Manga Why Do you read Manga?

[WhiteAoiFox]

I was just wondering this one day. Why do people read Manga. I read it because i love to read and manga is the best kind of book you can read. Plus they look like regular books and they dont get you in trouble in class with your teacher. I also read them becasue i want to see how the anime will turn out and if it's the same. They sometimes change it and then they make it almost close to it. I own about 38 books now and i am still on a roll. So, i was wonder why your intersted in Manga. Please tell me and which ones your favorite.

[sakurasuka]

[CENTER][COLOR=Blue][SIZE=1]Manga isn't just another comic book to me. Now, I'm not gonna go all philosophical-like 'cause it makes my brain hurt but to me, manga is the artist's conception of things. Either that or they just really had a good idea one day. Either way, it's a direct link to thier brain. All manga-ka are just amazing in my opinion. I love to draw. Once I get my scanner working, I'll post some of my work in the art forum. Anyway, below are some of my favorite works (Not in any particular order) and why.

||Dr. Slump||
Frickin hilarious. Need I say more?

||Rurouni Kenshin||
Actually got me excited about Japanese History. I love the way Watsuki depicts the characters... And Kenshin's split personality. I think Watsuki is brilliant and needs to do another manga set in more common times with more of a romantic feel. I think it might better show some of his talents than RuroKen and his other works. Despite that, I think he is just amazing, and it is my dream to meet him and have him critique my work. *Bows to Watsuki-Sensei*

||DNAngel||
Kind of reminds me of a kiddie Chobits. Maybe that's just me, but I really see too many resemlances to count. Anyway, I love the cutesy artwork. Makes me thing of flowers, which is kind of odd... But anyway, love the PG13 romance between Riku and Daisuke (Which I pronounced incorrectly until I saw the anime.) I will not even get into the DNAngel anime here. I will just say I think it is just discraceful. That is all.

||Naruto||
Every time I read Naruto I am just taken in by the art. I don't understand it. It looks childish and scraggly, and you can tell it wasn't cleaned up well, but it is just my favorite manga in terms of art. Not to mention I have a huge crush on Sazuke (Don't tell Shuichi! :catgirl: ) --Wow... That was the first time I've used a smilie in... Months...

||Hikaru No Go||
Yet another manga that is quite childish in appearance. Yes, I do love go *sigh* alas, I am the worst go player I know. For that, I will stop, because it just depresses me...

||YuYuHakusho||
My beloved Shuichi Minamino... How I do love him... *Sigh again* Ahem. My moment of madness aside, I really do enjoy the YuYu manga. I love to argue about who-the-best-character is more than I actually enjoy reading it, though...

||Chobits||
I love anything by CLAMP. They are just awesome. Chobits especially because I like how Hideki is troubled at first over wheather or not to fall in love with Chi, and then Chi [spoiler]chooses Hideki as her 'Special Someone'. [/spoiler] (--I believe the seventh issiue?) Well, I just love sweet stories, that's all I have to say.

||Kindaichi Case Files||
Please say someone on OB has read these? I just love them. One of my first mangas was the Death TV one, and I have just collected them ever since. I think they are possibly the best manga, not in terms of art, but in terms of story. They really make you think... It's kind of funny, though. (Not 'funny-Haha' but 'funny-Hmmm....') and Kindaichi is hilarious, and I love how it portrays his high school and his classmates, especially Miyuki.

There's my two cents. I'm off.
_sakura_[/SIZE][/COLOR][/CENTER]

[Xyandar]

I read manga because I find it really interesting. I like how the books are made... How you start on the back part and read to the front. It's also a good way to pass by time. The manga i read are Cowboy Bebop and Hellsing.

[SunfallE]

Well I started reading Manga because I saw part of Yu-Gi-Oh and thought that it can't possibly be that stupid. Parts of what I saw just didn't mesh so I was sure it had to be majorly edited. So I got the first few books to see if my assumptions about it being edited were correct. I was totally surprised by the differences between the show and the manga. I really liked the manga so I started looking at other series too.

Now I like reading it to see the differences between the manga and the anime. Series like Detective Conan, Fruits Basket and Pretear are fun to read as there are differences or extra stuff that wasn't put into the anime. :animesmil

[WhiteAoiFox]

Wow your school has a graphic novels section, dang my school, dosent have any of those. That's sucks big time

[Guest Lexy]

I like to read manga because it rocks!!! I love to read it and right now my favorite would definately have to be D-N-Angel and I still gotta read Shutterbox!!

[Guest DragonRacer]

I like to read manga because they are different from American books. Manga has more imagination in them and fantasy. When I picked up one at Walden's Book Shop, I was hypnotized. I could not put it down. My favorite Mangas so far would have to be:
Inuyasha
Naruto
Saiyuki
Gravitation
ShutterBox
D.N. Angel
Jing: King of Bandits

I know it will grow with time, but I have only had this obsession for three - four years. :catgirl:

[Guest Neko Three Eyes]

i read Manga because my Parents get pissed when i watch anime, you no, cuz its the "cartoon of the Antichrist" :animeangr . my parents are pretty much evil and tainted. but anyway, i also read Manga because you can re-read it and you can stop and admire a certain picture.

