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An original English-language manga or OEL manga is a comic book or graphic novel drawn in the style of manga and originally published in English. [1] The term "international manga", as used by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, encompasses all foreign comics which draw inspiration from the "form of presentation and expression" found in Japanese manga. [2] This may also apply to manga-inspired comics made in other languages.
The growth of manga translation and publishing in the United States has been a slow progression over several decades. The earliest manga-derived series to be released in the United States was a redrawn American adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy published by Gold Key Comics starting in 1965. [3]
In 1979, the Gold Key [4] published the comic book Battle of Planets , based on a television series of the same name. [5] Marvel published a series based Shogun Warriors, bringing characters of the mecha anime and manga series: Brave Raideen , Chodenji Robo Combattler V and Wakusei Robo Danguard Ace . [6]
Original English-language manga first began to appear in the U.S. in the mid-1980s. The San Antonio-based publisher Antarctic Press produced the anthology Mangazine in 1985, [7] and the Ohio-based Rion Productions published two issues of Rion 2990, by Doug Brammer and Ryan Brown, in 1986. [8] Between 1986 and 1988, First Comics published a serie about a mecha, Dynamo Joe , created by Doug Rice, it was scripted first by John Ostrander [9] then by Phil Foglio. Ben Dunn sometimes filled in for Rice on the art.
In the late 1980s, Antarctic and Eternity Comics published manga-inspired works like Ben Dunn's Ninja High School (debuting in 1987) and Jason Waltrip's Metal Bikini (debuting in 1990), [10] as well as adaptations of anime like Captain Harlock , Robotech and Lensman . [11]
As early as 1993, Japan-owned Viz Media issued a line of American manga. [12] Shortened to "Amerimanga", it is thought to be the earliest colloquial name for these types of works. [13] Other variations on OEL manga, such as western manga, world manga, global manga, manga-influenced comics, neo-manga, and nissei comi can occasionally be heard as substitute names, but the term OEL manga is most commonly used today. [14] OEL manga gradually became more widely used, even if usually incorrectly, because it was a more inclusive, global term that included works produced by all English-speakers encompassing works originating in countries such as Canada, Australia, and United Kingdom as well as in the United States. Anime News Network columnist Carlo Santos made the first recorded use of the term on April 28, 2005, on his personal blog, and others began using it on forums and spreading the popularity of the phrase. [15] By October 2005, publishing industry journal Publishers Weekly was also making use of the term, [16] but manga publishers have yet to use it in official advertisements or press releases.
However the original parent loan word, manga, is still used by publishers such as Tokyopop, HarperCollins, and various small presses as a blanket term for all of their bound graphic novels [17] —without reference to origin or location of its creator(s). The significance of the word, however, has mutated outside Japan as a reference to comics originally published in Japan, regardless of style or language. Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines the word manga as meaning "a Japanese comic or graphic novel", reflecting the change of the meaning this word has had once used outside Japan. [18]
Because the word "manga"—being a Japanese loanword in English use—means comics initially published in Japan, there have been attempts to find more appropriate terms for the growing number of publications of manga created by non-Japanese authors. [16] Beside the term “OEL Manga”, there is also the term “manga-influenced comics” (MIC) in use. [16] For example, Megatokyo , which was scheduled to be published by the largest manga producer Kodansha, is still referenced as a "manga-influenced comic". [19]
Anime and manga news site Anime News Network currently uses the term "world manga", coined by Jason DeAngelis of Seven Seas Entertainment, to describe these works in their column entitled Right-Turn Only. [20] In May 2006, Tokyopop officially changed the name of their line of non-Japanese manga to "global manga", [21] considering it a more respectful and accurate term than Amerimanga with its negative connotations of being a sub-par quality of work in comparison to Japanese manga; [22] however, the Tokyopop books themselves, whether they come from Japan, Korea, or some other country, all say manga on them and are shelved in the manga section of the major bookstore chains such as Barnes & Noble alongside Japanese manga, Korean manhwa, Chinese manhua, French la nouvelle manga, and American graphic novels of similar size and dimensions. It is understood, however, that manga does not act as a loanword when used in the original Japanese language and therefore it only takes its original meaning of, simply, comics.
Notable OEL manga creators include:
This section needs to be updated.(December 2023) |
Antarctic Press most notably publishes the extremely long-running Ninja High School (debuted 1987) and Gold Digger (debuted 1992) comic books, with heavy inspiration from manga in terms of art and high-paced imaginative action/humor storytelling style; and also publishes newer works like Neotopia (debuted 2003). These are consistently collected into pocket-sized paperback format. If the original comics appeared in color, Antarctic Press also publishes the collected manga in color as well.
eigoMANGA publishes two Original English-Language manga anthology comic books and several graphic novel series. Sakura Pakk (debuted 2004) is a shōjo-based anthology graphic novel while Rumble Pak (debuted 2004) is their shōnen-based comic book series. eigoMANGA means "English Comics" in Japanese and they market themselves as OEL manga publishers.
