Comments on: The Shape of the Manga Industry Part 2 http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/ Never Safe For Work Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:37:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: smashingtofu http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-79991 smashingtofu Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:54:31 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/#comment-79991 Awesome essay! Anyway, I'm doing my part and bought Tanpenshu : d Part of the reason why I BUY english manga in the first place, is because I LOVE sharing these with friends and hopefully they will buy it too. This all I can do for now, but IF I had a blog or webcomic that had readership, I know what I'll do: Talk about particular manga that is widely ignored and their availability in the US. Then bug people to buy them : d I'm also planning on buy Real (Its actually coming out!!) : O Awesome essay!

Anyway, I’m doing my part and bought Tanpenshu : d

Part of the reason why I BUY english manga in the first place, is because I LOVE sharing these with friends and hopefully they will buy it too. This all I can do for now, but IF I had a blog or webcomic that had readership, I know what I’ll do:

Talk about particular manga that is widely ignored and their availability in the US. Then bug people to buy them : d

I’m also planning on buy Real (Its actually coming out!!) : O

]]> By: Eoin http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-79628 Eoin Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:22:41 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/#comment-79628 You couldn't be any more right. You've said what I've been thinking gor a while now, and even said more things, terrifying outcomes of the future manga industry and such. I'm buying you a virtual beer on the house if the future of manga is really fucking terrible in a few years time. You couldn’t be any more right. You’ve said what I’ve been thinking gor a while now, and even said more things, terrifying outcomes of the future manga industry and such.
I’m buying you a virtual beer on the house if the future of manga is really fucking terrible in a few years time.

]]> By: Kat Kan http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-79368 Kat Kan Mon, 07 Jul 2008 21:00:19 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/#comment-79368 On a couple of library listservs, I'm finding more and more requests for "manga for adults." Libraries are reaching out more and more to adults who want to read graphic novels and manga. There is a market out there, but publishers have to nurture it to help it grow. We librarians are trying! On a couple of library listservs, I’m finding more and more requests for “manga for adults.” Libraries are reaching out more and more to adults who want to read graphic novels and manga. There is a market out there, but publishers have to nurture it to help it grow. We librarians are trying!

]]> By: Amy http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-79359 Amy Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:12:58 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/#comment-79359 Nice write up! Looking forward to tomorrow's article, too. One thing I wish would improve with translated manga (and comics in general) is the packaging. When I was in Japan I picked up a comic with a charming watercolor on the cover of a girl playing cello. There was also a nice painting on the back of a boy (the love interest) walking up the stairs of some alley in Italy, with the girl in the from the front standing at the top, surprised to see him there. The story was already told in the packaging, I could tell what it was just by looking at it. It ended up being one of my favorite buys on my trip there. When I got back I was surprised it'd already been translated in the states for months, and even more surprised to recognize the cover as one of the mangas I saw that I was completely uninterested in because it was covered in black and yellow. It was Nodame Cantabile. I'll never underestimate the power of packaging again, especially in a medium as visual as comics. Nice write up! Looking forward to tomorrow’s article, too.

One thing I wish would improve with translated manga (and comics in general) is the packaging.

When I was in Japan I picked up a comic with a charming watercolor on the cover of a girl playing cello. There was also a nice painting on the back of a boy (the love interest) walking up the stairs of some alley in Italy, with the girl in the from the front standing at the top, surprised to see him there. The story was already told in the packaging, I could tell what it was just by looking at it. It ended up being one of my favorite buys on my trip there.

When I got back I was surprised it’d already been translated in the states for months, and even more surprised to recognize the cover as one of the mangas I saw that I was completely uninterested in because it was covered in black and yellow. It was Nodame Cantabile. I’ll never underestimate the power of packaging again, especially in a medium as visual as comics.

]]> By: dave roman http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-79354 dave roman Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:33:33 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/#comment-79354 Lots to think about! Lots to think about!

]]> By: Torsten Adair http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-79353 Torsten Adair Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:25:23 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/#comment-79353 I believe that in any past-time, there will be fanboys who are amateur experts, who are obsessive and know a lot about a particular subject. Some will actually work in the field they enjoy, but many will gather with others and just talk about their hobby. With this influx of teen readers comes another crowd formerly not associated with comics: librarians and educators. Schools are offering programs for students interested in making manga. Librarians host book groups, screen anime, and even participate in Free Comic Book Day. These adults will continue to offer titles which appeal to readers, and/or which present the best of the medium. What's the worst that can happen? Manga turns out to be a fad, and the readers move on to other interests. The majority will likely become casual readers, open to graphic novels, but not dedicated solely to the medium. Some will become hooked on the medium, and focus much of their leisure time enjoying the medium, although in different tribes, just as science fiction conventions attract fans of different passions. A few will produce comics, either as non-profit hobby, or as a career. Thankfully, youth-centered media is affected by Disney's Fundamental Law of Marketing: Every seven years, there is a new audience for your product. As long as we have libraries shelving graphic novels for all ages, as long as publishers are producing the titles for everyone, the medium and industry will continue to flourish, and perhaps even become mainstream. I believe that in any past-time, there will be fanboys who are amateur experts, who are obsessive and know a lot about a particular subject. Some will actually work in the field they enjoy, but many will gather with others and just talk about their hobby.

With this influx of teen readers comes another crowd formerly not associated with comics: librarians and educators. Schools are offering programs for students interested in making manga. Librarians host book groups, screen anime, and even participate in Free Comic Book Day. These adults will continue to offer titles which appeal to readers, and/or which present the best of the medium.

What’s the worst that can happen? Manga turns out to be a fad, and the readers move on to other interests. The majority will likely become casual readers, open to graphic novels, but not dedicated solely to the medium. Some will become hooked on the medium, and focus much of their leisure time enjoying the medium, although in different tribes, just as science fiction conventions attract fans of different passions. A few will produce comics, either as non-profit hobby, or as a career.

