Weekly Shonen Jump (American magazine) explained

Weekly Shonen Jump
Frequency:Weekly
Category:Shōnen manga
Company:Viz Media
Based:San Francisco, California, United States
Country:United States
Canada
Language:English

Weekly Shonen Jump was a digital shōnen manga anthology published in North America by Viz Media, and the successor to their monthly print anthology Shonen Jump. It began serialization on January 30, 2012, as Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha (officially stylized as Weekly SHONEN JUMP αlpha or Weekly SHONEN JUMP Alpha), with two free preview issues published in the buildup to its launch. Based on Shueisha's popular Japanese magazine of the same name, Weekly Shonen Jump was an attempt to provide English-speaking readers with easily accessible, affordable, and officially licensed editions of the latest installments of popular Shōnen Jump manga soon after their publication in Japan, as an alternative to popular bootleg scanlation services which were illegal and often poorly translated. It attempts to copy the Japanese magazine.[1]

The anthology launched with a lineup of six titles, with new issues published online two weeks after the equivalent Japanese release. At the time of its cancellation, the magazine featured twelve titles, including installments of monthly series from the Japanese magazine's sister publications, Weekly Young Jump, Jump SQ, V Jump, and Young Jump Web Comics. At New York Comic Con 2012 it was announced that the magazine would transition to simultaneous publication with Japan beginning with the January 21, 2013, issue, with more new series to be added to the lineup.[2] The magazine was renamed Weekly Shonen Jump starting on January 21, 2013.[3]

Viz Media published its final digital issue of Weekly Shonen Jump and launched the Shonen Jump digital vault on December 10, 2018, providing access to a limited number of free digital chapters and a subscription service to access their back catalogue of Shonen Jump titles.[4] A global version of Shonen Jump+ was also launched on January 28, 2019, called MANGA Plus by Shueisha.[5]

History

In October 2011, Viz confirmed that Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha, a weekly digital version of the magazine, would be released on January 30, 2012. Viz also confirmed that it would release its final Shonen Jump print publication in March of that year after Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha is released.[6] [7]

On January 11, 2012, two free preview issues were published, made available until February 29, 2012. The first, Issue Origins, included the first chapter of each of the six manga to be serialized, while Issue 0 included chapters recently released in Japan, to help readers catch-up.

In Summer 2012, Bakuman became the first title of the original Alpha lineup to finish serialization, and the magazine began featuring installments of ongoing monthly titles from Jump SQ and V Jump, as well as a number of new series fresh from their debut in Weekly Shōnen Jump, including Barrage, Cross Manage, and Takama-Ga-Hara. In October 2012, Viz released the first "Starter Pack," a free, 300+ page preview containing recent chapters of all the titles currently serialized in the magazine.

On January 21, 2013, the magazine was renamed Weekly Shonen Jump and began simultaneous publication with Japanese editions of Weekly Shōnen Jump. The layout and graphic design of the magazine was changed, and a new website was launched at shonenjump.com. The transition also brought with it the announcement of several new series, including a full-color reprinting of Dragon Ball, the superhero webmanga One-Punch Man, and the debut of a new Weekly Shōnen Jump sci-fi series, World Trigger.

On July 4, 2013, the magazine went international, becoming available for purchase in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

In January 2014, Weekly Shonen Jump returned to print via the Jump Pack, a quarterly print sampler that includes a three-month subscription to the digital magazine and a promotional Yu-Gi-Oh! card.

In August 2014, a new "Jump Start" feature was announced, whereby all new series debuting in the Japanese edition of Weekly Shōnen Jump will have at their first three chapters published in the English Weekly Shonen Jump. A variety of factors including continued Japanese serialization and English audience reception will then help to determine if the series is picked up for full serialization in the English magazine.

On June 29, 2016, the magazine expands its availability, becoming available for purchase in India, the Philippines and Singapore.

On December 10, 2018, Viz Media published its final digital issue of Weekly Shonen Jump in favor of new chapters being released for free with an app and a subscription service to access their back catalogue.

Features

Issues of Weekly Shonen Jump ranged from 100 to 393 pages, depending on the titles and special features appearing in any given week, and were available to read online or on web-enabled devices via Viz's official website or through the official app. Readers could sign up for an annual subscription or purchase individual issues.

The format of the magazine generally mirrored that of the equivalent issue of the Japanese magazine, typically featuring the same cover illustrations, as well as color interior pages and the ordering of series on the table of contents by popularity, as determined by weekly reader polls in Japan.

Issues frequently contained additional features such as exclusive creator interviews and manga specials (including one-shots, crossovers, and full-color chapters). Likewise, the official website offered articles, wallpapers, chapter previews, sketch videos, and a variety of other special features. Annual subscribers who registered their mailing address would also periodically receive free promotional Yu-Gi-Oh! cards through the mail, as well as a free "yearbook" each December, which included exclusive one-shot manga specials, posters, interviews, and other features.[8]

Series

Jump Start series

Beginning in September 2014, the "Jump Start initiative" was started with the goal of previewing the first three issues of all new manga debuting in the Japanese magazine, with the potential for full serialization in the English magazine if various criteria are met.

Specials

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: December 25, 2018. Why The New American Weekly Shonen Jump Is A Game-Changer For Manga (And Comic) Fans. November 5, 2020. LRM. en-US.
  2. Web site: All New SHONEN JUMP ALPHA Coming Soon! . . November 26, 2012 . November 26, 2012.
  3. Web site: STAY TUNED! . . January 17, 2013 . January 17, 2013.
  4. Web site: VIZ. www.viz.com. January 30, 2019.
  5. Web site: Everything You Need to Know about MANGA Plus by Shueisha. Anime News Network. January 30, 2019.
  6. Web site: Viz to Launch Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha Digital Anthology . . October 14, 2011 . October 14, 2011 .
  7. Web site: Viz's Shonen Jump Print Magazine to End Next March . . October 14, 2011 . October 14, 2011 .
  8. Web site: Exclusive: SJ Alpha Yearbook 2013 is Coming!. September 24, 2012. Viz Media. November 21, 2012.
  9. Web site: VIZ: Shonen Jump.

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