When exploring the world of manga, it is very easy to get caught up in mainstream manga. Titles like Naruto, My Hero Academia and Attack on Titan are certainly entertaining series but, after a while, you burn out and begin to ask questions such as “Do I still like manga?” or “Should I move onto another medium?” The answer I found was to begin branching out to manga off the beaten path. Seinen and Josei titles certainly demonstrate the variety that can be found in this medium but nothing proves this better than experimental manga!
But what is experimental manga? Also known as alternative manga, they are often avant-garde, featuring unusual art-styles and cover themes not found in mainstream manga. Magazines that feature these works often eschew the common practice of defining themselves by demographics such as Shonen, Shojo, Seinen or Josei (although to be honest, most experimental manga would probably fall into the categories of either Seinen or Josei).
Famous experimental manga magazines include Garo, COM, Manga Erotics F and Ax and featured creators such as Sanpei Shirato who used manga to discuss Marxism, the legendary Osamu Tezuka who used his experimental manga magazine, COM, to tell a story of reincarnation and immortality and many Gekiga creators who saw these magazines as the perfect way to share their more realistic art and gritty themes.
However, getting your hands on these titles is easier said than done. Niche even in Japan, many experimental titles have never been officially translated into English with many publishers preferring to release more mainstream manga. However, there are a few publishers who have been willing to release these titles in the West.
Vertical have translated and published a variety of titles from Manga Erotics F such as Lychee Light Club, A Girl on the Shore, Velveteen & Mandala and Utsubora: The Story of a Novelist (Check out my review here!). Viz Media has also released some Manga Erotics F such as Ristorante Paradiso and Sweet Blue Flowers.
Viz Media have also released Osamu Tezuka’s Phoenix although it has long been out of print. Drawn and Quarterly have published several Yoshihiro Tatsumi titles from the early days of gekiga. While gekiga later experienced mainstream acceptance, these titles predated this. Fantagraphics have also released a variety of experimental manga.
I understand that experimental manga may not be for everyone but, nonetheless, I would encourage manga enthusiasts to seek these out and to experience what the medium can achieve. Let me know what experimental manga you have read and if any of them have become your favourites.
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!