The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log

Over the next few days, I’ll be doing something I really didn’t think I’d be doing here on Propaganda: Manga Reviews.

There’s one big problem with me reviewing Manga:
I just don’t really read it.

(It may have taken over the world, but it’s never taken over me I’m afraid. From Manchester’s Urbis exhibition of 2008)

In the way these things work, as I was writing this I came across Katherine’s superb “Explaining The Appeal Of Manga” on her blog. Now Katherine Farmar is smart and writes well; she used to write here on the FPI blog, often about her love of Manga. So hopefully what I say about it isn’t going to annoy her too much. But when she describes Manga as something utterly different to Western comics she rather perfectly sums it all up in both this quote and the entire post:“the fundamental storytelling DNA of manga, as well as the more obvious visual aesthetics, are different from those of Western comics. Oh, there’s variation within both Western comics and manga, and there are places where they nearly touch — but any two randomly-selected Western comics will be closer to each other than they are to any randomly-selected manga, and vice versa.”

And part of what I enjoyed about Manga, on the rare occasions I did venture into it, was that feeling of it being an alien reading experience. Because when I say that I don’t read Manga, it’s really not because I don’t see it as valid, or worthy. To say that I don’t generally read Manga doesn’t mean that I haven’t. And it doesn’t mean that I refuse to. And it certainly doesn’t mean that I don’t understand it. The little that I have read (carefully chosen for me by colleagues at Nostalgia & Comics who did love Manga) was exceptionally good: Akira, 2001 Nights, Adolf, Eagle, Ghost In The Shell, Lone Wolf  & Cub, Maison Ikkoku and Ranma1/2. But that’s about it for my adventures in Manga.

When I say that I don’t read Manga I mean it in the same way in the same way that I don’t watch long form American dramas like the Sopranos, The Wire and countless others. I know that everyone says I really should devote myself to them but I just don’t have time to make the commitment. There’s just not enough time. So watching TV goes way down the list. I can just about commit to QI and Battlestar Galactica. Anything else has proven impossible. Similarly, with Manga, I find that I can’t keep up with the things I’m already interested in when it comes to comics. So the idea of plunging headfirst into what looks like an impossibly deep ocean of Manga, representing a completely new and unknown area of comics, with a huge commitment to read volume after volume to get through the story, is just a step too far at the moment.

I hope that makes sense. I know Manga can be sublime reading. I know I should read more. And just as soon as I work out how to go without the pitifully few hours of sleep I do get I promise I’ll investigate a little more. And, if readers of the blog have any suggestions of an essential Manga reading list please feel free to add it in the comments.

So, given my distinctly underwhelming knowledge of all things Manga, I felt ridiculously unqualified to be the recipient of a lovely package of stuff from Sweatdrop Studios; a UK based collective of over 20 artists who make homegrown Manga. But here at FPI we’re always looking to promote the best of British Small Press and self published works so I’m just going to give it a go.

At the very least you’ll have an interesting look at Manga through the eyes of a complete novice. Wish me luck.

The first review will be up tomorrow.