Why have there been barely any manga threads?

Normally the art and stories by Clamp, like X, are good, but more oriented towards a female market I think. Ruroni Kenshin is classic, and I liked what I read of Blade of the Immortal (The art is that is very good, and not typical manga style (very bloody).) I've never really been that excited by most manga, and I think the main reason is because the cute-ness of the art can be a bit disconcerting, and because it is very gender-specific. Blowing up mecha things for boys and giggling love-stuff with winged knights for girls

"Typical" manga stylee = bloody! (If I'm allowed to generalize from just LW&C and BotI (also, Akira, Nausicäa, even Phoenix.))

But yeah, Jordan, if you want more realistc/less superdeformed art, Blade of the Immortal would be a good pickup. It still has big foreheads/smallish mouths, but with less gigantic eyes. And also, incredibly over-the-top violence (e.g. one guy's body gets cut up along manji lines).

Mostly I started this thread because last night Ogami Itto finally found out what was in the Yagyu letter! But hasn't bothered telling me! I'm eXxXcited CAN'T YOU TELL!!!

Beyond that, I've also noticed just how involved and/or HUGE various manga touchstones get, which is no doubt daunting. Yeah, the Dark Horse trades of LW&C are $10, but what, there are 26 volumes? Each of the six volumes of Akira is about 500 pages; 12 volumes of Phoenix; 12 issues of Ghost in the Shell wherein Shirow creates and explains in painful detail the mechanics of his own brand of technology/metaphysics/and so on; &c &c.

However, and I suppose I'd also like to talk about manga conventions (I mean traditions/usual things done in manga, not the dress-up/nerd things I go to). Even given the immensity of a single volume of what-have-you, there's not as much to read if you compare it with US/UK comics on a panel-by-panel basis (at least the majority of what I've read). A lot of progressing establishing shots/panels for that "cinematic feel," which I attribute to LW&C's influence (which itself was inspired by Kurosawa) over much of what I've read.

A couple computers ago and long lost now I had an undergraduate paper I wrote for a linguistics class, on the differences between "paralinguistic conventions" (all the stuff that is neither dialogue nor "just" art, like sound effects, speed lines and other motion effects, panel placement, blah blah blah) between American and Japanese comics. I don't remember enough of it to even remember if it was any good, but there you go; a big part of the unacknowledged problem of my generalizations, of course, was that I had to depend on the Japanese comics that were imported to the States being reasonably representative of Japanese comics in general. I was surer then than I am now of that being the case.

Back to the hugeness though: that probably is an issue, although in LW&C's case at least, it's more like "lots of stories about this guy" than it is "lots of issues making up a big story." There are tons of volumes, sure, but only because they've all been collected -- Fantastic Four would seem just as daunting if that were the case there, and if anything FF relies more on knowledge of continuity and previous history.

But that's just Lone Wolf & Cub, I don't think that's the case for Akira and the rest.

I've only read a few titles but I'm always put off that there are so many volumes for each story/title; like it's a soap opera. I also agree with the comment about the stories looking gender-specific (blatant sexist example: Akira for boys, Sailor Moon for girls...) I wonder: Is manga targeted more toward children in Japan?

I flipped through Osamu Tezuka's Phoenix, vol. 1 yesterday evening in my bookstore and was initially put off buy the "cartoony" drawing. When you read Berserk and Nausicaa, it all looks veyr realistic. In this, animals rolling down hills looked like furry pinwheels with eyes poking out. You know what I mean? It just looked silly. I hear so many wonderful things about the series, though, and I want to read it. Maybe I'll read some Lone Wolf and Cub first.

To be sure, I think that there's an awful lot of crap in US comics as well...

Lone Wolf and Cub was always interesting (probably because they avoided the BESM thing altogether) and I've heard good things about Blade of the Immortal (but the writing put me off). I read some of Akira when it made it over here in the late 80s, but just never got into it.

