Manga Goes Mainstream

Girkon · Chop Chop Fiend Gender: Joined: 29 Sep 2004

Looks like it's become inevitable. The associated Press has decided to start adding manga titles into their newspapers. Good or Bad Omen...you decide...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/J/JAPAN_SUNDAY_COMICS?SITE=PASTR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

ScrumYummy · bunnyhunches of scrums Gender: Joined: 29 Jun 2005

$#&%^$%^*&*%.

That was a string of cursing.

Okay, my opinion? This isn't going to do anything for manga. The strips they're going to start carrying are "Van Von Hunter" and "Peach Fuzz," two of the most horrible peace-of-crap ameri-manga (that's right, made in America) that I've ever read. Van Von Hunter is a rip-off of every decent joke from every craptastic fantasy novel that has been published in the past ten years. And Peach Fuzz is just...well, bad. The writing is mediocre, the art isn't anything special.

If they were to carry a strip by Fred Gallagher, then I think it would be worth reading. As it sits, I highly doubt that adding VVH and PF to the newspaper is going to sell more newspapers.

Daijaga · Chosen of Luck Gender: Joined: 17 Dec 2003

Girkon is right, this sort fo thing was inevitable. Manga, however, has been goign main stream for quite some time. Anime sections used to be lumped in with "international" films and were usually located near spanish porn; these days I can walk into block buster and find anime not only in its own section, but new release anime on the shelves along side "Batman Returns" and "Constantine". I remember when the only place to even BUY manga was an import shop or a kon.

Anime and manga has come a long way and as its entered in the main stream, its led by bad examples. DBZ and Pokemon really got things going in the mainstream anime department long ago (who remembers watch Dragonball on TBS? hmm?), and now the first news strips of manga are following a similar trend - left foot forward.

It IS however a foot forward. If one paper does it, two papers will do it. Who knows, maybe one day you'll pick up your local town paper and catch up on your Kare Kano, Azumanga Daioh, or Sorcerer Hunters.

Silver Adept · Otaku Lord Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 20 May 2003

Would be nice to introduce some people to newspaper-type manga using Azumanga Daioh. I think they'd all laugh their heads off while they were at it.

ScrumYummy · bunnyhunches of scrums Gender: Joined: 29 Jun 2005

*nods* Azumanga Daioh would be a good introduction =) Although I think what they're going for is manga that would have a more "American appeal," which is why they chose American artists. I just wish they'd chosen different American artists, with strips/stories that weren't stale or poorly written >.>

Silver Adept · Otaku Lord Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 20 May 2003

Well, newspaper editors choose which comics to run that are available from the syndicates. Syndicates choose comics that they think will have broad appeal. Often times, this means that really good but specific comics are not carried in favor of things like Garfield. The syndicates are looking for nonthreatening, nonedgy, and without potential to become any sort of controversial comics. Sometimes that means quality comics suffer while lesser material is let in.

Problem is, how many people actually read the newspapers anymore?

Azurel · The Bringer of Levels Gender: Joined: 24 Sep 2002

I don't see why this would be a big thing, it's just replacing one style of comic with another. However, I'm not sure how well it would do. First off, the people that are into manga usually own manga, so getting a quick fix on a newspaper page won't do much. Second, in my opinion, those who buy manga like to buy manga and like to read through whole books or series at a time, not one page. Third, our american comic strips are built around the "one-time" comedy. They're built wholey around the small strip rather than the whole story of the characters like manga generally is. Granted all this is coming from me who's seen maybe one manga, but I hear about them all the time ^_^;

Ultrawolf · Mr. Roarke Gender: Joined: 04 Jul 2003

K-chan · Murr! Gender: Joined: 23 Nov 2004

Faithful followers of a strip are in the minority so I don't know how well it will work in this form, but its at least nice to see it popping up.

Silver Adept · Otaku Lord Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 20 May 2003

With newspaper format, though, the ideal comic is one that someone can pick up at any point in the strip's run and be able to understand the important parts, to the syndicate. Storytelling comics that have definite beginnings, endings, and middles aren't as good unless there are novel collections coming with it that will get new readers up to speed quickly.