Why?

Okay, this is news to me... so if anyone actually reads my blog, I apologize if you've all ready heard this: VIZ is releasing the Black and White chapter of Pokemon Special.  In July.

My thoughts after the jump...


Now? They're only printed in the magazines in Japan!  Not to mention that there is normally some changes from the magazines to the graphic novels.

Oh, and VIZ is also apparently trying out a shorter volume format.  It's only 96 pages according to the Chapters page.  They are also releasing a second volume on the same day.  Effortlessly defeating the purpose of splitting a volume in two.  (The second volume is only 80 pages... Smooth.)  I thought it would allow them to have a constant bimonthly or trimonthly stream without fear of catching up to the magazines, but that would make too much sense to the people who can't even consistently censor death.


Part of me is saying that this makes sense since Black and White is still new.  And it would be nice if it was released in a timely manner.

The other part of me is saying that they released the first volume of the Diamond and Pearl chapter 5 days before Pokemon Black and White released!  There is plenty of other Pokemon manga that they can release instead.  (For example: a reprint of The Electric Tale of Pikachu, any other manga on this list?)  And have just doomed themselves to spoil the end of the FR/LG story arc before they translate it, unless they intentionally hold back the manga, or speed up the release of the first 29 volumes.  Both of which seem unlikely.

And if that picture is true (It's on the Amazon page, but I can't find it on VIZ's website so no idea if it's real) They took off the Adventures branding...

What?

Boy... How long is it going to take until the Black and White chapter begins referencing previous events?

And no, I still haven't gotten a response after I asked about the blank e-mail... I'm probably going to send a second e-mail.  It's going to be much shorter and to the point.