GTO: 14 Days in Shonan is an homage to a different era in Japanese manga. Penned by one of the most successful authors in recent history the brand could have the honor to have shaped manga publishing on both sides of the Pacific. The original GTO series revitalized a magazine and a genre, bringing life to the boys comedy eventually launching a multi-media phenomenon fueled by the music, fashion and attitude that was Great Teacher Onizuka at the time. That same image would help drive the manga revolution half a decade later in North America. And now in 2012 the series’ sequel is poised to revitalize a manga scene that most pundits are calling dead.

14 Days in Shonan takes readers back to the origins of the franchise. Reintroducing much of the cast that built the character known as Onizuka. And on the streets of Shonan readers will have an opportunity to experience the excitement and humor that made this property synonymous with shonen (boys) entertainment. At the same time, it is as fresh and modern as a manga published in 2010 and 2011 can be. The world of GTO has always been about looking at modern day pop Japan, and Onizuka guides readers through much of what young adults are enjoying right now in Japan.

Whether enjoyed on its own or appreciated as the final chapter in the Onizuka Trilogy, 14 Days in Shonan is your first lesson in Vertical’s new shonen age. After launching a seinen revolution, taking on boys comics is an even bigger challenge but one we will gladly learn from with Onizuka leading the way.

Praise for The Drops of God:

“A manga with a brilliantly simple premise — two sons must compete in a wine-tasting competition to win ownership of their father’s huge wine collection — executed with great wit and style.”
—NPR

“My favorite wine book of 2011 is a graphic novel. Pick up the first volume at your sleep’s peril. It’s a one-nighter, a wine tale that is equal parts coming-of-age, love and detective stories. Along its nervy way, it nonetheless plainly explains various wines, wine talk and the how-to of wine tasting…You’ll be drunk with anticipation, not only as the story unfolds in the first volume, but for the next printings too.”
—The Chicago Tribune

“Absolute page-turner… It’s the sweeping two-page illustrations of taste-transporting moments (a shirt-tearing jam by rock band Queen, a maiden fleeing through strawberry fields) that better capture wine’s great allure than a thousand dry scribblings on history and weather conditions.”
—Time Out New York

“Following the recipe of many graphic novels, Drops is filled with adventure, betrayal, family secrets and a pinch of sexual tension.”
—The Daily (Wall Street Journal)

“Visually stunning and effortlessly entertaining… To top it off, reading Drops is a trippy literary experience… Don’t be surprised if you crush this book in one night. It’s pretty impossible to put down once you pick it up.”
—Bottlenotes (The Daily Sip)

So instead of panicking over that perfect present for that special someone in your life, why not leave it to Vertical? Pick up a copy of Tadashi Agi’s The Drops of God, head on over to the new Drops of God website for a wine recommendation or two, and let Santa take care of the rest. Nothing says Christmas like a little red and white, and The Drops of God will let you know which ones will keep your loved ones warmest this winter!

This winter Vertical wishes to inspire a similar experience with its readers through two distinctly unique comic classics. One is a classic in the traditional sense, while another revives a work from generations past.

With the final volume of Princess Knight, comic fans can experience a world of shojo (girls) comics long forgotten. Osamu Tezuka originally penned this classic girls adventure in the 50′s and the series immediately made an impact on the shojo market. One of Tezuka’s most beloved tales, Princess Knight emotes Disney-esque adventure that should make the perfect gift for the comics fan young and old.

While not as light and warm-hearted as Princess Knight, Usamaru Furuya’s No Longer Human is a modern-day classic overflowing with passion. Drawn with amazing detail Furuya’s adaptation of Osamu Dazai’s classic novel makes this work accessible to today’s increasingly global audience.

So as readers work on their holiday gift lists this December, we would like to recommend these two timeless treasures which are certain to be enjoyed over and over for many years to come.

In Nami Iijima’s English-language debut Reel Cuisine, the world-renowned food stylist realizes dozens of dishes from some of the biggest box office hits from across the globe. From Miracle on 34th Street‘s roast chicken to the refreshing mojitos from Almodovar’s Volver, the silver screen comes to the kitchen with Iijima’s fun and easy-to-follow recipes. With nearly two decades of experience designing hunger-inducing delicacies for film and TV, Ms. Iijma has compiled more than sixty dishes from an equal number of critically acclaimed films to create one of the more comprehensive looks at cinematic cuisine ever.

Reel Cuisine invites film buffs with an interest in gastronomy to feast on the finest the silver screen has to offer for what might be less than the price for a ticket to the movies these days.

Few comickers have captured the respect and curiousity of a nation in the twenty-first century like Usamaru Furuya. His rich visuals overflow with emotion and narrative allowing him to render any genre from comedy to psycho-horror effortlessly, making Furuya a magician with pen and paper.

