My Journey into Manga

My Journey into Manga

Okay I have a new addiction, it's not booze or drugs it's for batshit crazy Japanese Manga comics.  I first got intrigued during a visit to my local Forbidden Planet in Cambridge, I knew a little about Manga but thought it was just all about garish colours, big round eyed characters and heroines that were dressed as schoolgirls.  But, while killing time in FP, I wondered over to the Manga section and, liking horror, my eye was caught by the shelf full of books with the Tokyo Ghoul title.

If you know your Manga you'll know that unlike Western books you start from, what we'd consider, the back page and read the dialogue from left to right.  Well I didn't know this and it really threw me at first, however I was pleasantly surprised by the striking black and white artwork and characters that looked normal. So, this quick look in the shop piqued my interest enough to look a little deeper into Manga and perhaps give it a chance.

I put a shout out on some of the comic groups I'm a member of on Facebook and messaged  friends, asking for some recommendations of good reading. It surprised me how many responses I got and how fervent these guys were about their recommendations.  I thought it might be a bit more niche, especially amongst my peers.

Armed with this new knowledge I looked at the books online and I found a great resource, the Shonen Jump app.  The app gives the reader access to a massive amount of Manga titles with unlimited amounts of streamed reading and 7 downloads for less than two quid a month.

Straight away I found that the rest of Tokyo Ghoul was on there along with some others I'd been recommended to read.  As I mentioned, reading Manga means reading the physical books differently and this is the same with the digital medium too. Instead of swiping the page right to left, you swipe left to right and again you read the speech bubbles from right to left.  If, like me, you're someone that's only read British/Western comics this can initially mess with your head at first but I found that my brain adapted quickly, especially when reading a lot of it.  

I've only scratched the surface but, what I have read I've found quite addictive.  It's easy to find that you've flown through many chapters (individual comics) in one sitting, especially on the app.  So, here are a couple of recommendations from what I've read so far. Dip your toes in the waters of Manga, you might just like it.

Tokyo Ghoul: Is set in an alternate reality Tokyo where ghouls, creatures that live as humans, survive on human flesh. They have preternatural powers of strength and regeneration they can
generate a weapon called a kagune to fight and kill their prey. The hero of the piece Ken Kanaki survives an attack by a ghoul but becomes half ghoul himself.  He has to befriend ghouls and learn to live with his new desire and need to devour human flesh.

As you might guess from the synopsis, it's pretty dark stuff with plenty of action scenes.  I really enjoy the black and whilte art, especially the depiction of fights and kills. The frenetic energy of an attacking ghoul is portrayed so well. The story of Ken Kanaki and how he deals with  the new life thrust upon him while also trying to cope with the usual teenage angst is well handled.

One Punch Man: Started life as a 2009 webcomic, a parody of Western superhero comics, before becoming a Manga title in 2012.  It revolves around the life of a young hero called

Saitama, the titular One Punch Man. One Punch Man because that's all it takes for him to win his fights with the monsters and general bad guys who inhabit this world.  Needless to say, he becomes bored with the lack of challenge he faces and the lack of recognition for his acts. In an effort to change this he joins the National Superhero Registry, and aims to climb the rankings.

One thing I love in Manga is the use of a splash page and there's a lot of them in OPM.  As I read digitally, I'm constantly having to flip the tablet to get the best of the artwork. The premise of OPM is pretty simple I'll grant you, he and sometimes other heroes battling a monster of the week (or each other) and dealing with the consequences.  But, it moves at a good pace and keeps the reader entertained. At this time with everything that's going on in the world I'll take some easy entertainment any day.

Atomic Hercules

Atomic Hercules

Okay, first up if you like your comics politically correct and full of clean cut heroes for gods sake don't read Atomic Hercules!  When the opening page of the story sees our titular hero getting noshed off at the bar while waiting for a pint, you know what you are in for. 

Atomic Hercules, written by Tony Esmond with art by Adam Falp, is set in the very near future where laziness has seen the near destruction of mankind, leaving behind mutants and robot armies fighting for control.  Herc is a demi God who walks among this madness giving no fucks for anyone or anything.  When the Mutant Rebel Front come to press gang Herc into service, for their war against the robots, a fight ensues with a fellow drinkers, shall we say, engorged body part being used as a weapon of gruesome death. This ain't Marvel folks!

But what we do get is a comic that will make you laugh, while giving some great action and fight scenes.  There is one page in particular, when Hercules has had it up to here with the whole situation. 'Fuck this for a game of soldiers!' is his battle cry as he dismembers robots.  That for me really encapsulates the feeling of this comicreality.

You know that the writer has been in the shoes of Hercules at some point, maybe not fighting robots, but screaming at life or some dickhead that has frustrated him. As a 50 year old man, who's often frustrated by the digital world, I felt a particular affinity with Hercules.

Adam Falps art was a real joy, the man draws action scenes so well, I enjoyed the raw feeling of the art and the vibrant colours that gave so much life to all of the brilliantly conceived characters. From crowded bar room brawls to splash pages. I loved the little touches throughout the comic like adverts and even a map of the world Hercules inhabits including an area called Twatsville (I feel like I often visit that place).

