Distribution deal: Simon & Schuster announced it will be the domestic manga distributor for Viz, providing warehousing, fulfillment, customer service and accounts receivable collection. Viz titles previously were distributed by Publishers Group West.

In somewhat related news, Viz's Naruto, Vol. 3: Bridge of Courage and Rurouni Kenshin, Vol. 4: Dual Conclusions apparently are the first graphic novels to appear on USA Today's Top 150 list of best-selling books.