In Vertical’s most recent release these two talents come together to take on one of Japanese literature’s most beloved works, No Longer Human. Furuya tackles this classic “I novel” by resetting it in modern-day Tokyo, a vice-fueled megalopolis where it is almost impossble to avoid today’s opiates. By taking Dazai’s place as the narrator, Furuya, known as something of a comedian in his own right, reveals a new side as a story-teller as he guides readers through the life of a young clown named Yozo Oba. Drawn vividly by Furuya, everyday life becomes a fascinating nightmare full of self-loathing, alcohol abuse, and suicidal tendencies. And with every new twist, we believe that readers, like the narrator, will be drawn in deeper towards the dark side of Vertical’s seinen comic revolution.

This week Vertical continues to challenge the North American comic scene by releasing two titles from the extremes of manga. Originating from the same anthology, Tadashi Agi’s The Drops of God and Konami Kanata’s Chi’s Sweet Home exemplify manga’s diversity as well as its potential, as both have taken the world by storm in their own unique ways.

The Drops of God became a global phenomenon a few years back as it taught a large portion of the Far East the virtues of wine. No longer was wine a simple status symbol for the elite; through Shu Okimoto’s rich visuals, Burgundy and Bordeaux were now nearly as accessible as soju and beer. A multi-million seller overseas, The Drops of God is already a media darling in the U.S. and is primed to change comics culture here forever.

Konami Kanata’s Chi’s Sweet Home, now in its seventh volume, has become a sensation for a different reason. A multiple New York Times Best Seller, the adventures of an American Shorthair and her extended human family has captured the hearts of Americans through pure cuteness. Appreciated by kids of all ages, this comic has brought new life to a medium skeptics thought was on the decline.

So as these books find their way from bookshelves and warehouses to homes across the globe, why not raise a glass high to Vertical manga-tastemakers and trail-blazers of Japanese comics of the highest quality?

This week’s release of Black Jack 16 is only a taste of what to expect at this year’s NYCC. Experienced con-goers of all ages are expected to make a beeline to Vertical’s booth for advance copies of his seminal shojo (girls’ comic) work Princess Knight. Meanwhile, from the opposite side of Tezuka’s catalog, is another title with a memorable female lead, The Book of Human Insects. With three new Tezuka releases hitting the shelves within a span of two months manga readers have plenty to choose from the master’s ever expanding library.

Those looking for more contemporary content should rejoice when they find two other series debuting this weekend. Tadashi Agi’s legendary wine comic The Drops of God will premiere at the con. Wine will not… And Usamaru Furuya returns with an homage to one of Japan’s great literary voices of the twentieth century, Osamu Dazai, with his adaptation of No Longer Human.

The excitement shifts from the showroom to the panel halls on Friday night. Vertical will be hosting its annual panel in Hall 1A03 in primetime from 8:45pm. Members of the Vertical staff will reveal their Summer 2012 catalog which features a handful of new manga properties that are certain to be the highlight of the weekend.

New York Comic-Con
Jacob K. Javits Center
Booth #2652
655 West 34th Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 216-2000
Thursday October 13 through Sunday October 16

Panel: Friday October 14 at 8:45pm in Hall 1A03

Number Place is Nishio’s latest challenge to the pencil-and-paper puzzling community. After creating a series for the masses with his Sudoku Plus line, Nishio shifted his focus towards Sudoku’s masochists by giving them a new series of mind-numbingly sinister logic puzzles. Released this week, his Number Place: Blue is beyond wicked as it not only collects 100 “hard” to “impossible” Sudoku puzzles, but it also features ten Consecutive Sudoku puzzles, each hand-crafted by the bespectacled fiend himself.

In Osamu Tezuka’s The Book of Human Insects, the godfather of Japanese comics forecasts this bug-eat-bug world back when radio and evening edition papers were still the driving force of media.  And he accomplishes this by introducing readers to one of his more compelling female leads, Toshiko Tomura. A character who could put most modern day idols to shame, this young woman will plagiarize, blackmail, and conspire in her relentless quest for success and public adoration.

Originally published in the 1970s, this graphic novel resonates even more powerfully today, as reality shows, tabloids, and gossip blogs feed our shortened attention spans. Now available for the first time in English, and packaged beautifully by Peter Mendelsund, The Book of Human Insects is primed to make headlines. Whether inspired by Tezuka’s iconic visual imagery or shocked by the lengths to which his Toshiko will go for fame, Human Insects will have readers dropping the clicker and their mice in favor of a classic that is far more provocative.

In the ninth volume of Kou Yaginuma’s Twin Spica, the young cast welcomes another class to the prestigious Tokyo Space School. Along with new faces, Asumi and friends will be introduced to another regimen of increasingly challenging simulations designed to separate the cream from the first crop. Readers will also be treated to an interesting twist this volume, as most of the drama is not set in the classroom, with extra-curricular activities suddenly impacting relationships and future priorities.

And as summer quickly turns to fall, Osamu Tezuka reminds readers that the season cannot come to an official end without a regular check-in with manga’s surgeon general, Black Jack. In this fifteenth volume, the mercenary medic continues to treat the human condition with his god-like skills, but on a few occasions he must turn attentions to his own ailments before proceeding to heal others.

So as we still have some daylight to enjoy leisure reading, why not let Vertical guide you through an increasingly expanding manga universe?