Mangaka America

    (HarperCollins, 2007)
™ and © HarperCollins

Titled after the Japanese word for manga creators, this is a slickly packaged book by Will Staehle, one of the publisher’s art directors, and his wife, Tania del Rio, who is one of the 11 artists profiled as rising Western stars co-opting the Nippon style.

Cherrypicking survivors of Tokyopop’s ongoing “American manga” talent search, this book interweaves gallery shots with light Q&A and Photoshop tips. Not household names, these artists are first and foremost fans who have taken “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” to heart and are trying to build their own comics careers.

A high-concept “fanzine by ones who’ve made it,” this title exemplifies the mania of New York publishers jumping on the manga bandwagon and desperate for marketing synergy. (Tokyopop is now distributed by HarperCollins.) An oxymoron in terms, “American manga” simply reflects young American artists influenced by Eastern aesthetics. But, instead of writing the introduction, Adam Warren should have been interviewed along with David Mack, since Warren’s fine contribution only serves to underscores this oversight.

— Oliver Chin
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