The Advantages of Graphic Novels and Manga

As an avid reader of manga and graphic novels, I always feel thrilled when library users come in to check out or request these materials. The popularity of these works has increased as a result of their widespread acceptance in popular culture. Despite their increasing popularity, some individuals still think that graphic novels and manga are only for young readers and are not legitimate forms of literature. The goal of this blog is to debunk some of these misconceptions and encourage more people to read manga or graphic novels in order to appreciate its depth of story and artwork. I’m sure we can find a book that will appeal to any reader thanks to the amazing collection of manga and graphic novels in our library system.

The Context

Despite having originated in Japan in the 12th century, manga did not take on its current shape until the 1950s (Mori, 2014). In Japan, it is frequently published as a weekly, bimonthly, or monthly magazine prior to being published as books. Japan has a high literacy rate, and manga makes up over one-third of its publications, according to the Japan External Trade Organization. Manga isn’t only for fiction, though; they also frequently create non-fiction books to provide readers with entertainment and accessibility while teaching them about history or science. Additionally, manga examines real-life issues; its characters deal with difficulties that many readers—not just younger readers—may be able to relate to.

Comics truly gained their start during the Golden Age of Comics, which lasted from 1938 to 1955 (Mori, 2014). These early comic books were simple publications with heroic actions by a superhero. In the 1970s and 1980s, comics started to take on a more serious, literary, and historical tone. Because of their expanded length and narrative, comic books started to be called graphic novels. Characters from diverse backgrounds also started to appear more often during this period.

Art Spiegelman’s 1992 Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel Maus was the first to ever win a literary award. This milestone let more people realize the literary possibilities of comics.

The Remarks

The most frequent criticism about comics and manga is that they are too easy to understand and don’t aid in the development of reading abilities. This is completely untrue. As a matter of fact, this type of media helps to promote lifelong reading. To communicate their stories, manga and graphic novels need to employ both words and pictures. In addition to reading what is happening, this allows readers to see how the several panels work together to move the narrative along. The benefits of comics for readers, particularly young readers, have also been the subject of several publications and studies. Stephen D. Krashen’s book The Power of Reading explores how reading comic books might lead to a serious readership. Long text sections might be difficult for certain individuals to read, but manga and graphic novels can provide information in a less stressful way. Because the reader is drawn into the artwork rather than reading text, it becomes accessible to them. Additionally, the artwork makes use of terminology that the reader could come across on a regular basis.

The fact that they are quite clear is another grievance that some people have. This has been handled by the library system. In our catalog, our collections are divided into three categories: juvenile, young adult, and adult. This enables some of this concern to be addressed. Most manga books include a rating on the back so that readers may figure out who is supposed to read them. A wide range of readers and age groups are the target audience for comic books and manga. Given that they are comics, it is easy to assume that their content will be similar to that of children’s shows or newspaper articles. That isn’t the case. This medium is meant for a wide range of readers with different ages, backgrounds, and comprehension levels. What is unsuitable for one person could be perfect for another. Usually, there is a manga or comic novel that everyone likes.

ADVANTAGES

Reading graphic novels and manga allows people to enjoy material that is both aesthetically pleasing and intellectually stimulating. This type of media has made significant strides to appeal to a broader audience, irrespective of age, gender, or race. The book is creative. This type of media also has the potential to facilitate message transmission without being unduly text-heavy. This provides a literary work that promotes reading without being unduly block text-heavy to individuals who would otherwise be reluctant readers.

We provide a few graphic novel-format books on mental health (Hardcore Anxiety by Reid Chancellor) and body acceptance (Eat by Sweeney Boo). The reader may approach the subject of mental health in a less daunting way thanks to this communication technique. When composing block texts, it’s important to fit as much words and information as you can onto a page. Graphic novels, on the other hand, employ both words and art to inform readers about a subject while also employing art to suggest tone and depth in less extensive prose. Visit the website Graphic Medicine for more graphic novels about health-related subjects. This might be a useful resource if you’re interested in learning more but don’t want to read a textbook on these subjects.

Manga also tackles topics that are prevalent in people’s lives, such as Wotakoi: Love is hard for Otaku by Fujita. When people discover that Narumi, our manga’s protagonist, is an Otaku—someone who is obsessed with video games or pop culture—she becomes uneasy. This type of manga appeals to a broad readership, including those who may feel awkward about their fandoms, even when there are many others who might share that fandom! In the book My Brother’s Husband by Genoroh Tagame, Yaichi, a man, struggles to come to terms with the fact that his brother is gay and has wed an unknown Canadian. Yaichi gains a fresh viewpoint on Japanese culture via his brother-in-law and his own daughter, who thinks having a Canadian uncle is the best thing ever.

These are just a few of the amazing books that we have at our disposal. Fantastic graphic books and manga abound in our collection. If we don’t have what you’re looking for, we may always suggest a purchase for you to get the books you want to read.