I-MANGA-ing the Possibilities
My sincere apologies for the lateness of this blog. Server issues, gotta love technology. But better late than never! Here's Santa.
Manga. Sounds like an exotic fruit our fair pirate lasses may have come across while transiting through the South Pacific’s Cook Islands. Alas, not so my hardy wenches and deckhands. Manga is the Japanese word for comics. These stylized books have their roots in ancient Japan, but their images were said to have morphed from exposure to the comics American soldiers had with them during World War II. Here in the United States, Manga really began to reach the masses during the 70s and 80s.
Who knew?!
I’ll tell you who knew – my 11 year old daughter. I’d heard about these books but had never seen one until she came home with one from our local library. Now, you can call me a snob but I never considered Mangas to be ‘real’ books capable of telling a story with substance. I was to be disabused of that notion in very short order by my daughter and that book she carried home.
You see, the book she’d gotten was an adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo & Juliet’. I’d expected it be populated with doe-eyed characters with little bubbles of modern verse escaping half-moon smiles. Instead I found Shakespeare – chapter and verse. Huh.
Still I hesitated and called my trusty Shakespearean whose son, close in age to my daughter, is an avid Manga fan. She assured me that exposing children to the classics in any format was a very good thing. Fair enough.
Well, my daughter raced through the book, fell in love with Romeo and Juliet, was quoting Shakespeare for weeks afterwards and asked what other Shakespearean plays I’d recommend.
So that got me to thinking. If Shakespeare can be transformed into a Manga why not other classics? Say – Jane Austen. Now, I can hear the gasps, so please bear with me. Until recently, I’ve been a Jane Austen purest. No novels about Mr. Darcy and any progeny he may have had. No Captain Wentworth for the 24th century. But what about a black ink rendering of Mr. Darcy emerging drenched from the pond at Pemberly? Or Mr. Knightly chastising Emma for her meddling ways? Or Elizabeth Bennett’s refusal of what has to be the worst proposal ever spoken between clenched teeth?
More news on the Manga horizon for me because it’s already being done. Jane Austen’s beloved ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is already in Manga format. As a matter of fact, one of our own lusty pirate lasses has a Jane Austen Manga as her avatar on the Eloisa James/Julia Quinn BB. Delightful. Looks like I can have my Mr. Darcy in ink after all!
What say you my pirate friends? I'm sure there are already Mangas straight from the classics lists. Can you see A Christmas Carol or The Adventures of Tom Sawyer retold?
And what of our beloved romance novels? I, for one, can see Christina Dodd’s paranormal series easily translated into this medium. My knees weaken at the thought of having Mary Balogh’s haughty Wulfric raising his quizzing glass at everyone. Mmmmm.
Friends, it seems I’ve been reformed. What of your own books or works in progress? There some incredible debut authors whose books will be out in the next few years. I think it’d be fantastic to see some of those books in this format. In fact, I’ll go out on a limb about my own manuscript, ‘Sweet Melissa’ as a Manga. I do have that scene under the pergola behind Melissa’s restaurant when Jake backs her against the post and begins to show her she is as delicious as warm peach cobbler drenched in vanilla bean ice cream.
What do you think, my pirate lads and lasses? Is Manga the wave of romance’s future or just another fantastic way to tell a tale worth retelling in another way? Come aboard and share your own thoughts. I’ll be popping in throughout the day to chat with you all.
Thanks, once again, for letting me aboard one of the best pirate ship blogs out there!
Books by the Crew
42 comments:
Great topic, Santa! Call me a nerd, but I've been a comic book fan for ages, so I've started to dabble in Manga a bit. I like that Dear Author offers reviews - there's so much of it I don't really know where to start. I'm definitely open to recommendations if anyone has any!
As our society becomes more visual, I think Manga and comics will definitely have a place. Santa, have you read any of the Harlequin Ginger Blossoms? Harlequin started its own Manga series to catch readers young, but I don't think it's been very successful. They mostly adapted older (and thus slightly dated) Harlequin titles, so some were cute, but they weren't fantastic. I got several from the library and I think I might have one I bought still lying around if you're interested in trying it.
Being a total nerd myself but I've known about Manga for years. Maybe 10 years. It all started with my sister's obsession of Sailor Moon and that comic has some of the most beautiful pictures drawn for it. I have some of them saved because they are just SO well done. And she sends me pictures of another one she reads, Angel Sanctuary, which I have as a backdrop on my laptop. Very fitting for my current WIP. Just wicked looking.
