Alainmendez

Concept artist Mari Shimazaki on creating Bayonetta and Jeanne’s new designs in Bayonetta 2.

Read Bayonetta 2 Artist On Why Bayonetta’s New Look Was More Difficult To Create on Siliconera!

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the village, it's time to fear moe girls again! 07thExpansion's site has posted the opening for the hit horror/mystery doujin visual novel series' Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni Hou, coming August 17th. dai composes theme song, "Ano Hi E (To that day)," performed by Yuzuki.

こんにちは！今日は、つ…ついに『ひぐらしのなく頃に　奉』のOPムービーを公開いたしました！！(>８<)さぁ、あの夏へ帰る準備はできていますか？！（http://t.co/HJ9plwQqSm）（07thスタッフ）

— 07thExpansion (@07th_official) June 27, 2014

When this was announced at the end of 2013 Comiket, this was also teased...

via Otaku Tale

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

The Ghost in the Shell: Arise prequel is set to wrap up in "Border 4: Ghost Stands Alone", debuting for a limited theatrical run September 6th. The third episode's Ai Kayano voiced "Tin Girl" Emma Tsuda returns, joined by a Kensho Ono voiced "Scarecrow" in a case running in the background of Motoko Kusanagi's cyber investigation into a case of  Newport riot police shooting unarmed demonstrators.

Advanced tickets go on sale this weekend with special incentive clearfile.

via Cinema Today

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

Praise Cthulhu — we are going to get "more Jaegers and more Kaiju, kicking each other's butts" in 2017, according to this announcement from director Guillermo del Toro. Pacific Rim 2 has been greenlit for April 2017. Plus there'll be an animated series and more comics.

Read more...

Next up for Crunchyroll's streaming announcements is the Re: Hamatora anime series, which is set to kick off for premium members on July 7 at 11:05am Pacific Time, with new episodes premiering on Mondays. Free members will be able to watch one week later. 

Re: Hamatora will be available to Crunchyroll’s Premium audience worldwide except for Asia, UK, and Ireland. Free members will be able to watch in the following territories: USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.  

Crunchyroll's synopsis:  

The highly anticipated sequel is here. Wrapped in shock and mystery, the story continues! 

It has been three months since the incident at Yokohama. Things have been settling down at Cafe Nowhere. Murasaki and Hajime have teamed up and started investigating again. After an unforeseen reunion, Art holds Nice at gunpoint. What are his real intentions? What will become of the connection between Art and Hamatora? 

Studio Lerche will be leading the animation of Re: Hamatora into its second season. The original cast of the first season will be joining us into the sequel as well. Ryota Osaka will be voicing the titular lead Nice, also known for his work as Ryōta Murakami from Brynhildr in the Darkness. He is joined by Hiroshi Kamiya, who will be voicing Art.

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Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. His blog can be found at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter at @Moldilox.

Harry Potter has a fair number of fans amoung Japanese doujinshi makers. The recent Sherlock has a LOT of doujinshi art fans, generally of the yaoi variety. The Comic City Tokyo 134 doujinshi event took place earlier this week, and for its guide book it featured a special UK crossover of the wizards and consulting detective planning out how to hit the exhibiting on circles.

via @kxdxwxk

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

Crunchyroll has a new addition to its anime catalog: Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Animation! The three-episode OVA will be available to premium members in the United States and Canada starting today at 3:00pm Pacific Time, with free members able to watch it a month later.

Super Robot Wars Original Generation: The Animation is directed by Jun Kawagoe (Shin Getter Robo vs. Neo Getter Robo, Mazinkaiser SKL) and written by Satoru Nishizono (Samurai Bride), with animation production by Brain's Base.

Crunchyroll's synopsis:

Dr.Jurgen of DC developed a global defense system to combat potential alien threats. This system has two elements. First is the VTX-001 Vartoul unmanned anti alien PT. Governing these drones is the ODE worldwide network system. However, this system has a noteworthy secret. A living human is needed to control the ODE core. Furthermore, the ODE core needs human organs to support itself. At the present day, the drone have gone on a mass abduction spree. Kyosuke and co has been sent in to take care of the problem.

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Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. His blog can be found at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter at @Moldilox.

So, who had five chapters in the Hunter x Hunter hiatus betting pool? After returning from a two year gap with chapter 341 on June 2nd, Hunter x Hunter 345, set to be released in next week's Weekly Shonen Jump issue 31 announces that Yoshihiro Togashi will be absent in the magazine's following issue, apparently to return with issue 33 on July 14th.

