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Post by Administrator on Nov 1, 2005 22:04:44 GMT -5
There's an Asian invasion under way in North American book stores, and it's called "Manga."
Most parents are already familiar with manga, the Japanese word for comic, having long been involuntarily exposed to Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh and Sailor Moon. But those are just three series among several thousand diverse titles aimed at everyone from tweens to adults, and covering every major genre found in literature, including action, romance, westerns, fantasy, sports and humour.
The magical - and profitable - thing about manga is that it appeals to both boys and girls.
Japanese comics look and feel different. They are published as black and white paperbacks and mostly read right to left, or back to front. Characters give new meaning to the term "wide-eyed."
Most manga titles in North America are aimed at young adults - for example, the action packed Inu Yasha and Full Metal Alchemist - but kids as young as five are enjoying series like Beyblades, about battling spinning tops.
The explosion in popularity of this medium has had a tidal-wave effect. Manga has influenced at least one established North American comic: Sabrina the teenage witch is now redesigned with Sailor Moon eyes, part of a new Archie Manga Series.
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