The Young Adult Library Services Association published its list of Best Graphic Novels for Teens for the years 2011, and the soon-to-be-released Mangaman makes the cut!
“Fantastic—in every sense of the word! Lyga and Doran have created an eye-popping fun-ride through the comics traditions of East and West. Fans of both comics and manga will love Mangaman. Colleen Doran’s encyclopedic, rapid-fire grasp of manga conventions blows my mind!”—Jeff Smith, author of Bone
“This is a wonderful, funny, touching story about the ultimate outsider seeking adventure and love within the borders that surround us all. There’s some seriously innovative storytelling going on here, and the artwork is sensational. If you’re looking for a fun read, a romp, a rollicking good time…then seriously: buy this book.” —J. Michael Straczynski, New York Times Bestselling author of Superman: Earth One
Ryoko, a manga character from a manga world, falls through the Rip into the “real” world—the western world—and tries to survive as the ultimate outsider at a typical American high school.
When Ryoko falls in love with Marissa Montaigne, the most beautiful girl in the school, his eyes turn to hearts and comic tension tightens as his way of being drawn and expressing himself clashes with this different Western world in which he is stuck in. “Panel-holed” for being different, Ryoko has to figure out how to get back to his manga world, back through the Rip . . . all while he has hearts for eyes for a girl from the wrong kind of comic book.
Barry Lyga writes a metafictive masterpiece as manga meets traditional Western comic book style, while Colleen Doran combines manga techniques and conventions with Western comic book
The panel was given a preview copy of our new graphic novel, and we are so happy they’ve chosen our book for consideration. Congratulations to all the nominees!
Ask for Mangaman at your local comic shop, or preorder it via your bookstore or online.
The new graphic novel written by best selling Young Adult author Barry Lyga, creator of The Adventures of Fanboy and Gothgirl, Archvillain, Boy Toy, and Goth Girl Rising, and Colleen Doran (you’re at her website,) is a “A metafictive masterpiece in which manga meets traditional Western comic book style, with artist Colleen Doran combining manga techniques and conventions with Western comic book storytelling to create a unique, seamless — though not Ripless — graphic novel hybrid that is by turns hilarious and heartbreaking.”
This book is completed and in house at publisher Houghton Mifflin and will be for sale in November! I’m so excited, I dance and squee! That’s hard to do while you type!
Sci-fi adventure meets love story—and East meets West—in Mangaman, an original graphic novel for teens.
Ryoko, a manga character from a manga world, falls through the Rip into the “real” world—the western world—and tries to survive as the ultimate outsider at a typical American high school.When Ryoko falls in love with Marissa Montaigne, the most beautiful girl in the school, his eyes turn to hearts and comic tension tightens as his way of being drawn and expressing himself clashes with this different Western world in which he is stuck in. “Panel-holed” for being different, Ryoko has to figure out how to get back to his manga world, back through the Rip . . . all while he has hearts for eyes for a girl from the wrong kind of comic book.
CHECK OUT THE SLIDE SHOW for more preview and art from the book! And sign up for updates including a preview sample chapter!
The book is available for preorder from all the usual bookstore locations NOW!
Also, check out previews of my other new graphic novel Gone to Amerikay, new for 2012, from DC Vertigo. This 140 year epic adventure of Irish immigration is written by Eisner nominee Derek McCulloch. A must for the library and serious graphic novel reader.
For those who don’t get the joke on this page, there is a famous Japanese comic entitled The Rose of Versailles, by Riyoko Ikeda. This work is among my greatest influences. The “man” in the scene in panel 1 is a reference to the main character from Rose of Versailles, Lady Oscar, a girl who is raised by her father to be a guard in Marie Antoinette’s court.
So, the “man” getting a smootch is no man at all.
The Rose of Versailles has never been published in a US edition, though in the 1980′s, an edition was published for Japanese students of English. Adapted by Fred Schodt, this was my introduction to the series, which I purchased at a Japanese book store in New York City.
I also had laserdiscs of the anime series, and once had a very poor quality video tape of the rare Jacques Demme live action version. It’s not a particularly good adaptation, but I treasured it anyway. I have had no luck getting a replacement: it seems unavailable except in Italy.
I was so enamored of Lady Oscar, I kept my long blonde hair curled and wore uniform jackets for years. I thought I looked dandy. When I first went to Japan and visited Takarazuka (known for its all female theater company which produced a stage version of The Rose of Versailles,) people told me I looked like Lady Oscar and I did not have to prompt them. I have been dining out on this ever since.
I have a nice letter I received from Riyoko Ikeda, which is a great treasure to me; she is one of my great cartooning idols.
Ms Ikeda still makes comics, and also performs as an operatic singer. Here is her official website and here is her English language fan site.
With most sincere thanks to Meredith Randazzo! Your generosity is deeply appreciated!
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