What is Manga?

While the term ‘manga’ translates as comic, it reaches a wider audience in Japanese society than the limited comic book fan base of primarily of boys and young men in America. Manga’s stories usually appear as serials in magazines, and are later collected into the book form of the graphic novel. This Japanese storytelling form now resonates with fans across the world.

Suitable for readers growing up in a hi-tech age, a story told through manga flows in ‘real time.’ Fewer sentences and more sound cues allow the reader’s eye to move right along with the characters through both their actions and emotions, rather than having the story explained through lengthy speech bubbles and text boxes. Less text and stronger emotion also allows the quality of the distinctive art to stand out. 

What is the difference between a comic book and a graphic novel/manga?

Just as their name states, graphic novels are ‘books in pictures’, with intricate plotlines and colorful characters.  But while comics and graphic novels both tell their stories using a sequential art combination of text, panels, and images, graphic novels typically run longer than comic books, stretching out a story over one long volume or combined into several volumes. And instead of color print on glossy paper, manga runs black and white throughout the book. Manga often showcases adolescent heroes with whom young readers can identify.

Shouldn’t tweens and young adults read “real books”?

Graphic novels not only comprise one form of reading, storytelling, and entertainment, but they also communicate effectively in this hi-tech age, acting as a bridge between the image of a video screen and the printed text of a book. With as much emphasis placed on the art as on the story, readers enjoy not only getting to know the characters as they travel through an extended plot over the course of several books, but also appreciate the high quality artwork. The length of the serial format allows the reader to know the characters well as they journey with them through their conflicts and adventures, looking forward to more of the story’s answers in the next volume.

Are your graphic novels really manga if they’re not from Japan?

Some manga fans consider only that which comes from Japan to be true manga. But just as manga and anime (Japanese cartoons) have both shown strong American influences, they in turn are influencing popular forms of American entertainment, as many Western illustrators, writers, and publishers have begun producing what they call ‘manga’. Z-Graphic Novels are manga in the sense that they bear the influences of storytelling, art style, and action effects of this Japanese art form. 

How is this different from the vast array of manga quickly filling bookshelves everywhere?

Many young customers will be unfamiliar with the Shinto (traditional Japanese religion that believes in spirits everywhere) or pagan worldview underlying many manga titles. Some of the most popular children’s manga and corresponding cartoons (anime) have kid heroes that either channel demonic spirits for power, or themselves are reincarnated spirits. In addition, many manga series also tend to celebrate violence and sexual misbehavior.  So while Z Graphic Novels have the high quality art, features, and exciting action of manga, each line presents its story with a Christian perspective based on biblical values. 

Where would I find these in a bookstore?

Most secular bookstores now have large graphic novel sections, and some Christian bookstores are beginning to develop sections for graphic novels as well. For those stores that don’t yet have a special section, you can find Z Graphic Novels either in the young adult or children’s areas.

Are there any theological issues I should be concerned with in these books?

Zondervan has had all of our Z Graphic Novels titles reviewed by persons trained formally in theology to ensure that each book’s content adheres to the highest Christian standards. The serial nature of these novels spreads the stories over multiple volumes, not revealing in full the underlying truth of some of the stories until well into the series.