September Mangakissa

Manga has become so popular within Western culture over the past decade that a variety of guidebooks have appeared – or resurfaced –  to initiate the budding fan into the vast and varied world of Japanese comics.  This is not to say that there was no interest before the mid- to late nineties; like many popular culture forms, manga, along with her sister format, the graphic novel, has coursed through the underground for generations, filtering through to the mainstream and bursting into a ready and willing population whose interest in cartoons, comics, and Japanese culture created a match that is Heaven Sent (yes, that is an actual manga title).  These instructional tomes are as varied as the material they represent.  Here is  a look at a few of the better ones that stand – or will stand – the test of time. 

Jason Thompson’s Complete Guide to Manga (2007) is a reflection of his experience as an editor with Shonen Jump magazine, with a comprehensive look at manga organized by subject.  These encyclopedic entries are short and to the point, with star ratings to help readers decide how best to spend their reading hours.  Over  500 pages of magical girls, horror, robots, animals, romance, martial arts, sports, superheroes, science fiction, music, mystery, Lolicon, and, of course, salarymen are highlighted, along with an extensive look at gay, lesbian, and other ‘adult’ titles, all with succinct but definite descriptions.  Those ‘adult’ entries are rather to the point, so if you hold a specific preference, you’ll be able to tell which of these suits your, um, needs, such as they are.  Thompson includes a Japanese language glossary, artist index, and a brief history of the genre.  A must for the manga lover’s reference shelf. 

Manga! Manga!: The World of Japanese Comics is an older title from Frederik L. Schodt, published in 1983.  The one I have is the 1986 reprint, which has a forward by the late Osamu Tezuka, often considered the father of anime and manga, which lends considerable credibility to Schodt’s writing.  An award-winning translator, the American Schodt tackles the form like a native, with incredible detail and attention that is nearly impossible to set forth in an encyclopedic volume.  Nevertheless, he handles a variety of themes and titles with a care that reveals his obvious love for manga and Japanese popular culture.  This is a more academic piece with timeless value for those who are interested in the history of manga and graphic novels, as well as a closer examination of the cultural differences that often cause confusion for Western readers and critics who are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the Japanese mindset and customs.  Serious fans who are willing to invest time and thought in this area of study will be very pleased with this dense collection of material.

Schodt reprises his educational enterprise with the 1996 title, Dreamland Japan: Writings on Modern Manga, with a chapter dedicated to Tezuka, seven years after his death.  Another section focuses on manga artists, with examination of their work, style, and influence; black and white reproductions of illustrations are scattered through the text, and twenty full-color magazine covers are featured to enhance chapter three’s discussion of the magazine scene.  Clearly, this is dated, but the influence of these historical works are evident in today’s manga, anime, and the popular coverage of both.  Schodt returns to his concern with Western worries about manga with “Are Manga Dangerous?” in which he examines the American fascination with and fear of the often extreme themes and depictions in manga, and commiserates with those who don’t have the stomach for some works: “Even I have occasionally felt queasy over the content of some manga stories, and if I feel that way, I’m sure some others are ready to faint” (49).  He takes regulation and freedom of speech issues in hand, most of which have been resolved by the rating systems, although those same systems are somewhat problematic because of inconsistencies between them.  He mentions Japan’s prohibition against the depiction of  pubic hair, which he states as “crumbling” in 1993, but I have yet to see a strand on a page.  Schodt’s influence doesn’t stop with this volume; he has also written books on the relationship between the United States and Japan, Japanese technology, and his latest, The Astro Boy Essays, is a dedication to Osamu Tezuka, his work, and his influence on Japanese culture. 

Tezuka is understandably featured yet again in Japanese Visual Culture: Explorations in the World of Manga and Anime (2008), a collection of academic essays edited by Mark W. MacWilliams, a professor of East Asian religions.  Schodt’s foreword lends authority –  much as Tezuka’s lent to his –  to the work of fourteen scholars and librarians who treat manga artists, genres and themes under the umbrella of historical and social perspectives, cross-cultural appeal, and identity construction.  An essay on World War II narratives in manga stands out as one that breaks stereotypes about the nature and purpose of Japanese comics, which cannot be  reduced easily.  Readers interested in the social and cultural boundaries between East and West, or lack thereof, will find this title particularly significant.  

Manga: Sixty Years of Japanese Comics is an oversized volume packed with full-color images of covers, characters, and pages from influential manga in a variety of genres.  This 2004 production addresses much of the same considerations as the other books mentioned, including manga’s global influence and fan subculture; the art selection makes it uniquely attractive.  A timeline including important publications and historical events opens the book, which feels more like a photo album than a monograph.  Paul Gravett’s twenty-plus years of experience covering international comics publishing shines through in this visually captivating book. 

These five titles, culled from a quarter-century timespan, offer a broad view of the history as well as the cultural implications of Japanese manga on a global level while celebrating its entertainment value. Manga is a window to a different world, and yet a reflection of our own; discovering more about it can only add to the depth of our enjoyment and appreciation.