Shonen Jump (magazine)

Infobox Magazine
title = Shonen Jump


image_size = 250px
image_caption = "Shonen Jump" Volume 1, Issue 1, cover dated January 2003
editor = Marc Weidenbaum
editor_title = Editor-in-Chief
previous_editor = Yumi Hoashi
staff_writer =
frequency = Monthly
circulation = 215,000 (2008)
category = manga, shōnen
company = Viz Media
publisher = Hyoe Narita
firstdate = January 2003
based = San Francisco, California
country = Flag|USA, Flag|Canada
language = English
website = http://shonenjump.com/
issn = 1545-7818

"Shonen Jump", officially stylized "SHONEN JUMP" and abbreviated "SJ", is a shōnen manga anthology published in North America by Viz Media. It debuted in November 2002, with a January 2003 cover date. Based on the popular Japanese anthology "Weekly Shōnen Jump", published by Shueisha, "Shonen Jump" is retooled for English readers and the American audience and is published monthly, instead of weekly. It features serialized chapters from seven manga series, and articles on Japanese language and culture, as well as manga, anime, video games, and figurines. In conjunction with the magazine, Viz launched new imprints for releasing media related to the series presented in the magazine, and other shōnen works. This includes two new manga imprints, an anime DVD imprint, a fiction line for releasing light novels, a label for fan and data books, and a label for the release of art books.

Prior to the magazine's launch, Viz launched an extensive marketing campaign to promote the magazine and help it succeed where other manga anthologies in North America have failed. Shueisha purchased an equity interest in Viz to help fund the venture, and Cartoon Network, Suncoast, and Diamond Distributors became promotional partners in the magazine. The first issue required three printings to meet demand, with over 300,000 copies sold. It was awarded the ICv2 "Comic Product of the Year" award in December 2002, and has continued to enjoy high sales with a monthly circulation of 215,000 in 2008.

History

In June 2002, Viz Media (at the time called "Viz Communications"), and Shueisha announced that Viz would begin publishing "Shonen Jump", an English spin on Shueisha's highly popular manga anthology "Weekly Shōnen Jump". Cartoon Network, Suncoast, and Diamond Distributors signed on as promotional partners. Though based on "Weekly Shōnen Jump", Viz noted that it would not be a "word for word" copy. Rather, Viz would select series for its magazine that it felt were the most appropriate for its American readers.cite web |url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1499.html |title=DBZ and Yu Gi Oh Headline US Shonen Jump |publisher=ICv2 |date=2002-06-12 |accessdate=2008-06-30 ] Viz's version was also set to be monthly, rather than having weekly, to better fit the American comic distribution system.cite web |url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1714.html |title=Interview with Viz Management, Part I |publisher=ICv2 |date=2002-08-13 |accessdate=2008-07-01 ]

With manga anthologies having met with little success in North America to this point, Viz was determined to have "Shonen Jump" succeed, desiring it to have a circulation of 1 million within its first three years. To aid in this goal, Viz launched the magazine with a multi-million dollar advertising budget, they advertised and distributed the title through mass market outlets rather than just pop culture stores, and ensuring the magazine included series already popular with the North American audience due to their airing on Cartoon Network.cite web |url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1494.html |title=Viz and Shueisha To Launch Mass Market Boys Magazine in US |publisher=ICv2 |date=2002-06-10 |accessdate=2008-06-30 ] To help fund the lengthy, expensive marketing campaign developed around "Shonen Jump", Shueisha purchased an equity interest in Viz in August 2002.cite web |url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1679.html |title=Shueisha Buys Equity Interest in Viz |publisher=ICv2 |date=2002-08-02 |accessdate=2008-07-01 ]

Unlike with most magazine launches, Viz decided to allow retailers to return the first two issues. This gave retailers a chance to see how well the magazine would sell in markets where manga anthologies were an unknown. Retailers were also given a quantity of free samples, distributed 100,000 free samples at Comic Con, and another 100,000 were made available to its partner Suncoast.cite web |url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1666.html |title=Viz To Make First Two Shonen Jump Issues Returnable |publisher=ICv2 |date=2002-07-28 |accessdate=2008-06-30 ] Cartoon Network began providing sample chapters and streaming video content to its Adult Swim website, along with prominent links to "Shonen Jump's" official site.