If folks want to recommend manga that isn't simply second-rate action SF with fan service, please feel free to.

The manga adaptations of the Star Wars trilogy (I don't know if they've done this for the prequels) are at least worth flipping through; they're better than most American movie adaptations, whether in comics or novels, but one of the results is that there are no surprises ... you're just looking at the movie panel by panel. It's simultaneously cool and a little boring.

LW&C is still my main recommendation, I think. I have a soft spot for the ridiculous unrequited-unadmitted love comedies -- Ranma 1/2, Love Hina, Maison Ikkoku -- but not soft enough that I actually think other people would like them :)

Amy, don't be put off by the cutesy style in Phoenix! Keep in mind that Tezuka drew it in the '60s. I would consider stuff like the animals cartwheeling in a line with injokes, because he also draws himself in the comic, usually to ridicule himself. One gets used to this style, and as you get on with the story, you'll see that it's extremely serious (though now without its deftly light touches) -- far from vapid silliness.

My local shop is trying to dump a bunch of manga trades (50% off!) - are there any things in particular I should be on the lookout for? (FYI - he has no Lone Wolf & no Phoenix.)

(Actually, the owner's dumping a LOT of TPBs sunk-cost stylee - I snagged the Brubaker / Lark Scene of the Crime TPB, AND the Essential Howard the Duck!!!!)

Battle Royale, which I think is still coming out; the manga adaptation of the book that spawned the movie about the kids forced to kill each other or be killed themselves.

http://www.math.ucla.edu/~brodsky/blade/art/mangabon/mangabon11.jpg

(It's color but damn I love this cover.)

Grab What's Michael? if it's available. And I don't think you can go wrong w/anything by Tezuka (AstroBoy, that white lion one). The only problem I have with Manga is that the only books from a series available are the odd numbers. Always. Has anyone else ever noticed this? The complete set is never in stock....

Are there just 3 volumes, or is it still going?

Watch this space for more Manga threads.. its all Ive been reading for the last 8 years or so.. and i have much to share..

(Uzuamki is only 3 vols BTW)

For whatever reason I've also sometimes found it hard to follow manga, just like, what's going in the story, which character is which (that can be a big problem), real basic stuff.

I don't think I've really read any highly though of stuff though, like Nascaa or Akira. And the one exception I can think of is Azumanga Diaoh, casue they didn't really work in the animated format, since it's more a collection of strips than a continuous narrative.

nihei tsutomu!! :D
his opus magnum "blame" is getting published in the us now. no characters or story to speak of, all nightmarish atmosphere & cyberpunk zombie mayhem

Seriously, if I'm going to put the necessary effort into this new job, I'm going to have clear my mind of all concerns involving Hitman 2 and Knights of the Old Republic.

-- Jordan (j0rdanc0h3...), May 13th, 2004.

I never finished either of these games. :( I guess I can blame any poor performance at my job on this.

BTW - value for money wise, Manga beats American comics hands down as long as you dont buy single issues. TP's usually cost about 10 euro, and best of all - they have no ads!, which I find a huge annoyance when I read western comics these days. Obviously deluxe titles like a 'buddha', or much of Dark horse's output is a bit pricier, but its hard to find better value for money than a volume of 'Samurai Executioner' or 'Iron Wok Jan' for 10 quid!

And that's just a tiny fraction of one person's output! I was reading earlier of a fishing series that ran to over 60 volumes and sold something like 20 million copies, and I was quoting an artist who claims "At least half of manga tell stories of men and women and their everyday lives."

http://koti.phnet.fi/otaku/historia/m_phoenix.jpg

have started buying Samurai Executioner (4 so far, 10 in total) and one volume of LW&C (i'd been putting this off because, well, it's 10,000 pages long and i've read the first 12 issues of the old (viz?) release and was scared that the first two or three books would just be things i'd already seen. thankfully that doesn't seem to be the case (because the americans shied away from the nudity?)) only 27 more (and 160 quid) to go!

have read all of akira in single issue form. have a complete set of individual issues of Nausicaa but have never got past series 2 (despite 3 attempts).

http://ponentmon.com.hosting.domaindirect.com/new_pages/spanish/princ.html

Lodsa Spanish translations. More English stuff on the way.

