Manga Crushes Comics: 3 Reasons Why

[@harryegen1405]

Hi Regie. Been reading manga for over a decade and whoever wrote that article is overthinking things. It’s simple, Manga has good stories. There is more substance, variety and originality on average (in my opinion) than regurgitated origins of the same characters. Majority of the time the new characters are just variants of the original. A lot of mangaka’s spend years on their craft and it shows in the depth of the characters, the interactions, the world building and character development. I will say there may be some truth to the point on ease of onboarding however. I want to finish this by saying I still love comic books!!

[@DRPenha]

Manga has more originality and interesting proposals than comics. Then they sustain those crazy ideas with actual substance writting and drawing.

[@broseidoniii2645]

Those are all some great points, but I would argue that the main reason Manga is outdoing comics is the storytelling. Manga's provide various storytelling ranging from sports, magic, action, and such that it captures the attention of many fans depending on what they are into. Comics seem to have lacked in the past years in getting the readers attention. Nowadays, you don't hear comic fans, not readers, say "oh how did you like this series or this series was amazing". Now its more about "this exclusive is coming out, how much can I resell it for?". It seems that comic books are selling based on the art on the cover than what is inside the comic itself. I love both comics and manga, but lately I have been reading a lot more manga lately because the stories are amazing. Again, manga is not for everyone and the same can be for comics, but if comics want to be successful, writers need to create a storyline that will capture new and old readers rather than restarting, or recycling, the characters over and over again. For example, Silk is on what....volume 5 or 6 and the last volumes only last 5 books? Great video again Regie and can't wait for the next one!

[@RegieCollects]

This is helpful. I’ve been hearing that manga addresses a wider scope of topics and genres-maybe the way they comics did decades ago-and has compelling stories. I buy this more so than just a cost/convenience argument.

[@emeraldwarrior6621]

I feel like the linear storytelling is the reason I have sold my raw comics and have now begun to read manga. An the cost helps too, even graphic novels are more than most manga.

[@wrench246]

I think ease of onboarding is the main reason. You can read Naruto 1 and just continue from there. For comics you have reading order, continuity, multiverse, etc.

[@duubiousdisc]

​@nainshimpykh not true, all that stuff exists, but you could also just read a trade from volume 1 and you'd be fine 90% of the time. Some comics have reading order, but a lot of them just have one book that you need to buy(or obtain through other means). A great example is "Hawkeye the saga of Barton and Bishop", "Batman Hush", "Batman Under the Red hood" etc. Just because you don't know who x villain is doesn't fucking matter. Arguably the greatest comic book villain of all time, the Joker, doesn't even have a canon backstory. Not enough people understand that you can just pick up a book and read it, that's how everyone who reads comics got started. Once you understand that, its way easier to read comic books, then it is to read 700 chapters of naruto, not to mention 1000 chapters of one piece, which you have to read in sequential order. Comics are designed to be read out of order, that's what makes them so accessible. They're just very bad at marketing it.

[@Theunloved1738]

@@duubiousdiscto be honest, 700 chapters and 1000 chapters aren’t that bad. I started reading one piece back in September of 2023 and I easily caught up by march of this year. The problem with comics is because it’s so convoluted and connected together it’s hard to be captured in the world when certain characters, even story lines, won’t make sense unless you read “issues 18-26 of this series” or if you want to know why this is the way it is you have to read “issues 67-89 of this series” it just becomes so overwhelming. Sure Naruto and one piece are notoriously long but (aside from one piece as of this comment) it has a beginning and an end. Everything you need to know about a manga series is in volumes 1 to how ever long it is. The thing is Sasukes story is only an added bonus but you don’t HAVE to read it in order to understand sasuke as a character, it’s primarily just the cherry on top. Same with the one piece light novels, it’s available and has it own story but you can completely skip those books and still understand one piece solely by reading it’s respective manga. With how old comics, especially marvel and dc, with numerous reboots, retellings, re-….uh anything, it gets so confusing for someone starting and each issue can run into the issue of not feeling like the same story or character even though it’s about the same character, not to mention crucial character moments that only appear in other series you HAVE to read in order to even know that happened. And that’s not even accounting the fact that FINDING where said crucial moments actually occurred.

[@skcatch]

I read both manga and comics. I think it sales a lot because of anime and other factors. All these really popular animes also have manga(which animes are usually based off of). When watching anime I really enjoy I sometimes read the manga because the season has ended and I'm impatient and want to know what's happening next and sometimes read the manga to see how faithful it is to the source material. There are also genres of manga for everyone, no matter what you're into you can find something interesting. This is getting a little lengthy, so my last guess is that, there are actual endings to these stories. Unlike American comics that use the same characters for 50,60,70,80 years(if not longer) and you can easily find another manga to take the place of the one you just finished, even though the story might be similar you can experience new characters/situations.

[@Claude-wd8hi]

I read invincible the walking dead Kick-Ass... Without any continuity problems

[@leemarko]

When comics are selling really well it's because kids are buying comics. More kids these days enjoy the characters and storytelling they get in manga. A school librarian could probably give you pretty great insight on this topic.

[@luxuriousmindset1906]

Yup and not 40-50 year old men speculators putting there books in slabs

[@glennsimpson_aka_bobbysaccaro]

I think...and somebody correct me here if I'm wrong...that the anime are closer to the manga in terms of consistent storylines than the MCU movies/tv shows are to those comics. That may be a big difference. Even just the fact that the anime is drawn and therefore "on model" with the manga might contribute.

[@ryuusaki7309]

Well that too we don’t really have a one to one adaption in the west maybe just maybe the recent Mario movie but that’s about it

[@jairacosta3804]

I definitely feel like the easy nature getting into a manga series is the main reason why manga is on the rise currently, I’m mainly a manga reader because it’s simple to get into for the most part there is only one story, universe, and general theme for the most manga I don’t have to do research on which of the hundreds of stories based on Batman, Spider-Man, or Superman would be an enjoyable read for me I just have read a couple chapters of a manga and if I like it I keep reading if not I move on, there’s no extra research required to get into manga

[@loumonoph]

Comics are too expensive for what you get. But I don't think it's simple stories why manga is out selling comics it's that the stories are good. They have to be because if a manga does not sell, it gets canceled. In comics, if a book doesn't sell, they keep doing the same. Hoping for different results.

