Backbone Entertainment Announces Death, Jr. Manga

EMERYVILLE, CA - June 7, 2006 - Backbone Entertainment, a division of Foundation 9 Entertainment, announced today that it is collaborating with Seven Seas Entertainment to produce an all-new original manga based on the hit Death, Jr. entertainment franchise. Death, Jr. began its life as a successful video game for the PSP (PlayStation®Portable) system and critically-acclaimed comic series, and has since built up a vibrant franchise, including a forthcoming sequel for the PSP system game called Death, Jr. 2: Root of Evil, a new game for the Nintendo DS called Death, Jr. and the Science Fair of Doom, a second comic book series, and an assortment of other collectible merchandise.

"We're excited to see DJ, Pandora, and all of the unforgettable Death, Jr. characters come to life in such a popular format," says Mike Mika, studio head of Backbone Entertainment's Emeryville location. "Seven Seas has helped create a great visual concept and storyline for the manga that will attract long-time DJ fans, and will really appeal to a new audience."

Written and drawn by Hai (Blade for Barter), Seven Seas' Death, Jr.: Pandora manga will feature the franchise's first break from convention as the spotlight is shone on a force as powerful as the son of Death himself-his girlfriend! The story will follow Pandora as she discovers a secret portal that sends her to the future and into the body of her teenage self. Besides having to grapple with teenage angst, she must save the future DJ from his greatest enemy yet-a snake-haired foreign exchange student with a deadly gaze and even deadlier intentions!

"A big driving force behind manga is the female audience, so it's the perfect opportunity to put a shoujo manga spin on Death, Jr, " says Seven Seas' president Jason DeAngelis. "The Death, Jr. universe is one of those unique sandboxes that's a blast to get in and play, and we'll be taking these characters along a wild ride the likes of which they've never seen."

Since the release of its first titles in 2005, Seven Seas has carved a name for itself in the manga industry for producing the highest-quality original English language manga with top writers and artists from around the world. Death, Jr. will mark Seven Seas' second foray into creating original comics based on an existing franchise, preceded by a Speed Racer color comic book series which will be released this fall.

The Death, Jr: Pandora manga will be presented in the standard manga format: black and white, digest-sized, 192 pages. Look for it in 2007!

About Backbone Entertainment
Part of Foundation 9 Entertainment (www.F9E.com), the largest independent game developer in North America, Backbone specializes in developing original and licensed IP for all platforms and creating merchandising opportunities in diversified entertainment genres. Backbone is based in Emeryville, CA, Vancouver, BC, and Charlottetown, PEI and can be found on the web at: www.backboneentertainment.com.

Backbone, along with The Collective, Pipeworks, ImaginEngine, and Digital Eclipse make up Foundation 9 Entertainment. The company's studios have developed more than 300 titles, including more than 40 in 2005 alone. Foundation 9 Entertainment employs more than 350 employees, and has offices in Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Emeryville, Vancouver, Boston, Eugene, Charlottetown and Honolulu. For more information on Foundation 9 Entertainment, please visit: www.F9E.com.

About Seven Seas Entertainment, LLC
Established in 2004, Seven Seas Entertainment is devoted to producing original manga, comics and graphic novels, and bringing the best in Japanese licenses to North American audiences. The company's current line-up includes such original manga properties as Amazing Agent Luna, Aoi House, Destiny's Hand, Last Hope, No Man's Land, and Ravenskull; a trio of color collections of the hit webcomics Chugworth Academy, Earthsong, and Inverloch; and is currently releasing English language versions of the hit Boogiepop series of Japanese licensed novels and manga. Seven Seas launched its web site, www.gomanga.com, in October 2004, and has since become a daily stop for thousands of visitors eager to read manga online and contribute to an ever-growing forum community.

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Contact:
Nicole Tanner
Foundation 9 Entertainment
nicolet@f9e.com