For The First Time in 15 Years, Viz Media Raises Prices On Manga

Prices will increase from $9.99 to $11.99 starting January 2024

© Viz Media, LLC

Viz Media is set to raise the prices of its manga volumes, as reported by ICv2. Beginning in January 2024, the cost per volume will increase from US$9.99 to US$11.99. This adjustment will apply to both new volumes of the ongoing series and any future series released by the company. Not all of Viz Media's current releases are priced at US$9.99; some, such as Golden Kamuy, already carry a price tag of US$12.99 per volume.

According to the article, major e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Barnes & Noble have already updated their listings to reflect the new pricing for manga volumes released after January 1, 2024. ICv2 mentions that Viz Media's revised pricing will still be within the range other English-language manga publishers offer. For example, Kodansha USA Publishing sells standard single volumes of manga for US$12.99, Yen Press charges US$13.00, and Seven Seas Entertainment's prices range from US$12.99 to US$14.99.

In a previous instance in 2009, Viz Media had increased the prices of Shonen Jump and Shojo Beat manga volumes from US$7.99 and US$8.99 to US$9.99, respectively.

On May 9, Viz Media introduced a new digital manga service called Viz Manga. This platform offers simultaneous English releases of ongoing manga from Shogakukan, marking the first time such releases are available. Additionally, classic manga titles are included in the service. Viz Manga provides access to over 10,000 chapters from both Shogakukan and Shueisha titles. Presently, Viz Manga is exclusively accessible in the United States and Canada, with a monthly subscription fee of US$1.99. Viz Media continues to offer its separate Shonen Jump service.