[@LuciferArc1]

Female avengers intensifies

[@vicmperez88]

Hey Regie, I'm so glad you've made this video...tbh I fell back on collecting and reading new comics lately. I've been reading more Manga and watching Anime. Manga stories are pretty straightforward for example, lf you liked the Naruto anime and wanted to read the manga, you can go grab Naruto vol 1. You dont have 14 different titles that all have Naruto in them. Comics has been oversaturated with stories after stories. Batman, Superman, Spider-man and others with endless reboots and revivals. The same story being rehashed and told in different fashions. Manga protagonists don't return with open ended endings or bore us with villain of the day storylines. Their is a beginning, a mid-body character development and growth arc. Also in Manga and Anime story telling there's not "too many hands in the pot" sort of speak there's not too many creators and artists working on one story. Just a hand full which keeps everything consistent. Price is not a huge issue for me it's just visual and story telling

[@shandar0159]

There is simple stories in manga, but there are very intricate storylines that are very esoteric. "Ghost in the Shell" is all about what makes a human...the body, mind, or soul; "Full Metal Alchemist " is about political corruption, artificial beings, and men encroaching on God's domain. It can also be extremely simple and deals with slice of life, relationships, and fan service. It is just that it puts story first, making you want to keep reading to find out what happens next. It gives fans what they want, it doesn't try to lecture you or subvert expectations. And you seldom see a story rewritten, unlike the 10 different batmans or race/genderswaps; unless it is an actual part of the story the lore is the lore. Do authors make mistakes? Yes, but by accident; not design. If a story is about a character, then that character is the main character; with a number of side characters. " One Piece " has its main characters, but has given the side characters fleshed out stories; but they are still side characters (Disney Starwars/Marvel ahem). Independent western comic writers are doing the same thing, but it is very expensive for them. The main studios are diluting their content with identity politics and condemning anyone who doesn't agree with them, the Japanese try to reach the most readers available and don't belittle their consumers.

[@kyleroussel]

I personally don't read Manga as I am too attached to my comic book faves, but there is no doubt that I have had to pare back my list of monthly comic book purchases due to cost. At $4.99 for a regular issue, and $7.99 for bigger one-shots, or $9.99 for a black label...yikes man. It's all about cost in this economy, and if the creators are getting more (LOL) then I'm glad, but at the end of the day there's only so much room in my budget for comics. I also feel like trade paperbacks provide a better reading experience since you don't have to wait a month (or more) for the next chapter. They also look bad ass when you build up a library! Convenience can also be a factor - I technically don't have an LCS. The shop I get my pulls from is an hour away and I only visit once every 6-8 weeks. But I can get trade paperbacks at the bookstore, or Amazon, who will drop it at my front door for free. At this point I still hold out for my monthly issues, but I'm not sure for how much longer. There's only so many long boxes I want piling up in my office. I'll go ahead and pre-emptively disagree with any notion that comics are getting slaughtered by Manga because of "wokeness" or whatever weaponized term we want to use. Manga books feature every type of character from every walk of life, as do comics. Again, I don't read Manga but I know folks who do, and having one ear to the ground makes this pretty clear. So I don't think Manga is taking comics to the woodshed because of "non-woke" stories. But I do like the notion of Manga being better at onboarding than comics. I know comics tries really hard with the constant "jumping on points" but they can never outrun the long shadow cast by 50, 60, 80 years of history for some characters. Great topic, Regie.

[@JeffreyWhelchel]

My daughter is definitely loving Manga more than American comics. In her case you can pull the money right out. She isn't buying them with her money so it's just because she likes the stories much better. I like modern manga. I also like a few modern comics. I'll buy practically anything Mike Mignola & his crew are involved in. But price wise, I'd rather pay $5 or $10 for a decent raw copy of a book from the 70s than most modern comics for the same price. Just enjoy those old stories much better. For example I recently bought 15 issues of the 70s comic Master of Kung Fu for $50.

[@imkidnappedandforcedtobeth7770]

To put it simply Volume 1 batman is a great detective fighting bad guys with a butler named Alfred Volume 1 anime protagonist is a weak student trying his best to survive with his pet cat Volume 100 batman is a great detective fighting bad guys with a butler named Alfred Volume 100 anime protagonist becomes the teacher with his pet cat now a dragon and his allies That is why what if comics do so well

[@Ghostin93]

As someone who got into Manga before as a kid long before American comics books, I think onboarding and ease of access is part of the reason. I think the decline of American comics books really started when Anime was pushed on television in the early 2000s(also while the American comic book crashed) and these were direct adaptations of the Manga. I vividly remember being drawn to the Manga in Barnes and Nobles at around 8 in the early 2000s because of this. Most people don't even know where to find a comic book let alone where to start reading. Which is why the few people that I know on the younger side only read Graphic novels because Barnes and Noble has tons lol.

[@philayling4398]

GOOD SHOW TY FOR THE INSIGHT

[@corytoon8447]

