In response to inquiries from ICv2 Viz has confirmed five new manga series including RahXephon, Imadoki, Mermaid Saga: Forest, Bleach, and Tenshi Na Konamiki (Cheeky Angel).  A sharp-eyed contributor to Anime on DVD.com spotted these titles on the Barnes & Noble database, along with Detective Conan, and Viz confirmed them all to ICv2 with the exception of Detective Conan.  While Detective Conan is one of the most popular anime series in Japan (Funimation has acquired the US rights see, 'Funimation Acquires Detective Conan'), and the acquisition of the Detective Conan manga would be considered a 'coup,' the other five titles announced by Viz also have great prospects here in the States -- and of course just because Viz won't confirm Detective Conan now, doesn't necessarily mean that they won't publish it eventually.

Whatever the disposition of the Detective Conan manga, Viz's confirmed acquisitions rock!  Hiroyuki Nishimori's Tenshi Na Konamiki (Cheeky Angel) has reached 14 volumes in Japan and has inspired an anime series that has lasted for at 50 episodes and counting.  The story of a young boy, who is granted a wish by an evil demon, Cheeky Angel has a gender-bending twist that makes for plenty of comedy and drama.  The demon grants the boy's wish to be tough, but changes him into a girl.  Six years later he/she is the most beautiful girl in high school -- and tough enough to take down the school's resident bully.  With a popular anime series, which features the vocal talents of Megumi Hayashibara, Cheeky Angel could be a very popular manga series for Viz.

Bleach by Taito Kubo is an entertaining fantasy published by Shueisha in Japan, where the continuing series has reached ten volumes.  Already a hit in France, where it is published by Glenat, Bleach has plenty of potential here in the States.   Takeaki Momose's RahXephon manga is another potential winner.  The complex, musically inspired RahXephon anime series, which ADV has released here, is a very strong property, which is unlikely to be hurt by the RahXephon manga's inclusion of sexy, Love Hina-type ecchi material.

Two of Japan's top female creators, Rumiko Takahashi and Yu Watase are responsible for the other two new manga series confirmed by Viz.  Ms. Takahashi, the richest woman in Japan and creator Ranma, Maison Ikkoku, and numerous other manga classics is represented by Mermaid Saga: Forest, while Yu Watase, creator of Fushigi Yugi and Ceres, is the author of Imadoki.  The number of manga releases in 2004 is certain to increase, but with the high quality of the releases announced so far by Viz, Tokyopop, Dark Horse, Del Rey and other publishers, there is reason to believe that the market can continue to expand.