Mangaphobia is a common but little-understood condition among comics readers. Many readers are unaware they suffer from it, but if left untreated, mangaphobia can result in stunted intellectual growth, creative tunnel vision, and eventual paralysis of the diversity impulse. As a public service during Manga Month, Dark Horse Comics would like to offer some guidelines on how to recognize and treat mangaphobia.

DO YOU SUFFER FROM MANGAPHOBIA? KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS!

Read the following questions and count the number you would answer "yes" to.

Do you pass over a comic simply because:

  • 1. The interiors are black and white?
  • 2. The characters have "big eyes"?
  • 3. There are "speed lines" in the artwork?
  • 4. There appears to be Japanese writing on the cover?

Do you feel that:

  • 5. Manga stories move too slow?
  • 6. Manga stories move too fast?
  • 7. Manga is for kids?
  • 8. Manga isn't "real comics?"

How many did you answer "yes" to?

  • 1-2: This may be a sign of the early stages of mangaphobia.
  • 3-5: There is a good chance you currently suffer from mangaphobia.
  • 6-8: You are in need of immediate treatment for mangaphobia.

DON'T GIVE UP HOPE! THIS CONDITION IS TREATABLE!

An informed reader has the best chance for recovery. Memorize the following facts:

1. Black-and-white art displays the illustrator's talents in a way color art does not. In black-and-white the illustration is laid bare for all to see.

2. Not all manga contains "big eyes" or "speed lines." When used, these design features heighten the emotional impact of the art. Emotional content can be initially unsettling, but it makes for a more enjoyable reading experience. It's nothing to be afraid of.

3. Exposing yourself to creative work from Japan will broaden your personal horizons and enjoyment of comics.

4. As a whole, manga comics move neither more slowly nor quickly than any other comics. Manga's subtle and indirect storytelling may throw a new reader off at first, but that's only a defensive response to unusual stimuli.

5. Some manga is for all ages, some is not. Manga's range of content encompasses everything from golfing to samurai dramas to cyberpunk.

6. In Japan comics are very much a part of the everyday culture -- much moreso than in the United States, for example. Japanese comics magazines (which can be the size of American phone books) sell millions of copies, and Japanese comics conventions are truly massive events. Manga is a legitimate, established comics form. Any other thinking is delusional.

NOW YOU KNOW THE FACTS! GET READING AND GET BETTER!

Armed with this knowledge, you should now read a manga comic. The following titles are suggested: Oh My Goddess!, Gunsmith Cats, Blade of the Immortal, and Drakuun. These titles are all available now from Dark Horse Comics. Read the manga slowly at first. Try to suppress any defensive reactions, and make an effort to study the fluid storytelling, the vivid characterizations, the craftsmanship on every page. Over time you will find yourself relaxing as you discover a new comics reading experience.

Ask your comics retailer for more information about mangaphobia and how to prevent it from leaving you in the creative void.

This message provided as a public service by Dark Horse Comics.