The first issue was released November 26, 2002, with a January 2003 cover date. It premiered with five series: "Dragon Ball Z", "Sand Land", "Yu-Gi-Oh!", "YuYu Hakusho", and "One Piece".cite web |url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/1696.html |title=Shonen Jump Line-up Tied to Cartoon Network|publisher=ICv2 |date=2002-08-07 |accessdate=2008-07-01 ] With the second issue, the magazine was expanded to feature seven series.cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/shonen-jump-2 |title=Shonen Jump 2 |first=John |last=Jakala |publisher=Anime News Network |date=2003-02-02 |accessdate=2008-07-01 ]

In February 2005, Viz announced the creation of "Shojo Beat", a sister publication of "Shonen Jump" geared towards female readers. The first issue was released in June 2005 with a July 2005 cover.cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-02-08/shojo-beat-details |title=Shojo Beat Details |publication=Anime News Network |date=2005-02-08 |accessdate=2008-03-07 ] In 2006, Marc Weidenbaum was named as the Editor-in-Chief for both magazines.cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2006-11-15/viz-names-new-shonen-jump-shojo-beat-editor-in-chief |title=Viz Names New Shonen Jump, Shojo Beat Editor-in-Chief |publication=Anime News Network |date=2006-11-15 |accessdate=2008-03-07 ]

Features

The bulk of each issue of "Shonen Jump" is comprised of chapters from the seven manga titles currently in serialization. Each issue also includes product reviews for anime and manga related games and toys, articles on Japanese language and culture, interviews with manga artists, anime and manga related news, fan related sections such as fan art and letters from readers, and interactive games and trivia sections. Issues also regularly include free premiums, such as rare cards for manga and anime collectible card game adaptations, DVD previews, and video game demo discs.

The magazine's official website includes information on all series released under the "Shonen Jump" label, [cite web |url=http://www.shonenjump.com/manga/index.php |title=Manga Series |publisher=Viz Media |work=Shonen Jump Online |accessdate=2008-07-02] biographies of the manga artists whose works have been serialized in the magazine, [cite web |url=http://www.shonenjump.com/whatisjump/jumpartist/index.php |title=SJ Artists |publisher=Viz Media |work=Shonen Jump Online |accessdate=2008-07-02] and previews of upcoming issues. [cite web |url=http://www.shonenjump.com/sneakpeek/ |title=Sneak Peek |publisher=Viz Media |work=Shonen Jump Online |accessdate=2008-07-02] Subscribers to the magazine have access to an additional area of the site where they can view preview chapters of manga series in the magazine and being published under the various "Shonen Jump" imprints, download desktop wallpapers, send e-cards, and play games. [cite web |url=http://www.shonenjump.com/downloads/index.php |title=Downloads |publisher=Viz Media |work=Shonen Jump Online |accessdate=2008-07-02]

As with "Weekly Shōnen Jump", special edition stand alone issues of "Shonen Jump" are released several times a year that focus on a manga series. These issues, which are considered collector's items, include extensive details on the series plot and characters, information on related adaptations of the series, and free premium items, such as full-size posters. Anniversary editions are released yearly, usually featuring higher page counts, color manga pages, and higher end premiums. [cite press release |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2003-11-11/viz-announces-anniversary-edition-of-shonen-jump |title=Viz Announces Anniversary Edition of Shonen Jump |publisher=Anime News Network |date=2003-11-11 |accessdate=2008-07-06 ] [cite press release |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2005-12-06/viz-media-announces-anniversarry-edition-of-shonen-jump |title=Viz Media Announces Anniversary Edition of Shonen Jump |publisher=Anime News Network |date=2005-12-06 |accessdate=2008-07-06 ] [cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-06-02/viz-to-ship-anniversary-shonen-jump-naruto-kids-novels |title=Viz to Ship Anniversary Shonen Jump, Naruto Kids' Novels (Updated) |publisher=Anime News Network |date=2008-06-02 |accessdate=2008-07-06 ] To celebrate the fifth anniversary of the magazine, Viz also introduced hardback "Collector Editions" of some of the magazine's most popular series as a part of their main "Shonen Jump" manga imprint. The new editions were larger sized, with color dust jackets and higher quality paper than the normal volumes. They also included several full-color pages not seen in the initial releases. Viz also released "Shonen Jump Fifth Anniversary Collector's Edition", a hardcover book containing chapters from its best selling series, along with various articles and interviews that appeared in the magazine during its first five year history, a timeline tracking the history of manga, and essays written by editors from "Shonen Jump" and "Weekly Shōnen Jump".cite web |url=http://comics.ign.com/articles/887/887850p1.html |title=Shonen Jump Celebrates Anniversary |publisher=IGN |date=2008-07-10 |accessdate=2008-07-11 ]

