Hey there, fellow comic enthusiasts! It’s me again, your trusty guide through the wonderful world of drawing comics. So, I bet some of you are scratching your heads and wondering, “Hey, you’re in Japan, why aren’t you drawing manga?” Great question! Buckle up, because today’s entry is all about that.
So here’s the million-dollar question: What’s my style, really?
Manga, Anime, and All That Jazz
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’d love to dive headfirst into the manga scene here. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be part of a culture that has produced some of the best visual stories ever put to paper and celluloid?
But here’s the kicker: I’m not really that into the mainstream manga scene. Yes I do like Manga and anime, but I guess I’m pretty selective. I bow down to the brilliance of Otomo Katsuhiro and Miyazaki Hayao, and am in love with the gritty and dark worlds of Berserk, Akira, and Battle Angel Alita. But not all manga is like that. Maybe only 5%. There are so many other styles and subjects, and, well, I’ve come to realize that what I like is probably in the minority here.
You see, Akira might have rocked the ’80s, but today’s manga landscape is dominated by the likes of One Piece and Kimetsu no Yaiba. And let me be brutally honest here – I struggle to connect with that particular brand of storytelling and art. Big eyes, doll-like proportions, almost no noses – it’s just not my cup of tea. Don’t get me wrong; I respect the craft, but it’s not my jam.
Now I’ve got immense respect for manga artists and that style of work. I love the work of Naoki Urasawa (Monster is a masterpiece), Gou Tanabe (those Lovecraft adaptations are mind-blowing), and Junji Ito (the master of horror), but emulating their styles isn’t my forte. And I love the stylistic elements of manga – it seeps into my work without a doubt. But the surface level of my art doesn’t seem to quite fit the ‘manga’ mold. Because when I’ve shared my creations with a few Japanese folks, what kind of reaction do you think I get? A chorus of “Oh! American comics!” Well, isn’t that a plot twist? Funnily enough, I don’t think my style aligns with the traditional American comic aesthetic either. Because I’m pretty sure two publishers have been less than thrilled about the comics I’ve birthed into the world. They weren’t exactly promoting the heck out of those. It’s like I’ve set up camp in this artistic no-man’s land, and my work is a unique blend that doesn’t neatly fit into any category.
Attempts at Manga
Undeterred by the confusing feedback and the artistic identity crisis, I decided to throw my hat into the Manga ring a few times anyway. I entered the Shogakukan Manga Contest* not once, but two times (maybe three? I can’t remember). The first attempt was with “The Adventures of Squid Sensei.” Picture this: the swine flu was making headlines, and there I was, armed with simple ballpoint pens, creating a quirky comic about teaching English. The results? Well, let’s just say they weren’t exactly shouting my name from the rooftops.
*All the major publishers publish their comics in chapters in their weekly and monthly magazines. There, they also have contests for creators who want to break into the industry.
A few years later I decided to take another swing at it. This time, I concocted “Evolution,” a short piece showcasing my take on a Frank Miller-esque art style. I was still in the experimental phase, figuring out the kind of artistic identity I wanted to don. It did better than Squid Sensei, but still didn’t get very far in the contests.
Now, here’s the thing – neither Squid Sensei nor Evolution were adhering to the rules of manga. I was testing the waters, exploring my own path. So I wasn’t particularly surprised about the reaction that I got at the contests.
And then came “The Immortal,” my grand attempt to conquer the manga scene. When I was writing the story for it, I was envisioning it being in a manga magazine. Split into shorter chapters for weekly or monthly serialization – check. Script in Japanese – check. Submission to the magazine Young Animal, the home of Berserk – double-check. But, ah, the universe had other plans. The feedback? Well, let’s just say it wasn’t a glowing review. Actually, it was pretty brutal (somewhere along an “F”). That was my last attempt at trying to go the manga route.
My Style?
So here’s the million-dollar question: What’s my style, really? Imagine a mix of manga’s focus on line work, grayscale tones, and stylistic framing, shaken up with European comics’ line techniques. Add a generous sprinkle of thematic richness and character designs inspired by American comics, and voila – you’ve got my artistic stew.
So that’s why I’m not doing manga. I might give it a shot one more time down the line (because I’m stupid like that), but for now, I’ll just be doing my own thing. And while that path might be rocky, and the reception might not always be a parade, isn’t creating what you want the thing that makes the artistic journey worth it? It may be lonely, but who knows, maybe this no-man’s land is where the magic happens.
Stay tuned for more tales from the wild side of drawing comics in this little island country of Japan. Until next time, keep those pencils sharp and your imagination soaring!
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*I don’t use AI for my artwork. These filler images are just for fun and aren’t meant to represent my art so they have been labeled “AI GENERATED.” I want my blog to be enjoyable for you but I don’t have 2-6 hours to draw each image (this blog is done in my free time). If you’re against AI in art, please direct your criticism elsewhere (maybe someone trying to pass off AI generated images as their art). I am not doing that.
Wow…I didn’t know what I didn’t know. As I often say to my adult kids, “You make my world bigger.” Thank you!