This article was a request, one that took me entirely by surprise, for a brief overview on manga. As it is rare that I do a piece like this, I feel relieved that it's about a subject I care deeply about. Buckle up, this could get bumpy.

Manga is the japanese form of comics, which originally popped up somewhere around the end of the Second World War, about 1946 or so. The Manga style was inspired by American comics, films, and television shows, particularly Disney animated features. Astro Boy, one of the first famous Manga characters, displayed an almost cinematic quality in it's art. The dynamic style is something that is seen more in modern movies rather then american television. This series is still very popular to this day, having echoed it's story to American shores thanks to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup.

After 1950, the kinds of manga fell into two distinct groups. Shonen manga were marketed towards boys, and Shojo manga towards girls, respectively. Shonen manga usually are themed around adolescent boys overcoming great odds, or heroes that defend right and wrong. They were more about adventures and strong, upstanding protagonists. Shojo manga developed more towards themes of love, friendship, and finding one's place in the world.

Dragonball was one of the first Shonen mangas I encountered. Like most manga, Dragonball had the curious selling point that it was both an action and comedy story. Boys and girls could find something magical in the book, despite it being aimed towards male audiences. It had a certain charm to it, that made it seem real and unreal all at the same time; much like myths and tall tales of our culture.

Sailormoon was one of the first Shojo mangas to reach out to our shores, featuring a female team of heroes facing off against forces of evil in a modern setting. This was strange and new to american readers, because for the most part, comics were something that only boys collected and read. And yet, here was a new comic with a plot that seemed to appeal to girls almost entirely.

It is important to realize the differences between modern american comics and modern japanese manga. Whereas American comics tend to stay around modern settings with extraordinary characters, Manga seems to turn the other way. The charm in manga is that the stories and settings are always wild and imaginative. They seem to take a mythos and let it do its own thing, rather then try and restrict it to one linear arc. Comedy in Amercian comics lean towards situational comedy and satire, whereas Manga somehow utilizes slapstick comedy to entertain readers. There is a fair share of situational comedy to be found in Manga, (if you don't believe me, I highly recommend reading "Girls Bravo"). Manga also seems to hold no bars when it comes to subject matter. Because of the Japanese censorship becoming less strict in recent years, Manga has also contained more mature themes and plot arcs.

One noteable example is Death Note; this story of a teen using a supernatural notebook which is capable of killing any person the user desires, so long as the user knows the person's name and face. The protagonist, Light Yagami, intends to use the notebook to rid the world of criminals and establish himself as a God in this new world. The themes of morality, right and wrong, and whether or not Light is just in his cause plays a central role in the plot of the story. It also has a very strange effect on your judgment. Would a world free of crime truly be that bad? With this question lingering in your mind, you can't decide for yourself whether Light is a bad person or not. This leaves you at an emotional standstill of suspense, glued to the book until you have turned the final page.

Oddly enough, manga isn't usually published as a graphic novel at it's first stages. They are published in weekly or monthly publications in Japan with portions of other manga titles. When a single manga has made enough material for a compilation, it is made into a volume to be sold in bookstores. This is somewhat the same kind of formula Webcomics use.

People who purchase the monthly publications are treated to author interviews, character profiles, previews of games that revolve around their favorite mangas. Sometimes, special cards for each of the show's collectable card games are placed inside the packaging for loyal readers. (Although Trading Card Games based on manga usually only revolve around Shonen Titles.)

The recent explosion of popularity for the Manga format is something to marvel. There are now 15 U.S. Manga publishers as of today, producing more then 1200 titles. Manga has now become a nation-wide phenomenon, inspiring conventions, discussions in serious U.S. Publications, and inspiring many forms of our own mediums today. Movies and American comics have now taken up some of the storytelling styles of manga, reflecting the effects of American influence in Japan in 1946. It is now fully realized as its own medium in the States, and is now becoming popular worldwide.

As a writer, I have been inspired by the incredible tales that are contained inside manga books. I love reading them, and watching their animated counterparts, and always feel like I take something away with them. I believe that they are the beginning of a new age of storytelling, that will lead to much more interesting reads in the future.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a volume of Trigun sitting on my desk that I haven't read yet.