New York, NY – May 28, 2008 – Hiro Mashima, the popular Japanese manga creator of Fairy Tail, will make his first-ever US convention appearance at Comic-Con International San Diego 2008, running Thursday, July 24 through Sunday, July 27. Manga and anime fans from the US and across the world will be able to meet one of their favorite creators in a rare appearance that will include a panel and signing. Kodansha Ltd., Mashima’s Japanese publisher, and Del Rey Manga, an imprint of Ballantine Books at the Random House Publishing Group and the US publisher of Mashima’s Fairy Tail, will sponsor his visit.

Mashima made his US debut with the series Rave Master, which made him one of the most popular manga artists in America. Mashima’s second series, Fairy Tail, was one of the most highly anticipated Del Rey Manga launches this year. In a show of support and admiration of Mashima’s work, Del Rey Manga launched the first two volumes of Mashima’s Fairy Tail at the same time in March 2008.

A prolific creator known for his fantasy and adventure shonen manga, Mashima is working on multiple projects in Japan simultaneously. Mashima’s Fairy Tail is currently being serialized in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine. Another ongoing Mashima series, the video game-based Monster Hunter Orage, made its debut in the first issue of Kodansha’s Shonen Rival Magazine.

“Hiro Mashima is a real star in the manga world and he’s developed a wide fanbase with his engaging, fun stories, including Fairy Tail,” says Dallas Middaugh, associate publisher of Del Rey Manga. “We’re thrilled to be bringing him to San Diego Comic-Con and we know fans share that excitement with us.”