VZSciFi SF Merchandise Releases: July 2000

LAST UPDATED: 29 October 2000

July 2000 Merchandise Releases
Further Information always welcome!
Anime Books --- Anime Comics -- Anime Graphic Novels -- Audio CD -- DVD -- Graphic Novels -- Magazines -- Novels -- Video

Additional Doctor Who Release Information : Go
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JULY ANIME BOOKS
The Art Of Pokemon: The Movie 2000
Viz Publications
Follow the story of the big-screen release Revelation: Lugia and Pikachu's Rescue Adventure in an official, lavish full-colour storybook illustrated by scenes from the movie-pictures of the characters, the Pokemon, the events, and more! Includes descriptions of all the human characters and Pokemon (including Slowking, Lugia, Elekid and the other new Pokemon)!

JULY ANIME COMICS
Aqua Knight #4
Viz comics/ story & art by Yukito Kishiro/ 6-issue monthly series
Ruliya and Arrabus are interrupted by the arrival of the colossal floating Zyfort, bringing a group of colonists to Lighthouse Island! Alcontra, a haughty aristocrat from faraway Antipoda, has arrived, and it's 1492 all over again as he claims the island for himself and dubs it Zyland. And "the natives look as if they will make fine slaves."
Dragon Ball: Part 3, #2
Viz comics/ Story & art by Akira Toriyama/ 14-issue monthly series
Gokuís airplane crash-lands in the frozen north, and he is rescued by kindly villagers whose mayor was kidnapped by the tyrannical Red Ribbon Organization. Goku has just two questions: (1) What is this "snow" anyway, and (2) Where are the bad guys to fight? But to rescue the mayor, Goku will have to storm the Red Ribbon Tower, and fight Colonel Metallic!
Dragon Ball Z: Part 3, #6
Viz comics/ story & art by Akira Toriyama/ 10-issue monthly series
Dr. Briefs shows Goku his newly invented rocket ship that'll send him to Namek the no-frills way: undergoing 10-40 Gs of gravity! But just like Nietzsche, what doesnít kill Goku, makes him stronger! Meanwhile, on Namek, Freeza and his henchmen prepare to slaughter a Namek village, and Gohan and Kuririn are powerless to help.
Eagle: The Making Of An Asian-American President #6: The King Of New York
Viz comics/ story & art by Kaiji Kawaguchi/ monthly 14-issue series
As the New York primaries approach, candidate Yamaoka tries to get the endorsement of Gilbert Blackburn, the mayor of New York City and political power broker. As the political maneuvering becomes more complicated, Takashi Jo finds it impossible to stay neutral. Who will be the Democratic nominee: former vice president Albert Noah, or "reformer with a record" Yamaoka?
Inu-Yasha: Part 5, #2
Viz comics/ 11-issue series/ story & art by Rumiko Takahashi
Inu-Yasha abandons the other travelers and heads into the unknown. Somewhere in the green forest depths waits Kagome's undead other self, Kikyo, now accompanied by a host of spectral eels. Is she friend or foe? And can Inu-Yasha choose between Kagome and Kikyo, the dead woman he once loved?
No Need For Tenchi!: Part 9, #5
Viz comics/ 6-issue series/ story & art by Hitoshi Okuda
With Ayeka as his bargaining chip, Yataka parlays with Tenchi and Co. for the prisoner he really wants: Ryoko! But some people are more dangerous to have as hostages than enemies! And as tensions mount, the one who's got its finger on the button turns out to be the mechanical intelligence Mikamo.
Pokemon: The Movie 2000 Animation Comics: Revelation: Lugia
Viz Publications/4-issue monthly series
A mysterious flying fortress is travelling across the land, seeking to capture all the legendary bird Pokemon: Moltres, Articuno and Zapdos! Meanwhile, blissfully unaware of the villainous plot at work, Ash, Misty and Tracey visit a tropical island where they witness a traditional ritual. Who is the legendary Pokemon Lugia which has powers over the wind and sea? What is Team Rocket up to inside a giant Magikarp-shaped submarine? And who's this girl who comes up and kisses Ash on the cheek?!? The adaptation of the main feature Pokemon: The Movie 2000!
Pokemon: The Movie 2000 Animation Comics: Pikachu's Rescue Adventure
Viz Publications/one-shot comic book
While the rest of the Pokemon are having a summer nap, Togepi wanders off and gets lost, and Pikachu and Elekid must find Togepi somewhere in the branches of a giant tree! Along the way, they meet rare Pokemon such as Hoot Hoot, Bellossom, and Ledybya; find a secret garden; and survive a scary lightning storm up in the treeís highest branches! Can they rescue their friend and prevent a forest fire? The whole adaptation of the theatrical short which accompanies Pokemon: The Movie 2000.
Pokemon Tales Movie Special: Pikachu's Unparalleled Adventure
Viz Publications/collectible board book. Story by Junko Wada. Art by Toshinao Aoki
The latest in the series of durable, full colour children's board books! Which would you rather have for a friend: the electric-tailed Pikachu, or the equally shocking Elekid? In this book, a boy and a girl go on two great adventures with their favorite Pokemon, and return to tell the tale.
Magical Pokemon Journey, Part 2 #1: Almond's Adventure Club
Viz Publications/4-issue monthly series. Story & art by Yumi Tsukirino
More quirky, hilarious adventures in Magical Pokemon Journey! Almond decides to take the Pokemon on an adventure in an underground cave! Can Clefairy, Jigglypuff, and Pikachu tough it out long enough to get a few XP? Then, Hazel, Pikachu and their friends go skiing. But are they really smart to enter the territory of the icy Articuno? And, more importantly, to eat ice cream while it's cold out?
Ranma 1/2, Part 9, #3
Viz comics/ story & art by Rumiko Takahashi/ monthly 11-issue series
Question: Why was Ukyo's ultimate okonomiyaki sauce a disaster? Answer:
Because Ranma secretly messed with the ingredients! Now, Ukyo's staying at Ranma's house to atone for making such a bad sauce-and she's getting stoked to cook again! How long can Ranma battle his guilty conscience while also fending off Ukyo and her food?
Silent Mobius: Catastrophe #2
Viz comics/ story & art by Kia Asamiya/ 6-issue monthly series
8 extra pages for the same price! A mysterious cyborg killer, composed of the same "megadyne" technology as A.M.P.'s bionic woman Kiddy Phenilóis slashing its way through Tokyo again, and she's not just a mindless murderer like the last one was. What's worse, Kiddy's acquaintances have become dragged into the conflict, and there are some things you just shouldn' t get involved in without a little cyberware.