Eternity Comics/Malibu Comics was one of the earliest American publishers to adapt popular anime into comics form, and put out original English-language manga. Operated from 1986 to 1994.
Kodansha is one of the largest publishers in Japan. [23] Through bi-annual international manga contests the company seeks talent outside Japan. According to Eijiro Shimada, editor-in-chief of Morning Two and deputy editor-in-chief of Morning , some readers in Japan are interested in manga produced in other parts of the world.[ citation needed ]
In May 2004, Kodansha formed a partnership with Del Rey Books called Del Rey Manga to publish many of their books in English in the United States. Some of the more popular titles published by Del Rey Manga include Negima! Magister Negi Magi by Ken Akamatsu and Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle by Clamp.
In July 2007, Kodansha announced that it would publish a Japanese language edition of Megatokyo in 2008. [24] Furthermore, in September 2008, the company announced plans to expand publishing beyond Japan and into the United States via the Kodansha USA holding company. [25]
Seven Seas Entertainment has published many Original English-Language manga and manga-inspired webcomics, such as Amazing Agent Luna (debuted 2005), Aoi House (debuted 2005), Hollow Fields (debuted 2007), and an adaptation of Larry Niven's Ringworld . [lower-alpha 1]
Briefly before its closing in 2006, American manga publisher Studio Ironcat published a magazine series called AmeriManga from 2002 to 2003. [26] A few of the titles in the compilation have since moved on to be published in other formats by other companies, most notably TOKYOPOP.
Other similar magazines are still in publication today, including EigoManga's Sakura Pakk and RumblePakk titles; Purrsia Press's Mangatron; Mangazine; and Shōjo. International magazines of the same type include Britain's MangaMover and Sweatdrop; the Australian publication Kiseki; and the Canadian magazine Kitsune.
Tokyopop was formerly the world's largest publisher of manga-inspired comics written in the English language, [27] and used to publish over two dozen titles. From 2002 to 2011, the company actively promoted new writers via its popular Rising Stars of Manga annual competition and collection. Several winners from the competition eventually published their own books under the Tokyopop imprint.
In a 2006 deal with HarperCollins, [28] the company announced the expansion of its distribution and new adaptation projects based on American prose novels. It was indicated that Tokyopop planned to produce over 100 new comics over the next two years.
On Spring 2022, Tezuka Productions launched an international Kickstarter campaign to fund an English-language manga reboot series of Osamu Tezuka's Unico called Unico: Awakening by writer Samuel Sattin and artist duo Gurihiru on Spring 2022. [29] After the campaign was fully funded within 24 hours, Scholastic Corporation announced publication of the series as part of Graphix Imprint on September 20, 2023. [30] Both Scholastic and Tezuka Productions also announced the series to be expanded to 4 volumes with activity and handbooks to accompany them. [31]
This section needs to be updated.(February 2018) |
According to Lillian Diaz-Przybyl, an editor at Tokyopop, their best selling OEL manga sells about half as well as their best selling Japanese-origin manga. [32]
The trade magazine ICv2 Guide to Manga lists the top 25 and top 50 best-selling manga based on sales data obtained from bookstores and comics shops across the United States. [33] The table below shows those OEL manga that reached the top 25 or top 50 sales status in 2007 and 2008 with their sales ranks and ICv2 references. ICv2's editors write that titles not released during the time period shown tend to drop down or off the list, while titles released during the same time period tend to rise. [34]
Title | Author | Publisher | Rank | Date | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Warcraft: The Sunwell Trilogy | Richard A. Knaak | Tokyopop | 12/50 | Mid-Feb. to mid-May, 2007 | ICv2 #45, p. 6 |
My Dead Girlfriend | Eric Wight | Tokyopop | 38/50 | ||
Megatokyo | Fred Gallagher | CMX | 25/25 | Mid-May to mid-Aug., 2007 | ICv2 #47, p. 8 |
Megatokyo | Fred Gallagher | CMX | 33/50 | June-Aug., 2007 | ICv2 #48, pp. 8, 10 |
Warcraft: The Sunwell Trilogy | Richard A. Knaak | Tokyopop | 45/50 | ||
Return to Labyrinth | Jake T. Forbes | Tokyopop | 40/50 | Sept-Oct, 2007 | ICv2 #50, pp. 8–9 |
Bizenghast | M. Alice LeGrow | Tokyopop | 44/50 | ||
Warcraft: The Sunwell Trilogy | Richard A. Knaak | Tokyopop | 14/50 | Full Year, 2007 | ICv2 #51, pp. 8–9 |
Megatokyo | Fred Gallagher | CMX | 26/50 | ||
Return to Labyrinth | Jake T. Forbes | Tokyopop | 36/50 | ||
Dramacon | Svetlana Chmakova | Tokyopop | 41/50 | ||
Warcraft: The Sunwell Trilogy | Richard A. Knaak | Tokyopop | 14/25 | Final 2007 (top 25) | ICv2 #52, p. 10 |
Dramacon | Svetlana Chmakova | Tokyopop | 20/50 | Jan. to mid-Mar., 2008 | ICv2 #54, pp. 8–9 |
Dark Hunger | Christine Feehan | Berkeley | 49/50 | ||
Dramacon | Svetlana Chmakova | Tokyopop | 20/25 | Jan. to late-Apr., 2008 | ICv2 #55, p. 10 |
Dark Wraith of Shannara | Terry Brooks | Del Rey | 22/50 | March to Mid-May, 2008 | ICv2 #57, pp. 8–9 |
In Odd We Trust | Dean Koontz | Del Rey | 11/50 | May to Mid-July, 2008 | ICv2 #59, pp. 8–9 |
Batman: Gotham Knight | Louise Simonson | Penguin | 25/50 |
Manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term manga is used in Japan to refer to both comics and cartooning. Outside of Japan, the word is typically used to refer to comics originally published in Japan.