I had no idea that they've transfered some of the classics to manga. It's a good way to get all kids to read stuff they normally wouldn't pick up on their own.
Great blog !
Is this kinda like Graphic Novels? I'm intrigued by the Dark-Hunters being turned into Graphic Novels...as Laurell K Hamilton did with her Anita Blake series.
But it costs something more to have the pictures, and A) I'm cheap and B) Comic renderings, well, look like comic renderings. When I imagine my Mr. Darcy, I want to imagine him like...well, Colin Firth.
To which I'm *sure* Terri will say: PURIST. And to which as you, Santa, are a former PURIST, understand.
BUT I AM for anyway that the medium is exposed to others and building the army of Romance Lovers. Whether that be with Manga or Graphic Novels...or Kindle/E-books...GREAT...I'm for it.
I'm not buying it, but I'm for it.
Oooh, I have Marvel comic's graphic art as my desktop ever since they did a series of Stephen King's Dark Tower. They're also doing comic series for LK Hamilton's Anita Davis and for Sherrilyn Kenyon as well.
And Christine Feehan also released one of her Dark books as a graphic novel. I think that the trend is on the rise, and I say good for them, it's a great new way to market these fabulous stories. There's no reason why any genre should be able to capitalize on the popularity of this media.
Funny thing, I didn't even know my BB avatar was Manga versions of Jane Austen characters. No wonder they are such adorable little drawings. And it was fun to google images for this (other than the obvious fun of finding pics of all the Austen men, of which I now have collected on my flash :) ) because I found some of the Manga Pride & Prejudice with that horrible proposal. It was word for word and very well done.
When I was a kid, some of the first books I ever read were these condensed versions of books like Little Women, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and Wizard of Oz. They were small and there was a picture on every other page. So I'd suppose the idea of using that sort of thing to get the classics to a younger audience isn't exactly new, but this version sure brings the characters to life.
I would be all for a Manganized romance. I'd be even more for a PG Manganized romance, so that we could share our favorite characters with our daughters, and not feel like Lindsey Lohan's mother trying to grow them up too soon.
Interesting topic. I never even knew about this ... and I used to date a comic book artist.
Nice job, Santa ... and how come I never read that peach cobbler/pergola scene, huh? And some people call themselves "friends."
Don't make me have to seperate you two.
I was wondering about the love scenes. What exactly would those drawings look like? I realize that's a naive question, but I've never been into comic books or graphic novels so I know nothing. I do know I hated the movie Sin City, but I'm sure this isn't the same thing.
Uhm...I wouldn't mind getting a look at that scene either.
I have known about this sort of thing for years, but I didn't realize how far it had come. My "baby" sister graduates from high school this weekend and she does this kind of art. It is a very distinct style and I used to think she was crazy for being into it, but she is REALLY, REALLY good. She is going to college to further her skills this fall.
*laughing at J Perry*
Oh, don't separate them. This party could use a brawl, and I'm curious what the peach scene's about myself.
Oh, Sin City was cool! What is WRONG with you? You don't like anything.
Sin City may well be the worst movie I've ever seen. And I've seen LOTS of bad movies. I did grow up in the 80s. It was horrific, had no point, no story, contained pointless gratuitous sex and violence and I left before it ended. Couldn't stand another second.
Got my money back on the way out. What is WRONG with you?! You'll watch anything!
I will not watch anything. I don't watch those Nora Roberts' movies on Lifetime. And I don't, for the most part, watch Horror flicks.
Holy crab cakes, we agree on something. I think the Earth just tilted on its axis.
I think we'll see Magna in all genres- like many things some of it is "meh" and some of it is great.
Well, of course, you don't watch Horror flicks. Remember, you don't watch anything...which you'd think with as little movie watching as you participate in, you'd write more.
Eileen!!! *LOL* Too true.
I think there is more caffeine in a can of diet mountain dew than in a 2-liter. Must investigate this.
Okay, Santa, what's up with this statement: Thanks, once again, for letting me aboard one of the best pirate ship blogs out there!
I mean, aren't we the ONLY pirate ship blog out there?
I mean, even if there were TWO pirate ship blogs, wouldn't you at least consider us better, or are you blogging with them tomorrow and don't want to bite the hand that feeds you?
So, Captain, written that sex scene yet? No? Maybe you should STOP GOING TO MOVIES.
I thought about editing that "one of the best" lines but then I decided she wrote it, she can deal with the consequences all on her own. LOL!
