What is manga? A pretty easy question to ask but a little more complex to answer, let's start with the first thing they are similar to comics. But they are not comics, they use the panel format to tell a story just like comics but are not read in the same direction as regular books.
As you can see, they have many similarities but differences at the same time compared to the comic strips that some know. So they are not simply Japanese comics, they are something more complex and profound that we will explain in detail.
Manga? What is it?
The manga date back to the 17th and 20th centuries, an era when Ukiyo-e existed and whose representative gave it the name Manga. At that time they were more similar to simple stories in panels but today their meaning has changed a lot. Currently it means "Comic strip" in its most general form and has multiple characteristics that distinguish them from the rest.
The first and main one is that they are read in the opposite direction of all the books we know, that is, manga are read from left to right. Even in their translations this sense has been respected so if you get some in physical format it is likely that you have to read them like this. Another peculiarity is that the story is also told from left to right and top to bottom, being a little confusing at first for those who are not used to reading it.
Meaning of manga
Manga? What does it mean? We already told you that it means comic strip but in its origin it was not what it meant. The word manga initially related to simple drawings or even doodles. This is due to the fact that when they were created, they were practically that. What they called a whimsical drawing in the Ukiyo-e era in Japan.
Manga? What are the volumes?
Unlike other stories in physical format, manga are divided into volumes, something that will be confusing for many. But this dates back to Tankobon, a volume format where stories were compiled and several chapters of a story were gathered with it.
Since manga are divided into chapters, the volumes are basically collections of chapters that can range from 10 to 12 per volume. This is because the stories in manga are not necessarily continuous, but by joining several chapters in a single volume we can have a complete arc and even a large part of the plot gathered in a single book. Facilitating enormously its acquisition and location.
What is a Mangaka?
A mangaka is someone who draws manga, it is a term used in Japan for artists who dedicate themselves to the art of creating manga. Its meaning is widely expanded throughout the world so that currently it is practically the universal term to call the authors of these works of art which are the manga.
Animes that do not have manga
It is common that when you see some anime today that only has a few chapters, you will be interested in knowing where the story comes from. And for this we have the manga, many of the animes today come from their adaptations to manga so if we want to know more about the story we can learn by reading their manga.
We must only keep in mind that not all anime generally have manga. This is because some are adapted directly from their light novels or are even "Original Animes" that do not have any reference other than the anime itself. There are few cases, since the production of an anime is extremely expensive and without a reference it is difficult to estimate. If it will be a good idea to produce the animation, but despite being few there is always the possibility.
With what manga to start?
If you want to start reading manga we bring you some that may interest you depending on the demography you like, equally there are many more. But these are the ones that based on the rankings you could start reading:
- Shounen: One Piece, Slam Dunk, Full metal alchemist
- Shoujo: Akatsuki no Yona, Nana, Natsume Yuujinchou
- Seinen: Berserk, Vagabond, Vinland Saga
- Josei: Chihayafuru, Sakamichi no Apollon, Kakukaku Shikajika
Equally it all depends on tastes so we invite you to look for the ones that you like the most or that catch your attention since in terms of manga. We have a huge amount of stories, something that anime still has to grow and is that we can see very varied stories.
Discover at your own pace the taste for reading manga
Do not be guided by those who tell you "These are the mangas you must read" or "These are the mangas that must be read" to know certain stories. Go at your own pace knowing and enjoying each manga at once, since some can have practically walls of words that you must read and understand to comprehend a part of the story. While others are simpler explaining little by little as the chapters advance.
