American Manga... Generation Huh?

[doronjosama]

Over at AnimeNewsNetwork, there's an article about a new book coming out called Mangaka America. Basically, a who's who kind of book, featuring the new generation of American manga artists. Seems like a good idea, right? Well, yes, and while I am delighted that my friend Adam Warren is writing the foreword and that veterans like shutterbox and rikkisimons are finally getting some good press (despite their last name being misspelled, again, sheesh), I have issues with the comments on the article. In particular, one comment where someone says, and I quote directly, (all original spelling, punctuation and grammar preserved):

"i glad american manga-ka are getting more in the spotlight.

the first generation of manga ka!"

Whoa, whoa, whoa, back up there, Tex... FIRST generation? Oh, I don't think so. To be quite technical, the first generation of American manga artists (or "manga-ka", as they are so trendily being called now, though the word "manga-ka" just means "comic artist" if you talk to a Japanese person, so even Greg Land would be called that if he went to Japan- he would just be an amecomi manga-ka...) hit these shores in the 1980's. Artists like Ben Dunn, Lea Hernandez, Adam Warren, Ted Nomura, Tim Eldred, Stan Sakai, Rikki & Tavisha, Colleen Doran, Reggie Byers, Barry Blair, Greg Espinoza and even Frank Miller all worked with a manga influence back in the 1980's. They are the First Generation of American Manga-ka (and honestly, I only use this term because the book does... some of these artists I list would never refer to themselves as such). The 1990's brought the Second Generation of American Manga-ka, with Fred Perry, Joe Wight, Pat Duke, Robert DeJesus, Tyrone Ford, Dave Wilson (and the rest of the Antarctic Press crew of the 90's...), Bruce Lewis, Joe Madureira, Humberto Ramos, Chynna Clugston, Will Allison, and Dean Hsieh. I'd say the Third Generation would include people like Josh Lesnick, Diana Sprinkle, Michael Vega, Locke, Eddie Perkins, Ferdinand Poblete, PMBQ, David Hutchison, Rod Espinosa, Susan Meyer, ET and Elizabeth Bryan, Jo Chen, Skottie Young and John Barrett. The current TokyoPop/Webcomic Generation is at least the Fourth Generation of American Manga-ka. It's hard to divide everyone up into strictly defined decade-based generations also, since so many of the people from the First Generation continued to work in a manga-influenced style from the time they started until now- it's just now they're perceived as "bandwagon jumpers", instead of "people who worked really hard for a long time in a style that was incredibly uncommercial in this country until just recently". I remember when you could not get arrested if you drew in a manga-influenced style- now, it's all the rage.

Anyway, there's my curmudgeonly two cents. I wish the current generation of American manga artists and their fanatical supporters would stop acting like they just invented the wheel. People have been doing manga-influenced comics storytelling in this country since the 1980's. Or the late 1970's, if you want to throw Wendy Pini into the mix. I just wish the people who came before would get their "propers" every once in a while.

ETA: Added links to as many people as I could find.

Comments

[hellocobweb.livejournal.com]

Agreed. Maybe they've officially been doing manga-style art longer than the beginning of recorded (TP) history?

Which part of Rikki's name can't people spell? O.o???

...That's just weird. And the thought of you being called "Allen" nearly made me spew my soda, thanks.

[dacantero.livejournal.com]

Has anyone yet done a History of Furry Fandom which includes the contributions which were disregarded/ignored in the first version?

[dacantero.livejournal.com]

That's weird, I taste bitter almonds in the ice cream, but I don't see any almonds.

[rikkisimons.livejournal.com]

We got as far as reviewing the contract, which I think was like a year ago or something. Our manager found some wording he didn't like, but we were told the contract was non-negotiable. Our manager said no and we agreed with him. That was pretty much the end of it. That's the second time I've seen our name pop up with the book in the last year. I guess no one told marketing.

I know it's an old topic but if we had we been in the book, we probably would have written something about the title. It's a bit embarrassing. We're not mangaka. We're simply comics authors with a dominate manga influence. At least Tavisha is. My influences are are more European.

But with that said, there are some artists in that book I like and I look forward to purchasing it when it comes out.

[doronjosama.livejournal.com]

I wish matthigh had more free time. He's amazing at writing up comics histories! If I was rich, I would pay him to write books for both the history of furry fandom and of American manga. He's really very good at that kind of thing.

[jeepersjournal.livejournal.com]

Most kids are too lazy to fact check, or even Google. They just accept what they hear on a message board, usually one of dubious repute :) [this applies to tons of older folks as well, mind you. People are lazy ^_^]. You think most folks'ld take advantage of all the info, but they often don't :(

[jeepersjournal.livejournal.com]

To be fair, it does feature Tania Del Rio, who chose to go with Archie, rather then pursuing TP. It's a look at specific artists, who are currently very prominent due to TP's bookstore presence. I hope in the future they might look at other artists for sequels, but I don't know if that was the intention.

[shutterbox.livejournal.com]

Oh good~ its not just me who has noticed this ^___________^*** And I've also noticed how this computer generation of people seems to think their mere opinions can outweigh the hard truth and facts. Also~ the competitive factor boggles me to no end. I never had the attitude that I was ever competing against my fellow artists in what I was creating. As a Japanese American, I always had a great respect to those who were inspired to create because of manga and anime; for me, it was a way of sharing and bringing cultures together. But never to out-do someone. There is plently of room on this earth for *all* artists. I just wish there was more comradery between all the generations.