It's not time to worry yet, Togashi might just be working on another page like...

via otakomu

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

Broadly speaking, Wonder Festival is to figures what Comiket is to doujinshi. Its mascots, Wanda-chan and Reset-chan, have been illustrated by Keinojou Mizutama (original character designer on MAOYU and Brigadoon). This year, Mizutama has been battling health problems, so, with best wishes for a speedy recovery from all involved, Kiyohiko Azuma, author of manga Yotsuba&! and Azumanga Daioh, was invited to illustrate the pair for the summer event, taking place July 27th at Makuhari Messe, in Chiba, Japan.

A few of their past incarnations...

via Dengeki Online

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

The three Velvet Room siblings are Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth downloadable content, but not as playable characters.

Read Persona Q: Shadow Of The Labyrinth Has Elizabeth, Margaret, And Theodore Navi DLC on Siliconera!

The official site for the upcoming TV anime adaptation of Hideki Ohwada's parody four-panel manga based on the popular Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, Mobile Suit Gundam-san, is launched today on June 25 with the announcements for its premiere schedule and main voice cast. The manga has been serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's Gundam Ace since its first issue published in June 2001 and now 11 tankobon volumes are available in Japan. The TV anime, simply titled Gundam-san, will premiere on BS 11 on July 6, then on Tokyo MX on the following day.

34-year-old Mankyu (Puchimas! Petit Idolmaster) directs the anime for Sunrise, the original production company of the Gundam anime series. Sao Tamado, who previously worked with Mankyu for Puchimas!, again designs the parody anime characters.

The voice cast:

Char-san: Katsuyuki Konishi

Lalah-san: Megumi Han (a daughter of Lalah Sune's original voice actress Keiko Han)

Amuro-san: Tsubasa Yonaga

Sayla-san: Kaori Nazuka

Bright-san: Ryutaro Okiayu

Kai-san: Yoshimitsu Shimoyama

Haroo: Takshi Matsuyama

Kycilia-tan: Ryo Hirohashi

Frau-tan: Rikako Yamaguchi

Garma-san: Kazuyuki Okitsu

Proverb commentary: Keiko Han

Narrator: Toru Furuya (the original voice actor for Amuro Ray)

Key visual

The covers of the 1st and 11th manga tankobon

Source: "Gundam-san" anime official site

© Sotsu/Sunrise

October 10 marks the suspension of Shueisha's Jump Kai (Jump X) magazine, which first emerged in June 2011 as a special edition of Weekly Young Jump before breaking off on its own and officially launching in April 2012. The monthly magazine currently features series like Hiroyuki Takei's Shaman King Flowers, Tomoko Ninomiya's 87CLOCKERS, and Kousuke Mashida's Greece Shinwa Gekijou: Kamigami to Hitobito no Hibi, among others.

The announcement on Kai's official website cites changes in the environment surrounding youth manga in recent years, with Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump remaining a prime destination for youth-oriented material.

Via Comic Natalie

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Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. His blog can be found at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter at @Moldilox.

As you may recall, Sailor Moon Crystal is coming to Crunchyroll! The reboot is set to broadcast every 2 weeks on Saturdays starting on July 5, at 3:00am Pacific Time for its premium and free members. More information can be found at www.crunchyroll.com/sailormoon.

Sailor Moon Crystal is the highly anticipated reboot of Naoko Takeuchi's beloved manga Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. The main character Usagi Tsukino is a second-year middle school girl who is a little clumsy and a crybaby, but full of energy. One day, she meets Luna, a black cat with a crescent moon on her forehead. She transforms into Sailor Moon, the Pretty Guardian in a Sailor Suit: the Guardian of Love and Justice! As a chosen guardian of justice, Usagi and the other guardians embark on a mission to find the Legendary Silver Crystal and to protect the Moon Princess. They are met with enemies in search of the Silver Crystal sent by Queen Beryl from the Dark Kingdom. Can Sailor Moon find the Legendary Silver Crystal with the other Sailor guardians, and protect the princess…?

Voice actress Kotono Mitsuishi will be playing Usagi Tsukino (AKA Sailor Moon). She is joined by Hisako Kanemoto as Sailor Mercury, Ami Koshimizu as Sailor Jupiter, Rina Sato as Sailor Mars, and Shizuka Ito as Sailor Venus. The famed animation company Toei Animation will be heading the project. Some of their popular works include One Piece, Dragonball Z and the Pretty Cure series.

