Japanese manga as the hot new thing seems to hit the newsstands every couple of months, usually with some combination of headlines ranging from "Teen Girls Read Comics!" to "Manga Challenged in Library!" Because of its popularity with teens, many libraries are adding manga to their collections. However, manga, defined as Japanese print comics, can be a tricky format to select and advise on as stereotypes and misconceptions surround these extremely popular titles.
If you haven't yet started collecting manga in your library, or if you have, but you don't understand it, you're not alone. Japanese comics have been booming since around the 1930s, and while the art form draws inspirations from historical traditions including 6th century Buddhist scrolls and 17th century woodblock prints, manga as we know it today started when Japan's opening to Western culture introduced Japanese readers and artists to the cartoon. Starting from political cartoons, and then further inspired by comic strips, animation, and film, manga truly blossomed in the 1950s, when one legendary creator, Osamu Tezuka, became the paragon for manga creation. Tezuka, a fan of theater, movies, and comics, created some of the most famous manga characters, including Astro Boy; and over his career he established a number of manga conventions and standards. Manga today owes a lot to Tezuka's legacy, including elements as diverse as the large-eyed style, the thousand-page-long stories, image sequences akin to film editing, and the push to create comics for every possible age range and audience.
Today, manga is truly everywhere; it is not a cult market. In Japan, manga (published in both anthology magazines and bound volumes) makes up 40% of the entire publishing market. (Gravett) Everyone from schoolgirls to businessmen to grandmothers read manga, and there is a manga aimed at every one of those types.
The type of content shifts according to gender and age. Today there are five major categories of manga: titles aimed at
- children (kadomo manga),
- tween to teenage girls (shojo manga),
- tween to teenage guys (shonen manga),
- adult men (seinen manga), and
- adult women (josei manga)
Readers often indicate what they like (and don't like) using these terms, so remember them; and keep in mind that each subcategory can be whittled down to a few trademarks. Shojo manga is all about relationships, and while titles may be any genre (e.g., mystery, romance, paranormal), beautiful protagonists, sweeping art, and contemplative character development all come into play. Shonen manga also zeroes in on relationships, but more frequently uses humor, action, and a plot-driven tale to highlight the characters. Seinen manga is similar to shonen manga, but grown up - so there's still action, humor, and plot; but there's also a vision of the world as shades of gray, rather than good or evil, and possibly explicit violence and sexuality on display. Josei manga directly appeals to young women, dealing with entering the workforce, sexual relationships, married life, and defining adult identity.
This is often where readers new to manga get confused. In the U.S., comics have traditionally been thought to be mainly for children, so when readers unfamiliar with manga get an eyeful of a men's crime drama, full of violence and scantily clad femme fatales, they may be, unsurprisingly, shocked and scandalized. Because of these age categories, it is vitally important to collect and classify manga in their appropriate ranges: ideally, children's, teen, and adult sections should be maintained. Or, if you're considering only one age range, be aware that readers may request titles outside their age range. Most manga publishers now have age rating systems, as well as some content indicators to let you know why a title was rated a certain way, and to help everyone know what content is in each manga volume. Although the ratings can be overly conservative, depending on your community's standards, they offer a good basic sense of what to expect from a title. Unfortunately, there is no industry-wide standard. Each publisher has its own internally defined labels that you need to familiarize yourself with in order to advise wisely.
As with U.S. comics, manga comics are serial. While many U.S. graphic novels collect together a comic book series that follows one story arc, one manga volume rarely tells a complete story, unless it stands completely alone, which is rare. Manga volumes are more akin to TV series in that each volume builds on the last, and while you can jump in half way through, you'll only really understand the story if you start at the beginning. In this way, if you're beginning to collect manga, (unlike with stand-alone Batman volumes), you can't count on character appeal and general cultural osmosis to allow a new reader into the series. If you have a limited budget to start with, then it's best to start with first volumes of series and then commit to completing the series of the most popular titles. If you're maintaining a collection, it is important to complete series as new volumes appear-manga readers are demanding, and are often on pins and needles waiting for the next volume.
In U.S. comics, the characters (like Spider-Man and Batman) are the key figures, and have existed in different forms for over sixty years. The creators, from writers to artists to editors, change frequently, and the stories are rebooted every ten years or so to draw in new audiences. In manga, the creators, not the characters, are key. Fans know the writers and artists (who are often one and the same in manga production), and look for series accordingly. With manga, the creators and editors team up to pen a series, and together they decide when it will end. Once the creator ends a series, that's it-no one else will come in and work on the series. This means that although sometimes you'll have to buy 60 volumes to complete a series, there won't be 60 more coming down the pipes over the next ten years.
For anyone who hasn't read sequential art (i.e. the format of comic strips, comic books, or graphic novels, including manga), reading manga has a very steep learning curve. Even for readers used to Western comics, manga is told through an unfamiliar language of cultural references, symbols, and visual storytelling. Manga has not been created for export outside of Japan, and given the many references only Japanese readers would recognize, many publishers include translation notes to help non-native readers. For many fans, this decoding process of figuring out visual cues and researching cultural details is a significant part of the fun of reading comics from another culture; but for others it just makes the panels and pages bewildering.
When discussing manga with your patrons, be prepared for the fact that they may throw around unfamiliar terms: otaku, chibi, yaoi, and mecha are all common vocabulary among fans. If you can, ask the folks who request manga to help you understand what they want; and consult titles including Paul Gravett's Manga: 60 Years of Japanese Comics, Jason Thompson's Manga: The Complete Guide, Mike Pawuk's Graphic Novels: A Guide to Comic Books, Manga and More, and my own guide, Understanding Manga and Anime, to beef up on the culture and terminology.
Remember that manga appeals to a wide variety of readers with different genre interests. Within manga you can find complex cyberpunk science fiction (Ghost in the Shell by Katsuhiro Otomo), action-packed, over the top romantic comedy (Ranma ½ by Rumiko Takahashi), the group biography of the inventors of the delicious Cup Noodle (Project X: Nissin Cup Noodle by Tadashi Katoh), and meticulous historical drama (Emma by Kaoru Mori). There is, in fact, a manga for every reader, and part of the challenge is figuring out which title will hook the next fan.
The most important reason to build your manga collection? Your patrons are clamoring for more! From a seven-year-old girl on up, more and more readers are looking for more manga, and the library is an ideal place to sample series. Unlike Barnes and Noble, no one at the library will be cranky when browsers don't buy the books they've been reading for hours while sprawled on the floor. As more manga arrives, the flood of titles can be intimidating, but once you take the plunge, watch your circulation skyrocket, and welcome patrons who may have never otherwise understood what the library can provide for them.
Which titles are the best to start with? Here are some suggestions.
Five for Kids and Tweens
Baron the Cat Returns by Aoi Hiragi
When a young teen saves a cat from being run over, she's startled to discover that he's not just any cat, he's the prince of cats. And his thanks for her saving him include a proposal of marriage!
Beet the Vandel Buster by Riku Sanjo Beet is determined to become a hero, fighting off the demonic vandals that have torn apart his home. He has to do a bit of growing up first, though, or else no one will take him seriously.
Cowa! by Akira Toriyama The silly adventures of a half vampire, half were-koala (yes, you read that right) and his best friend, a ghost.
The Palette of 12 Secret Colors by Nari Kusakawa Cello has the talent to be a great color wizard, so why can't she get control of her powers? A great title for older girls.
Sugar Sugar Rune by Moyoco Anno
Rival witches Chocolate and Vanilla must compete to win the hearts of humans, collecting their strongest feelings to prove their worth to be queen. What happens when a witch falls for a human?
Five for Teen Guys
Bleach by Tite Kubo
This series follows the adventures of Ichigo, a newly made soul reaper, or supernatural guide to the afterlife. Stellar art, a great sense of humor, and a strong heart make this a great action adventure series.
Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba
Teens can't get enough of this cat and mouse game between a righteous teen killer and the world-famous detective determined to stop him. Best suited for older teen collections.
Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
A rich fantasy, Fullmetal Alchemist follows brothers Ed and Alphonse as they seek the secret of eternal life, and forgiveness, for breaking the ultimate rule of Alchemy - trying to bring their mother back from the dead.
Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto
Naturo, a rambunctious and ambitious young man, is determined to become a master ninja, but first he must pass every test set by his teachers, and learn to trust allies and overcome his enemies.
Fairy Tail by Hiro Mashima
Lucy has dreamed of joining the legendary wizard group Fairy Tail, but she didn't quite count on teaming up with a fire wizard prone to seasickness or his oddball colleagues.
Five for Teen Girls
After School Nightmare by Setona Mizushiro
Ichijou, part male and part female, must choose his gender, and who to love; while every afternoon struggling through a nightmare world, day after day, to finally graduate.
Fruits Basket by Natsuki Takaya
Schoolgirl Tohru's life gets tangled up in the Sohma family, victims of a curse where each, when hugged by a member of the opposite sex, turns into an animal from the Chinese zodiac.
High School Debut by Kazune Kawahara
Haruna, a tomboy trying to change, has no luck getting a date. Not one to admit defeat, she hires the hottest guy in school to teach her how to attract guys and win a great boyfriend. His only rule? She can't fall in love with him.
Ouran High School Host Club by Bisco Hatori
Scholarship student Haruhi makes the mistake of breaking a priceless vase belonging to one of the hottest clubs in her elite high school - the Host Club, providing romance for lonely high school girls. Her only way to pay them back is to work as a Host!
Sand Chronicles by Hinako Ashihara
After her parents' divorce, Ann moves with her fragile mother to the countryside. She feels very out of place, but new friends give her hope that she just might be ok.
Five for Women
Antique Bakery by Fumi Yoshinaga
Three very different men discover the importance of family and friendship while working together at a decadent pastry shop. Endearing, charming, and very funny - great for older and college aged teens.
Nana by Ai Yazawa
Two girls named Nana seek new lives in Tokyo, one trying to make it on her own as a punk star, and the other searching for love and a new life.
Suppli by Mari Okazaki
Minami, just dumped by her boyfriend of seven years, throws herself into her advertising job. But how can she find happiness when she just works all day?
Tramps Like Us by Ogawa Yayoi
Sumire is an intelligent, ambitious woman, but all she seems to get for it is an ex-fiance who's intimidated by her, and a demotion because she refuses her bosses' advances. When she gives a teen guy a place to stay for a while, she discovers someone who won't judge her.
With the Light by Keiko Tobe
A young couple discovers their infant son is autistic; and this series chronicles the ups and downs of understanding and dealing with their son's condition.
Five for Men
Abandon the Old in Tokyo by Yoshihiro Tatsumi
Tatsumi's grim vignettes of modern relationships, exploring the loneliness, psychoses, and misfortune of city life, are beautifully rendered, reading like literary fiction in visual form.
Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo
This six-volume science fiction epic, a complex examination of the perils of genetic manipulation, government conspiracies, and human ambition, is a classic that every library should own.
Lone Wolf and Cub by Kazuo Koike
Koike's magnificent samurai revenge tale is by turns gripping, heartbreaking, and contemplative. The art remains eloquent, and the tale set the standard for the samurai tales that came after.
Monster by Naoki Urusawa
A thrilling tale of a surgeon who unwittingly unleashes a serial killer on the world, Monster is one of the best series being published today for the adult market.
Ode to Kirihito by Osamu Tezuka
All of Tezuka's brilliance is apparent in this single volume, from his desire to explore the dangers of science and medicine gone awry to his epic scale and distinctive art. A good place to start to see why he was called the God of Manga.
REFERENCES
- Brenner, Robin. Understanding Manga and Anime. Westport: Libraries Unlimited, 2007.
- Gravett, Paul. Manga: 60 Years of Japanese Comics. London: Laurence King, 2004.
- Pawuk, Michael. Graphic Novels: A Guide to Comic Books, Manga and More. Westport: Libraries Unlimited, 2007.
- Thompson, Jason. Manga: The Complete Guide. New York: Ballantine Books/Del Rey, 2007.
Robin Brenner is a Reference/Teen Librarian at the Brookline Public Library in Massachusetts. She's been an advocate for graphic novels in libraries for over seven years and presents workshops on the subject all over the country. She has written articles for Library Journal, School Library Journal, The Horn Book, and currently writes the Teen Screen column for Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA). In 2007, she had the honor of serving as a judge for the Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards; and in 2008, her own guide, Understanding Manga and Anime, was nominated for an Eisner Award.