Does calling it Manga somehow give it more credibility than calling it a romance comic book?
How does one spell "eat" in Italian? Isn't it Manga?
San?
Sin City wasn't THAT bad, Terri. Cannon Ball Run II? Now that was an ass wiper.
Horror movies scare the hell outta me. Good judgment, Hellion.
J - it was so bad, I should have taken some valium before I went to see it. *w*
I think it's mangiare.
I actually prefer my stories sans pictures. I like to make up what they look like in my head and when they give me the pictures, I feel let down.
But, I am all for any means that gets people into reading anything.
Ps: Loved Sin City (except Elijah Woods' character, too creepy), hate horror movies.
Hey, I was just at the Michael's website looking for some kinda art class for my daughter, and lookie what I found:
http://www.michaels.com/art/online/displayproductlist?categoryid=136505
And btw, Michael's has no classes save one Sat a month ... everywhere on earth it exists. No classes. What?
Which, Terri, Sin City or Cannon Ball Run II? Because compared to Cannon Ball Run II, Sin City was Citizen Kane.
I grew up on those Cannonball Run movies. I adore those things. There is nothing that could make me watch Sin City.
Marnee, I don't remember that character. Who was he?
Didn't his character get eaten by a dog or something? Or was that the one with chopped up body parts. *shivers*
Yep, he was the character that cut up the prostitutes and ate them, the one with the long fingernails and the sunglasses. Then he got eaten by the dog.
Too weird.
Well, I apparently stuck around long enough to see that. It was way too long...
Ahoy mateys!
OMG, I can't believe y'all are talking about canibals who eat prostitutes and Cannonball Run that showcased prostitutes (I maintain those two hussies were 'hos) LOL
Great blogging San! MWAH.
Interesting blog, San!
I've known about Manga and Anime (or Japanimation as I like to call it) for years thanks to my younger brother. I really like the videos - Kiki's Delivery Service, Totoro, Spirited Away, etc. - but I never got into Manga. I was never a comic book reader either, though, mostly because I think all books are too short to begin with and pictures make them even shorter. And, like Marnee, I like to use my imagination. But whatever gets kids reading, I'm all for it!
Hey, we're back up! Whoohoo! LOL! Of all days for technology not to cooperate.
Oh, and I have to say this again: Every time I visit here, I love this design all over again.
I'm finally here. Your ship, pirates, never docked long enough for me to clamber on board. But now I'm here and clued in to Manga. OK. I knew of Manga, but I didn't know-know Manga. But now, thanks to Santa's excellent blog, I do.
Santa, would that trusty Shakespearean have the initials E and J? :) And ah, any excuse, even one as loosely disguised as enumerating the classics, is good enough to trot out that Mr. Darcy. What about that other Mr. Darcy, the one who comes out of the mist?
I can see "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" and "Tom Sawyer," but I cannot see "David Copperfield." What about a Virginia Woolf?
Here's a question for you Santa: Is there a particular type of story (not genre, but type) that's more conducive to being Manga-ized? For example, are tales of derring-do easier? Lots of talky-talky works, too. But how about a Marcel Proust or a Camus?
I take full responsibility for the lack of Mr. McFadyen in this post. I intended to include him as well as wonderful pictures of Mr. Knightly, Mr. Wentworth, and Colonel Brandon, however, I was in a hurry. LOL!
Thanks for hopping aboard, Keira. We're glad you like the place.
Perseverance pays. I tried to get on all day, and it's almost my bedtime! Nice blog, Santa. Working in a high school library, I see my share of graphic novels every day. Although I was a devoted comic book kid, plunking my allowance down at the local candy store to buy the latest issue to see if Archie finally wised up to Veronica, alas, the illustrations now do absolutely nothing for me. Bug-eyed little weasels, all of them. But the kids read manga online after school and the books fly off the shelves, so it's all good.
Hey, I finally made it aboard!
Like Maggie says, I think manga is a great way to get kids and teens reading. I haven't read too much of it myself - I find it harder to get lost in the story, but that may be just a factor of not having read it enough. For the record, I loved Sin City - Elijah Wood's character was indeed revolting, but Bruce Willis and my boy Clive more than made up for it. Oh, and I love Spirited Away, too.
Great topic, Santa!
Same here... I couldn't get on here either. I think the ship was running amok with Santa at helm---way too much drinking and ogling men.
Great blog. I think someone gave me a manga-inspired romance a year ago, and it was cute. But I love my books, sans pictures, too much.