Reasons why Manga is out pacing Comics: IMO 1. Cheaper price point: I do agree with this to a point, but I would also add the quality of format. Paying 5 dollars for 32 pages V.S. 180-220 pages for 10 dollars. The smaller form factor of the manga makes them more durable and easier to carry with you. To Regie's point Trade PB and Hard Cover copies do represent more content per volume, but usually they are priced well above 10 dollars. 2. Even with the success of the Marvel Universe in particular; Manga seems to have a much larger following with the youth. I feel like this is the Toonami effect. Being a young adult or teen and watching shows like Yu Yu Hakusho, InuYasha, Gundam, Dragonball, ect. had more adult themes but were the natural progression of moving from Saturday morning cartoons. Also, with anime being in a serialized format it allows for more development of plot and character which helps engage the audience more fully and allows for the bond between character and viewer to be more fully realized. 3. Easy jumping on point: Manga are self-contained with little crossover between titles while Comics especially from the "Big Two" represent a universe of characters and story arcs. While I love Marvel and DC it is nice to be able to step into a smaller less chaotic universe. I think this is why comics such as Something is Killing the Children, Invincible, and other Indy titles do so well. Stories like My Hero, Demon Slayer, JuJutsu Kaisen all have rich story telling arcs with great world building but are contained to a dedicated story and timeline. 4. Quality of Story: This one will be contentious, but I feel like the quality of storytelling in modern comics is not as tight nor as compelling as the Manga. Some of this stems from the age of characters and knowing that in comics the stakes are never as high as they should be. There will always be an arc where the characters come back to life, or we see exact or close replicas of the characters from other universes take their place. For example, I love the DCeased story arc, but I can go pickup Batman and superman off the shelf and the DCesased story line is irrelevant. Conversely if Marvel or DC is having an event, I may miss content because I don't traditionally pickup certain titles making the reading experience somewhat inconsistent. Manga typically does not have this problem (Dragonball Universe I'm looking at you.) but instead tells a more liner story where character arcs can come to bittersweet ends and a lot of Manga have clear endings in mind. Even though some stories may span decades at some point the arcs are expected to conclude......for the most part .... again, Dragonball seems to be a huge exception to the rule here. 5. Respecting the fanbase: As stated in many of the earlier comments it does not seem that manga writers and artists are not as prone to belittle their target audiences due to social or cultural pressures. Instead it feels like manga artists and writers instead lean into their audience giving more fan service and saying FU to the social norms they are challenging all while finding other avenues to pursue diversity of thought. Manga doesn't seem to mind making people uncomfortable and that lends to more compelling writing when touching on subjects some audiences find Taboo. Manga seems to to know who there core audiences are and accept that their storytelling may not be for everyone but they never apologize for what they are doing and demographic they are looking to placate.

[@thomasduran325]

I would add the fact that many Manga are turned into Anime, and vice versa which can attract even more fans.

[@RegieCollects]

Marvel has the MCU movies and tv shows yet not the same success with publications. Put another way, there has to be more too it than tv, movies, cartoons. Right?

[@Tokkidance]

@@RegieCollects As someone who grew up watching marvel, dc, and anime series on TV; I can say that anime has a greater pull on the younger audience and easier to transition to manga reading simply because the stories are essentially one to one copies. In comics, I just don't have any idea where the story I watched when I was a child could be read. In addition, the opening and closing track for anime are just so so good and leave lasting memories, some of them even introduced me to some of my favorite singers and musicians today.

[@grimngruesome8988]

The #1 factor for me when i was a kid, was that you get WAY more in one manga volume than you get in one, thin, flimsy, comic issue. #2 is that there are much more tittles/franchises out there for manga, whereas for comics, most people can only name Marvel and DC and their repetitive and rewritten superhero safety net. There's more factors i can't think of off the top of my head right now, but you get my point.

[@1pirate]

The slow downfall of comics started in the 90s when they started making books for collectors. Variant covers, tons of remakes to sell issue 1 of each hero. Anything and everything they could do to raise the value of a comic in Beckett or Wizard or whatever price guide was most popular. Fans tuned out and either passed on the genre into adulthood or found anime and manga which was more pure, good stories and cheap/er because piracy is a thing and you could find weekly fan subs and translations online. Japan didn't/doesn't target the US market much, it targets their own domestic audience and the rest of the world was an after thought. However after piracy made anime and manga a wide spread phenomenon the companies behind them realized the money was in merch, not so much the books or anime episodes (maybe they always knew this but now could focus on merch sales abroad)

[@wrench246]

thanks for bringing up piracy. It's how I got into anime and manga. Now there are legal ways for me to watch anime

[@MyselfandComics]

I was going to add some insight, but a lot of people here already added some great insight that I was already going to say lol. Wanted to say the comment section did a great job.

[@midnightsnack1306]

My friend works for a school library and she tells me that one of the factors that led them to buy manga over comics are the manga box sets. They offer great value because of the lower cost per volume and more convenient to buy. Also manga stories are quite diverse, you have the simple stories like Pokémon to more complex and layered stories like Attack on Titan. So saying that manga have simple stories is a bad take.

[@RegieCollects]

The full video explained that simple referred to being unencumbered by decades of history, crossovers and retcons. Hope this helps.

[@cnote729]

Ahhhh another great discussion episode. Manga/anime (is there a difference? ) is a genre that's becoming increasingly popular. I noticed my best friend niece other friends are into Managa...popular titles I hear about Naruto, DragonBall etc. I think it's popular cause of the art the easy to follow stories its everywhere in video games, bookstores they have their own sections for dvds at stores, all over on streaming networks. Their style has crossed over into DC and Marvel (I bought dvds of). As far as comicbooks I can't get into it, but I kind of see why it's popular DC and Marvel could learn from them

[@robchung9324]

Hey there Reggie So I don't agree with the last two reasons but I do agree with the first reason which is that comic books as a whole the whole industry is too expensive I mean why not bring it back to the old days where everything was newsprint which was the cheapest printing available and drop the cover price I mean $3.99 cover price is just way too much for a 24-page story It should be somewhere in the realm of $1.50 because the problem is as comics evolved a lot of the printing methods evolved and they don't they no longer use newsprint anymore which would be cheaper and beneficial for everybody else also as a collector I think newsprint is better in the terms of degrading if not taken care of so therefore copies would be more sought after in higher conditions just food for thought but the other two reasons I disagree it's not about the stories it's not about distribution but definitely the price is just out of control

[@RegieCollects]

Can a writer, letterer, colorist, artist and publisher live off of $1.50 per issue? Especially when you consider that comics are discounted 30-40% to the comic shop so that they can make money? Thoughts?

[@robchung9324]

@@RegieCollects i see you point but certainly it would probably make a difference with newsprint vs the modern printing paper they currently use.. certainly somewhere a long the way there can be some sort of middle ground. I guess inflation is what it is

[@Tabris172015]

Manga is often released monthly via magazine in small snips, IE Shonen Jump. When 'proper' books come out there is months or years worth of material already out there. Also the artist/writer is often one in the same so it's highly creator driven and it's one focused story with characters and settings to match, there is no potentially expensive cross over or story shift to fit that. Also manga is not afraid to take chances with content. Marvel and DC are often doing 'social' themes or playing it safe. Manga covers the gambit from kids to adult and everything in between, it's not hard to find something that has good art, a good story, and fits a theme you might be looking for. Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Modern, love story, drama, comedy, Mecha, etc etc. Also manga is so accepted in so many places people don't think twice about just grabbing one and handing it to their kids. Oh, Naruto? Here you go junior at least you're reading. Western comics though I hear so much from owners about families coming in 'oh is there nudity/adult themes but violence is okay junior loves Predator'. Much less scrutiny it feels like with manga but at the same time, covers often convey much more on potential content for parents.