Megatokyo is an English-language webcomic created by Fred Gallagher and Rodney Caston. Megatokyo debuted on August 14, 2000, and has been written and illustrated solely by Gallagher since June 17, 2002. Gallagher's style of writing and illustration is heavily influenced by Japanese manga. Megatokyo is freely available on its official website. The intended schedule for updates was for postings twice a week, but new comics are typically posted just once or twice a quarter on non-specific days. In 2011, updates began being delayed further due to the health issues of Sarah Gallagher (Seraphim), Gallagher's wife. Megatokyo was published in book-format by CMX, although the first three volumes were published by Dark Horse. For February 2005, sales of the comic's third printed volume were ranked third on BookScan's list of graphic novels sold in bookstores, then the best showing for an original English-language manga.
Love Hina is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ken Akamatsu. It was serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine from October 1998 to October 2001, with the chapters collected into 14 tankōbon volumes by Kodansha. The series tells the story of Keitarō Urashima and his attempts to find the girl with whom he made a childhood promise to enter the University of Tokyo. The manga was licensed for an English-language release in North America and the United Kingdom by Tokyopop, in Australia by Madman Entertainment, and in Singapore by Chuang Yi. Two novelizations of Love Hina, written by two anime series screenwriters, were also released in Japan by Kodansha. Both novels were later released in North America and the United Kingdom by Tokyopop.
Magic Knight Rayearth is a Japanese manga series created by CLAMP. Appearing as a serial in the manga magazine Nakayoshi from the November 1993 issue to the February 1995 issue, the chapters of Magic Knight Rayearth were collected into three bound volumes by Kodansha. They were published from July 1994 to March 1995. A sequel was serialized in the same manga magazine from the March 1995 issue to the April 1996 issue. It was published by Kodansha in three bound volumes from July 1995 to April 1996.
Tokyopop is an American distributor, licensor and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa and Western manga-style works. The German publishing division produces German translations of licensed Japanese properties and original English-language manga, as well as original German-language manga. Tokyopop's US publishing division publishes works in English. Tokyopop has its US headquarters near Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California. Its parent company's offices are in Tokyo, Japan and its sister company's office is in Hamburg, Germany.
Rave Master, Rave, and alternatively, The Groove Adventure Rave in Japan, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiro Mashima. The series follows Haru Glory, a teenager on a quest to find the five fragments of the sacred stone of light Rave in order to bring peace to the world by defeating the criminal group Demon Card. Mashima created this series with the idea of travelling around the world and was presented with difficulties in its serialization due to its considerable length.
Tokyo Mew Mew is a Japanese manga series created and written by Reiko Yoshida and illustrated by Mia Ikumi. It was originally serialized in Kodansha's shōjo manga magazine Nakayoshi from September 2000 to February 2003, with its chapters collected in seven tankōbon volumes by Kodansha. It focuses on five girls infused with the DNA of endangered animals which gives them special powers and allows them to transform into "Mew Mews". Led by Ichigo Momomiya, the girls protect Earth from aliens who wish to "reclaim" it.
Princess Knight, also known as Ribon no Kishi is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka. This manga follows the adventures of Sapphire, a girl who was born accidentally with a blue heart of a boy and a pink heart of a girl. She pretends to be a prince to prevent the evil Duke Duralumin from taking over the kingdom through his son, Plastic. The gender-bending main character was inspired by the all-female musical theater group Takarazuka Revue in which women performed both female and male roles.