Thankfully, youth-centered media is affected by Disney’s Fundamental Law of Marketing: Every seven years, there is a new audience for your product. As long as we have libraries shelving graphic novels for all ages, as long as publishers are producing the titles for everyone, the medium and industry will continue to flourish, and perhaps even become mainstream.

]]> By: Chris http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-79343 Chris Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:35:59 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/#comment-79343 Jeff- THanks, sir! Todd- Now that I've slept on it, I think a big part of the disconnect is that the stuff that really hits in mainstream North American culture is either biography or memoir, and I can count the number of biography/memoir titles released in manga on one hand. Actually, one of the greatest manga titles released in the last few years was the PROJECT: X series, where they did a non fiction retelling of the origins of Cup Noodles, and 7-Eleven convenience stores in Japan. I would've given it more press here, but DMP were incredible, incredible dicks to me for no reason, and so I just hand-sold them at work instead. Anyway, Tezuka's BUDDHA sold much better than anything before it (and quite possibly since... I haven't talked to Vertical in a while). I think it's the biography angle, and if a smart publisher wanted to make their mark on the industry right now, starting to license and properly market big-name autobio or non-fiction might be the way to go? Just random thoughts. hcduvall: Well no manga publisher is looking to the direct market for salvation at this point, though more than a few DM stores could've thought a little harder about manga as theirs. Chip- Actually, I was pretty good, post-birthday. Thanks for a great time sir! And thanks for the compliment here. - Chris Jeff- THanks, sir!

Todd- Now that I’ve slept on it, I think a big part of the disconnect is that the stuff that really hits in mainstream North American culture is either biography or memoir, and I can count the number of biography/memoir titles released in manga on one hand. Actually, one of the greatest manga titles released in the last few years was the PROJECT: X series, where they did a non fiction retelling of the origins of Cup Noodles, and 7-Eleven convenience stores in Japan. I would’ve given it more press here, but DMP were incredible, incredible dicks to me for no reason, and so I just hand-sold them at work instead. Anyway, Tezuka’s BUDDHA sold much better than anything before it (and quite possibly since… I haven’t talked to Vertical in a while). I think it’s the biography angle, and if a smart publisher wanted to make their mark on the industry right now, starting to license and properly market big-name autobio or non-fiction might be the way to go? Just random thoughts.

hcduvall: Well no manga publisher is looking to the direct market for salvation at this point, though more than a few DM stores could’ve thought a little harder about manga as theirs.

Chip- Actually, I was pretty good, post-birthday. Thanks for a great time sir! And thanks for the compliment here.

- Chris

]]> By: Chip Zdarsky http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-79335 Chip Zdarsky Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:59:16 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/#comment-79335 Wow. Great job here, Chris. Glad to see you survived your birthday. Love, Chip! Wow. Great job here, Chris.
Glad to see you survived your birthday.
Love,
Chip!

]]> By: hcduvall http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-79326 hcduvall Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:23:35 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/#comment-79326 For what it's worth, at least if Viz seems to have healthier notions about what sort of company to grow into than the superhero comic big two--having a list of successful "adult" titles to fall back on helps, and the cash from Naruto and the like helps too. Heck, the very nature of knowing that most of their revenue comes from bookstores and not something as insular as the direct market is healthier. Who knows, perhaps bookstores planning on the future of the manga section will combine it with growing a successful graphic novel section in general. For what it’s worth, at least if Viz seems to have healthier notions about what sort of company to grow into than the superhero comic big two–having a list of successful “adult” titles to fall back on helps, and the cash from Naruto and the like helps too. Heck, the very nature of knowing that most of their revenue comes from bookstores and not something as insular as the direct market is healthier.

Who knows, perhaps bookstores planning on the future of the manga section will combine it with growing a successful graphic novel section in general.

]]> By: Todd http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-79319 Todd Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:01:18 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/#comment-79319 Interesting read. It's unfortunate that the "adult" manga released here rarely has the potential to attract general readers in the same way as, say, Persepolis or Blankets. I wouldn't be surprised if most of those readers saw Tezuka's darker stuff as misogynistic and silly, or if they dismissed Golgo 13 as one-dimensional pulp for repressed salarymen (which it is, but we should read it anyway). Interesting read. It’s unfortunate that the “adult” manga released here rarely has the potential to attract general readers in the same way as, say, Persepolis or Blankets. I wouldn’t be surprised if most of those readers saw Tezuka’s darker stuff as misogynistic and silly, or if they dismissed Golgo 13 as one-dimensional pulp for repressed salarymen (which it is, but we should read it anyway).

]]> By: Jeff Parker http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-79288 Jeff Parker Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:37:17 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/#comment-79288 Wait, Barney gave up drinking? Man, it's been a long time since I watched Simpsons. Great essay Christopher! Wait, Barney gave up drinking? Man, it’s been a long time since I watched Simpsons.

Great essay Christopher!

]]> By: MangaBlog » Blog Archive » In other news… http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-79284 MangaBlog » Blog Archive » In other news… Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:04:19 +0000 http://comics212.net/2008/07/07/the-shape-of-the-manga-industry-part-2/#comment-79284 [...] Free advice for publishers: Christopher Butcher posts a two-part essay (part one, part two) on the state of the manga industry. As always, when Chris has something to say, it’s well worth a read. And Katherine Farmar has more dos and don’ts at Purity Brown. [...] [...] Free advice for publishers: Christopher Butcher posts a two-part essay (part one, part two) on the state of the manga industry. As always, when Chris has something to say, it’s well worth a read. And Katherine Farmar has more dos and don’ts at Purity Brown. [...]

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