[@RegieCollects]

This is helpful.

[@Tabris172015]

@@RegieCollects The other thing a few others have touched in are there are consequences to actions often times. And unless you're DBZ or a few others, when a character is gone, they're usually gone. So things hit harder with a story that is ultimately going to end. Not constantly fold back in on itself.

[@robertrhoades6830]

I would just argue that manga has sheer volume in variety. They got stories for anything and everything self contained stories that are easy to follow and thus lowering the barrier of entry. Comics can be very confusing as to what matters in whose story and whose writing this volume. Manga is just more stream lined. More like a series of books verse a spider web of time travel inter dimensional universal shifts what if hullabaloo.

[@Tokkidance]

As someone who grew up in a country where both Manga and Comics had a similar starting point, I can say that online access is a great factor as well as the anime adaptations being major hits. Manga crept into the zeitgeist through easy access online, good music, classic stories, diverse sub-genres, and a welcoming fanbase.

[@sneakytricky]

Monca has much more detailed fights with emphasis on momentum, hand to hand combat, and the fight so much more personal feeling. The stories them selves seem to carry a lot more weight. So characters, and I just fighting to fight. There’s a reason behind every action/conflict.

[@sneakytricky]

*manga

[@teamalmestudios6148]

I've read manga since the days when it was published as a floppy just like comics. I think the legacy of publishers like Marvel & DC is attractive, but thanks to retcons and shit, most of the long history is worthless. Quality over the years can vary a lot too, as you might like different creators better or worse than others. I like that manga has (usually) a tight story, and even most long-running series have a definitive ending. But the real reason I think manga does better is it's simply less reading. Most comic books have a fuck ton of words per page, while manga is limited to dialogue exclusively, no word boxes with tedious narration. Manga shows rather than telling.

[@robertmedina4520]

Faithful adaption help. Anime had a history of being a promotional for their manga. If over a course of a movie or 12 episode show you became invested in the characters, you will want see what happens next. Demon Slayer hit number one after the end of the first season.

[@snakeeyez8955]

I'll say a lot of it is due to the popularity of anime and its potential to influence one into reading Manga. Using myself as an example, watching something like Attack on Titan makes me curious about the Manga and makes me want to read it. I wished that comic books had that same popularity.

[@RegieCollects]

What about the MCU movies and tv shows. Literally one of the more successful franchises in history. That doesn’t seem to have a spill over effect. Thoughts?

[@broseidoniii2645]

@@RegieCollects the MCU movies and TV shows are great, but they only focus on certain arcs that are centered around the characters used. Whereas mangas offer episodes that cover every volume of the series. Now if Marvel wanted to make an Amazing Spider-Man TV show like they do with Manga's, you would see single episodes cover from issue #1 - xxxxxxx.

[@midnightsnack1306]

@@broseidoniii2645 DC and Marvel also release animated shows basted on their comics too. To be fair not as often and as complete as anime though.

[@broseidoniii2645]

@@midnightsnack1306 very true. I really feel that they are losing an opportunity in making more animated series. I mean I feel into the spider-verse is a great representation that Marvel and DC don’t have to rely on Live action to pull people into these shows.

[@snakeeyez8955]

@@RegieCollects I think part of it is because of the stigma of comic books focusing too much on capes and tights, which can be a bit of a turn off for readers. Thank Marvel/DC for that, lol I want to say things would be different if Marvel/DC used the similar method with Manga, and do each tv episode based on an issue of a comic book, rather than veer or cherry pick from the source material. For example, do something like the Spawn cartoon that came out during the 90s.

[@dephiance]

My thoughts: American comics artists need to drop the I-pad or Wacom tablet and be trained more with traditional media, ie: paper, pencil, brush and ink. Also the level of rendering anatomy, perspective and details Needs to be raised. As far as story telling goes, American comics needs to drop the DEI and identity politics. I grew up during the 80's and there were PLENTY of strong female, minority, gay etc characters and it wasn't a big deal and didn't have to be the main focus of every story! Just my opinion. Great video!

[@JeffreyWhelchel]

Reggie, when you do your next "should I buy" series, would you talk about Nyx 3? Is this book still a good book to buy as a graded 9.8 and hold on to it? On the way back down? I'm a buy and hold type investor so I don't mind hanging on to something for a few years if it's worth it.

[@RegieCollects]

Only if you spell my name correctly. 🤣🕺👊🏾

[@Fredson78]

Barrier of entry is easier in manga and I’m not talking in terms of product availability. I’m talking about a self contained story versus a near never ending story that usually will maintain status quo. How much of Marvel/DC history does someone need to know before picking up the next Superman or Spider-Man? So many opinions vary on that. How much history of One Punch Man or My Hero Academia does someone need to get into those mangas? Easy... Just pickup the first volume. As someone that has read comics on/off since the 90’s I have the ability to read a major event (Infinity Gauntlet, Flashpoint, House of X, Civil War etc) and not be entirely clueless. The new reader may have a harder time. Now indie comics like Walking Dead, Preacher, Invincible, Kick Ass etc don’t have that problem. They have more in common with mangas (IMO) than their Marvel/DC counterparts.

[@miguelangelcote9168]

Don't know much about comics but it seems to be so limited compared to manga. I imagine Marvel and DC are by far the biggest sellers and almost all their series share the same universes and are about super heroes in costumes, while every manga has its own world and story so there's so much more originality and diversity

[@teddywoody2256]

I believe it’s more complex than that. One Japanese, doesn’t not care about the wokeness that has nearly consumes comic books now. Also Japanese, don’t care about western opinion about how they create their characters or stories. The list can go on and on, but those are the main points.

[@GothicKDM]

I have comics and manga, i only collected Xmen and the random other stuff that just appealed to me over the years. Manga was I was buying anything that i could find getting a few and realizing their not my thing and i cut my collection in half and im really limited no and for me its the story and art and i dont tend to care for stuff that popular stuff like nauto, bleach, etc and i just dont really care for isikais but the one with the mukushi tensen I watched the anime first and that got me into the book.

[@JCtheComicGeek]

A colorist, inker, writer, artist cost. Thats why u.s. comics are like $4.99 manga is in B&W and I believe the artist inks and writes the manga too. Just lower cost to produce. B&W hurt my eyes too. If manga was in cor id be all over it!

[@House_of_Moe]

Where is the Kickstarter? I don't see the Link.

[@RegieCollects]

You passed the test. Seriously thanks for the reminder.

[@_BASIC_INSTINCT]

we gotta get regie into reading berzerk

[@doublequilI]

I am pretty confused by all three points. First off, comics off the shelf are still very affordable, and as you said, you can buy omnibus style of western comics like you can manga. Second point is backwards. When I was a kid, you could get a comic book at every drug store, every discount store, they were everywhere... why? Because they were profitable. There was a wide variety of comics then (more on that later) and it was a quick fix to hand a kid a Richie Rich comic. When sales slumped, the stores stopped carrying them and there were less than less. Availability is NOT a cause, it is a symptom of less buyers in general. On the third point... has this person even read Manga? LOL I don't think they have. A lot of mangas have a very long legacy too, Bleach, Detective Conan, etc, with larger and more elaborate storytelling on top of it. I think one of the big fails in western comics these days is lack of inclusiveness. Mangas do not have just one genre. It is as varied as the bookstore itself. Sports fiction, Fantasy, Sci fi, Romance, Historical fiction, Mystery, Suspense and Horror, Children's, Women's interest.... you name it, it is covered. It is not treated as a genre itself, but a medium to the entire scope of genres... and that is a big failing in western comics. In bronze, there were comics that catered to different niches like Harvey, etc, but all of those died out so there's only super heroes, horror and a very pathetic kids section (IDW does not get the credit they deserve for onboarding new readers.). I don't think there's an easy fix, but even though our western minds think of 'manga' as a genre, it is not, It is a medium. The reason we don't see it is that we treat comics as a genre. That is why comparing them is like comparing apples to oranges. Maybe if you compared comics to manga superhero genre in and of itself, that would be fairer. Me, I like my Fruits Basket and Kitchen Princess... you can't lump Manga into one genre when it is not one genre.

[@MyselfandComics]

All this is 100% true. I actually try to have this type of conversation with people who read comics, but it’s honestly all for naught lol. I can’t tell you how many times I accidentally read a spinoff story instead of the original one or a sequel instead of the first one.😅

[@zx6djmultiverse]

I think that's an interesting topic but in my opinion the factor their forgetting is generational differences. The younger generations tend to gravitate towards Manga and anime from what I've seen. Just take a look through the comments and you see us here who've been collecting since the 80's and 90's and some before then. Whether we are enjoying our longtime childhood hobby or in it for the monetary values of invesment/flipping, it's more so the same that have been enjoying it for years. And then out of those you have some that also read Manga and anime, but the younger kids will watch the marvel TV shows or go to the movies but don't care as much for the books. So I can see Barnes and nobles getting a chunk of those college students that are into Manga and hanging out drinking coffee, then you have the pre teens reading it online. When I take my kids to the Lcs they run right past marvel to the Manga and anime. They love Miles morales into the spiderverse cartoon movie but don't want to pick up the ongoing issue. Even tho I've told them more than once, we are a superhero household! 😂 So I think their losing the large population of new readers that's causing the difference in sales.

[@DjLeoPeralta]

I am a collector / comic book/ anime fan. Here is my opinion. Cost would be a factor. For $3-$6 you get about 20-22 pages of content. For $7 you get more bang for your buck. The other 2 factors not so much. Also manga has anime to support. Fan watch the anime and finds out the manga is ahead of the anime. Fan goes to buy the manga to see what is happening next. Also manga stories are not always simple.

[@RegieCollects]

Simple referred to being unencumbered by decades of backstories, crossover events and retcon. I explained it in the full video versus the short. Hope this helps.

[@breloopharos1919]

Manga is more genuine and for the fans. The manga industry understand that if they make a good manga, they racking up cash. The linear storytelling is also accessible. I dont need to worry of multiple continuities, a silver age, reruns. Like its so anti-consumer if i need a human being to eplain where i should start. With manga all i gotta do is get get volume 1, and start at chapter 1, and im off to the races. I think a huge reason why manga is selling more is politics imo, idgaf if a character is trans, gay, lesbian, or whatever, some really good characters in One Piece are LGBT. The thing that push people away is the way they make their politics their whole character. Theres a character called Bon Clay in One Piece whos a cross dresser and EVERYONE in the community love him not because hes a ladyboy but he such a "ride or die" character. Hes so supportive over Luffy, the main character, that you cant dislike him. Western comics shove narrative you didnt ask for at the cost of good character writing, and writers are so blind that they name call their own audience. Sorry but if i dont like your trans character, then its probably cause youre a trash writer and calling me a transphobe isnt gonna raise your sales any higher.

[@jay-dan9173]

I can tell you what it is manga has better stories 💯%

[@psylopanda2841]

I think that there is a cultural diference between manga and comic creators and consumers. It has been a couple years since comics and movies are trying to push an agenda. I mean when you are buying a book or a series, you don't want to be morally lectured about something, you just wanna have FUN, see some blood, s*x, whatever. Also, trying to make every product has to be PG-13 or less, its dull. Manga and anime doesn't do that, or at least no to the point where their characters end making stupid jokes like all MCU. It's like you get something more authentic with manga.

[@RegieCollects]

I think I get your point but comics have always been political and moral-since at least Superman. And, I believe that manga covers some of the very same topics you highlighted. I don’t read manga but that’s what my research suggested. Thoughts?

[@bruceleroy1625]

I like my original superheroes Batman, Spider-man and X-Men. I never saw the appeal of Manga or anime. I did try some anime, but I just prefer the old-school American comics. I also prefer the older books, really not into newer books. I do agree the prices for newer books are just too high.

