The Mangasplaining Podcast
The Mangasplaining podcast is a weekly manga-themed podcast in which hosts Deb Aoki, David Brothers, and Christopher Butcher, suggest great manga for comics creator Chip Zdarsky to read for the first time. Want to read great manga along with us? Here’s what we’ll be reading:
Ep. 25: AKIRA Vol 2, by Katsuhiro Otomo. Published by Kodansha (August 4th)
Ep. 26: Mangasplaining Season 1 in Recap Episode! (August 11th)
Season 2
S2e1: Phoenix: Future, by Osamu Tezuka. Published by VIZ Media (September 7th)
S2e2: Spy x Family vol. 1 by Tatsuya Endo. Published by Shonen Jump / VIZ Media (September 14)
S2e3: Tsutomu Nihei + chapter 1 sampler: Noise!, BLAME!, Knights of Sidonia, Aposizms published by Kodansha, Biomega published by VIZ Media (September 21)
S2e4: An Invitation From a Crab by panpanya. Published by Denpa Books (September 28)
Find these books at your local comic/manga specialty shop or independent bookstore or maybe even your local library!
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I think “Girls’ Last Tour” would be an interesting series to try.
Blame! could also be a unique read
Hey F4:
Really been enjoying all the episodes so far. It’s great to hear from someone like Chip who is (was) new to manga. One thing I would like to hear a bit is how or when (a) western comics (art style or story telling) compares. The reason is tried as I might, I am unable to enjoy most “main stream” superhero western comics. Something in the way it is drawn, paneled, or themed almost always put me either to sleep (except great indies like Love and Rocket, Bone, or the recent anthology Flight), or worse, a chore (to this date I could not finish reading Miller’s Ronin, V for Vendetta, and especially Watchmen which I found grossly pretensious). However, I do recognize the history and power of all the great artists from Kirby to Dave Stevens. Can someone especially like David or Chip who works within the industry, enlighten or recommend something within western comics that compares favorably to the manga title of discussion? (It doesn’t have to be full frontal defense. I’m not looking for an argument; just something to help me keep my mind open)
That’s a really interesting idea, JW. We’ll consider it for future episodes!
Hi, just found the podcast ( through Chip being on War Rocket Ajax) and I can see I have a lot to look forward to. Would like to hear your thoughts on Miyazaki’s Nausicca. Given his name recognition beyond manga and comics it seems like a good start. Would also recommend books by Naoki Urasawa and Akiko Higashimura to many people. I guess that’s part of the process, who do you recommend what to? I’m loving Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction presently, because it feels like going to school in Belfast in the 1970s. My sister thinks it’s good, but couldn’t read past the first volume for the same reason. I like JWs suggestion above to tailor western comics suggestions to the manga under discussion, ‘if you like this, you might like that’ for that reason.
Love all three of those authors, and I’m sure they’ll be popping up on the podcast sooner or later…! Thanks for listening. 🙂
I’m sure you get no shortage of recommendations, but here goes. It seems to me a lot of the manga Chip read are not of the most “polished” variety. This is strange because back in the days I used to complain how the US only publishes the pretty ones and not the edgier stuff. So how about some old tried and true (unless Chip had already read them): Lone Wolf and Cub for the power in the pen strokes, Crying Freeman for the composite craftsmanship, and Hino Tori for the historical significance. More recent: Pluto, Vinland Saga, Vagabond, Brides Story, Witch Hat Atelier, Ancient Magus Bride, Berserk (later volumes anyway), Death Note, Golden Kamuy, Battle Angel (Last Order), and Prison School (may be World’s End Harem or Food Wars… I think Chip really needs to read sexy which is such a big part of manga). The titles are relatively well known, but the artwork is too stunning to be shaded by popularity bias. Then there’s Dorohedoro because it’s the closest plug in to a fever brain (and therefore beautiful beyond conventions). Oh, thanks about alerting me to Shiori Experience!
Hi there! Just wanted to let you know that we discuss your comment in our upcoming 20th episode, which is itself… A Bride’s Story! 😀 We talk about this idea a lot. 🙂 Thanks for your comment!
Just want to add: Since your recommendation of Shiori Experience last month, I have purchased all the volumes up to 15 from Japan and burnt through all of them in two days (and working through the English scanlations as well)…. There have been countless manga over the years (I’m in the second half of my 50s) whose visual power have completely destroyed my mind, but none came at such a concentrated rate. I found myself jumping and yelling again and again at the climax of various story arcs by a single panel spread as I flipped the page (or combination of panels). I can’t think of another music manga that is its equal at the impossible task of conveying music in a silent visual form. It’s just … pure genius. You’ve already mentioned the title to Chip, but may be you should give this one a little push (even if it’s not available commercially). Great art should not be corralled by lawyers, capitalism, or the likes of Jeff Bezos.
This is SO INCREDIBLE! Thanks so much for checking out Deb’s recommendation, and we’re glad you found a new manga to love!
Chip made an excellent pick with Way of the Househusband. Any chance he could start selecting a featured book regularly? Does that break the premise of the show?
Can’t think of a better way to learn about manga than for new readers to choose some of their own books!
Chip’s always welcome to recommend books. He may just surprise us again at some point. 🙂
Hey guys love the show like hearing your opinions on series i’ve read and pointing me to interesting series to check out really digging the inside baseball on the publishing, printing, and translations it’s like the onion ring in my french fries. If you want a series to jump in at volume three i would recommend yu yu hakusho if memory serves me thats right after he finishes his ordeal and starts his work as spirit detective and a good example of the tonal shift some jump series make to survive the weekly struggle, But i would defiantly suggest Gun Blaze West by Nobuhiro Nishiwaki of Rurouni Kenshin if’s a western about a boy who wanting to test his strength by finding the place beyond the west, oh and he never skipped leg day.
Interesting recommendations, thanks!