As part of NYCC/AF promotions, Viz Media have announced the launch of ‘Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha’, a new digital anthology to begin publication in January 2012. This new weekly edition will replace the current print magazine ‘Shonen Jump’ which will have its final issue in April 2012.  Pricing for the anthology has been report as ‘an annual membership [costing] US$25.99 for 48 weekly issues… Single issues will cost US$0.99 for a four-week rental’ and will be available on both vizmanga.com and the Viz Manga apps.
Now, the main draw is what this new scheme offers: readers will now be able to read official, translated editions of ‘Bakuman, Bleach, Naruto, Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, One Piece and Toriko’ a mere two weeks after their publication in Japan. A lot of these titles have become big hits in the manga world and have a very dedicated fanbase, of which a lot of them should be very pleased by this news.
Source: AnimeNews.biz, AnimeNewsNetwork & Crunchyroll