Sailor Moon Crystal will be available to Crunchyroll’s audience in the following territories: U.S.A, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America (Central and South America including Mexico).

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Patrick Macias is editor in chief of Crunchyroll News. He is also the editor of Otaku USA magazine. Check out his rather amazing Tumblr at japanesefashioninferno.tumblr.com.

Video game characters might be able to throw barrels at their enemies, find the treasure, and rescue the princess, but that doesn't mean they're happy. In the webcomic Dear Inner Demons, the heroes and foes of retro games reveal their mental angst.

Read more...

There are all sorts of literary friendships in history. J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Jack Kerouac, Neal Cassady and Allen Ginsberg. The Algonquin Round Table. But they usually restricted themselves to literary pursuits. Not so with J.M. Barrie's cricket team, which was packed with famous names and almost no athletic ability.

Read more...

An English dub is in the cards for the first three episodes of JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: STARDUST CRUSADERS, and Crunchyroll has got the exclusive in the form of streaming video for all members and a special screening event to be held at Anime Expo on July 5th. 

This special event will include a screening of first 3 episodes of the new English dub of JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: STARDUST CRUSADERS along with a talk session with special guests including executive producer Satoshi Adachi, producer Hiroyuki Omori, and producer Ryosuke Mori. Anime Expo will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 3-6. Please consult the Anime Expo schedule at www.anime-expo.org for official times and information on how to attend this screening.

The first 3 episodes of the JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: STARDUST CRUSADERS English dub will also be available to watch on Crunchyroll at www.crunchyroll.com/jojos-bizarre-adventure for a limited period of time between the commencement of the Anime Expo event and midnight (PST) on July 6, 2014 for all Crunchyroll members!

The English dub of JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: STARDUST CRUSADERS features the talents of voice actors Matthew Mercer (Jotaro Kujo), Richard Epcar (Joseph Joestar), and Patrick Seitz (DIO).

Based on the long-running and hugely popular manga series by Hirohiko Araki, JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE features a different protagonist for each of its story arcs, with the fact that each one is a descendent of the powerful Joestar family. Because of inheriting the Joestar family genes, each member in STARDUST CRUSADERS has special fighting abilities known as “Stand,” which manifests itself differently in each person. Part 3 of the series, STARDUST CRUSADERS, focuses on Jotaro Kujo, the grandson of Joseph Joestar, protagonist from the second series. 

See you at Anime Expo on July 5th!!!

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Patrick Macias is editor in chief of Crunchyroll News. He is also the editor of Otaku USA magazine. Check out his rather amazing Tumblr at japanesefashioninferno.tumblr.com.

Anime Mirai was launched in 2010 by the Japanese Animation Creators Association (JAniCA) with 214.5 million yen (about US$2.27 million) from the Japanese government's Agency for Cultural Affairs to foster the talent of young animators through on-the-job training by annually funding the production of shorts such as Trigger's 2013 Little Witch Academia.

In April, JAniCA announced that they will no longer be running the initiative, but, after an organizational shift, the program is now ready to finish its proposal acceptance period.

Now run by the Association of Japanese Animations industry group, proposal for Anime Mirai 2015 projects are being accepted through June 27, with decisions being announced in July, and four funded works screened in March 2015 at the Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2015.

In the meantime, the 2014 shorts are being broadcast on Animax in the coming weeks.

アニマックスで「アニメミライ2014」全4作品が放送されます。 6/29(日)21:00 http://t.co/ELYhwqJjRk 7/6(日)11:00 http://t.co/csspGwCE47 (事務) #アニメミライ pic.twitter.com/2yZkVvPaGa

— アニメミライ公式ツイッター (@AM_Pub) June 23, 2014

This year's includes

"Harmonie"  (Ultra Super Pictures)

Director: Yasuhiro Yoshiura (Time of Eve, Patema Inverted)

"Ookii Ichinensei to Chiisana Ninensei" (A big 1st grader and a small 2nd grader)

 (A-1 Pictures)

Director by Ayumu Watanabe (Mysterious Girlfriend X, Space Brothers) 

"Paroru no Miraijima" (Paroru's Future Island)  

 (Shin-Ei Animation)

Director: Kazuaki Imai (directorial debut)

"CHRONUS" (Studio 4°C)

Director: Naoyuki Onda (animation director for Berserk Golden Age Arc I: The Egg of the King)

via AnimeAnime and duckroll

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

The official site for Gundam Reconguista in G, the highly anticipated newest Gundam anime series directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, is today updated with its release schedule, main staff, voice cast, the second promotional video (not embeddable), and character/mecha references.

