Viz has granted book mega-retailer Barnes & Noble a six-month exclusive on the 3-volume RahXephon manga series.  Barnes & Noble, the nation's biggest book retailer, will start selling the RahXephon manga in April, while other retailers will have to wait until September to acquire the title. 

 

Barnes & Noble has moved aggressively into publishing by recently acquired Sterling Publishing, at least partially in order to create exclusive content for its stores.  Barnes & Noble has also pursued 'exclusives' from other publishers including the exclusive rights to trade paperback editions of seven Marvel Masterworks (see 'Marvel on B&N Masterworks').  Pursuing exclusives is currently a popular strategy among chain retailers facing intense price competition on their most popular items.  Exclusive items of everything from Bratz to Transformers now make up 20% of the selection at Toys R' Us, which is locked in a fierce struggle with Wal-Mart (see 'Wal-Mart Applying Toy Category Kill Shot').  Barnes & Noble faces similar competition on top titles from the mega-discounter -- Wal-Mart sold more copies of the new Harry Potter than B&N.

 

While not nearly as big as Neon Genesis Evangelion, the RahXephon anime series (from ADV) has managed to please a good measure of the NGE audience.  Viz credits RahXephon mecha designer Yutaka Izubuchi for the manga -- and the RahXephon mecha are very cool.  Although the RahXephon TV series is over in Japan, a RahXephon anime movie is in development.

 

Megaman NT Warrior

Viz also announced the 6-volume Megaman NT Warrior manga series, which creator Ryo Takamisaki based on the anime series currently airing on the Kids WB, which in turn is based the Capcom video game.  Known as Rock Man EXE in Japan, this manga series sells 1.5 million units per week.  The first Megaman NT Warrior volume, which is available to all retailers in all channels, ships in May.

 

B.B Explosion

Top shoujo artist Yasue Imai created this 'pop idol' saga, which originally appeared in the manga anthology Ciao, and has sold over 350,000 copies in trade paperback in Japan.  B.B. Explosion, which ships in April, is the story of a young girl from the wrong side of the tracks (Okinawa), who, with determination and hard work, manages to get the chance to realize her dream.  Viz also confirmed that the first volume the Sensual Phrase (Kaikan Phrase in Japan) will ship in May (see 'Viz Snags Steamy Manga Series').