[Shuiri]

[Font=Garamond] [Color=Red]I read Manga because I like it, heh. That's really just about it. The captivaiting art, the interesting storylines, the sometimes awesome humor [Love Hina] - - It's just a great form of entertainment. Take a series like Chobits - It just grasps you immediately with its suprisingly sweet story. Or Berserk and its gallons of blood, it's just great fun. I own approximately 45 volumes of manga, ranging from Samurai Deeper Kyo to Chronon Crusade,and I find it deeply enjoyable. And, yes, I know I repeated the same thing about 4 times. Sue me. =][/Font] [/Color]

[EternalxDusk]

[FONT=Century Gothic][SIZE=1][COLOR=Purple]I like manga, yes, but I would never say it's the best kind of book you can read.

It certainly is different, with the fact that it's written in a similar style to a book yet has the look of a comic, but really, if you think that manga could be more preferred over a novel, let's say, than you obviously haven't had much quality reading in your lifetime.

Now before you all start typing out hate mail, I'm only giving my opinion, and I haven't really read any manga that I would prefer over a nice thick book.

Also, Dragonracer said that manga has more imagination and fantasy than books written in America. You probably just haven't been reading the right books, because to this day, I have not found a manga that could be put before a good old fashioned picture-less book.

No, I don't have anything against manga, I like it just as much as any of you here. I just don't hold it over all other forms of literature. I do have some favorites though:

FAKE
Legal Drug
Kill me, Kiss me
Immortal Rain
Les Bijoux
INVU
Hot Gimmick
Demon Diaries
[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[Kyoko Makashiro]

Well, manga, for me, is a way to deal with life when I don't know what to do, or if life's got me down. I guess you could call it my personal anti-depressant.

The mangas I mainly read are: Love Hina, Negima, Bleach, Naruto, Whistle, FullMetal Alchemist....it goes on. :animeswea

[SunfallE]

[QUOTE=EternalxDusk][FONT=Century Gothic][SIZE=1][COLOR=Purple]I like manga, yes, but I would never say it's the best kind of book you can read.

It certainly is different, with the fact that it's written in a similar style to a book yet has the look of a comic, but really, if you think that manga could be more preferred over a novel, let's say, than you obviously haven't had much quality reading in your lifetime.

Now before you all start typing out hate mail, I'm only giving my opinion, and I haven't really read any manga that I would prefer over a nice thick book.

Also, Dragonracer said that manga has more imagination and fantasy than books written in America. You probably just haven't been reading the right books, because to this day, I have not found a manga that could be put before a good old fashioned picture-less book.

No, I don't have anything against manga, I like it just as much as any of you here. I just don't hold it over all other forms of literature.
[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/QUOTE]

I agree with you although manga is fun to read it really just doesn't compare to a regular book. Now if someone said manga is way better than a regular comic book then I would agree one hundred percent. I've yet to find a regular comic book that I could make myself finish reading.

I also agree that manga doesn't have more imagination and fantasy than books. There are quite a few authors who do a superb job with imagination and fantasy, for example:

The Sword of Shannara series by Terry Brooks. A basic magic sword type of series.
The Valdamar series by Mercedes Lackey. Another series about magic and fantasy.
The Belgariad series by David Eddings. Yet another series about magic and fantasy.

I would recommend these series to anyone, espically the one by Mercedes Lackey, she's a very talented author.

I really enjoy manga, but when I'm looking for a more serious read I look elsewhere.

[Filipinorocker1]

What is the reason for your interest in manga? My reason is its something totally diffrerent from the other comics you see these days, I think that manga should not be in the same category as comics, so I'm gonna talk aas if they are totaly diffrerent things. I love comics and all. I liked comics before manga but manga has more depth. They go the distance. Far more than the comics around now and thats saying something. Manga is one of the best thing in my life. :animesmil

[Havokio]

[COLOR=Indigo]Mangas don't censor themselves, and you could take them anywhere (school, bus, bathroom, bedroom (if hentai), etc.[/COLOR]

[Allirea]

[FONT=Book Antiqua][SIZE=2][COLOR=Plum]I like the artwork and it's a nice change from regular books. In regular books, you have to rely on your imagination to see what's happening. With mangas, you can actually -see- it on the page. My imagination needs a rest sometimes :p .[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

[Amarante]

[FONT=Verdana][SIZE=3][COLOR=Blue]I read manga because i find it interesting. Mangas are a lot more creative then american books. I also like the drawings. I always read a manga and think, i wish i could draw like that... :animecry: I read a lot of mangas. too many to remember.. :animeswea[/COLOR][/SIZE] [/FONT]

[Twilight_Kioku]

I READ IT FOR THE PRETYT PICTURES!!!

lol, just kidding, just kidding, nobody bite my head off please.

some of them i read because i want to watch the anime that was made out of it, or vice versa. others i read because i like the authors other works, and want to see what else they have out there. for instance, CLAMP and Ken Akamatzu(if misspelled, sorry). some of the titles catch my eyes sometimes, and more recently, because they have them in the library and i dont have to sit at hastings and read them. but i still do read a lot at hastings. our public library has a small collection, but its growing. lastly, because they often have more information in the manga than they do in the anime.

that, and the pretty pictures

[rascalkitten]

hmm.. why do i read manga? that is a very good question. i have no clue. im just addicted.