A theatrical screening for the special advance edition which compiles the first three episodes will be held on 13 screens across Japan for a limited time of two weeks between August 23 and September 5. Then an anime streaming service dAnime Store will stream the edition from September 8 to 30. Finally, the first episode will be aired on ANIME-ISM, a midnight programming block of MBS, in October. At this point, it is not confirmed whether there will be more theatrical screening events for later episodes like Space Battleship Yamato 2199.

The main staff:

Chief director: Yoshiyuki Tomino

Character design: Kenichi Yoshida

Mechanical design: Akira Yasuda, Ippei Gyoubu, Kimitoshi Yamane

Design works: Shigeto Koyama, Kinu Nishimura, Cheese Gouda, Pablo Uchida, Takumi Sakura, Ayumi Kurashima

Color design: Nobuko Mizuta

Art director: Tomoaki Okada

Music: Yuugo Kanno

Sound director: Eriko Kimura

Planning/Production: Sunrise

Distribution: Toho Visual Entertainment

The main voice cast:

 (the spelling of the characters may not be correct)

Mark Ishii as Berli Zenam

Yu Shimamura as Aida Reihanton

Minako Kotobuki as Nored Nagu

Ryota Aisaka as Crim Nick

Takuya Saito as Ruin Lee

Ayahi Takagaki as Munny Ambassador

Yukari Fukui as Lalaiya Mundy

Key visual

Source: "Gundam Reconguista in G" official site

© Sotsu/Sunrise

This fifteen-second video perfectly captures what it would have been like if, instead of a dinosaur, this Jurassic Park scene featured a very large bulldog named Wally.

Read more...

Medicom's annual Toy Exhibition opened today, and as ever for the company Real Action Heroes were front and centre. There was a good mix of announced, released and brand new stuff on show, with a few first glimpses to hand.

Probably the biggest reveals from the event were a pair of new Kill la Kill RAHs to go along with the already on sale Ryuko Matoi. Satsuki is an obvious addition but we've also got another Ryuko. Casual versions of existing characters are no uncommon in the range but it's rather odd Medicom opted for the outfit that she only wears in the opening episode, as opposed to the already iconic sailor fuku Senketsu look.

There were also appearances for the now known to be exclusive Annie Leonhart and Mami Tomoe School Uniform ver., along with a School Uniform ver. of Homura Akemi. Other highlights included Daft Punk, Kamen Riders Double and Faiz, Catwoman, Darth Vader and a newly protoyped Stormtrooper. There's an awesome six-armed version of Unit 01 from Evangelion 3.33 too. Be sure to check out the gallery and let us know if there's anything you're really into it. 

[via Hobby Life ]

After ending The Daily Lives of High School Boys in 2012, manga author Yasunobu Yamauchi took his  humor up a notch with volatile with the launch of Zai x 10 (or Jyuzai or Crime x 10) on Gangan Online.  A first collection has been released in Japan this spring, and there's a new promo video to offer a look.

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

At E3, Nintendo unveiled Splatoon, a Wii U 4-vs-4 third person shooter starring squid-people called Inklings.

This caught the attention of one Mr. Masahiro Anbe, author of manga series Squid Girl. Right after the announcement, as he put it, he had to draw an Inkling. And this week he returned to the subject.

Previously...

hounori, author of the SD Attack on Titan series running on MangaBox has also been doing tributes

Speaking of Squid Girl, another peek at the OVA, coming with the limited edition of volume 17 on September 8th, which went on sale this week.  Misato Fukuen joins as Keiko Furukawa.