JULY ANIME GRAPHIC NOVELS
Pokemon: The First Movie Animation Comics
Viz Publications/Viz graphic novel
The original Pokemon movie comics (based on the 1999 film) return in a convenient graphic novel format with all 4 issues of Mewtoo Strikes Back and the one-shot Pikachu's Vacation in full colour! Illustrated with actual cels from the hit movie, this graphic novel has all the scenes you remember, and some you probably missed! IN THIS VOLUME: Mewtwo was cloned from Mew's DNA and designed to be Team Rocket's ultimate weapon, but Mewtwo had other plans! When Ash, Misty, and Brock receive an invitation to a dark castle to meet the "greatest Pokemon trainer in the world," they discover the ultimate Pokemon's shocking scheme to get revenge on human trainers once and for all! Who is stronger: the Pokemon or the Poke-clones? And is fighting really the answer? Plus, the Pokemon have the day off in "Pikachu's Vacation", but can Raichu and Pikachu get along? Introducing Marril, Snubble, Donfan and other new Pokemon characters!
Video Girl Ai, Vol. 2: Mix Down
Viz Publications/Animerica Extra graphic novel. Story and art by Masakazu Katsura
Beautifully drawn romantic comedy! High school student Yota Moteuchi has a nickname among his classmates: "Dateless." That doesn't stop him from falling in love with his gentle classmate Moemi, but his heart is broken when she tells him that she loves Yota's best friend, the immensely popular Takashi. Crushed, Yota enters a mysterious video shop, Gokuraku, where he rents a video starring the cute young idol Ai Amano. But when he plays the video, Ai emerges from the TV and lands in Yota's bed-a real-life video girl dedicated to improving his love life whether he likes it or not!
This graphic novel copies the Video Girl AI stories from Animerica Extra Vol. 2, No. 8 to Vol. 3, No. 4.
IN THIS VOLUME: As the VCR overheats, the "defective" Ai is recalled by her heartless creator back into the video world whence she came! And finally, when she is allowed to return to Yotaís side, it is under one condition: she cannot allow herself to fall in love with him, or she will be deleted! Will she be seduced instead by Yota's classmate, the artistic-and scheming-Takao Sorayama? Meanwhile, Moemi's relationship with Takashi is hollow, and she turns to her "good friend" Yota for reassurance. But is it just reassurance she wants...or have Yotaís dreams been answered?
No Need For Tenchi! Vol. 8: Chef Of Iron
Viz Publications/Viz graphic novel. Story & art by Hitoshi Okuda
Science fiction comedy based on the anime series from Pioneer! It all started when high school student Tenchi freed the alien pirate Ryoko from her captivity on Earth. Soon enough, her friends and enemies showed up: alien princess Ayeka, mad scientist Washu, ditzy space cop Mihoshi. Surrounded by beautiful, feuding alien women, poor Tenchi is either the luckiest or the most miserable boy on Earth!
IN THIS VOLUME: Five strange stories! When Tenchi starts behaving strangely, it's time for covert surveillance courtesy of Washu, Inc. A laboratory mishap leaves Ryoko without her powers, and the newly human catgirl finds that there are some problems that smashing through brick walls won't solve, but an escaped alien life form is not one of them! Master chef Sasami is invited to compete in "Ferrous Chef", a TV cooking contest where men are men and lettuce is salad! Finally, Washu's rival Yume returns under circumstances that'll satisfy your desires for "clean" manga...A trip to the baths! Plus a story about Yosho, Tenchi's grandfather!
Pokémon Adventures, Part 2 #6: The Mythical Moltres
Viz Publications/6-issue monthly series. Story by Hidenori Kusaka. Art by Mato. INCLUDES FREE POKéMON STICKERS!
Red finally makes it to Cinnabar Island, but once again, Team Rocket has made it there before him! Who will be the first to catch the legendary Pokemon Moltres, the "Bird of Fire"? Plus Aerodactyl!