[jeepersjournal.livejournal.com]

I do love that so many people are getting into art and comics through manga and anime, and I'm usually not so bitter, but gah, foolishness abound. I think a lot of the competitive-ness is in peoples heads, and it seems much of it comes from amateurs, or younger pros [I remember some folks on TokyoPop's message boards demanding to know the sale stats or payment rates on some titles..... I think you or Rikki were involved in that thread. Rude, rude behaviour]. Most experienced pros I've watched don't exhibit this behaviour, though I could see there being some who do [and notice a lot of "fans" who try to impose sorts of grudges between creators, like those who tried to make fights with two creators over LJ posting disagreements]. The community would be a lot happier as a whole if this stuff wasn't an issue.

And if everyone read more about/by Osamu Tezuka ^_^

[jeepersjournal.livejournal.com]

[And by Rude Behaviour, I mean the antagonizers, not you and Rikki. I appreciate Rikki's ability to calmly pick apart/explain stuff to those kind of people.... wish I had that kind of patience]

[jeepersjournal.livejournal.com]

I've noticed a little bit of this, as if TP is a real publisher, and others aren't..... kind of like fans of Marvel/DC looking down on other publishers. I like TP's line [heck, I've submitted to it :)], but I don't like how this new crop of fans brainwashing themselves [You can't blame TP for promting their line, though I wish they'd put up more elaborate creator biographies, with more on outside work of their creators].... they're just one of many publishers, if one of the bigger fish in the sea.

[jeepersjournal.livejournal.com]

Oh dear...... I hope they clear that up. It's quite the bit of false advertising to be using your names like that for so long. And I wanted nice Tavi art. Though yeah, the artists in it should make it worth a purchase.

What's so bad about being a cartoonist, anime fandom 0_0? I don't even use mangaka when referring to japanese artists....

[dee-monster.livejournal.com]

I appreciate the effort you put into this list, Elin. I'd also meant to thank you for another-- I was wandering through amazon.com a while back and came across a goth comic listmania you'd put together. And so discovered Ted Naifeh: How Loathsome and Gloom Cookie. Awesome stuff!

[shutterbox.livejournal.com]

^____________^ That would be fantastic if you get the chance to write such a book~ If you happen to mention us, all I ask is; Please , please spell Rikki's name right~ LOL

[shutterbox.livejournal.com]

=D Exactly, there is nothing bad about being called a cartoonist or illustrator~ I'm born and raised in the US of A. I only use the term "mangaka" when addressing Japanese artists who were born and published in Japan. But, an even more respectful title for these professional Japanese artists is "sensei". This term seems to be completely disregarded by this new generation~ and I guess some might think of it as too formal or old-fashion, but I still see it as a form of respect, and use it when addressing a particular Japanese pro artist~ such as, I'm a fan of MonkeyPunch- sensei. Especially if I meet an elder Japanese pro in person, I wouldn't address them by their name, I would simply call them "sensei" out of high respect. It was Osamu Tezuka-sensei who coined this term for artists, as he was a doctor before he became a professional mangaka.

[shutterbox.livejournal.com]

I used to have a drawer full of misspelled con badges >______<*** They got mighty creative. I should have scanned them all in~ but unfortunately a lot of them got lost during moves over the years.

[jameshanrahan.livejournal.com]

Tokyopop, no matter how someone feels about the company, is the company that pushed manga to it's new prominence with cheaper prices and more variety, forcing Viz to answer in kind and other publishers to take notice.
TP creators are the most visible and recognizable in the new wave, especially since they are in print. webcomics are still alien and foreign beasties to the print industry-- except for freaks like Penny Arcade. You know, the same way manga style was perceived for a long time
And besides, the book was published by HarperCollins and produced by Steelriver Studios of which Tania Del Rio is a member.

[jameshanrahan.livejournal.com]

Based on this list, the strip having started in 2000 would make Megatokyo third wave.

[doronjosama.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, I almost completely forgot that list I made on Amazon! I did it ages ago, when I was playing around with the system, didn't think anyone would actually read it what with Amazon being so big! But yes, Ted Naifeh's work is the bomb, yo. ^_^

[reyfox.livejournal.com]

Do they mispronounce your name a lot? I did.

[jameshanrahan.livejournal.com]

Well it would be nice to see a book or lengthy article like the old PULP article that took a look at manga influence in North America from the 70's up to the current wave. Though I have to wonder how many of the older waves would agree to it Also I'd like to see something that examined how the manga boom now is like the American superhero boom of the 1940s, since the two idioms seem to parallel each other in many ways, and moreso than past booms like undergrounds, black and white, furry, Image, and computer coloring.

[svetlania.livejournal.com]

>If you happen to mention us

No book like that would be complete without you guys!! And I finally hammered into my head that Rikki's name has only one m, so I don't think even I would be able to screw that up XD

Someone will probably do it before me, though--it would take me _years_ to do the proper research! I'm still fuzzy like woah on much of the American comic book history... *shame shame*

[svetlania.livejournal.com]

>Tokyopop, no matter how someone feels about the company, is the company
>that pushed manga to it's new prominence with cheaper prices and more
>variety, forcing Viz to answer in kind and other publishers to take notice.

AMEN!

P.S. Such a cute icon XD

[ozonelayercake.livejournal.com]

I know I'm coming late into this, but if someone actualy ever *does* a history of American manga-style artists and comics, I'd like to help!
I remember quite a few obscure titles from the early Eighties, mostly black and whites from fly-by-night publishers.
Oh, and ya'll forgot Doug Rice-- Remember Dynamo Joe from First Comics?

Uhm, anyone remember this mag called Cyberwerx?...

Didn't think so. heh.

[jeepersjournal.livejournal.com]

I hope you don't mind Elin, but I've linked your article on my TP Blog [which is mostly useful anime links and such] http://www.tokyopop.com/Andre/blog/ The TP Blogs are pretty much all whitenoise, but I use mine to spread word on good topics like this :) I've also attempt to provide a minibio for each arti