A very brief look into the world of Manga and Manwha |

Amanda Tripp
Special thanks to Joey Tripp for his support in making this tutorial.
Thank you brother!

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 Graphic Novels

Graphic Novels are a type of comic book, usually with a lengthy and
complex storyline similar to those of novels. There are currently many
versions of graphic novels. This is due to the importation and translation of
graphic novels from other countries.

Manga
Japan is the main country that America imports most of its graphic novels. All
graphic novels from Japan are called Manga. Manga is read from Right to
Left vs. our traditional Left to Right reading system. There are several
categories of manga. For example romance and fantasy (shōjo) and action
and sports (Shōnen).

Types of Manga recognized in America:

Doujinshi - This type translates as "fan-work" (literally "same-person-
writing"). Doujinshi is unofficial manga that is made and produced by fans of
an original series, or a self-published manga. Doujinshi is also becoming a
popular genre for rising American artists in TokyoPop’s Rising Star category.

Hentai - Is sexual adult content. Hentai is Japanese for "perverted" or

"perversion".

Shōjo - (translated means literally "girl") is manga aimed at young females

up to the age 18. These series tend to focus on romance and relationships
from a young female's point of view.

Shōnen – (translates literally as "boy") This is almost the same as shojo

except it is mostly action, sports or romance for males up to age 18.

Shōjo-ai / Yuri - This manga is based on female/female romantic

relationships. Shōjo-ai translates literally as "Girl-love." Yuri translates
literally as "Lily". Shōjo-ai is of a softer nature on the subject where as Yuri is
more pronounced.

Shōnen-ai / Yaoi - This manga is its boy/boy relationships. Shōnen-ai

translates as "Boy-love." Shōnen-ai is of a softer nature on the boy-love
where as Yaoi is more pronounced. A common abbreviation for this type is BL
(Boy Love).

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**It needs to be noted that Japanese have a different cultural view on
matters that “happen within the home.” Shōnen-ai & Yaoi have become a
very popular manga genre in America due to the large female fan base.

Manwha
We also import graphic novels from Korea. All graphic novels from Korea are called
Manwha. Manwha is read from Left to Right. America does not recognize the
types of manwha. All manwha are sold with manga and sometimes are categorized
as manga by many retailers due to the small amount imported into America.
Rating System
All graphic novels have a rating system based on age.

Graphic Novels have something for everyone – but not all manga is suitable for all
ages. Here’s a breakdown of the U.S. publishers’ content rating system for English
language comics.

E – Everyone / A – All Ages

This rating is like a "G" movie rating, the "E – Everyone" or "A - All Ages" rating
means that the comic is suitable for readers from age 6 and up.

Y – Youth, Age 10+

Similar to a "PG" movie rating, the "Y – Youth, Age 10+" rating means that the title
may contain mild violence and/or cursing.

T – Teens, Age 13+

The manga rating equivalent of a "PG-13," "T - Teen" indicates that the comic's
content may include some sexual innuendo and/or violent action scenes.

OT - Older Teens, Age 16+

"OT - Older Teen"-rated manga may contain more explicit sexual situations and
some violent scenes, including blood and gore.

M – Mature, Age 18+

Manga rated "M - Mature" is strictly for adults. You can expect to find explicit sexual
situations, strong language and / or bloody battles and mayhem.

Citation: About.com -
http://manga.about.com/od/readingcollectingmanga/a/ageratings.htm

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Suggested Titles – In Random Order

Fruits Basket - Tohru Honda was an orphan, living with her grandfather,
when one day fate kicked her out of the house and she was forced to take up
residence in a tent in the forest. Little did she know that the land she was
staying on belonged to the Sohma family, a clan of beautiful and mysterious
people. After stumbling upon the teenage squatter, the Sohmas invite Tohru
to stay in their house in exchange for cooking and cleaning. Everything's
going well until she discovers the Sohma family's greatest secret: when
hugged by members of the opposite sex, they each turn into their Chinese
Zodiac animal!
Volume 1 - ISBN: 1-59182-603-9

Naruto – Growing up in a village of ninja, Uzumaki Naruto had no idea he

was shunned because inside him was the spirit of the demon fox who
destroyed their village over a decade ago! When his corrupt teacher Mizuki
tricks him into stealing a secret scroll, Naruto learns the truth. But he's still
determined to be the greatest ninja ever. But is determination enough
against his powerful enemies and the forces inside him? Naruto must pass
the difficult test to enter the Ninja Academy; deal with his rival, Konohamaru;
and learn to get along with his new classmates, Sasuke and Sakura. Assigned
to a three-person team, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura must survive a brutal
test against their upper-level ninja instructor, Kakashi. Only two can pass --
will Naruto be one of them?
Volume 1 - ISBN-13: 9781569319000
Volume 1 - ISBN-10: 1569319006

Bleach - Ichigo Kurosaki has always been able to see ghosts, but this ability
doesn't change his life nearly as much as his close encounter with Rukia
Kuchiki, a Soul Reaper and member of the mysterious Soul Society. While
fighting a Hollow, an evil spirit that preys on humans who display psychic
energy, Rukia attempts to lend Ichigo some of her powers so that he can
save his family, but much to her surprise, Ichigo absorbs every last drop of
her energy. Now a full-fledged Soul Reaper himself, Ichigo quickly learns that
the world he inhabits is one full of dangerous spirits, and along with Rukia,
who is slowly regaining her powers, it's Ichigo's job to both protect the
innocent from Hollows and to help the spirits themselves find peace.
Volume 1 - ISBN-10: 1-59116-441-9

Vampire Knight – Cross Adademy is attended by two groups of students:

the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day
Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way
to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school,
protecting the Day Class from the Academy's dark secret: the Night Class is
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full of vampires! Yuki Cross has no memory of her past prior to the moment
she was saved from a vampire attack ten years ago. She was adopted by the
headmaster of Cross Academy, and now works alongside Zero to guard the
Academy's secret. Yuki believes that vampires and humans can coexist
peacefully, but her partner has different ideas...
Volume 1 - ISBN-13: 9781421508221
Volume 1 - ISBN-10: 1421508222

Ouran High School Host Club – In this screwball romantic comedy, a poor
girl at a rich kids' school ends up working for the school's swankiest club--
and gets mistaken for a boy.
Volume 1 - ISBN-13: 9781591169154
Volume 1 - ISBN-10: 1591169151

Alice 19th – Alice Seno is a seemingly shy and meek girl who always seems
to be outshined by her older sister Mayura. One Day, Alice has an encounter
with a mysterious and magical rabbit girl, and her life is turned upside down.
Alice discovers that certain words have power, and that she as the potential
to be master of a set of sublimely powerful words called the Lotis Words. But
power always comes with a price, and the price may turn out to be Alice’s
sister….
Volume 1 - ISBN-13: 9781591162155
Volume 1 - ISBN-10: 1591162157