JULY AUDIO
UK: Doctor Who: Winter for the Adept
UK: Star Trek: Best Destiny
by Diane Carey, read by James Doohan.
UK: Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Valiant
by Michael Jan Friedman

JULY DVD
UK: Farscape Vol. 4
(Season One): ??/??/Contender

JULY MAGAZINES
Dreamwatch #72
Animerica Extra Vol. 3, #8
Viz Manga anthology
Issue includes an in-depth look at the manga JIGOKU SENSEI NUBEI ("Hell Teacher Nubei"). VIDEO GIRL AI: Fast forward: it's spring, the new school year has started, and Yota has been held back a year, putting him among a new class of underclassmen. Is Ai gone? And who is the new girl, Nobuko?
MARIONETTE GENERATION: Lunch the puppet is leashed to a tree and confronted by her worst nightmare! Plus "The Princess of the Fall," a short story by Haruhiko Mikimoto.
FUSHIGI YÛGI: The crystal ball gives Miaka a new clue as to the Sixth Celestial Warrior. Meanwhile, Yui tries to seduce her prisoner Tamahome, because that's what former best friends are for. STEAM DETECTIVES: Narutaki's showdown with Don Death! Will the death sentence be carried out?
X/1999: The dreamseer Kanoe invades Kotoriís psyche, while Subaru, the Seventh Seal enters the picture.
Animerica Vol. 8, #7
Viz anime & manga monthly
Features on the latest and greatest anime, exclusive interviews, news on what's new in Japan and whatís arriving soon in America, plus exclusive columns, interviews with voice-actors, anime reviews, games, model kits, anime music, and Leiji Matsumoto's Galaxy Express 999 manga. Kids' Special! With the latest news on Digimon, Monster Rancher, and POKéMON: THE MOVIE 2000, it's a "monster" (pardon the pun) anime spread for all ages.
Pulp Vol. 4, #8 July
Viz/ Manga anthology/ MATURE READERS ONLY
184 monthly pages of Japanese culture and comics! New features include a photography series by Nobuyoshi Araki; new-release movie reviews by notorious film critic Chuck Stevens (L.A. WEEKLY, SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN), in-depth comic and manga reviews by novelist Heinz Insu Fenkl (THE MIMOSA SECTOR), Japanese tabloid gossip in Kon Isshoís "Millennium News Shock Hour," and much more! Plus continuing columns on music, film and more.
BENKEI IN NEW YORK: A Japanese detective heads out onto unfamiliar streets in this noir series by Jiro Taniguchi and Natsuo Sekikawa!
SHORT CUTS: Does the word kawaii make you shiver with anticipation? Or do you just shiver? In either case, it's an appropriate reaction to Usamaru Furuyaís horrifying, humorous comedy manga.
BAKUNE YOUNG: Who is the man with sideburns and a guitar who has arrived to face Bakune in one-on-one combat?
DANCE TILL TOMORROW: Suekichi's relationship with Miyuki goes around the baseball diamond a few times while Aya drinks away her sorrows. STRAIN: "Sweetie" Andrew is still alive, and after what the explosion did to him, heís got more reason than ever to kill Shingo.
BANANA FISH: As Shorter and Yut-Lung kidnap Eiji, one of Ashís old enemies arrives in Los Angeles. VOYEURS, INC.: Who is the stalker harassing an office lady and who is the new member of Voyeurs, Inc.? Plus HEARTBROKEN ANGELS!