Series

"Shonen Jump" contains chapters from seven different manga series. Fourteen series have been featured so far, with seven having ended their runs to be replaced with other series. Only four of those remained in the magazine until all of their chapters had been published. Each title serialized in the magazine is also published in "tankōbon" volumes under the company's related "Shonen Jump" and "Shonen Jump Advanced" labels.

This is a complete list of all titles to be serialized in "Shonen Jump". It does not include single chapter previews of titles. The titles currently running in the magazine are highlighted.

Imprints

In conjunction with the "Shonen Jump" anthology, Viz Media has created multiple new imprints in its various divisions. "Shonen Jump" is the primary manga imprint for releasing the tankōbon volumes of the series that have appeared in the magazine, as well as other similar shōnen titles that were serialized in other "Jump" magazines in Japan. A second manga imprint, "Shonen Jump Advanced", was launched in April 2005 to target older teenage and young adult readers with more "mature themes." [cite web |url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/6166.html |title=Shonen Jump Advanced Line Targets Older Teens |publisher=ICv2 |date=2004-12-20 |accessdate=2008-07-01 ]

In October 2005, Viz expanded the "Shonen Jump" imprint into their home video releases. "Shonen Jump Home Video" offers anime series and original video animations adapted from manga series appearing in "Shonen Jump".cite press release |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2005-10-14/viz-launches-shonen-jump-home-video |title=Viz Launches Shonen Jump Home Video |publisher=Anime News Network |date=2005-10-14 |accessdate=2008-07-06 ]

In 2006, the "SJ Fiction" imprint, part of the Viz Fiction line, was announced. The imprint is used for light novel releases related to manga series appearing in "Shonen Jump". [cite press release |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2006-09-15/viz-media-announces-three-new-fiction-novels |title=Viz Media Announces Three New Fiction Novels |publisher=Anime News Network |date=2006-09-15 |accessdate=2008-07-06 ] [cite web |url=http://www.vizmedia.com/products/products.php?format_id=5&brand_id=36 |title=SJ Fiction |publisher=Viz Media |accessdate=2008-07-06 ] "SJ Profiles" prints fan books, data books, and other similar works for the Shonen Jump series, while art books are released under the "Art of SJ" imprint. [cite web |url=http://www.vizmedia.com/products/products.php?format_id=5&brand_id=30 |title=SJ Profiles |publisher=Viz Media |accessdate=2008-07-06 ] [cite web |url=http://www.vizmedia.com/products/products.php?format_id=5&brand_id=34 |title=Art of SJ |publisher=Viz Media |accessdate=2008-07-06 ]

