Manga: Why You Should Read It
Manga and graphic novels are a medium that can give great people to anyone that starts reading. The popularity of these materials has been growing in popularity as of recent, with anime and manga becoming almost mainstream in pop culture. But even with their rise in popularity, many people bash manga and graphic novels, neglecting them over anime. This is of course a great shame since most anime comes from these mediums. Additionally, there is much more manga available than animes making for a sea of content.
But what makes manga stand out is the medium’s ability to explore unique and thought-provoking situations and worlds. The themes cover thousands of subjects that are portrayed in deep and unique ways. Some of the best manga always feature compelling and entertaining stories with amazing and well-thought-out characters. As per the themes, manga and graphic novels have something to offer anyone if you love martial arts Dragon Ball might be a great fit for you, while if you are a fan of gambling Kagekuri just might be the best gambling-related manga series.
The medium’s artists have made some true masterpieces in the form of their manga panels. One of the most notable and influential mangakas was Kentaro Miura, the author of Berserk. This piece not only featured a story like no other that went on to inspire many artists and a lot of pop culture. It featured some staring stunning art that evolved as new chapters were released. Through this, you could clearly see the artist’s progression as his craft got mastered.
History of Manga and Graphic Novels
But the manga has not always had this worldwide stage and millions of daily readers. Manga first started around the 12th century but its current format was developed around the 1950s. This was in Japan where it was usually published as a weekly, biweekly, or monthly periodical before being published into novels. Japan’s high literacy rate and manga make up about a third of their publications, according to the Japan External Trade Organisation.
Mangas don’t just stop with fiction though, there are also non-fiction publications that they create to provide accessibility and entertainment while learning about history or science. Many of the most popular mangas also touch up on real-life issues, as the characters struggle with problems that are relatable to a lot of readers, young and old.
Criticism and negative views towards Manga
The majority of criticism you can hear about manga and comics is that they are too easy and that they do not allow those who read them to gain any literacy skills. But this simply isn’t the case, manga actually helps to promote lifelong readers. This is the added benefit of portraying the story not just through words but through art as well. Allowing readers to not only read what is happening but also to clearly visualize it. Which allows for some powerful storytelling.
Another big criticism people bring up is that manga and graphic novels are too graphic. Many think that all manga are gruesome and voice great concern about this. Even if there are many mangas that are very gory and gruesome But there are many different types of manga ranging from juvenile to adult collections. The most manga has a rating on the back of the book telling readers what the target audience is.
As manga grows in popularity it is important to know that they are created for a wide range of readers and age groups. Even if there are many cliches within the medium there are always outliers that set a new precedent. Lastly, remember what might be suitable for one person may not be for another.
