Zenpai Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 (edited) I always loved comic books (in the broader sense). I actually love them so much to the point I rarely ever read "regular" fiction novels. I even remember the very first day I read one. I was three, I was in a hotel room with my mother, and I started reading the Disney comic she'd just bought me - an Uncle Scrooge adventure called The Flying Dutchman. I know it was my first because I clearly remember treating both pages as if they were one and not understanding the story until my mother told me I should first read the entire first page before moving on to the second Ever since then, I have read all kinds of comic books: Brazilian (A turma da Mônica), Italian (Disney comics), Argentinian (Mafalda), French/Belgian (Astérix, Tintin, Lucky Luke), American comic strips (Calvin & Hobbes, Zits)... I only got into manga at age 11 when I read the Portuguese edition of Dragon Ball. American Graphic Novels (Ultimate Marvel, namely Ultimate Spider-Man) were the last genre I got into. The question I wanted to ask you all today is: which is your favorite kind of comic book? American comics? Manga? Comic strips? Some other, such as French comics? (I realize I'm lumping all comics from other countries in a single answer on the poll, but there are way too many countries and American comics and manga are by far the more popular kinds of comic books - comic strips are also a very popular and very particular kind of comic book). To me, it's a difficult question to answer because I just really like comics books, independently of where they come from. They kind of all have their advantages and disadvantages. Manga may win with me by a very, very slight edge. I love that there's all kinds of stories to be enjoyed, many are extremely engrossing, and the fact that they almost always have the same writer and artist beginning to end (and they frequently are one and the same!) gives it a very creator-owned feel - like the manga lives as long as the author feels like writing it - or is pressured into writing it, as so often happens (though it can also die very quickly if it's not popular enough). Still, it has some disadvantages on the technical side - manga is produced on the cheap, frequently with very tight schedules and almost always in monochrome. The paper in the collected editions is also very cheap and easily yellows. The fact that many are produced weekly can be a double-edged sword - you get more story, but sometimes this affects the author's ability to properly mull it over - though some mangaka do function extremely well under pressure and the story can sometimes even benefit from it. The weekly serialization can also take a serious toll on your shelf space The art quality can vary a lot depending on the artist. Some manga have a simpler style, some are more artsy and different, but most are beautifully drawn, with dynamic and eye-popping artwork. Though the art does suffer from almost always being in monochrome. American comics can also also have extremely interesting stories. To me, they shine the most in their art and technical aspects: the artwork is almost always extremely detailed, the colors are vibrant and the paper quality is top-notch. They do suffer from lack of variety, though. While there are all kinds of graphic novels, the American market is flooded to the brim with the super-hero genre. The same characters from 30, 40, 50 years ago are constantly being used, reused, recycled and rebooted by a variety of different writers and artists, which obviously results in a decrease in coherence and general storytelling quality. Comic strips are a bit of their own thing. They're cheap, but they're kind of overtly cheap. They're mostly used for comedy but are sometimes used for more serious effect. Like most manga, they also generally live and die with their creator(s). They're also a bit different in that they're the more international of the group. Comic strips can come from anywhere in the world. The art is generally a lot more simple than both comics and manga. French/Belgian comics also have quite a bit of variety in their stories. They are produced at a much slower rate and don't rely too much on the same heroes/characters. They also generally have the same authors and artists, though this can occasionally change. The books' print size is pretty big and they're all printed in color in very nice paper, generally in hardcover. The art styles can vary wildly, though they tend to be simpler and more "round". A lot of them are also very "artsy". Well, I guess that's enough out of me. I picked manga by a very slight margin but I think all comic books have their own, unique charm. Actually, my ideal comic book would be something like this bad boy... The story quality of a manga, the technical quality of an American comic and the size of a French comic. Give me more of these and I can die happy (more coming May 2016!!!). So, what about you guys? What's your favorite kind of comic book? Edited October 24, 2015 by jrdemr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asuka Langley Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 (edited) I picked this up when I picked up copies of Saga and Wayward, it's pretty good, so my vote goes to comics Edited October 23, 2015 by Lillybuk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30 Year Old Boomer Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I personally like them both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zorry777 Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Like manga better - could never get into comics since I was young Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skiptracing Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I've been into manga lately but I like both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avatar_Of_Battle Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 Well it's in the poll so I guess it's not spam to talk about it lol. I chose regular books. To answer the OP's question though from what I've seen I would have chosen Manga over Comics at one point. I was never into comics. Many of the people I knew read comics, mainly Marvel/DC, but I could never get into them. To be honest I don't like the art styles used either. There are a few I want to try but I just don't have the desire to focus any of my time on them. I used to be into manga. I've read shounen and seinen and honestly my like for manga is gone. I don't remember how many series I've read, and attempted to get into, but as it stands I just get sick to death of most MC's and it ruins the entire series for me. As it is I prefer anime (NOT FILLERS) to the manga nowadays. Any reason I give to liking books more is just going to sound bad so I'll just say that for myself, books are the best option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nagflar Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I've read comics far longer than I've read mango, but I honestly wouldn't pick one over the other. Same goes for comic strips. They both have their pros and cons, but what makes either good is not whether they're one or the other, but who is working on them. Sandman's great because Gaiman's an amazing writer and he's had the joy of having a crapton of talented people draw his stories. Berserk and Monster are incredible because of Kentaro Miura and Naoki Urasawa respectively. Those works aren't inherentely good because they're comics/mangos but because of those involved in their creation. It's the same way a movie, TV show or animu is shaped by its director (and to a lesser degree the screenwriter, among others): it's not good just because it is, but because of the people who worked on it and came up with what makes it good. As a final note, I don't think Asterix, Tin Tin, etc. classify as something other than a "comic book" outside of, maybe, the release format. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipknot_rooney Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I read DC comics, mostly Batman but I love Aquaman so much since I started reading, Swamp Thing is also awesome and I read The Flash. I have some Marvel books, mostly Carnage, and one Spider-Man, which I need more of. Never read Manga though, I really dislike the whole Japanese/Anime art style thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DEMON Posted October 23, 2015 Share Posted October 23, 2015 I don't really read much. Comics/Manga are only really something I read if I'm gifted them or something, I otherwise don't really care enough to start collecting them myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EctoCooler_87 Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 (edited) Ah, to go back to 2005-2006, when manga first became truly mainstream (or close to it), and everyone was dissing the inferior baka gaijin comics in favor of the rich complex art and storytelling and the glorious nippon, so much that every wannabe manga artist would copy every stock chibi expression/story element/high school setting as if they were the gateway to instant complexity. But to answer your question, both have elements I like and dislike. I often prefer the comic-style of storytelling and layout over the every other page is a splashpage that many manga succumb to, but I've also been a fan of the way many japanese artists can hit the sweet spot between realistic/cartoony with their characters. Edited October 24, 2015 by EctoCooler_87 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunsetHysteria Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 I love reading in general. Novels, autobiographies; if it's interesting then I'll pick it up. I voted for comics mainly because I have been into them recently, but I can't say which I enjoy more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NekoSlash Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 I have no preferred format. For me a comic is a manga, and a manga is a comic. It's a question I've got often: "Do you prefer comics, manga or bande dessinée (i.e. French/Belgian style format) ?" All I say is "Well, I don't care, as long as the story is good." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feral Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 (edited) I've only ever been into comics but I don't really read or buy them anymore. Edited December 20, 2015 by feral611 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satoshi Ookami Posted October 24, 2015 Share Posted October 24, 2015 Well, obviously manga, even though I'm seriously behind all series (with the exception of all 3 Mahouka manga =D) I read... It's also been a while since I read something new... too busy with LN anime adaptations As for comics... that's pretty interesting... I wouldn't say I'm particularly interested in them but I quite enjoy their adaptations. Either live action movies, their animated adaptations or obviously anime (I have seen all MARVEL anime adaptations but Blade, tehe~). But I can't say I would read them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corcevado Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 I love comic books from Marvell or Dark Horse Comics; Star Wars, Marvell heroes comics, also Walking Dead.. I never read anime books; only Dragon Ball books.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N7RiotDragon Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 Me personally I like them both equally...granted it has to be titles I am interested in. But I also enjoy regular books as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yami Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 Any kind of reading material except for super hero comics, they suck imo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheVader66 Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 I love both Comics and Manga but I have to say I love Comics more especially DC like I love Forever Evil for example or Blackest Night but Marvel also did a wonderfull job with the Civil War comic which is one of my favorites comics out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlver Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 I prefer reading books in the first place, then comics and very close manga, but I would prefer watching tha anime because for me the music is very important. Just no super-heroes comics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edunstar84 Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 I love manga. I always have. My fave are those written by Yu Watase: Alice 19th, Imadoki, Absolute Boyfriend and more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bart_brock Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 I personally prefer manga, I have only read a few comics so yeah. I love the Clannad and Chobits manga so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuffyZorugelion Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 (edited) I actually haven't read many comics so I have to say manga. Most of the comics I've tried have been boring so I think I've probably read the wrong ones. I've been meaning to try Fables. Edited December 20, 2015 by LovesAnInjection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zenpai Posted December 20, 2015 Author Share Posted December 20, 2015 I prefer reading books in the first place, then comics and very close manga, but I would prefer watching tha anime because for me the music is very important. Just no super-heroes comics. Anime complements the manga due to its addition of movement, acting and music, and I actually believe you've never had the full experience until you've both read the manga and watched the anime. Still, anime adaptations frequently change and/or add pointless stuff to the original, so generally, if I had to choose, I'd still choose the manga, which has the original author's vision - no more, no less. Though recently, anime adaptations have become a lot better, more closely following the original and adding (virtually) nothing else, so the difference in actual storytelling has become a lot more blurred. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satoshi Ookami Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 Anime complements the manga due to its addition of movement, acting and music, and I actually believe you've never had the full experience until you've both read the manga and watched the anime. Still, anime adaptations frequently change and/or add pointless stuff to the original, so generally, if I had to choose, I'd still choose the manga, which has the original author's vision - no more, no less. Though recently, anime adaptations have become a lot better, more closely following the original and adding (virtually) nothing else, so the difference in actual storytelling has become a lot more blurred. B-But, manga does not have HanaKana! (Well it does, but that's only in my head ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annare_ Posted December 20, 2015 Share Posted December 20, 2015 Comics, nothing beats Batman and MARVEL, especially now with the Star Wars comics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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