[HondaTohru]

One of the main reasons I read manga is because I adore the artwork. You can't even compare it to the artwork of normal comic books. And I'm going to have to disagree with EternalxDusk and SunfallE. I simply hate reading. I can not STAND it. But then one day my Aunt gave me a Manga for Christmas. So I read it, and now Manga is really the only kind of book I even want to open. If I do read a regular novel it is either a fantasy or a horror.
I read Manga because the pictures make it easier to understand what is happening. For example, if an author tries to describe the facial expression on a character, it might be tough. With manga, you can simply -see- the facial expression. Here are some examples: [URL=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/makaze3/FacialExpression1.jpg]1[/URL] [URL=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/makaze3/FacialExpression2.jpg]2[/URL] [URL=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/makaze3/FacialExpression3.jpg]3[/URL] [URL=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/makaze3/FacialExpression4.jpg]4[/URL] [URL=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/makaze3/FacialExpression5.jpg]5[/URL] [URL=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/makaze3/FacialExpression6.jpg]6[/URL] [URL=http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/makaze3/FacialExpression7.jpg]7[/URL]
Whoever can give me a full, detailed description of any of those facial expressions...well...I'll worship you. (All examples are scans from Fruits Basket Vol. 1.)
Sometimes I try to imagine reading manga like a regular book. It is...weird, I guess I could say. Try to picture a new paragraph every time somebody else starts talking...the endless paragraphs trying to describe what somebody looks like...it's just terrible. In manga, the author doesn't need to worry about detailed descriptions or beautiful narration or anything. All they need is a pen and an artistic imagination.
A lot of manga tends to be funnier than normal novels. Probably because the artist can draw very funny facial expressions that you can not describe in words, like a normal book. Examples are: When eyes get almost as big as the characters head. When eyes get very small caused by shock or surprise. Sweatdrops to show confusion or irritation.
You can't exactly say "A sweatdrop appears on so-and-so's head..." lol.
So, in general, I read manga because it is easier to follow than regular books, and I love the artwork that the mangaka does and they tend to be funnier or have a very original plot.

[randalion]

Well, the main reason I read manga is because I think its something entertaining to do when you are bored....And because they are so differant than normal books or any other comics you come across. It's also good because if there is an anime show you want to watch that has a manga and your unsure if you will like it, you can just read the manga first.

[firewolf]

I read manga because I am utterly obsessed with it. I find the best mangas to be absolutely amazing and I cannot find myself to hold back the desire to buy them. I get deeply entralled with each and every storyline, and as an artist and an aspiring mangaka, I find the art inspiring and amazing. With nearly 70 novels in my collection (I need a new shelf! Out of room!) I compulsively buy manga nearly every other month as soon as the new titles come out! With manga, it is a different experience than watching anime, though I love anime to death as well! Anime and manga rock my socks!! It makes my world so much better!!

[Pumpkin]

[SIZE=1][COLOR="#990033"][b]I love reading. So reading manga was kind of a no-brainer for me. I mean I like anime + reading = what do you think? I only read it when I really love a series most the time. Or if I borrow it from a friend. There are certain titles that I've read that don't have their own anime like "Call me Princess" and "Peach Girl". I really love looking at the artwork of these books. Lately, I've been reading Fruit Baskets, Fushigi Yuugi, Magic Knight Rayearth, Tokyo Mew Mew, Love Hina, and I've read Chobits. I've read a lot of different mangas, and I usually do it when I'm bored or simply want something lighthearted. I also love fantasy novels, they are my favorite.[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B]

[andarakitsune]

I read manga because sometimes the anime is different. For the most part, in manga, the artist can get away with a lot more than the actual anime; some parts are even cut out or characters are thrown off because it wasn't bringing the story anywhere. Both Anime and Manga coinside with eachother to get the same objective across but manga is sometimes the best way to get all that one want's too out of that particular series.

[Havokio]

[COLOR=Indigo]Those are just like comics to me. I'm a huge fan of Marvel and DC. I've read entire saga's on my favorites (anything with Dr. Doom, Deadpool, Captain Marvel (DC version) or Parallax (Hal Jordan). I find both manga (japanese, chinese, and korean (manhuah) and american comics quite entertaining.

It's sometimes better to read a manga or comic, rather than watching a show (with the exception of manga-only titles, or really good fight scenes). What-ever I've read (if it's interesting) usually gets' stuck in my head.

And most back-stories can only be found in manga or comics.

Berserk is a perfect example. To get the full story, you need to:

1-watch the anime
2-play the game (only on dreamcast)
3-read the manga

This concept goes for others as well.[/COLOR]

[Dhampir Nyoko]

The reason I read manga is because ..... well.... I love the pretty pictures =p At least, that is why I started. Also, if I watch an anime, I go crazy untill I can read the manga, and know what the creator's original idea was. It is alot more portable then anime (and cheaper) so I can take it on trips with me. I just prefer and like anime all together. :catgirl: