Teens in North America can’t get enough of manga, the Japanese term for comic books. Stories and characters in the current pop culture trend can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages and backgrounds. You should, however, educate yourself on manga reading. Read this article to make sure you’re understanding the manga panels correctly.
What is Manga?
The Western world uses the Japanese word manga to refer to Japanese comic books in English. It’s not like your typical superhero comics, but the narrative structure is reminiscent of works like The Walking Dead.
Keep in mind that there is also Ameri-Manga. This manga is written in a Japanese manner by American authors. In general, there aren’t many distinctions between these manga subgenres, but the authors’ histories do play a big role in shaping the stories they tell.
How to Read Manga Panels?
The average American has a hard time picking up a volume of original Japanese manga and reading it correctly on the first try. They have a hard time following the panels, so it’s important for them to know how the story will unfold before they start reading.
If you want to read Manga properly, follow these instructions:
Choosing a Manga
First, you’ll need to choose a manga to read from the profusion of options. We advise narrowing your search to a certain genre of interest, as there are literally many to choose from. Once you’ve settled on a certain subgenre, you may check out the best-selling manga collections in that area.
Fantasy fans, for instance, are eager to read Dragon Ball in digital form. If you’re like sci-fi, Ghost in the Shell is a good choice.
Getting Going
You may begin reading your chosen manga as soon as you locate it. If you decide on a series, though, it’s best to get in at the beginning. Most manga covers prominently display the issue number, making it easy to determine the order of the volumes.
Read from right to left
It’s immediately obvious that a manga is not written in the same style as an American novel. The spine of a manga should be on the right side, as opposed to the left side of graphic novels and publications created in Western culture.
Verify the title, author, and edition are all prominently displayed on the front cover before beginning. Unlike American texts, which are read from left to right, manga panels are read from right to left.
Thankfully, many American editions of manga have warnings on the left page to prevent you from reading them upside down.
Use the Information Panels
Keep in mind that, like in comic books, manga is presented in panels rather than paragraphs. Most panels feature a conversation between two characters, while some additionally have visuals and horizontal text.
The panels should be read from right to left and top to bottom, beginning at the top right corner. Flip the book over and read the right side first. If the panels are vertical, read the panel on the right-hand page that is highest.
The guidelines for the panels also apply to the text in the dialogue boxes between the characters. The dialogue bubbles should be read from right to left, beginning with the one at the far right of each panel.
In addition, familiarity with certain stylistic tendencies is crucial. For instance, a black-background panel typically represents a flashback. While not universally true, this is a prevalent practice among manga authors.
Understand the Feelings of the Characters
The ability to read the emotions of the characters is fundamental to enjoying manga. You may learn as you go, but there are some basics you should be aware of first.
The sigh bubble is a common emoticon representing either relief or annoyance. Blushes and grins show how delighted or embarrassed a character is.
You can’t take everything in a manga series at face value. If you get a nosebleed, it may not be coming from your nose. Instead, it’s an indication of sexual desire. Sweaty palms are also a universal symbol of shame.
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