People who are put off by spiky-haired kids and general jap silliness should check out Nodame Cantabile - the story of a classical music student who loses his drive and direction but rediscovers his love of music through an odd girl his piano teacher introduces him to. Very fresh setting, and quite a sweet love story.

Can anyone recommend some not-too-obscure manga, well-drawn, for an 11-year-old? She’s into Harry Potter (obviously) so something adventurey would be good. Thanks!

(I say well-drawn because she’s interested in copying the illustrations and sketching herself…)

Phoenix? Astro Boy? Buddha? Basically Tezuka is what I'm saying.

It's not adventurey at all but Yotsuba is fantastic - it's about a 5-year old girl trying to understand things

That sounds intriguing! In the end my local store had a well shit selection so I ended up getting Lumberjanes and Adventure time

both very good!

I read Paradise Kiss - which i would say is a bit too mature for an 11 year old, but it’s good for an older teenager. It’s very well known but I’d never heard of it, ended up buying it after a glowing recommendation from the friend who got me into Kyoko Okazaki. Similar focus on fashion, but different plotwise - it’s all about a young woman’s coming of age and deciding who she wants to be in the world. The collected edition (by Vertical) clocks in at over 800 pages (!) but I read it over maybe five days. Really liked it, will almost certainly reread plenty over the years. What the fuck is that ending though?

following. my 8yo has gotten really into graphic novels but she finishes them so quickly. mangas seem longer generally? so far she loves the Hereville books, Zita Spacegirl, the old Sfar Sardine books, the Shanower/Skottie Young Oz books, the Wings of Fire books, but those are all Western graphic novel style and they take about a minute and a half to read.

Some manga my 9-year-old is into:
Little Witch Academia
Witch Hat Atelier
My Neighbor Seki
Yotsuba

My Neighbor Seki is more comedic and episodic but it’s pretty funny. Witch Hat Atelier is a strong recommendation, the art is great. They’re into My Hero Academia as well but I’m not sure how I feel about that one.

I don’t have kids so can’t speak to age appropriateness but two series that comes to mind are Planetes and A Bride’s Story

also try Amulet
https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/books/amulet/

Is Beck worth the final tier price?
https://www.humblebundle.com/books/award-winning-manga-by-kodansha-books

I like what I've read of Parasyte but I'm pretty sure goes waaaay beyond 8 volumes

no it's just 8. there are some spin offs. it's by far the best of that collection, though i will ride for space brothers and have never tried beck.

I'm about a quarter of the way into Bakuman right now; it's a lot of fun, very meta.
https://www.viz.com/bakuman

oh ok! i don't know why i thought Parasyte was much longer. i'll def bite then

Chainsaw Man just started Part II and is becoming digitally published simultaneously on Shonen Jump's digital service, which I thought was interesting. Are most new series like that now?

The first part (11 volumes) was pretty great, and I assume when the anime comes out it'll be another massive success ala Jujutsu Kaisen, MHA, Demon Slayer, etc. There was also a great one-shot the same author put out this past year called "Goodbye, Eri".

So I figured, what the hell, I'll try Fujimoto's first series that made him famous, "Fire Punch". God, what a mistake. It's the most dire, edgelord-y shit that I guess I can't tolerate anymore - just as many offensive shock moments as possible in a fantasy apocalypse world featuring the absolute worst of humanity. Like The Walking Dead or Berserk, with even less hope. First volume alone has evil superhumans, child rape, slavery, "heroic" cannibalism, torture, and ends with some attempted bestiality. I'm eBaying this immediately just to get it out of my home because it's too late to return it.

Just wanted to rant into the ether in case someone else here also has had this experience...