American Newspapers to Begin Carrying Manga

jonerik writes to tell us The Associated press is running an article stating that several American newspapers are going to start carrying manga with their normal arsenal of comics. The papers feel that this will help boost their readership amongst a younger audience. The two strips that made the cut are Van Von Hunter, and Peach Fuzz which are both created by American writer/illustrators and are being distributed by Universal Press Syndicate.

Comments

How do we know this is manga?

[Ithika]

Where does the line between manga and comic art exist then, if not by country of origin?

Re:How do we know this is manga?

[Ungrounded Lightning]

Not to get into a "is" "isn't" flap...

But I was under the impression that one large distinction was the set of graphic conventions used. (For instance: lightbulb-over-head versus laserbeam into head for idea, smoking head versus bulging veins for anger, etc.)

I suspect when an american comic syndicate executive says "manga" he undersands it to mean a comic that uses the stylistic and graphic-linguistic convention set of manga, rather than whatever the "real" definition is.

Re:How do we know this is manga?

[Ithika]

Despite the fact that this is the most sensible reasoning I've seen so far for using "manga" instead of "comic", it seems a bit daft to make a product full of cultural references and market it exclusively to people outside that culture.

Re:How do we know this is manga?

[Stalyn]

Because manga is a booming business unlike american comics. Also manga has captured a market comics never has, girls. So there is a reason to use the word 'manga' instead of 'comics', it sells.

Also to add to what does the word 'manga' mean? Sure it means 'comic' from Japan. But it also carries with it an intrinsic style. Art styles have no borders and influence those who read it. So if American artists start to pick up tendencies and even plain out copy the styles... well thats just natural. Now the argument is whether or not american made 'manga' is indeed manga. Well sometimes you can't tell the difference other than language. So surely it must be manga. Is non-english hip hop not hip hop? Again describe an american made manga as a 'comic' and many will scratch their heads.
'It doesn't look like a comic.'
>'Oh. But It has an American author/illustrator.'
'Yeah but it looks like manga!'

Maybe the word 'manga' has changed in its meaning.

A great place to get scanlated manga is lurk. Stop by sometime.

Re:How do we know this is manga?

[Golias]

the lack of individual style between titles (i.e., they all look like they were drawn by the same artist)

Uhh... Just by grabbing three hugely popular series... "Cowboy Bebop", "Sailor Moon" and "FLCL" don't even look like they were all drawn by the same species, let alone the same artist.

I don't see how you could possibly come to that conclusion, unless you somehow think that seeing "Pokemon" and "Yu-Gi-Oh" has exposed you to the full range of Japanese anime styles.

and the terrible voice acting

Setting aside the FANTASTIC voice acting on Pixar/Ghibli projects like "Howl's Moving Castle", the terrible English voice acting in most TV anime is the fault of American companies. The original Japanese tracks typically feature the very best acting talent in Japan.

Blasphemy

[cryptochrome]

If it ain't Japanese it ain't manga. They should have picked up Azumanga Daioh.

Hmm

[pHatidic]

How about filling their newspapers with informative and well written articles that don't contain glaring factual errors? It seems like almost every article on a subject I know something about has blatant factual errors in it.

How about publishing the news as it happens? It seems like most of the articles in the New York Times cover things I knew about a week earlier.

How about not using anonymous sources, or at the very least outing the sources if they are proved to have been lying?

How about not pretending there is such a thing as unbiased reporting? Saying "one is lead to believe" instead of "I believe" is just another form of lying.

Re:Not news

[Golias]

More to the point: ...which are both created by American writer/illustrators...

I'm sorry. I thought the headline said "Manga" was being added to the newspapers.

Illustrated stories by Americans are called "comics."

And no, it doesn't matter if they are not joke-based. Ever hear of "Prince Valliant", "Sally Forth" or "Spider Man"? This is just more of the same.

Trendsetter

[czarangelus]

You know, this might be one of the smartest things anyone in the media has done recently. Even if it turns out to be an enormous flop (and I think it might have a chance of succeeding,) at least it's a new direction. They are at least trying to get out of their rut.

A lot of people subscribe for the features

[davidwr]

In the 1980s and 1990s Belo bought newspapers across the country.

To quash competition in two-newspaper towns, they paid rediculous amounts for exclusive rights to features like comics and Dear Abby and Ann Landers.

People quit buying the competition and now we have a lot fewer two-newspaper cities.

Re:Heh

[leoboiko]

Love Hina? FAKE? I think you want Angel Sanctuary.

The local anime convention was once held at a traditional Catholic school. The completely insane organizers decided to show Angel Sanctuary. I had the opportunity of watching it in a big screen between a giant statue of Mother Mary and another of a saint. The school never allowed another anime convention on its grounds. I think it was worth it :)

Wtf? It will be americanized lame nothingness

[Werrismys]

Americans take what is brilliant, run it through a lamifying filter and end up with Fitz US style, Nikita US style. End result: lame, politically correct bullshit.

Re:Will it work?

[Spy der Mann]

Considering Harry Potter's success, i'd say yes. Altho I doubt the kids will read the Finances section.

My parents used to buy the newspapers that had the comic strips that I liked. For my father there wasn't much difference between newspaper A or newspaper B, but I _HAD_ to see the comic strips. So he always bought newspaper A for me.

See, newspapers aren't aimed at kids. They're aimed at the PARENTS. The comic strips are just a marketing device, and manga inclusion is just a strategy to keep that market (people don't buy newspapers as often as 10 years ago). Since comic strips like Peanuts don't attract the young people right now, manga in newspapers was bound to happen, sooner or later.

Re:When are we getting complete japanese editions?

[MrBandersnatch]

(hmmmpph if the above line doesnt display then it would seem slashdot needs some i18n work.....)

You cant HANDLE the Japanese editions?

With weekly Jump magazine weighing in at @ 500 pages the comic section would be bigger than the paper.....