Manga Fan
Insider Info
Bored of the X-Men? Wondering if the Incredible Hulk is really all that
incredible? Archie and the gang's adventures becoming a bit too predictable?
Well, there's another type of comic attracting lots of readers across North
America. If you like comics, then you should come and check out the exciting
world of manga.
Manga comics began in Japan in the late 1940s. In Japan, the word "manga"
refers to comics or cartoon strips. The literal translation is "random or
whimsical pictures." That's according to the website Wikipedia.org.
Usually drawn in black and white, manga comics are easy to spot on the
comic racks. With an explosive, energetic style, manga is often filled with
exaggeration. Lots of lines indicating action and huge eyes on the characters
are two manga staples.
"The manga artists use more of a masking technique, drawing highly stylized
characters against rather realistic backgrounds," says manga fan Chris Walker.
"American comic artists generally have very stylized everything."
Dr. Osamu Tezuka is considered the king of manga. In 1945, after watching
a war film aimed at children, he was inspired to become a comic book artist.
Since then, manga has become one of Japanese pop culture's biggest exports.
Manga often comes in a magazine format, with one volume holding many different
comics. These magazines sometimes are longer than 800 pages.
Manga shouldn't be confused with anime. Although the styles are similar,
anime is an animated cartoon in the form of a movie or television show. Manga
is a printed comic. Often, people take a manga series and make it into an
anime movie.
So how does manga differ from traditional North American comics? There
are many differences, and manga fans will be happy to fill you in on them.
"Manga is usually about something entirely different than a traditional
comic," says Sarah Middleton. She's a manga enthusiast in Kansas. "The humor
is different. There are odd little side notes describing actions that go against
American culture. The characters act a little strange. There are characters
that seem to have no other purpose other than to be cute."
"The drawing style and the direction you read are probably the most obvious
[differences]," says Ruby Henao from New York City, who reads manga comics.
Most manga reads from right to left, like Japanese writing.
"There's also a sort of formula to manga. Manga usually has certain types
of characters. The quiet, sad mysterious one. The brat that loves food and
is totally naive and annoying. The one that seems sane, but is rather absent-minded,
and keeps the group together. The one who falls for almost, or all, of the
girls. There is less text and more pictures, making it faster to read and
understand."
A lot of manga does cater to an older crowd, so it's important to get some
tips on what titles are suitable for your age group before buying anything.
"It's actually hard to find manga that is aimed at kids, because the industry
does not view them as a good expense," says Kathryn Williams. Williams is
a manga artist and fan. "There are still a few out there that are good for
younger audiences."
There is a bit of a darker side to some manga. But it's this emphasis on
reality that makes the comics so appealing. One thing that makes manga less
appealing is the price tag that is attached to many of the comics. Reading
manga can be an expensive hobby. And manga fans will be the first to admit
it.
"Unfortunately, yes," says Middleton. "It's rather expensive, but it's
far too addicting to stay away for too long. If you're really poor, I suggest
borrowing from a friend before getting your own copy. Of course, some manga
owners tend to be rather possessive."
Middleton's half-joking, but there is a certain fanaticism to the manga
fan base. What is it about these Japanese comics that make people become so
involved in them?
"For me in particular, I fall in love with the characters," says Henao.
"I was tired of mainstream comics that never ended," says Williams. "The
fact that Kitty Pryde, from old X-men comics, was 18 when I was 16 and now
she is still 18 really bothered me. I needed a story with an ending."
That reality-based aspect of manga is a main drawing point. However, not
everyone is so quick to say there's a huge difference between North American
and Japanese comics.
"On the surface, everything [is different]," says Middleton. "But below?
Nothing. It's quite similar in every way. What makes it so different, then?
I think it's the simple energy on the page, created by the angles and dynamics
of the characters. That's it, I suppose."
Getting Started
Apart from a bit of money to spend, you won't need anything to become a
manga fan -- just a bit of spare time to immerse yourself in the worlds of
the characters.
A lot of manga comics include notes from the writers to explain details
that may get lost in the cultural jump from Japan to North America, so you
don't have to worry about missing out on too much.
Don't forget to ask around a bit first to figure out what series of manga
will be suitable for you or the person you're buying manga for. Once you've
found some that interest you, get ready to immerse yourself in a whole new
world of fun!
Links
Tokyopop
They say they're "leading the manga revolution," and they're
doing a great job of it
Manga on About.com
Information about the process of manga, interviews with artists,
plus a compilation of great manga sites
Action-Packed!
This is a site focusing on shounen manga, manga for boys
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