JULY NOVELS
UK: SF Collectors' Editions: Big Planet
by Jack Vance Victor Gollancz Millennium £9.99. Published July 2000
Charles Lysidder, the Bajarnum of Beaujolais, was ruthlessly expanding his empire on the Bif Planet. The objective of the mission from Earth was to ensure that the whole world didn't fall under the domination of the tyrant. But, when sabotage brought down the spacecraft carrying the mission, the priority changed. The survivors of the crash faced an epic 40,000 mile trek to safety, across the vast and unknown surface of the planet, harassed by monsters and the native people, and by each other.
UK: SF Collectors' Editions: The Best of Walter J. Miller
by Walter J. Miller Victor Gollancz Millennium £9.99. Published July 2000
Walter M. Miller Jr is best remembered as the author of A Canticle for Leibowitz, universally recognized as one of the greatest novels of modern SF. But he also produced many shorter works of fiction of stunning originality and power. His profound interest in religion and his innate literary gifts combined perfectly in the production of such works as The Darfstellar (which won him a Hugo in 1955), Conditionally Human, I, Dreamer and The Big Hunger, all of which are included in this brilliant and essential collection.
UK: SF Collectors' Editions: The End of Eternity
by Isaac Asimov Victor Gollancz Millennium £9.99. Published July 2000
Andrew Harlan is an Eternal, a man whose job it is to range through past and present Centuries, monitoring and, where necessary, altering Time's myriad cause-and-effect relationships. But when Harlan meets and falls for a non-Eternal woman, he seeks to use the awesome powers and techniques of the Eternals to twist time for his own purposes, so taht he and his love can survive together.
UK: SF Collectors' Editions: The Reproductive System
by John Sladek Victor Gollancz Millennium £9.99. Published July 2000
Wompler's Walking Babies once put Milford, Utah, on the map. But they aren't selling like they used to. In fact, they aren't selling at all and the only alternative to winding down the company is to tap the government for a research grant. And so Wompler Research Laboratories and Project 32 come into being. The plan is to produce self-replicating mechanisms; identical cells equipped to repair intracellular breakdowns, convert power from their environment and create new cells. But suddenly the nondescript grey metal boxes start crawling about the laboratory, feeding voraciously on any metal... and multiplying at an alarming rate!
UK: Noonshade -- Chronicles of The Raven Book Two
by James Barclay. £9.99. Published July 2000
The Raven find themselves drawn into a hopeless battle in defence of the brood Kaan as they fight to prevent the other dragons of the dragon dimension pouring into Balaia through the inter-dimensional rip created by the spell Dawnthief.
UK: Dandelion Wine
by Ray Bradbury. Earthlight £5.99. Published July 2000
UK: Black Eagle Rising: Third Book of Elita
by Kate Jacoby. Published July 2000.
The latest episode in this romantic fantasy epic. The evil sorceror Nash is reciovered from the injuries he sustained when Robert Douglas, Duke of Haddon and named as the Enemy, levelled Elita with his magic. Now Nash is closer to the Key, the Word of Destruction and unlimited power than ever before, with only a tortured man and a headstrong woman standing between him and his ultimate ambition: complete possession of Lusara - and the Ally, Jenn.
UK: Song of the Earth
by Caiseal Moor. Earthlight £5.99. Published July 2000
UK: The Gods Trilogy
by Terry Pratchett. £16.99. Published July 2000
The fourth Discworld trilogy contains the complete text of Pyramids, inwhich the Great Pyramid has just exploded because of paracosmic instability; Small Gods sees Brutha, the Chosen One, called by his god (admittedly while in the shape of a small tortoise); and in Hogfather, it's the night before Hogswatch - and there's a notable lack of the big fat man who delivers the toys.
UK: Salt
by Adam Roberts HB £16.99 TPB £9.99. Published 20 July 2000
Debut novel. Told by two people, Petja and Barlei, Salt tells the story of simmering tensions between two communities that slips into a tragedy of biblical proportions. United by a dream of a new beginning they colonise their new planet only to find that the isolated landscape brings about ancient enmities which could lead to their total destruction.
Adam Roberts is a published academic and teaches English at London University. He contributes regularly to SF academic journals and has just published a critical study of science fiction.
UK: The Honor of the Queen
by David Weber. Earthlight £5.99. Published July 2000