In short if you want to read something that will give you laughs, a distraction from the reality of life right now, that is original and giving no fucks well this is the comic for you.

You can buy your copy here: https://neverironanything.bigcartel.com/products

Action 2020 Special

Action 2020 Special

I'd have liked to have written another blog sooner than this but the birth of our daughter a week ago has thrown the normal routines out of the window, but for the best reasons possible.  In fact as I write, it's currently 3.30am and my daughter is on my shoulder asleep…for now. 

This time I'll try and do a review, rather than recommendation, my problem is I find it difficult to be overly critical as I always feel for the creator who has put themselves out there and created a piece of work.  I'm no expert, with years of experience in the industry, just a returned comic reader who enjoys a variety of styles, but here goes.

Needless to say my comic reading of late has been sporadic to say the least, grabbing a moment here or there to read a few pages or the odd story. One comic I'd been looking forward to was the Action 2020 special, brought to us by Rebellion.  An anthology is perfect for me right now. Not only that I was excited to read the story, Hellman, written by Garth Ennis. As you'll know, from a previous blog, Ennis is a favourite creator of mine and his war stories are always a treat.

I chose the digital option, which got me the Action 2020 Special and a reprint of an original

Action from 1977 all for £4.99. To be honest I'm fine with digital anyway, due to restrictions on space and money.  It does allow the reader to zoom in on the artwork or the speech if your eyes are middle aged and worn out like mine. 

Straight out of the gate, Staz Johnsons cover with colours by John Charles really hit the spot for me.  Great use of Kill Bill red and yellow in the logo really popped, the segmented cover design reminded me of the 1983 2000AD annual.  The headings of mayhem, anarchy, danger gave a pulp style.

The first story was Kids Rule Ok, story by Ram V, art Henrik Sahlstrom. Set in 1986 after a virus has wiped out the adult population, only the young survive in this post

apocalyptic world. The story is dialogue light but action heavy, I've not seen Sahlstroms work before but I really enjoyed it here, dark and gritty with a flair for gore.. The mayhem quickly ensues with gruesome deaths provided by teens protecting their settlement with gun, sword and axe while seeing off a Mad Max style biker gang. A good one shot story, with a feeling of hope during dark times, to kick things off 

Next up was the one I'd been looking forward to, Hellman at the Twilight of the Reich,

written by Garth Ennis, with art by Mike Dorey and lettering by Rob Steen.  Okay so I might be biased, but this was excellent, a master class in writing. In just ten pages Ennis crammed in so much story, character development and action.  I cared for the characters and was left wanting more. I really enjoyed the black and white art from Mike Dory, another artist whose work I wasn't overly familiar with. I'd love a series of this!

Hell Machine was a strip that had piqued my interest as it was not only drawn by the excellent artist Henry Flint, but scripted by

him too. Straight away I was reminded of  Flints most recent strip in the prog, Proteus Vex, no bad thing as that artwork was awesome too. It should be noted that the second half of the story was pencilled by the equally great Jake lynch, an artist I'm growing to enjoy more and more when he appears in 2000AD.  Colours for Jake were by Jim Boswell and lettering duties throughout by Simon Bowland. Much to my chagrin I didn't read Action in the 70s so I don't know if this is a new story or an original new one. Either way I loved it from start to finish. Excellent art and storytelling, with interesting characters in an original situation. I would love to see more of this story!

Next story up was a tale about Hook Jaw, the shark obviously not inspired by Jaws, written by

Quint Amity (see what they did there) with art by Dan Lish, no lettering credit as there is no

dialogue uttered. Dan Lishs brilliant, atmospheric artwork does all the talking in this one and for someone who doesn't enjoy drawing gory scenes (as he explains on a recent 2000AD thrillcast) he draws great gory panels. I'm not going to spoil any of those scenes but there is a very nice splash page to end the story - which could lead to something epic.

To round off this Action Special was a story called Dredger, again I believe this was a story from the original comic. For me this was the one average story in the special with script by Zina Hutton and art by 2000AD regular Staz

Johnson with colours by the always excellent John Charles, letters by the intriguingly named Agent PC.  Perhaps I'd have enjoyed this more if I knew a bit more of Dredgers backstory. The character appears to be a rough arsed James Bond who, in best 70s tradition, is a loose cannon sent on a mission to retrieve a memory stick. In its favour there is an awesome panel that doesn't hold back on the blood and gore of a headshot. I also enjoyed a panel where Dredger imagines choking his boss, we've all been there. It could be a grower, especially if it was allowed to be balls out and un PC.

I'm really glad I bought this special, I'd have been happy just with Garth Ennis' contribution but what I got was a great anthology comic that felt fresh.  Good to see some new (to me) writers and artists making a great impact. I really enjoyed the art of Dan Lish and Mike Dory and loved the writing of Henry Flint. I hope this has been successful enough for us to get more Action specials in the future.