Manga Buying Guide
Its nascence may lie in 18th century
comic books. However, in the States, reading comics is typically regarded as recreation for young children (or adults who refuse to grow up), but in Japan everyone reads mangas!
Types of Mangas
In its broadest terms, manga may be split into two general categories:
yuri featuring lesbian relationships.)
Whether you are a 70manga'>fantasy, and everything in between, no theme is too taboo to explore.
How to Read Manga
Traditionally, books in Japan are read from right to left; manga is no exception. To accommodate readers in the West, the translated version are “flipped” to read from left to right. However, providing this convenience is not without its problems. Certain elements, particularly textual content, might not be reflected properly and so made unreadable. Certain North American publishers also release translated versions that read from right to left for manga purists interested in a more authentic reading experience. Knowing how to read the order of the panels can get tricky as well, but generally, the reader should move from right to left, top to bottom (for the non-flipped mangas, of course).
Creating Mangas
If you are into grueling long workdays, premature arthritis, and stressful environments, then being a mangaka might be the perfect career for you! In Japan, the manga industry is a fiercely competitive business and very few artists actually make it big-time. However, if your spirit is strong and you really really love to draw and to tell stories, here are some basic manga creation essentials to start off your training the old fashion way.
* '''
Manga Manuscript Paper''': Well, of course you are going to need paper, but which kind? That ultimately depends on your final artistic vision, but any regular white printer paper will due. Ideally you should look for illustration paper that is smoother and a little thicker to better hold the ink. Proper manga manuscript paper will also have guidelines and measurements around the edge to help you storyboard.
* '''Pens and Pencils''': There is nothing particularity unique about the pens and pencils mangakas use. Any 2HB pencil will do the job, but if you are serious about drawing manga, do consider getting yourself a professional set of pens and pencils from reliable brands such as
Staedtler to name a few.
* '''Ink''': No, your Sharpie or black Bic pen is not going to do the job. When you are ready to ink, your drawing is more or less finalized. Proper
pen nibs might take a little getting use to, but this will allow pressure sensitivity in your lines.
Many mangakas are no longer relying on drawing purely by hand. Many use drawing programs such as
How To Draw Manga books useful references as well, but nothing beats plain old practice, practice, and more practice.
Manga Fan Culture
Manga would not have reached such international popularity if it were not for the fervent dedication of its fans, a.k.a. otaku. Note: in Japan, this term has a derogatory connotation, but in the U.S. it simply refers to fans of manga. Otakus spend tons of money of mangafigurines'>collectible figurines. However, some go above and beyond the call of duty…
One way to celebrate manga culture publicly is through
weaponry, true otakus spare no attention to detail. Cosplayers will frequently congregate at conventions to show off their style.
If dressing up isn’t your thing, then you might enjoy producing fantasy stories using your favorite manga characters, usually from a well-established series. These
doujinshis range in quality from crude black and white pamphlets to beautifully produced volumes; many successful mangaka got their start in doujin circles.
Top Selling Series in the U.S.
Related Guides
*
Naruto
*
Comic Books
*
DC Comics
*
Marvel Comics
*
Halloween
*
Drawing
*
Foreign Language Software