Circulation and audience

The initial issue of "Shonen Jump" sold over 300,000, far exceeding Viz's expected 100,000 copies and making it one of the top comic titles in 2002. The first printing of 250,000 copies was sold out before the issue was released, and three printings were necessary to fully meet the demand.cite web |url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/2124.html |title=Shonen Jump #1 in Third Printing |publisher=ICv2 |date=2002-12-10 |accessdate=2008-07-01 ] After the initial launch, the magazine had an average monthly circulation 190,000, but it quickly grew to 205,000 by its first anniversary. The August 2003 issue, which included a demo version of an upcoming "Yu-Gi-Oh!" PC game, was the top issue with 540,000 sold.cite web |url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/3867.html |title=Shonen Jump Sales Skyrocket to 305,000! |publisher=ICv2 |date=2003-11-13 |accessdate=2008-07-01 ] As of 2008, the magazine has a circulation of 215,000, with subscriptions constituting 54% of the copies distributed.cite press release |url=http://www.shonenjump.com/mediakit/images/SJ_MEDIAKIT_Web.pdf |format=pdf |publisher=Viz Media |title=Shonen Jump Media Kit |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-06-29 ]

Though targeted towards "tween & teen male consumers", according to Viz Media the magazine enjoys a relatively high number of female and adult readers, comprising 36% and 37% of readers, respectively. The "Shonen Jump" reader has a median age of 16 years, with over half of the audience is between the ages of 13 and 17. Official measurements by Simmons notes that among minor age readers the female readership is slightly lower and and that the median age is 12.

Reception

"Shonen Jump" is considered the "most successful and widely read" manga anthology in North America. In addition to the unparalleled circulation numbers, the "Shonen Jump" manga imprint has had consistently high sales, with many of its titles being top sellers. "Naruto" has been the line's top seller, accounting for nearly 10% of all manga sales in North America in 2006.cite web | url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/9450.html | title=Naruto Nabs Quill Award |publisher=ICv2 |date=2006-10-12 |accessdate=2008-04-07] In December 2002, the magazine received the ICv2 Award for "Comic Product of the Year" due to its unprecedented sales numbers and its successfully connecting comics to both the television medium and the "Yu-Gi-Oh!" collectible card game – one of the top CCG games of the year.cite web |url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/2179.html |title=ICv2 2002 Comic Awards, Part 1 |publisher=ICv2 |date=2002-12-29 |accessdate=2008-07-01 ]

Reviewers of the magazine applauded the selection of series and the various articles included in each issue. In his coverage of the magazine's debut issue, John Jakala of Anime News Network, compared it to the debut issue of competing work "Raijin Comics" and was surprised to find himself preferring "Shonen Jump", despite it being targeted for a younger age group than "Raijin Comics". Calling it an "impressive debut issue", Jakala predicted that its high quality content and high value for the price would result in the anthology becoming a successful anthology in North America.cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/shonen-jump-1 |title=Shonen Jump, Volume 1 |first=John |last=Jakala |publisher=Anime News Network |date=2003-01-02 |accessdate=2008-07-11] In succeeding reviews, Jakala stated that "Shonen Jump" put "American comics to shame", particularly in terms of the size of the magazine for the price versus the normal size of a similarly priced issue of a regular comic book.cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/shonen-jump-2 |title=Shonen Jump, Volume 2 |first=John |last=Jakala |publisher=Anime News Network |date=2003-02-02 |accessdate=2008-07-11] cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/shonen-jump-3 |title=Shonen Jump, Volume 3 |first=John |last=Jakala |publisher=Anime News Network |date=2003-02-13 |accessdate=2008-07-11] He did, however, note that the episodic nature of some of the series included had started to become repetitive after three issues, and that while the articles might appeal to many readers, he himself skipped over them. In addition to praising the value for the dollar, Comic Book Bin's Leroy Douresseaux felt that each of the chapters included were "a self-sustaining and satisfying tale with a beginning, middle, and end" that, coupled with the character and story summaries included for each series, made it easy for readers to keep up with a series even if they missed an issue.cite web |url=http://www.comicbookbin.com/shonenjumpvol01-08.html |title=SHONEN JUMP VOL. 1 #8 |first=Leroy |last=Douresseaux |publisher=Comic Book Bin |date=2003-10-12 |accessdate=2008-07-11] cite web |url=http://www.comicbookbin.com/shonenjump043.html |title=Shonen Jump: Vol. 4: Issue 7 |first=Leroy |last=Douresseaux |publisher=Comic Book Bin |date=2007-04-27 |accessdate=2008-07-11]

References

External links

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