Gservo
16th January 2003, 02:13 PM
“What is Manga?”
I think this is a question that a lot of people in the U.S. comics industry have been asking themselves lately. They’ve also probably been asking themselves, “Why is manga selling so much and to people who don’t normally buy comics?”
Manga isn’t big eyes. Otherwise Lone Wolf and Cub wouldn’t be manga.
Manga isn’t giant robots. Otherwise DragonBall Z wouldn’t be manga.
Manga isn’t sci-fi. Otherwise GTO wouldn’t be manga.
Manga isn’t just for kids. Otherwise Crying Freeman wouldn’t be manga.
Manga isn’t just cute girls in tight outfits. Otherwise Maison Ikkoku wouldn’t be manga.
Manga isn’t ninja and samurai. Otherwise Pokemon wouldn’t be manga.
What manga is, is a form of storytelling that has developed in Japan over decades to become a mass medium, like prose, film and television, that tells every type of story for every type of lifestyle in an attractive format that is readily available and reasonably priced. Nothing more, nothing less.
What’s different about manga than other types of comics? The storytelling method can be more cinematic; it’s mostly black-and-white; while some might not think so, there is more than one mainstream art style and they have developed over a long period and continue to change with each new generation; it is not seen as collectable or an investment item; very few characters or titles run for decades (the original runs are just rediscovered by each generation); it is sold everywhere and the most popular creators are some of the richest people in Japan.
“Why is Manga becoming popular and selling to people who previously haven’t bought U.S. comics?”
You don’t need to know years of the characters’ histories to enjoy manga, and the beginnings of the stories are kept in print so that you can start a title easily and for a reasonable price. It’s created by people the readers’ own ages who are trying to do their own thing instead of just reliving or redoing the comics from their past. The art can look modern, like something seen on T-shirts or albums in pop culture. Because there are romance stories for women, action and drama for men (not to be gender specific, I’m sure some guys buy the romance and some women enjoy the action) and wacky adventure for kids (instead of just sanitized versions of the same characters that are marketed to teens and adults). The comics are in a nice format that is easy to carry and recognizable to another mass medium: books. They’re available at malls, record stores and numerous other outlets where large, diverse groups of people shop. The price point is reasonable. The characters are new and undiscovered ground.
So how do American comics compete with manga and grow its audience the way the manga audience is growing? How about by trying to be more of what manga is, concentrating on the reasons manga is expanding in popularity and focusing less on what manga isn’t, which seems to be what everyone thinks it is.
I think this is a question that a lot of people in the U.S. comics industry have been asking themselves lately. They’ve also probably been asking themselves, “Why is manga selling so much and to people who don’t normally buy comics?”
Manga isn’t big eyes. Otherwise Lone Wolf and Cub wouldn’t be manga.
Manga isn’t giant robots. Otherwise DragonBall Z wouldn’t be manga.
Manga isn’t sci-fi. Otherwise GTO wouldn’t be manga.
Manga isn’t just for kids. Otherwise Crying Freeman wouldn’t be manga.
Manga isn’t just cute girls in tight outfits. Otherwise Maison Ikkoku wouldn’t be manga.
Manga isn’t ninja and samurai. Otherwise Pokemon wouldn’t be manga.
What manga is, is a form of storytelling that has developed in Japan over decades to become a mass medium, like prose, film and television, that tells every type of story for every type of lifestyle in an attractive format that is readily available and reasonably priced. Nothing more, nothing less.
What’s different about manga than other types of comics? The storytelling method can be more cinematic; it’s mostly black-and-white; while some might not think so, there is more than one mainstream art style and they have developed over a long period and continue to change with each new generation; it is not seen as collectable or an investment item; very few characters or titles run for decades (the original runs are just rediscovered by each generation); it is sold everywhere and the most popular creators are some of the richest people in Japan.
“Why is Manga becoming popular and selling to people who previously haven’t bought U.S. comics?”
You don’t need to know years of the characters’ histories to enjoy manga, and the beginnings of the stories are kept in print so that you can start a title easily and for a reasonable price. It’s created by people the readers’ own ages who are trying to do their own thing instead of just reliving or redoing the comics from their past. The art can look modern, like something seen on T-shirts or albums in pop culture. Because there are romance stories for women, action and drama for men (not to be gender specific, I’m sure some guys buy the romance and some women enjoy the action) and wacky adventure for kids (instead of just sanitized versions of the same characters that are marketed to teens and adults). The comics are in a nice format that is easy to carry and recognizable to another mass medium: books. They’re available at malls, record stores and numerous other outlets where large, diverse groups of people shop. The price point is reasonable. The characters are new and undiscovered ground.
So how do American comics compete with manga and grow its audience the way the manga audience is growing? How about by trying to be more of what manga is, concentrating on the reasons manga is expanding in popularity and focusing less on what manga isn’t, which seems to be what everyone thinks it is.