【侵略！イカ娘】さらにさらに、17巻限定版の新作OVAよりもう1カット公開しようじゃなイカ!!　ドジっ娘警察官・古川さんの水着姿でゲソ!!　スタイル抜群!! pic.twitter.com/IHKOvikOro

— 週刊少年チャンピオン編集部 (@Weekly_Champion) June 19, 2014

【侵略！イカ娘】いよいよ明日締め切り！　17巻OVA付限定版の新作アニメより、1カットを公開するでゲソ！　清美の清らかな眼は、いったい何を見つめているのかな？ pic.twitter.com/MM9cWBvjys

— 週刊少年チャンピオン編集部 (@Weekly_Champion) June 19, 2014

【侵略！イカ娘】もう、予約締め切り直前！　17巻OVA付限定版の新作アニメより、場面カットをさらに大公開するでゲソ!!　イカ娘についに国家権力が!! pic.twitter.com/ftVuB1JQtK

— 週刊少年チャンピオン編集部 (@Weekly_Champion) June 20, 2014

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

What happens when The Dark Knight Returns version of Batman faces off against Alan Moore's smartest man on the planet? Only funny things.

Read more...

This Saturday is Free RPG Day, plus there's a a Paranoia bundle, charity auctions, and other gaming deals going on right now. Don't miss these great summer gaming deals.

Read more...

Earlier this month Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2 made its PSN debut as a PlayStation 2 Classic, and the SMT train is still chuggin' along. Next up is the elegantly-titled Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon, which lands on Sony's service on June 24. 

Devil Summoner 2 originally debuted on PS2 in Japan in 2008 before making its way to North America in 2009. The RPG continues the story from Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army and the novel Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Dead Ekishi.

Via Gematsu

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Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. His blog can be found at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter at @Moldilox.

Atlus USA showed off a Japanese build of Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth behind closed doors during E3.

Read Persona Q: Shadow Of The Labyrinth’s Story Is Canon on Siliconera!

It's a long journey to Cairo, and we're going to be following Jotaro and company every step of the way as Warner Brothers Japan has confirmed that the Jojo's Bizarre Adventure will be a full year, 4 cour production. 

The Startdust Crusaders Part III of Hirohiko Araki's manga ran from chapter 114 to 265 in 1989-1992, collected in volumes 13 to 29.

TVアニメ『ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 スターダストクルセイダース』は、原作に登場するスタンドはノーカット・4クールにてお届けいたします。長い旅になりますが、これからも、その先も…皆様よろしくお付き合いのほどお願いいたします。WB寺

— TVアニメ『ジョジョの奇妙な冒険』公式 (@anime_jojo) June 20, 2014

via yuyucow

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

The meta-fiction of the over-the-top sci-fi martial artists light novel series Ninja Slayer is that "translators" Yu Honda and Leika Sugi were introduced to "authors" Bradley Bond and Philip Ninj@ Morzez's Ninja Slayer as a fanzine at San Diego Comic Con 1997. So, it's appropriate that, with anime by Trigger (Kill La Kill) in the works, the first preview will premiere in California.

Plans include:

●The world premiere of the promotional trailer will be shown at Anime Expo 2014 in Los Angeles, CA, during a panel discussion on July 3that 6:00 p.m.

●Anime Expo attendees will be able to catch a sneak peak of two never-before-seen NINJA SLAYER posters, as well as a chance to receive a “Menpo” (Ninja Slayer's mask) and a sample booklet containing the original NINJA SLAYERnovel and a Comptiq* comic book from the GOOD SMILE COMPANY booth at Anime Expo 2014 (supplies limited). Attendees will also be able to purchase additional NINJA SLAYERgoodies at the booth, a list of which appears below. Another big surprise awaits fans at the GOOD SMILE COMPANY booth!
*Comptiqis a videogame/anime magazine sold in Japan.

Merchandise available from the GOOD SMILE COMPANY booth at Anime Expo 2014
NINJA SLAYER T-shirt (M –XXL, $23), NINJA SLAYER “Another Color” T-shirt (M –XXL, $23), NINJA SLAYER Kokeshimart Ecobag($12), NINJA SLAYER character keyring(Ninja Slayer, Dark Ninja, YamotoKoki, Forest Sawatari, Nancy Lee, Death Drain, Takagi Gandoand Genocide, $8/each), NINJA SLAYER Clear File Folder set of 3 (Types A, B, C, and D, $12/each set), NINJA SLAYER Mouse Pad Comic ver. ($15).

●Getting to know the creators of NINJA SLAYER
The original authors and creators of NINJA SLAYER, Bradley Bond and Philip Ninj@ Morzez, will be featured interviewees on Tokyo Otaku Mode on June 20th. Addition to the authors’ Q & A, the first 4 pages of the comic book will be revealed on June 27th tofulfill the anticipation of the series' fans.

You can read light novels in English on Tokyo Otaku Mode:

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.