Usually when I’m discussing manga with people, the easy path to conversation is to discuss recent manga. It’s natural with any medium that most people will be far more familiar with recent releases than older ones. Think about when you talk to people about film, television, music etc. It’s usually about recent releases isn’t it?
Personally, I feel that manga fans tend to be a little resistant to the notion of pursuing the classics. This was the feeling I got when I established the 24 Hour Manga Marathon several years ago. In it, there was a mandatory category of reading “A manga started before 1990”. This category, more than any other, caused trouble, with numerous people telling me that they wouldn’t participate because of that category.
Remember that manga is a medium that has evolved over many centuries and, even when only using the modern definition of manga, still has a history of over a century. It is also a fact that only a relatively small percentage of any medium will, at any particular point, produce brilliant content. The majority will be good, decent, forgettable or downright bad.
One of my favourite mangaka is Osamu Tezuka who was active from 1946 until his death in 1989. His influence on the industry is overwhelming and has produced a wide range of brilliant works. My personal favourites of his are Ayako (1972-73), Buddha (1972-83), Message to Adolf (1983-85) and Ludwig B (1987-89). For more information, I’d recommend tezukainenglish.com.
Another brilliant classic is Lone Wolf and Cub by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima. Telling the story of an assassin for hire, traveling with his 3 year old son during the late shogunate era, it displays powerful storytelling with sympathetic characters and art that I can only describe as a blend of manga and traditional Japanese artwork. Its influence on manga aimed at adult men (seinen) cannot be understated.
It is also worth noting that Seven Seas has been releasing several classic manga series with works by Leiji Matsumoto (Captain Harlock and Space Battleship Yamato), Go Nagai (Devilman and Cutie Honey) and even a work by Riyoko Ikeda (Claudine). All of these authors have had an immense impact on the world of manga and their works deserve to be read, studied and, most of all, enjoyed.
Hopefully you have found this article interesting and informative and, if you wish to seek any of the works I mentioned, don’t hesitate to use bookdepository.com for all of your needs!
Love this blog! All too often all I saw in the manga community was shallow ignoarance to older series. I love that the main publishers are focusing on giving us good quality oldies as you mentioned, as I wouldn’t have been able to read them otherwise. I’ve also noted a lot of Year 24 group works being published and re-published and I aim to pick those up too
Thanks! That means a lot! Yeah, it always disappoints me when people reject a series simply because it is old. Yeah I really want to pick up more Year 24 works.
Gotta respect the classics! I’ve got nothing but love for the groundwork these legendary mangaka have laid down.
I’ve been watching a lot of samurai movies in the last month or so and I’ve been checking out the Lone Wolf and Cub movies from Criterion’s blu-ray box set every now and then. When I finally see all of ’em I plan to finally read it digitally through comixology.
I have yet to see the Lone Wolf and Cub films but I would love to. Just gotta find it affordably!