Mangasia: The Definitive Guide to Asian Comics

A fascinating and authoritative survey of manga's impact on the kaleidoscope of creativity and cross-pollination that is Asia's comics industry

Brimming with vibrant reproductions of rarely seen comic art from all across Asia, Mangasia is a fascinating and authoritative survey of manga's impact on the kaleidoscope of creativity and cross-pollination that is Asia's comics industry. Paul Gravett charts the manga style as it travels throughout Asia, detailing the changes in its defining myths and themes as it evolves into the multi-platform industry we see today.

He tracks the genre from its roots in 19th-century Japan through to rapidly-growing branches in China and Korea, and pinpoints new blossoms in regions as far flung as Indonesia and Mongolia. Indispensable maps and timelines present key dates, locations and events at a glance, allowing instant comparison of different countries' evolving styles. A beautiful and engaging volume, Mangasia is the ultimate companion for manga fans around the world.

'A fat and lushly illustrated volume that is as likely to work for fans of manga as for those who remain entirely baffled by it'
Observer

'A rich overview of the evolution of a distinct and vital visual culture and its origins'
ArtReview Asia

Contents List

1. Mapping Mangasia • 2. Fable + Folklore • 3. Recreating + Revising the Past • 4. Stories + Storytellers • 5. Censorship + Sensibility • 6. Multimedia Mangasia

About the Author

Paul Gravett is a writer, critic, curator, publisher and broadcaster who has been working in the comics industry since 1981. He is author of many books about comics, including Manga: Sixty Years of Japanese Comics, Graphic Novels: Stories to Change Your Life and Comics Art, and was general editor of 1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die. He is co-director of Comica, the London International Comics Festival.