US: Lt. Leary, Commanding (HC)
by David Drake. Baen Books Published July 2000.
Action-packed interstellar war tale

UK: Doctor Who: The Ancestor Cell
Featuring the Eighth Doctor.
UK: Doctor Who: Prime Time
Featuring the Seventh Doctor and Ace.
UK: Star Trek -- New Earth Book Two: Belle Terre
by Diane Carey.
The second in a six-part series featuring the original crew after the events of Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

JULY VIDEO
UK: Doctor Who: Timeflight
Featuring the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan.
UK: The Complete Ivor The Engine
US: Maison Ikkoku Volume 21: Hot Springs Holiday
Viz Video, 2 complete episodes, 52 minutes, English-subtitled.
While waiting for things to cool down at Maison Ikkoku, Manager Kyoko heats up at an onsen or traditional Japanese hot springs resort. Why is it, though, that she thinks her privacy won't last much longer? AND THEN: A quick slip from the building's second story sends Godai to the hospital and a contrite Kyoko stumbling after. Which one is more upset?
Maison Ikkoku is described by Viz as the most beloved anime romance of all time. At Maison Ikkoku, a run-down apartment house inhabited by drunks, deadbeats and busybodies, love blossoms between Yusaku Godai, a bumbling college student and Kyoko Otonashi, his beautiful, young apartment manager. Between nosy neighbours, financial problems, and romantic rivals, will their two hearts ever meet? The entire Maison Ikkoku manga is available complete in English in 14 graphic novels.
US: Ranma 1/2: Martial Mayhem, Volume 9: Battle: Foi Gras
Viz Video, 2 complete episodes, 52 minutes, English-dubbed. A special 2-part story.
There's more here at stake here than a filet of beef! Say "bon jour" to Picolet Chardin, champion supreme of that most refined of battle styles -- Martial Arts Dining! Sure, Ranma may have won the long-ago Battle: Chestnut (remember the amaguri-ken?), but how will Iron Chef Saotome fare in this latest culinary challenge? Ranma 1/2 Ranma Saotome never thought a martial arts training mission to China would end up like this! An accidental dunk in a cursed spring changes boy Ranma into a curvy young girl, every time he is splashed with cold water. Hot water reverses the effect÷but only until next time! Pursued by suitors of both genders, constantly challenged by battle-happy martial artists for crimes both real and imagined -- what's a half-girl, half-guy to do? New Ranma 1/2 comics are released monthly from Viz Comics, with 15 graphic novels already available.
US: Ranma 1/2: Outta Control Volume 10: Pinky Promised
Viz Video, 2 complete episodes, 52 minutes, English-subtitled
Shampoo's got Ranma right where she wants him -- and so long as his pinky's bound to hers with the fabled "red thread of fate," he's not going anywhere! Will Akane make it to the church on time? Then, Mousse's goose is cooked when Kuno and Kodachi need "bird feed" for their pet alligator!.

Sources: Doctor Who Magazine, Simon & Schuster, Victor Gollancz Millennium

Please note that all merchandise release dates are always fluid and I would recommend checking with the producers official web site for confirmation before screaming at your poor local dealer if they haven't got something you really, really want in stock...

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