Post by BlackBloodWizard on Nov 8, 2019 20:29:00 GMT -7
ok, I said that Manga was better than Comic books, let me make the case. Before we move on, I'll say I'll mostly be talking about serialised action/adventure stories so I'll be discussing primarily superhero comics and shounen manga, other genres exist and I even enjoy them, I'll also be noting regardless of what my conclusions are I still have a pull list at my local comic store as well as a subscription to the Shonen Jump app/service.
1. Value Per Dollar
Comic Books are sold as full color soft color thin books often called 'floppies' these generally cost $4 and run about 20 some odd pages per issue. There aren't many ways to meaningfully 'sample' comics other than 'free comic book day' which is an annual event. That is unless you use a digital storefront that allows samples.
Manga in the United States used to use magazines to publish and promote their comics, since manga is often ran in newspapers in Japan not unlike our Sunday 'funnies'. However manga magazines are being phased out as the medium is mostly dying. Instead big manga distributors like shonen jump have created their own apps as a storefront. SJ for example allows you to read the first three chapters and the three most recent chapters for free as well as a truly staggering amount of content for less than $5 a month. You can buy digital manga by volume too if you prefer.
Also if you compare Trade Paperbacks vs Omnibus it is no contest. you get around 200 pages (7-10 chapters) of black and white manga for $10 while you get equivalent content of american comics for $25+ you might argue that the art is full color or the pages are bigger, or the paper stock is superior, but honestly, you get less content for more money.
2. Consistency (art, storytelling, you name it)
Mainstream superhero comics with established characters tend to be a spaghetti toss of different artists, writers etc. There's never just one linear plotline and everything shifts constantly.
In manga you generally get one artist working on a story, if they have assiants they still call all the shots and you get a far more unified vision.
3. Avoiding the 'Culture War'
Whether you like one side of the so called Culture War better than the other is pretty unimportant to the larger point. Western Comics are a battleground for the 'culture war.' You can find comics promoting both sides, While that's not inherently a problem most of the times and places this is done are in traditionally escapist fantasies.
Generally Manga that sell succeed, so they can't be propped up becuase of this or that message, either the work is good...or it isn't. Art can be political, but it's all about being honest about what you're selling.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These are just three reasons I can think of with a little thought, I'm sure there are plenty more. Agree, Disagree? Want to change my mind?
1. Value Per Dollar
Comic Books are sold as full color soft color thin books often called 'floppies' these generally cost $4 and run about 20 some odd pages per issue. There aren't many ways to meaningfully 'sample' comics other than 'free comic book day' which is an annual event. That is unless you use a digital storefront that allows samples.
Manga in the United States used to use magazines to publish and promote their comics, since manga is often ran in newspapers in Japan not unlike our Sunday 'funnies'. However manga magazines are being phased out as the medium is mostly dying. Instead big manga distributors like shonen jump have created their own apps as a storefront. SJ for example allows you to read the first three chapters and the three most recent chapters for free as well as a truly staggering amount of content for less than $5 a month. You can buy digital manga by volume too if you prefer.
Also if you compare Trade Paperbacks vs Omnibus it is no contest. you get around 200 pages (7-10 chapters) of black and white manga for $10 while you get equivalent content of american comics for $25+ you might argue that the art is full color or the pages are bigger, or the paper stock is superior, but honestly, you get less content for more money.
2. Consistency (art, storytelling, you name it)
Mainstream superhero comics with established characters tend to be a spaghetti toss of different artists, writers etc. There's never just one linear plotline and everything shifts constantly.
In manga you generally get one artist working on a story, if they have assiants they still call all the shots and you get a far more unified vision.
3. Avoiding the 'Culture War'
Whether you like one side of the so called Culture War better than the other is pretty unimportant to the larger point. Western Comics are a battleground for the 'culture war.' You can find comics promoting both sides, While that's not inherently a problem most of the times and places this is done are in traditionally escapist fantasies.
Generally Manga that sell succeed, so they can't be propped up becuase of this or that message, either the work is good...or it isn't. Art can be political, but it's all about being honest about what you're selling.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These are just three reasons I can think of with a little thought, I'm sure there are plenty more. Agree, Disagree? Want to change my mind?