In February Viz Media is preparing to launch a new imprint, Viz Signature, which will include titles with content that is significantly more artistic and targeted at a more sophisticated audience.  When describing the new imprint to ICv2, a spokesperson for Viz compared the Signature line to film such as the 'Sony Classics, Merchant/Ivory productions, and Miramax.'  The concept for the new more literary manga imprint came together after Viz had already solicited for several of the titles including Naoki Urasawa's Monster and Takao Saito's Golgo 13, while other series destined for the Signature imprint such as Osamu Tezuka's Phoenix and Takehito Inoue's Vagabond were previously published under Viz's Editor's Choice banner.

 

Unlike Del Rey, which is opting for a slightly larger format for its 'mature' line (see 'Del Rey Shrinkwrapping Mature Titles'), Viz's Signature series book will retain the same proportions as the rest of its line.  Most of Viz's Signature books will be priced at $9.99 with the exception of Tezuka's Phoenix, which will be $16.99.  All of the Viz Signature imprint books rated 'M' (for 'Mature') will be shrinkwrapped.

 

Viz will launch the new line in February with the release of the first volume of Naoki Urasawa's intriguing Monster and Golgo 13 Vol. 1.  In March Viz plans to release Tezuka's Phoenix, followed by the second volumes of Monster and Golgo 13 in April.  In June Viz will release Inoue's Vagabond Vol. 21, the first new volume in the series following a long hiatus by the creator.