Helloooo!! I've finally taken off my Deli Diva tiara and can now honker down with a nice Rum & Coke with my favorite pirate wenches!
My thanks to everyone for perservering and stopping by. Terri's had a devil of a time with this today and I am ever grateful to her for all her efforts.
Let's see if I can respond to everyone's comments.
Lindsey - I have heard of Harlequin Ginger Blossoms but dismissed it as not for me but geared toward a younger audience. I'd be curious to see if they've tried to just repackage their titles without taking into consideration the core audience who'd be attracted to a Ginger Blossom.
Does anyone know of any other imprints who have Mangas in their line up?
Sin - you are light years ahead of me which is no surprise. Most of the world is light years ahead of me. However, I am proud to say I have heard of and think I've seen a couple of episodes of Sailor Moon. The images are great but I find I get lost in trying to follow what they are saying through faces and mouths that never seem to change expression except for dashes around the eyes to convey surprise and beads of sweat to convey anxiety.
JKCoi - first of all congrats on the release of your book in e-format. Hugh kudos there! I had no idea Sherilyn Kenyon and Christine Feehan are going to be in Manga format. I think they'd make fantastic Manga books!
Which brings me to the topic of sex in Mangas. There are several graphic novels that are just that - graphic. But how do you convey the sexual tension that builds in a romance as it leads to the sex scene or scenes? Furthermore, how do you translate a twenty page love scene like one Lisa Kleypas did into a Manga? More of those dashes and sweat beads around the eyes and forehead? :)
Keira - you bring up a fabulous point. I've never read much of Camas' work but I do know that one of my all time favorite book Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas is available in as a Manga and it's a fantastic.
And I think Virginia Woolf's 'The Waves' would be incredible as a Manga. Imagine stream of consciousness and fully drawn - if you will - characterizations of the archtypes she writes!
(and, yes, it was that author with the initials EJ)
Maggie and Tessa - your insight into the Manga world is well taken. I'd love to know what those librarians who work in academic circles have seen...Manda?
And, finally, you'll all get to read the pergola scene - warm peach cobbler and all. It is a great scene when it all seems to come together for my characters Melissa and Jake before I pull the rug out from under them and everything comes crashing down around them....
Ciao for now,
Santa
Hey Elyssa! Congrats on placing so well in the Great Beginnings contest!
Yes, I do know what you mean about preferring your books sans pictures. I run most books like a movie through my head.
And I haven't been drinking all day! As to ogling men all day, well, some things can't be helped! And wouldn't you know it I wrote that I was blogging her on my Facebook Wall and their system posts the URL and a nifty picture from the blog. There must be women techs over there because the picture they posted was the pirate ship's 'hawt' bartender!
Hey Santa!!! Welcome back.
As soon as I saw the picture I thought of Graphic Novels too, Hellion. My 10 year old son brought home Graphic Novels last year to read every night for his required 20 minutes/night and I kinda balked at it cause they looked like comic books. I decided to discuss this with the Media Center Specialist (read: librarian) at his school. He told me that Graphic Novels were created to pull the kids back into reading (especially boys ages 9-13). They've seen a big drop off in reading at that level and the Graphic Novels appeal to their visual minds. He told me they were actually very good and the stories were awesome. And it did get my son interesting in reading again when he wanted to be lazy and go back to reading The Pokey Little Puppy every night for his required reading!
I'm with J Perry, I would love to get some PG versions of these to give to my daughter to get her into romance at her age without having to worry about all the sex. As Marnee said I prefer my stories without pictures but I think it's a great idea for the young ones.
Crys - I have a niece who also draws these characters and she's amazing!
Okay, I had to go check out Sin City on IMDB and it is definitely not my cup of tea! I can’t take all that violence anymore. It’s not just the violence nowadays it’s the depravity. It’s like every movie out there is trying to top the last in terms of how sick and twisted they can be. I’m longing for some Sound of Music. Although I have a feeling I’d be sitting all by my lonesome in the middle of the theatre with my supersized bucket of popcorn and Snowcaps! At least I could sing along with Maria and sigh over Captain Von Trapp’s steamy looks and nobody would mind! LOL
Don't worry, Irish, I'll right there in the theatre with you. I love Captain Von Trapp! It's still hard for me to watch him play a villian.
I want to thank Santa again for her blog and her patience. I apologize again for all of our technical difficulties, but I appreciate everyone's perseverence in stopping by.
I really liked the way they came off
Post a Comment