an afterword that updates the narrative. The book
also features color photos, which are not for the faint of heart,
and raises provocative questions about the medical ethics of life-prolonging
treatment and the value of human life in a world replete with
advanced technology.
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| October
14, 2008
Massive Attack of Cute
Fans of cute rejoice! The
Complete Aranzi Hour is here, a compendium of Brobdingnagian
proportions. This voluminous paperback contains 256 full-color
pages filled with so-cute-it-hurts comic skits, photo adventures,
puzzles, games and more, starring the whimsical and irresistible
Aranzi Aronzo characters. The variety show in a book begins with
a singing salutation by Sprite; White Rabbit and Brown Bunny discuss
the virtues of having strawberries at snack time; Bad Guy and
Liar continue their Spy vs. Spy one-ups-manship; the auspicious
meeting between Panda and Mechani-Panda is chronicled; and Bad
Guy gives his life advice. There’s also a songbook, a game
board; the characters show off their art skills and discuss their
dreams; and the book features several appearances by a certain
ho-ho-holiday hero. So grab some cocoa and curl up with cute this
season with The Complete Aranzi Hour!
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| October
3, 2008
Anime Festival Rocks The Big Apple
Everyone agrees; the recent New
York Anime Festival was awesome! Exceeding last year’s rousing
debut, this year’s affair featured more celebrities, panels,
movies, parties and cool stuff. Vertical was frequented by attendees,
both stalwart fans and curious newbies who wisely heeded the industry
buzz to stop by and check out firsthand the best translated Japanese
literature the industry has to offer. The premiere of Manga God
Osamu Tezuka’s Black
Jack, Volume 1 highlighted the three-day event. Marketing
Manager Stephen Vrattos nearly lost a finger trying to stock the
table fast enough to keep up with the demand by eager fans. One
lucky attendee at the Vertical Panel on Friday evening won an
exclusive Black Jack Volume 1 Diamond Hardcover Edition.
Even Doctor Black Jack himself—accompanied by his diminutive
ward Pinoko—made an appearance on Saturday (portrayed by
Vertical fans Boris and Sunny) with the good doctor making a solo
appearance on Sunday (portrayed by Vertical intern Elan Bosworth).
Vertical wants to thank everyone for stopping by and looks forward
to seeing you at next year’s festival.
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| September
30, 2008
The Tease is Over
The key to unlocking the secrets
to sexual nirvana is now available. Slow
Sex Secrets: Lessons from the Master Masseur goes on
sale today. Grab a copy and your partner, and plan on taking a
few days off; you’re going to be too exhausted to leave
the confines of your bedroom once you crack the spine to the book
that has taken Japan by sexual storm. And sexpert Adam Tokunaga’s
concise treatise on lovemaking seems to be sweeping over America
as well; the book’s already gone back to press! Don’t
risk being unable to get your hands on a copy. Better yet, buy
two, so regardless of whose pad you crash in, the ultimate lessons
of love will always be at your fingertips.
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| September
23, 2008
Black Jack 1 Is Here!
The wait is over. The most anticipated
manga of 2008 has arrived. Osamu Tezuka’s Black
Jack, Volume 1 is available today. Sporting a provocative
cover by Vertical Art Director Peter Mendelsund that’s part
cubism, part Hieronymus Bosch, that hearkens to a surgical procedure
in progress, the high-quality trade paperback features 12 stories
starring the titular scalpel-for-hire. Vertical is presenting
Tezuka’s legendary character as he had originally intended
in a deluxe collection planned just before his untimely death
in 1989. What better way to celebrate the Godfather of Manga’s
80th birthday than by inaugurating the release of one of his greatest
achievements? This peerless medical drama mixes action, mystery,
intrigue, suspense, and adventure with a touch of humor. There’s
a reason why it is Tezuka’s most popular work amongst adults
in Japan. It’s that good. The perfect remedy for manga malaise:
Black Jack!
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| September
19, 2008
Anime-zing chance to win a Diamond Exclusive Hardcover
Black Jack 1!
Although a relative newbie to the
anime convention circuit, the New York Anime Festival is quickly
becoming one of the premiere anime shows in the country. This
year’s celebration takes place Friday, September 26-28,
2008, at New York City’s Jacob Javits Convention Center
and promises to be even bigger and more exciting than last year’s
epic debut. Japanese artist extraordinaire Yoshitaka Amano will
be among the unbelievable guests, along with Iron Chef Masaharu
Morimoto, voice actress Rie Tanaka, author Hideyuki Kikuchi, and
fashion designer Baby, The Stars Shine Bright, Japan's premier
Lolita fashion brand, who’ll be sending designers Miho Satoh
and Masumi Kanoh. And, of course, topping the heap of exhibitors
will be Vertical, Inc. Marketing Manager Stephen Vrattos will
be in attendance selling the much-anticipated Black
Jack Volume 1, as well as the company’s other manga
and literary offerings, all at special show prices. He’ll
also be handing out assorted gewgaws and whatnots to the ravenous
crowd. And don’t miss Vertical’s panel Friday, 6:45–7:45pm,
where Monsieur Vrattos will be joined by Editorial Director Ioannis
Mentzas to discuss future projects from the nation’s most
vaunted publisher of Japanese literature. As if that weren’t
reason enough to attend, one lucky panel attendee will win a copy
of the Diamond Exclusive Special Hardcover Black Jack Volume
1. Fans must fill out an entry at the Vertical booth and
then be present at the Vertical panel later that evening in order
to win. See you there!