[@RegieCollects]

The challenge with cheaper is that most manga is in black and white, yes? Whereas comics are in color which means the cost is higher (colorist, printing) so the price has to be higher. Do you think more comics would be sold if they were black and white and cheaper?

[@bruceleroy1625]

@@RegieCollects I agree with your points. I don't think that Marvel or DC would be able to pull off black and white comics would feel soul less. I really don't know what they can do to help make them cheaper. Cheaper material perhaps..

[@geodoudi5101]

None of the reasons in this video are accurate. Art is a major reason. Stylistic imagery, especially as it applies to the human form, trumps any artwork that even approaches photorealism. Manga avoids walls of text for the most part, which makes it a more enjoyable read. Less is more. Visual storytelling trumps explanation. The perfect example is the Samurai Jack cartoon. There's barely any talking in it and it is a master class in storytelling. There's also way more variety. American comics also have to compete with chinese and korean comics, which are great for the same reasons manga are great.

[@markvicferrer]

The comic/character origin was decades ago, so you recommend a new fan a more current famous run. How accessible is that run? Is the publisher only stocking the shelves with new releases? Does a collected edition even have the full story? Asking them to read a few issues of another comic to fill in the blanks of a plot point to continue reading the story the set out to read is a hassle. They finish that famous run, do they continue with the story from the point on? You say no, that creative team moved on & the ones that replaced them are of lesser quality, but they can skip to the next major storyline. But wouldn't that mean they'd be skipping out on story material they may need to understand this next storyline you're recommending them to jump into? Manga doesn't make you jump through these hoops to get to the story.

[@jamesomeara2329]

Storytelling. It's consistent with an ongoing plot that one can follow. An author or authors follows a straight narrative that keeps you coming back. There's an internal consistency than what contemporary big two have.

[@oscarchavezart]

I agree with the price of them not being one of the reasons why they winning. They are crazy expensive other countires like in India. I think they are beating american comics because you get more story because they are bought in book volumes. The art is consistent, created by one person, and they focus on the story and not being politically correct. There are comics out there that do advance the story and are drawn by only one person like The cape, the wake, Oink:Heaven's butcher, Niourk, and Death Orb. But comics like those feel to me like they are underground, and you have to do more digging to get to them.

[@oldmankaens]

I don't know anything about manga, but I will say 600 barnes & nobles vs 2500 lcs, I would bet heavily that the B&N has far higher foot traffic and a more diverse audience. Including parents who want to get their kids into reading, who might find comics as a nice gateway drug.

[@ricard0elias399]

Manga, along with Dragon Balls Z, Yugi Oh cards have been around for quite some time at a lowers cost for children/adults, and on present time a huge market, while Marvel, DC and Indies are always jacking up prizes also pushing some adult issues that kills the market, personally i alway go for what i can afford, not just burn cash away.

[@RegieCollects]

But what about all of the low cost graphic novels are sold in bookstores and via scholastics? Is cost really the issue??

[@ricard0elias399]

Most of the time cost is the issue, you get what you pay for, but today everything has high prices, you have to shop in different places for better prices due to prize gouging that mostly restaurants are taking the advantage.

[@NeedAVacay-y5u]

Maybe its different for you, but every chain store around me has dropped selling trades. Barnes and Noble still does, but it is two shelves in a far away corner whole manga takes up most of the store.

[@paulpereira7735]

I feel like comics are a huge time investment lore-wise, there's dozen versions of the same character, multiverse, that artist that made a one off and became canon, I would rather have another character and another story instead of a new interations of superman every couple years

[@mrbubblez3569]

Here’s the real answer… American comics are and have been made over the last 20 years with the adult reader in mind. Manga appears to be written specifically for pre-teens and teens. Some would even say American comics are more so now than ever made for persons with interests in science, astronomy and sometimes even physics. Which also contributes to the lack of interest for even some adults. You need to be able to understand specific concepts to even enjoy most if not all American comics. Manga doesn’t demand that level of scientific insight or particular insight into any one field. American writers are basically writing stories that are too complicated for its general readship.

[@RegieCollects]

Now, this is helpful. So, in your mind, would a return to a broader genre of topics potentially help? I ask because comics use to cover: love, romance, and other non-superhero and sci-fi topics.

[@thisiswes666]

Are we considering purely north american sales or global sales? You have to think that Manga is more popular in the most populated areas of the world. If we are just talking the West I would say definitely the simplicity is there with many Manga titles being near duplicate story lines. From Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach; some of the most popular and longest running mangas all are pretty much about personal growth, friendship and overcoming adversity. Add in a giant swath of characters and villains to each title and it becomes easy to relate to the journies and swap between manga's fluidly.

[@catarmor4596]

It’s also important to consider how much variety there is in Manga compared to Comics. There’s something for everyone in Manga where Comics is mostly superheroes.

[@RegieCollects]

If you only look at Marvel and DC. I’m not sure that holds true when you start looking at Boom, Image, AWA, TKO, etc. Historically comics were much more broad maybe they need to go back to that.

[@catarmor4596]

@@RegieCollects Exactly, it’s a solvable problem, but not as long as DC and Marvel dominate the conversation.

[@RegieCollects]

I don’t see them giving up those spots but I think there may be opportunities for those other companies to make magic happen. Many of them are putting out some great content. Appreciate the feedback bro

[@eyez553]

The more reason you prob are looking for is prob the anime connection.

[@RegieCollects]

Say more because comics have the MCU movies and tv shows.

[@notyouravgdude8976]

@@RegieCollects its because most people who watch anime read subs, so they most likely won’t have problems reading manga. But for comics, people might not even bother transitioning from watching a show to reading it, and looking at a different style.

[@Mojojoba]

3 reasons for me why I picked up manga since I was in junior high (1992). Western comic book cost 3x more expensive than manga. Manga is thicker in term of pages. And the crucial part for me is the art style. I'm not talking about which one is better, no. But every time I picked up comic book the exterior didn't match the interior. I felt cheated. I can't look into the inside because it was all wrapped up in plastic. Imagine how I feel when I discovered later the interior were really low-quality art style comparing to the exterior. With manga, what you see in the cover it is basically the same inside. I never look back since. And now I have about 10k+ volumes of manga. I live in Indonesia. Manga already available in the 90's.