Natsuki Takaya is a Japanese manga artist best known for creating the series Fruits Basket.
I Luv Halloween is a horror-comedy original English-language (OEL) manga written by Keith Giffen and illustrated by Benjamin Roman. In North America, Tokyopop released the series in three volumes from October 2005 to September 2007 and re-released it as one volume in October 2008. Menford Electronic Art also adapted it into animated short episodes which premiered on Myspace. Set on Halloween, the series focuses on a group of trick-or-treating children and their misadventures.
Manga, or comics, have appeared in translation in many different languages in different countries. France represents about 40% of the European comic market and in 2011, manga represented 40% of the comics being published in the country. In 2007, 70% of the comics sold in Germany were manga. In the United States, manga comprises a small industry, especially when compared to the inroads that Japanese animation or Japanese video games have made in the USA. One example of a manga publisher in the United States, VIZ Media, functions as the American affiliate of the Japanese publishers Shogakukan and Shueisha. Though the United Kingdom has fewer manga publishers than the U.S., most manga sold in the United Kingdom are published by U.S. publishing companies like Viz Media and Kodansha Comics which are in turn owned by their Japanese counterparts. Alongside the United Kingdom, the U.S. manga publishers also sell their English translated manga in other English speaking nations like Canada, Australia and New Zealand with manga being quite popular in Australia compared to other English speaking countries.
Planet Ladder is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yuri Narushima. Appearing as a serial in the shōjo manga magazine Crimson from the March 1998 issue to the May 2003 issue, the chapters of Planet Ladder were published by Sobisha/Shueisha in seven tankōbon volumes from December 1998 to May 2004. Based on the Japanese folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter in which a girl is discovered to be the princess of the moon, the story focuses on a teenager named Kaguya, who is prophesied to save only one of the nine parallel worlds, and her quest to bring peace to a warring universe while finding her true identity.
Dramacon is an original English-language manga written and illustrated by Svetlana Chmakova. It was published in three volumes by Tokyopop from October 11, 2005 to December 11, 2007. Dramacon is considered one of Tokyopop's best OEL manga.
Svetlana Chmakova is a Russian-Canadian comic book artist. She is best known for Dramacon, an original English-language (OEL) manga spanning three volumes and published in North America by Tokyopop. Her other original work includes Nightschool and Awkward for Yen Press. She has been nominated for an Eisner Award twice. Previously, she created The Adventures of CG for CosmoGIRL! magazine and the webcomic Chasing Rainbows for Girlamatic.
Manga, in the sense of narrative multi-panel cartoons made in Japan, originated from Euro-American-style cartoons featured in late 19th-century Japanese publications. The form of manga as speech-balloon-based comics more specifically originated from translations of American comic strips in the 1920s; several early examples of such manga read left-to-right, with the longest-running pre-1945 manga being the Japanese translation of the American comic strip Bringing Up Father. The term manga first came into usage in the late 18th century, though it only came to refer to various forms of cartooning in the 1890s and did not become a common word until around 1920.
Kitchen Princess is a shōjo cooking romance manga series written by Miyuki Kobayashi and illustrated by Natsumi Andō. Appearing as a serial in the manga magazine Nakayoshi from the September 2004 issue to the October 2008 issue, the forty-seven chapters were compiled into ten bound volumes by Kodansha, and published from February 2005 to November 2008. It also includes recipes for each featured dish at the end of each chapter. The series marked the first time that Ando illustrated a manga that was not also written by her. Set in modern-day Japan, Kitchen Princess follows Najika Kazami, a cheerful thirteen-year-old girl who searches for her "flan prince", a boy who rescued her from drowning as a young girl and brought a little happiness to her life after her parents' death. In March 2008, Kodansha published a related light novel, Kitchen Princess: Search for the Angel Cake, written by Kobayashi and illustrated by Ando.
A film comic or anime comic is a Japanese manga volume illustrated with images from an anime series, film, or video release, rather than original custom art. They generally contain the full dialog from the anime from which they are adapted. While usually published in book form, they are also sometimes released electronically as e-books, occasionally called e-manga. Companies such as Tokyopop and Viz release film comics under the trademarks Cine-manga and Ani-manga, respectively.
Lupin III is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Monkey Punch. It follows the escapades of master thief Lupin III, the grandson of Arsène Lupin, the gentleman thief of Maurice Leblanc's series of novels.
Mary Alice "Marty" LeGrow, better known by her pen name M. Alice LeGrow, is an American alternative comics artist, best known for her gothic, dark fantasy graphic novel series Bizenghast.
Even maintaining the same spelling of the robots' names between the toys and the comics didn't seem to be a top priority. Fans will find multiple versions of the word 'Combatra', sometimes as 'Combattra' and 'Raydeen', at times as 'Raideen', adorning the boxes of some of the figures.