Fix yourself a nice cup of coffee and settle in, because we have some good reading this morning. Kate Dacey takes up the question of global manga at The Manga Critic, following up on this roundtable at Manga Village; David Welsh discusses Naoki Urasawa’s manga in his latest Flipped column for The Comics Reporter; and Gia talks to Tokyopop editor Lillian Diaz-Przybyl about publishing global manga in Japan.
David Welsh has some recommendations from this week’s new releases at Precocious Curmudgeon. God Len also posts this week’s new crop of anime and manga at Japanator.
For those who like to think further ahead, Tangognat makes her picks from the May Previews and Udon posts solicitations for their July books.
At About.com, Deb Aoki takes a look at the manga nominated for the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation awards. Deb also has a post on Nana adaptor and Bratmobile singer Allison Wolfe.
Bill Randall has some comments on D&Q’s latest announcements.
News from Japan: Canned Dogs has more from Satou Shuuhou on the economics of manga from the creator’s point of view.
Reviews: The Manga Recon team cracks the books with a series of short reviews for their latest Manga Minis feature. Andrew Wheeler checks out the latest shipment from Yen Press at his blog, The Antick Musings of G.B.H. Hornswoggler, Gent.
Michelle Smith on vol. 4 of A.I. Revolution (soliloquy in blue)
Tiamat’s Disciple on Alien Nine: Emulators (Tiamat’s Manga Reviews)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 4 of Captive Hearts (The Comic Book Bin)
Holly Ellingwood on vol. 4 of Captive Hearts (Active Anime)
Michelle Smith on vol. 4 of Click (soliloquy in blue)
Deb Aoki on vol. 1 of Detroit Metal City (About.com)
John Thomas on vol. 1 of Gakuen Prince (Comics Village)
Erica Friedman on vol. 2 of Gokujouu (Okazu)
Leroy Douresseaux on Hey, Sensei? (The Comic Book Bin)
A Library Girl on vol. 3 of High School Debut (A Library Girl’s Familiar Diversions)
Oyceter on vol. 9 of High School Debut (Sakura of DOOM)
Rachel Bentham on vol. 9 of High School Debut (Active Anime)
Danielle Leigh on vol. 3 of Higurashi: When They Cry (Comics Should Be Good)
Casey Brienza on vol. 1 of Hot Gimmick (VizBig edition) (ANN)
Dave Ferraro on vol. 1 of Hot Gimmick (VizBig edition) (Comics-and-More)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 13 of Kaze Hikaru (The Comic Book Bin)
Samzenpus on The Manga Guide to Databases (Slashdot)
Leroy Douresseaux on vol. 16 of Nana (The Comic Book Bin)
Johanna Draper Carlson on vol. 7 of Parasyte (Comics Worth Reading)
Margaret Veira on vol. 31 of The Prince of Tennis (Active Anime)
Oyceter on vols. 4 and 5 of Sand Chronicles (Sakura of DOOM)
Holly Ellingwood on vol. 18 of Skip Beat! (Active Anime)
Julie on vol. 1 of Welcome to Wakaba-soh (Manga Maniac Cafe)
I like Katherine Farmar post the most. As an artist, the reason why I dropped ‘manga’ for my comics is cause it brings about too much paint. Fans can be very rude and crual. the flames and posts that they do on line, they done mind doing it to your face.
also, manga style comics isnt really encouraged here. weither if you’re trying to be a professional illustrator or just want to make it in comics, you’re constantly met with ‘change your style’ or ‘your style isnt unique enough’ or ‘its fake why bother?’
now that i’ve gotten over it and dont care of what people say, I can finally move on with my artistic growth. I know and seen many people that have stopped growing because they like their manga influenced work but isnt supported to why bother putting the hours and dedication to if if no one wants to at least check it out?
I invite for the bloggers to find an artist friend (and not a deviant art power house) that goes to artist alley at anime conventions and just sit behind the table for a day and see how people react towards the artist. see whats really of value to the majority of the fans and see why good manga inspired work is hard to come by because few people actually ‘care’.
[...] (Link via Brigid Alverson.) [...]
This is the third “fans are anti-manga inspired artwork” post I have read in the last couple days written by artists.
I am not an artist, but if artists feel the need to push back against fans saying they are not into manga-inspired work, is that not a call to action, not a call to battle?
If the goal is to be popular, then do what is popular. If the goal is to do what satisfies you personally as an artist, then fan demands should have no consequence.