Manga (JP: 漫画) is a type of Japanese comic book, with its modern definition pioneered largely by Osama Tezuka.
Although to many it is simply a source of entertainment, it certainly holds a special place in my life. Through manga, I was able to maintain and perhaps even strength my connection to Japan as a boy growing up in the United States.
I’ve listed a few of my favorites below:
Coming soon…
Phoenix
Phoenix （火の鳥） Author: Tezuka Osamu Demographic: Shonen/Seinen Premise: Rather than one continuous series, Phoenix is told as a collection of stories spread throughout time, spanning many different genres as well as characters. At the center of these stories is the Phoenix, a force of nature that presents itself as a large, beautiful bird that dies […]
Planetes
Planetes (プラネテス) Author: Makoto Yukimura Demographic: Seinen Premise: The decade is the 2070s. Earth has developed space travel to the point of making it accessible to the common person. There are large space stations orbiting Earth and a developed colony on the moon. Through this development, a new career path has emerged: space debris collection. […]
Space Brothers
Space Brothers (宇宙兄弟) Author: Chuya Koyama Demographic: Seinen Premise: Two Japanese brothers encounter a UFO as children and are inspired to become astronauts. The younger brother, Hibito, vows to go to the moon, and the older brother, Mutta, vows to go to Mars. Nearly 20 years later, Hibito is slated to be the first Japanese […]