[@NoobManga]

I think its better overall stories and more genres at least that's why i love manga over comics

[@lindon1419]

Cost does play a part, u get alot more story in a manga compared to a floppy, personally i very rarely buy comics most of the time its onlh when a specific artist is doing the art for a comic, but i do think manga being easy to pick up is one of the biggest reasons, start from vol 1 and read, it is easier to see the progression of how characters change over time because its written by one writer compared to comi s where one writer may write a character one way to another because its suits the story they want to tell. Also anime encourages viewers to buy manga and manga encourages readers to watch the anime, they sell each other, where a fan of the mcu does not need to pick ip a comic because the movies dont follow the comics completely wherw anime does to manga. When a manga season is finished the viewer may not want to wait a year to see what will happen so they will buy the manga, u dont get that with dc or marvel.

[@_BASIC_INSTINCT]

its not the same old characters and stories. new year new characters new stories, keeping old fans interested and gaining new ones, and repeat

[@resistancepublishing]

It’s foolish to think that we aren’t in a recession. Anyone who says otherwise isn’t paying attention to society. People, especially young people don’t have pocket money to buy $6-7 22 page comics when they other responsibilities plus easy access to so much entertainment. Comics aren’t readily accessible or available to readers anymore. This is the fault of the publishers who do as little comic marketing as possible and weren’t smart enough to take advantage of outlets where comics can be in-front of buyers. More shops are closing. I’ve heard people say “wow they still make comics?” The stories are watered down trash. There is no such thing as continuity in comics anymore. Hack writers and editors who don’t study a character’s history create storylines that goes nowhere, doesn’t really matter or connects to anything from the past storylines, stories that changes established characters at the drop of a dime to serve a weaker narrative, inserting real world issues haphazardly into books, different writers coming in and doing their own version of characters or storylines that disrupt continuity because spineless editors don’t put their foot down on sticking to the 80 years history of a book or character. I can go on and on how screwed up modern comic stories are.

[@taskdon769]

I'll go slightly off topic here, I don't think that even both are graphic novels but manga and comic are very different in many of the aspects. It is like comparing a novel to a magazine so they are fundamentally different. However, the real competition for comic is not coming from manga but Korean manhwa.

[@rokstoons5285]

Collected comics from Marvel (trade paperbacks) are anything but inexpensive. They are very expensive.

[@roywatson7916]

Comics are oversatuarated in the market. They published all these different titles for one character and have all these crossover events. Comics are also adding "woke" agendas that have turned readers away. Like making Tim Drake and Superman's son gay. Harley Quinn and Poisin Ivy are a couple. Manga is not so much. It can be cheaper when you don't have to buy 15 books to read a story as in a crossover. You can also pick up a Shonen Jump and keep up with multiple titles with in one book. The downside is that they don't maintain value like keys do in comics.

[@vincentflannigan2727]

To put it simply I don't see any mainstream or indie comics that have good romance stories. Maybe they do and they just dont target me with ads

[@lionelrevignet8088]

I've been a manga reader for most of my life and I'm trying to get into comics right now . I think manga is simply easier to get into, if you want to start a new series you purchase volume one and read it till the end. Comics got too many timelines/universes to follow/understand ypu don't always know where to start.

[@RegieCollects]

Solid point. Thanks for continuing to add to the discussion.

[@LuciferArc1]

The thing about manga is you can get colored manga volumes for a relatively decent price now...look at tower of god. The volumes are CHUNKY and for two volumes at $50 from the official retailer or a little cheaper elsewhere...its quite a bit of content for the price and it being in color. So when i hear comics have to cost this much because of color...i just dont see it. Especially since ive heard marvel has been cheaping out on print quality as well. So why keep charging that amount for something of lesser build quality and amount of content. I dont get it. They could easily sell them for cheaper if they felt like it. They blow millions on dud comics that dont sell...yet youre telling me they cant reduce prices and increase advertising to get their comics to sell better? I aint buying it. Not to mention recycling decades old characters with so many continuities and iterations...stories not being as interesting as a result of this...etc. they really need an entitely new approach. They have tons of side characters too that really dont get as much attention or branding. They are trying to put them into the spotlight a little bit now but this is something that should have been done years ago. Red Hood being a huge example imo. So much potential for branding, live action (proper...not titans.), and doing an original animated series for him, etc. Marvel and DC animations are often really good...but they dont advertise on those enough compared to their live action films. I think animated films for these characters would actually sell well under a good animation studio and budget. Anime films sell...so why not comics? This would bolster the animation industry as a whole too. Itd get more people into animated works. Spiderverse sold really fuckin good. So its clearly possible to do this

[@snoopanoop7705]

🙂

[@unkle2262]

It's cause the stakes literally dont matter in the superhero genre and it monopolizes the medium, plain and simple. If the authors dont give a damn about any lasting consequences in their stories, what makes them think the readers will?

[@torritaite2880]

I know it's getting too expensivd to collect comic books. Especially when the quality of the books just aren'tas good as they once were over 10 years ago.

[@hustlecrowe9440]

Manga artists are basically slave labor, so that may be why its so cheap. I read manga on free sites. Mostly because I don't know if I like a story or not, I'll give it a shot. Same with anime. But selling the stories in volumes is probably more cost-effective for young readers than individual comic books. I don't think simple stories sell manga. Maybe because its a new story with new characters, and you don't need an encyclopedic knowledge of the characters/universe to understand what is going on helps. Having the manga and anime helps push each other to find a fan base.

[@RegieCollects]

And; Marvel has the McU movies and tv shows.

[@hustlecrowe9440]

@@RegieCollects Those definitely drive a greater interest in the comics, anime is more immediate though - anime also drives merch sales, helping a property that started as manga to be more profitable right away. So that drives more advertising, a commitment to the manga so fans know its not going to be dropped, etc.

[@DippedInInk]

It's not about price.....it's about quality. Marvel and DC will die and be forgotten. Why invest in a company who steals and regurgitate the same things but from an 'alternate universe" Manga has the real value.

