Christmas Manga
December 11, 2008 by Kelly Baron
Filed under Features
If you’ve been blessed with a nerdy sibling who enjoys reading manga instead of playing basement Guitar Hero like the rest of their underachieving friends, show them your appreciation this Christmas with a stocking full of volume ones to keep their addiction going.
Need more convincing? You got it. I’ll start off by announcing that nobody has ever entered the world of manga with more skepticism than yours truly. I wrote the entire concept off immediately as being immature and predictable. The style didn’t interest me, nor did any of the plotlines. But that sort of assumption is bound to crop up when one doesn’t give a work of art a chance. And now that I’ve been exposed to manga, I must say—this is art. In my opinion, Japanese graphic novels blow their American equivalents out of the water for the most part. The plotlines for the action stories always border on epic, and the illustrations never fail to knock the wind out of my chest.
So, maybe you should quit your condescension toward your manga-addicted sibling and give in to your curiosity. I’ve compiled a diverse list of dynamic manga to whet the appetite of your brother-in-the-know who just can’t get enough. These nine graphic novels stretch across the fields of both audience and storyline. We have manga here for the 13+ crowd, as well as the “mature” crowd. The storylines deal with everything from vampires to albinos, and drug busts to sexual confusion. Just give in and glance over the synopses. Maybe you’ll be filling your own stocking with these little gems after all. Merry Christmas, kids!
Full Metal Alchemist (Hiromu Arakawa, Rated T)
Let’s start with the basics. Any Cartoon Network fan will know that Full Metal Alchemist has taken off at full speed in terms of popularity. This manga revolves around two brothers who discover the power of alchemy, “a mystical power to alter the natural world.” One brother has become a tool of the government, due to the fact that alchemy has corrupted the entire world. A comment on humans’ tendency to abuse power the second it is discovered, Full Metal Alchemist is a staple for anyone who hungers for a little ruthlessness in their daily dose of manga. Honestly, who doesn’t?
Totally Captivated (Hajin Yoo, Rated 16+)
The cover of Totally Captivated had that exact effect on me. I was completely taken with the blatant sexuality of the shaggy-haired, cigarette-smoking boy in the white sheets with an open shirt and come-hither eyes, surrounded by red roses. Little did I know that a story involving the mafia was at the center of this sexy, beautifully-illustrated little number. Here we have Ewon, who is tricked into working for the mafia. He soon finds out that his ex-girlfriend got him into this trap out of jealousy (apparently he was a bit adulterous during their affair). The mafia leader, Mookyul, adds more sexual tension as the dangerous hunk who takes a liking to Ewon. Yummy, darlings. Simply yummy.
Switch (naked ape [Saki Otoh & Nakamura Tomomi], Rated T+)
Dragon Speed. What does that sound like to you? A racecar? Wrong. The name of Angelina Jolie’s next child? Wrong. A deathly drug on the cusp of corrupting any and all neighborhoods? Ding ding ding!! Switch tells the story of Kai, the Greater Kanto Narcotics Control Division’s new investigator. He has been given the task of tracking the distribution of this new hype drug and runs into plenty of street fights along the way with his partner, Hal. This will add a little modernity to the graphic novel world of violence. Drugs and guns spell success, people.
Sola (art: Chaco Abeno, story: Naoki Hisaya, character design: Naru Nanao, Rated 13+)
Something a little bit gentler for our younger manga friends, Sola follows the life of Yorito, a high schooler with his head in the clouds. He one day meets Matsuri, who cannot be exposed to sunlight and has essentially lived her entire life in the shade. But before we settle into the story of a sad albino and her daydreaming best friend, we find out that Matsuri is actually being thrust into a fantasy battle with a man bearing a sword. Your move, Yorito!
Vagabond (Takehiko Inoue, Rated M)
To really score points this Christmas, invest in this three-volumes-in-one manga by world-renowned Japanese artist, Takehiko Inoue. This manga revolves around the most famous samurai in all of Japanese history (yes, real history), Miyamoto Musashi. We see him here as a young, wild teen. This seems to follow the typical story of “unpredictable yet powerful teenager must choose the path of enlightenment or abyss.” But Takehiko Inoue knows what he’s doing, and the illustration alone is worth the investment. This one is pretty much a safe bet for any manga fan.
Vanilla (Riyu Yamakami, Rated 18+)
To veer off the path of action, I chose a more mature piece for those of us who are hungry for more romantic drama as opposed to bloody drama. Ichiru Morio, a 17-year-old high schoolers, notices that he isn’t having the same draw towards women that his classmates are. He is confused and pretty much keeps to himself about the situation. Until his extremely standoffish chemistry teacher catches his eye, that is. Self-discovery and inner conflict compose the power of this tale of sexual confusion and discovery of human cruelty.
Model (Lee So-Young, Rated 13+)
What would a manga feature be without the inclusion of a vampire story? I need a little romance mixed with my horror once in a while, personally. I think we’re all violently attracted to the sexual tension present in all vampire stories. Jae, a struggling art student, meets Michael, a, um… well, a vampire. Jae’s curiosity is passionate enough to spur on volume after volume in this gorgeous manga. The vampires are surreally beautiful and the design of the mansion is breathtaking.
The Art of Miyazaki’s Spirited Away (Studio Ghibli Library, NR)
Okay, so I’m cheating here a little. This isn’t exactly a graphic novel by any means. But manga fans are inevitably anime fans. And any anime fan will tell you who Hayao Miyazaki is, and almost any film lover will tell you what Spirited Away is. Arguably one of cinema’s most genius and beautiful creations, Spirited Away further cemented Miyazaki’s reputation as a visual and emotional mastermind. This picture-packed book articulates Miyazaki’s artistic process in designing the fantastic world in the highly acclaimed film. A must-have for any film/anime buff (P.S.—the script is included! How cool is that?)
Watchmen (Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons, NR)
Yeah, I’m cheating again. So, this isn’t technically a manga, but it is a graphic novel. And this is arguably the must-have graphic novel of all graphic novels this year. Time Magazine named this one of its 100 best novels. NOVELS. That means… literature included. Whoa. This graphic novel goes beyond pure pulp and delves into the complex psyches of its characters. And seeing as its film equivalent is coming out soon, I thought it absolutely necessary to include this in the Christmas list to end all Christmas lists. Get it and read it QUICK before all of your friends do! That way you can brag first.
I hope this list will help you put together your own package for your loved ones, or for yourself. Treat yourself this year, you deserve it!
Happy Holidays, everyone!
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