Viz have been aiming to shorten the time between new chapter releases in Japan and North America, and Shonen Jump Alpha is another step in the process.

Digital Manga have partnered with Tezuka Productions in Japan to publish more of the famous author’s work in the U.S.

Author, Hitoshi Ariga, says he first started working on the story over ten years ago.

Watsuki has put his ongoing Embalming manga on hold until next fall.

This week’s Digital Manga newsletter confirms that the funds needed for this operation have been acquired.

Fan demand has led Digital Manga to consider reprinting Osamu Tezuka’s “Swallowing the Earth,” but they don’t have the financial resources to do so.

Part was published this week in Hana to Yume magazine.

“Light novels have the essence of manga, animation, and video games combined,” says Viz founder, Seiji Horibuchi.

Takehiko Inoue is pulling Vagabond out of hiatus sometime in the future.

The box set compiles all 10 volumes of the series.

Titled Black Diamond, the three-chapter short will begin on November 2nd.

A monthly Persona Magazine will be launched in Japan starting next month, covering various aspects of the series.

The 44-page story will be handled by Shaman King author, Hiroyuki Takei.

“We plan on starting with a few hundred titles at launch and increasing to a few thousand by the first year,” says JManga.com’s Robert Newman.