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| September
16, 2008
Once Is Not Enough
Taking up the baton from its mind-boggling
success in Japan, sexpert Adam Tokunaga’s Slow
Sex Secrets: Lessons from the Master Masseur has already
gone into its second printing before the book’s first printing
has even shipped. Seems the public cannot wait for this titillating
tome that teaches intercourse tenderfoots the tricks to transcend
traditional lovemaking techniques. And who can blame them? Certified
in Los Angeles, Tokunaga developed his unique style of pleasuring
a woman using massage by hands-on study with more than a thousand
women. Mastering his approach is sure to elevate anyone’s
game in the erotic arena and bring a satisfied smile to the most
frigid of fräuleins. Sporting a tasteful, yet tantalizing,
cover ringed with a fluorescent pink vertical flock obi against
a black and white photo, Slow Sex Secrets makes a fine
bedside addition to anyone wanting to maximize their sexual potential.
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| September
12, 2008
Vertical Hires New Editor!
Editorial ninja Maya Rosewood hails
from the northern climes of New Hampshire. Not much is known about
her early years, but recent confidential reports leaked to the
press seem to indicate that she stopped in Connecticut—where
she graduated from the University of Hartford—before proceeding
to The Big Apple. Her deft translating skills caught the attention
of the Vertical, Inc. poo-bahs who wasted no time in employing
her for the all-important task of translating the final two volumes
of the company's magnum opus Buddha, after which she
once again disappeared, only to fortuitously—some might
say, “conveniently”—emerge at the doors of Vertical
when they needed her editorial skills most.
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| September
9, 2008
Come Celebrate Books with Us in the Park
The Big Apple’s bazaar for
bibliophiles, New
York Is Book Country returns this fall for a one-day event
to celebrate the printed page. Vertical, Inc. will be there exhibiting
at Booth # 43 along with dozens of other publishers
large and small offering deals on hundreds of books; giving away
bookmarks, bags, and other assorted freebies; presenting author
signings and readings; and just gushing about that thing we love
so much: books! Overseeing the Vertical booth will be Marketing
Manager Stephen Vrattos who will be giving out free Black
Jack promotional comics and oodles of other cool must-have
items. Even more amazing, he will have advance copies of arguably
the most anticipated book of the year, Black
Jack, Volume 1, available at a special show price (Supplies
are limited). In fact, all the Vertical offerings
will be available at ridiculous show discounts. The one-day event
will take place rain or shine on Sunday, September 21, 2008, in
Central Park down the lovely Literary Walk and along The Mall
leading up to the Naumberg Bandshell. There’ll be music,
food and of course copious amounts of great reading. Don’t
miss it!
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| September
5, 2008
You're Doing it Wrong
In its ongoing efforts to share
the breadth of literary entertainment and knowledge that Japanese
publishing has to offer, Vertical is releasing Adam Tokunaga’s
best-selling sex manual Slow
Sex Secrets: Lessons from the Master Masseur. Trained
and certified in Los Angeles, California, Tokunaga applied his
massage technique and expertise to sexual fulfillment and, through
intimate study with more than a thousand women, formulated the
ultimate plan for pleasurable sex. His book was a word-of-mouth
bestseller in Japan and gained international notoriety from the
media. More than just the definitive how-to sex tome, Slow
Sex Secrets is also a highly enjoyable read, written in the
hyperbolic style for which Tokunaga is famous. The book won’t
be available until September 30, 2008, but making you and your
loved one wait would be cruel, so Vertical is offering a FREE
PREVIEW to get you started on your journey to sexual nirvana.
No need to thank us; we’ll hear the screams.
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| August
26, 2008
Promenade of the Gods Is Here!
We’ve tickled your taste
buds, but the main course has finally arrived. Koji Suzuki’s
first major work since Loop, the final book in the world-renowned
Ring trilogy, is now on sale. Promenade
of the Gods is a mystery in the same way that Ring
is, with an underlying aura of foreboding that will have you white-knuckling
the book cover as you savor every page. What would possess a man
to abruptly leave his wife in the midst of a television variety
show? How is his disappearance connected to that of the show’s
famous hostess? And what role does the long-dead leader of an
obscure religious cult have to play? Suzuki will have you second-guessing
until the final paragraph. Wrap up your summer reading on a high
note with one of the most famous writers in the world of fiction
doing what he does best: leave his readers blissfully reeling!
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| August
26, 2008
Critics’ Darling Dororo Takes a Bow
The third and final volume of Osamu
Tezuka’s tour de force about an errant swordsman’s
quest for the demons who’ve stolen his body parts and his
pintsized pilfering partner is now on sale. Four months since
volume one’s debut and the raves for this lesser known work
of the venerable manga master continue. Shaennon Garrity of OtakuUSA
calls the series one of “Tezuka’s best,” and
further lauds that “This is the wandering-swordsman epic
by which all wandering-swordsman epics should be judged.”
John Thomas of Mecha Mecha Media calls this “the summer
of Dororo,” and urges everyone to pick up the series.
Blythe
Boyer of Bookslut “definitely recommends Dororo,”
calling it “an endearing introduction to the father of manga.”
Julia from Manga
Maniac Café gave Volume 2 an A–. And Serdar
Yegulalp of Advanced Media Network gave Dororo its
much-vaunted Platinum Award and summed up his feelings thusly:
“Tezuka is as essential, as insightful, and as rollickingly
fun as manga gets. This is where it all came from, and maybe also
where it’s all going.” Dororo,
Volume 3 is now available and the series is the perfect
appetizer for Black Jack,
which debuts next month.
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