Manga mia!

In the past couple of weeks, manga’s been all over my life: My Youth Culture in a Global Context senior seminar, USA Today, all over Wired. Even this Postsecret secret thinks manga’s taking over.

manga

The USA Today article mainly focuses on how, apparently, Manga’s on the bad side of the lame mark in Japan, but here it’s just really starting to pick up steam. Wired, likewise, created a tutorial in manga drawn in the manga fashion.

Personally, I don’t think manga’s losing its popularity in Japan ? it’s probably just losing money cause people found a way to get it for free. Kind of like with music, here. I don’t know ?I don’t have the answers, I just ask the questions. And sometimes I don’t even do that.

Best. Giveaway. Ever.

comicbookguy.pngWhile surfing the blogosphere, I came across this bit of wonderful information: There is such a thing as Free Comic Book Day, when comic book stores just give away free issues. This year, the big day is May 5. As the date gets closer, the home page for Free Comic Book Day ? now in its sixth year ? will give an updated list of participating stores. You can find the extensive list of free comics here. (Oh, boy! Transformers the Movie Prequel #1!) Pretty sweet.

This made me reflect on my time as a comic book/X-Men card collector in my early elementary school years. I’m pretty sure my parents had to take out a loan to support my habits (hey, there are worse habits I could have formed at that age). I wasn’t able to score any No. 1’s (at least none worth enough to allow me to retire in a few years). But going to the comic book store with my cousins and waiting in line at artist appearances was always exciting. Now all that stuff just kind of sits in boxes deep in my closet. I rummage through it sometimes when I’m feeling nostalgic.

Here in Ithaca we have the oldest active comic book club in the country, the Comic Book Club of Ithaca, founded in 1975. Last month was the annual Ithacon, where people can meet artists and authors, and buy issues and toys. At the risk of sounding really geeky: I went to one of the Ithacons a couple years ago and met one of the artists who made those very X-Men Fleer Ultra cards I spent so much of my youth obsessing over. I’m pretty sure my enthusiasm for this guy and his art scared the friend I was with.

(Via Underwire)