by D. Edward Hughes

Created on: November 27, 2009

They do not simply sit on a shelf by themselves, wrapped in aged plastic and covered with dust. They come at you from the optical illusion of distant planets, worlds and even the realms between both. They encompass many genres; eventual domination seems inevitable at times. They are manga. The Japanese superstructure of comicbooks; and they are indeed influential and successful.

They do exist on familiar terms with all other comics. Their messages, whether intentional or not, are there in the stories. The interpretation of social terms and types is there. The glitz, the wild fantasies. The never ending, outlandish, miraculous plots. It's all there. But what separates manga from the run-of-the-mill comics? Or, better yet, what makes other comics seem to be viewed in that respect?

The Japanese have always seem to have had quite a knack for the theatrical. At the time in which we first came in close contact with them - the mid-1800's - their arts were so highly developed that we must have seemed so very boorish in comparison. The Japanese have always paid extremely great attention to detail. Kabuki theatre is proabably the most outstanding example of that attention on a societal level. Their desire and need to express themselves was never negated, despite thousands of years of tremendous and horrific wars. Their society was never left out of any equation.

Having so much experience in war naturally led to a keen insight into the human psyche. Desire was found to be one of the most treasured and trecherous personality attributes which could be used for either good or evil. Eye to eye contact was always of utmost importance. Hence, a characteristic most main manga characters possess are the large, expressionable eyes. This along with a close resemblance of one another. Whereas in most other comicbooks from other countries, the characters are, without exception, completely different.

Manga also make the sexual representations very clear. Most other comics, especially the Western or Western-derivative, present it in a very dark, convoluted fashion. Manga make no bones about the fact that sex should not be completely ambiguous or constantly confusing. This is presented in a very open way, although highly derivative storylines are ever present.

Japanese comics should, therefore, always be considered to be in a class by themselves. They are highly original in concept and their purpose seems to be to involve the reader in a more positive way than most Western comics. And, with all those great looking characters running around fighting, biting or loving each other, you truly do get what you pay for. If only the Western comics could get a good take on things now, there could really be some excellent and creative competition. This would be a great boon to a market which seems to have gone so stale for so long.

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