Manga

British Comics

On the left, we have 2 very popular comics from my childhood, Beano and Dandy. We also have an adult comic called Viz and a graphic novel by Neil Gaiman called Stardust.

Did you read any comics when you were younger?

Do you have any younger family members who read comics?

What exactly is a comic?

What might feature in a comic like Viz?

What's a graphic novel? In what ways is it similar to / different from a comic?

Now take a look at the pictures below.

What country do you think they are from?

What do we call this genre of comics?

How many of them have you heard of?

The Birth of Manga

The roots of manga stretch back hundreds of years. Japanese artists created illustrated stories long before the modern comic book existed. Picture scrolls from the twelfth century combined images and text to tell stories, while woodblock prints and illustrated books became popular during the Edo period. These early forms of visual storytelling helped create the foundation for what would later become manga.

The modern manga industry emerged after World War II. Japan was devastated by the conflict, and people were looking for affordable forms of entertainment. Books, magazines, and comics became extremely popular because they provided an escape from the difficulties of everyday life. During this period, a young artist named Osamu Tezuka began to transform the medium.

Often called the “God of Manga,” Tezuka introduced a new style of storytelling inspired by cinema. He used dramatic camera angles, expressive characters, and fast-moving plots. His work made manga more dynamic and emotional than ever before. In 1952, he created Astro Boy, the story of a robot boy with human emotions who fights for justice. The series became a huge success and captured the imagination of readers across Japan.

The popularity of Astro Boy had an even greater impact when it was adapted into an animated television series in 1963. This helped establish the close relationship between manga and anime that continues today. Many future anime series would begin as manga before being adapted for television.

In the years that followed, manga expanded rapidly. New genres appeared, including sports, science fiction, romance, and historical drama. Artists experimented with different styles and stories, attracting readers of all ages. By the 1970s and 1980s, manga had become a major part of Japanese culture and was producing internationally influential works.

Discussion

Do you know about any ancient illustrated storytelling techniques in your own country?

Have you ever heard of Osamu Tezuka or Astroboy before?

What do you think of these exaggerated expressions that are often seen in manga?

What are the key differences between telling a story in a comic and in a cartoon?

What do you think are some common plot features in something like Astro Boy?

Astro Boy

The story centers on Astro Boy, a powerful robot created by the scientist Dr. Tenma after the death of his young son. Although Astro possesses incredible abilities—including flight, super strength, enhanced hearing and vision, and machine guns hidden in his body—he is also kind, compassionate, and deeply human in his emotions. After Dr. Tenma rejects him, Astro is adopted by Professor Ochanomizu, who becomes a father figure and guides him throughout many of his adventures.

A number of recurring characters appeared throughout the series. Uran, Astro's mischievous robot sister, often caused trouble but also helped save the day. Professor Ochanomizu represented wisdom and tolerance, while various robot and human friends joined Astro on his missions. The series featured many villains rather than a single arch-enemy. Some were criminal masterminds, some were dangerous robots, and others were humans who feared or hated robots. One of the most memorable antagonists was Pluto, an immensely powerful robot who appeared in one of the manga's most famous story arcs.

Many Astro Boy stories followed a similar pattern. Astro would encounter a conflict between humans and robots, investigate a mystery, stop a dangerous criminal, or prevent a technological disaster. Beneath the action, Tezuka often explored serious themes such as prejudice, discrimination, war, environmental destruction, and the ethical use of technology. The stories asked whether robots deserved rights and whether humans could learn to coexist peacefully with beings different from themselves.

The manga resonated strongly with Japanese readers in the 1950s because it reflected the hopes and anxieties of a nation rebuilding after World War II. Japan was embracing science and technology while also remembering the devastation caused by modern warfare. Astro represented a hopeful future: technology guided by compassion rather than destruction. He was powerful yet gentle, futuristic yet relatable.

Discussion

Does Astro Boy remind you of any other stories?

Does the story sound like something you would have liked in your childhood?

Do you know much about pre-WWII Japan? If you do, it might help you to understand why this manga became so popular.

Astro Boy's Japanese name literally translates to Mighty Atom. What do you think of the name change?

Now let's read through the first part of Atom vs Atlas

Discussion

How easy / difficult is it to follow?

Do you think it needs to be held to be appreciated fully?

Is it only for kids or do you think adults could enjoy this stuff too?

In retrospect, the first one of something often feel a little cringe or low quality. Did you get a similar sense here?

Now read the brief overviews of these other mangas.

Akira

Set in a dystopian future version of Tokyo, Akira follows teenage biker gangs, political unrest, and mysterious psychic powers. The story centers on Kaneda and his friend Tetsuo, whose growing abilities threaten the entire city. Dark, complex, and visually groundbreaking, it helped introduce manga to many readers outside Japan.

Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball follows the adventures of Son Goku, a cheerful and incredibly strong boy who searches for magical Dragon Balls that can grant wishes. Along the way, he trains in martial arts, battles powerful enemies, and forms lasting friendships. The series helped define the modern action-adventure manga and inspired countless later works.

Slam Dunk

This sports manga tells the story of Hanamichi Sakuragi, a delinquent who joins his high school basketball team to impress a girl. Although he initially knows nothing about basketball, he gradually develops a passion for the sport. The series became famous for its realistic games, memorable characters, and emotional storytelling.

One Piece

One Piece follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew of pirates as they search for the legendary treasure known as the One Piece. The story combines adventure, comedy, action, and world-building on an enormous scale. It is one of the best-selling and most influential manga series ever created.

Naruto

The series follows Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who dreams of becoming the leader of his village. Feared by many because a powerful beast is sealed inside him, Naruto struggles for acceptance while growing stronger. Themes of friendship, perseverance, and self-belief made the manga enormously popular worldwide.

Death Note

When brilliant student Light Yagami discovers a supernatural notebook that can kill anyone whose name is written in it, he decides to reshape the world. His actions attract the attention of L, a mysterious detective determined to stop him. The manga is known for its psychological battles, moral questions, and suspenseful plot.

Attack on Titan

Humanity survives behind enormous walls to protect itself from giant humanoid creatures known as Titans. After the walls are breached, Eren Yeager joins the fight against the monsters that destroyed his home. What begins as a survival story gradually develops into a complex tale of war, freedom, politics, and human nature.

Discussion

Do any of them stand out as being particularly interest?

Which are the least interesting?

Many of them became iconic anime series. Which ones?

Do any of them remind you of popular stories in your country or the west?