Everything to Know About Manga for Beginners
I used to be a die-hard Marvel historietas (comics) fan and would think that nothing in the whole wide world could beat Marvel characters saving the world in their rectangular comic boxes.
But then my uncle got me My Hero Academia, or Boku No Hero Academia, my first manga, and I was instantly drawn into Izuku’s world of quirks, superheroes, and supervillains. However, despite finishing it in one go, I still couldn’t consider myself a manga fan because I was not familiar with the terminology. This was because my mind was laden with questions like what Shonen was, or how Manga is different from Anime. And not to forget the fact that I read it from left to right and was confused because nothing made sense. That was until my uncle pointed out that Japanese Manga is read from left to right, unlike my Marvel comics.
Keeping all of my Manga struggles in mind, I have decided to compile everything a person should know about Manga before they immerse themselves in the world of colorful Japanese illustrations and deep storylines. Here are some of my personal tips:
1. Don’t Buy Manga
Manga, given the fact that every month a new chapter is released, can be too expensive to buy. Each Manga volume costs between $15 and $30. Plus, considering some Manga can have over 100 volumes (like One Piece), the cost can add up as you go deeper into the plot. Not to mention storage, because it’s impossible to store so many physical volumes.
This is why I recommend reading Manga online. Most Manga is released en línea (online) or in digital format anyway. Places like Barnes & Noble and Amazon have a huge collection of Manga available. You can buy e-books from them. Or if you do not plan on spending this much money monthly or weekly, you can read them online.
But beware, if you want to go the legal route, don’t read them on free sites. Because that is plain and simple piracy, or they will have low-quality scanlations (Manga scanned and translated into English by fans). Sites like Comixology, Shonen Jump, and Viz Manga allow you to read Manga titles online. You can buy Manga volumes and then read them digitally or subscribe to each title. These will not cost you more than $12, on average, which is still cheaper than buying physical copies.
A pro tip: Reading Manga online requires good internet connectivity. Since Manga is all about high-quality images, a good internet connection will ensure you won’t have to wait for each page to load. I use Cox Internet to read Manga online and am very happy with their service. If you want to know about their plans, the Cox servicio al cliente en español is always a huge help.
2. Manga Requires Patience
If you think Manga is just like Western comics, think again. This is because Manga is an art form in itself. Since the storylines are anything but commercial, every arc is explored in detail and has a lot of introspection overall. To give you an idea, every anime episode is made of 3 to 4 Manga chapters to keep the episodes fast-paced and engaging for the audience.
Manga is deliberately ritmo lento (slow-paced) so that every character has ample time to develop, and the story is wholesome. Plus, even the characters’ emotions are exaggerated to be seen clearly. This is why you might not get fully engaged right off the bat. You have to be patient because this slow pace is what sets Manga apart.
Lastly, this slow-paced storytelling gives you time to unlock the heavy symbolism that plays out in it.
3. Don’t Read Manga Like Western Comics
As I mentioned above, I took Manga to be just like Western comics and started reading them from the left side. But, just like Japanese writing, Manga is read from right to left and top to bottom. Interestingly, most Manga have instructions on how to read them and have a warning at the end (or the right side) to tell you that you are reading from the wrong side.
So, even if the Manga is translated into English, it still has to be read from right to left. Similarly, every page is also to be read from left to right, like a flipped ‘z’ pattern. It is similar to the Japanese writing style tategaki, or vertical writing.
Apart from these, it is also important for you to know all the basic manga terminology, like:
- Shounen
- Shojou
- Josei
- Tankobon
- Dandere
- Kohai
But these are just some of the Manga terms you should know. Many guides on the internet explain all the important terminologies associated with the famous Japanese historietas (comics).
All in all, Manga is a very wholesome entertainment form, with unique characters and deeply emotional storylines. Using the above-mentioned tips, I am sure you will fully enjoy the switch from Western comics to it.