[@JP-1990]

"Comics don't have a begining middle and end!" Bro you're going fishing, not white water rafting.

[@ganjjabarsmedium2347]

Most Manga artists are over worked and underpaid. That is the main reason they offer so much content at such a cheap price. I’d rather pay more for a comic, and get better art, color work, and writing. Plus you are supporting the artists and writers better 🤘

[@phuctran6182]

Everything except a good story

[@phuctran6182]

But i dont deny many manga artists are overworked, that’s not only limited to the manga industry, it happens in every industry in Japan

[@midnightsnack1306]

I could be wrong but it maybe possible you are taking about animators not Manga artists. There are definitely a couple of videos and documentaries reporting this. Manga artist work hard but I think compensation is not an issue. The manga industry is just hyper Darwinian, you do well you are richly rewarded but if your work drops in popularity they stop publishing your work. I have to argue that when it comes to interesting ideas, catchy stories, and the ability to hook its readers in, manga is head over heels better than the huge majority of western comics. Beauty in art can be subjective but what manga art does miles better than Western art is is sheer number of techniques and how much more effectively it is used to tell a story. For example, In portraying action and kinetic scenes alone, manga art is a levels above Western comics. Sure color is nice but color is more of an icing on the cake. It’s a good story, compelling characters and effective use art that sells comics.

[@Goozero1]

Yeah the manga industry is really competitive and artists are underpaid, leading to lower costs. Another thing is even the more obscure mangas can be found in bookstores. Comics are harder to find. From my personal opinion, looking at comics it always lingers around Marvel and DC, maybe Darkhorse or Vertigo. And it centers around the same characters. I think manga gives the look of variety since Shonen Jump offers disconnected universes and different stories. Don't misread my tone. I'm not arguing. Just adding a bit.

[@rokstoons5285]

Yes, those are literally the reasons

[@tmxcomics]

The quality of the story, paper, and art of manga are far inferior compared to comics. It's like comparing books to comics, very different medias

[@RegieCollects]

Do you read manga? I ask because I’ve heard that the story and art is superior to comics. The paper comment is new as well.

[@tmxcomics]

@Regie Collects Comics I have before and studied manga and anime in Japan. Most manga is black and white and printed on thin newsprint. The high end manga is on par and better than comics, but not the typical manga you buy off the shelves in Akihabara.

[@rafaelsantos-nl9jd]

Reasons why manga easily kick comic ass. 1-Price: manga is cheaper 2-Diversity: most of the time you only have one type of comics, the super hero type, and while some character can offer different types of story, Marvel and DC comics offer basically more of the same, while Manga offer you like a 100 different types of story, manga has something for everyone. 3-Conclusions: DC and marvel stories have no conclusion, character arcs are pointless, even character deads are pointless, while Manga has ending has conclusion and rewards for finishing the story, character arcs matter. 4-Linear: Comic like DC and marvel force the reader to not only read decades of previous comics, even if they start reading today they need to buy like 10 different titles to follow the main story arc, while with manga is linear, they start reading Chapter 1 and only need to keep up with that one titles, while some mangas have spinn-off stories, most of the time they are extras more than must ready material. 5- Theme: This days comcis are all about politics and not characters or stories, while manga are more focused in story telling and most avoid politics, they focus in telling a good story and a good characters. Some mangas have the writer planing the story 5 years in advance, while comics have this thing where what one Wirter build and plan, the next writer destroy and erase

[@bprice6890]

I think the author's premise is sound - the 3 main factors negatively impacting comic books are availability, price, and accessibility. In my opinion, the hobby has the same problem it's had since the late 80's - it's basically become an insular circle jerk. Comics used to be a readily available impulse purchase. You could find them in just about every drug store or grocery store, they were relatively inexpensive, and the stories ran across 3 issues at most. Now you can't find them outside of a specialty store, they're $4 a pop and up, and the stories are convoluted multi-issue arcs that run across multiple titles and you're forced to buy all the parts to get the whole story. Comic book sales used to thrive on a constant churn of readers. Now we're probably lucky if 1/4 of 1% of the population actively buys them.

[@RegieCollects]

This is factual not accurate. Comics and graphic novels can absolutely be found outside of comic shops.

[@bprice6890]

@@RegieCollects Sorry, you're correct. What I meant was they're no where near as ubiquitous as they once were. Before the direct market took over, they used to be found in a lot more high-traffic areas.

[@searchanddiscover]

i used to read superhero comics. i lost interest for several reasons ranging from misogynistic bs from fans (i still resent my comic shop experience so much), poor decisions from DC (wasn't much of a marvel fan) and having to sell my entire collection due to moving. As a manga fan, cost has little to do with it, in fact it evens out in some ways (especially since I also read manhwa). its simply because i want to read romance stories these days and they don't really exist in western comics. there are a few social/political graphic novels that have romance but I'm not interested in those themes. I want rom-coms, slice of life, and fantasy romance and only manga does that. Saga was the closest thing I remember but that went downhill for me pretty quickly. i would love to read comics but the industry is aimed at men. i'm not interested in dark and edgy. manga is aimed at both demographics. and there is a much wider level of variety.

[@RegieCollects]

Good stuff. Thanks for sharing.

[@NoxusZero]

I think a another factor is a different consumer generation. The much younger Gen Z love Anime and manga while comic book readers tend to be older. Ordering Manga from Amazon is probably way easier than Single issues in general for Comics. Anime helps sell Manga well and in my opinion I think Comic Book Movies only help the after market not new weeklies

[@RegieCollects]

I’ve heard some folks indicate that manga has a wide range of topics that appear to a wider demographic. They also highlight that in Japanese and Asian cultures anime is more socially acceptable versus comics which are viewed as more narrow and niche. Take this with a grain of salt as I learning from viewers feedback/comments. I appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment.

[@MrYac-ie8ie]

it goes back to the video you made the other day, it's not cost it's not convenience and certainly not the ease of getting onboard, One Piece is the best selling comic in history and it's a 25 year continuous story no reboot no retcons just a long ass story. it's the forced diversity nonsense. Comics have spent the better part of the last decade telling the people who have always been their fans that they are awful people and in more than one case that they can literally "f off and die" from the creators. when you spend all your time telling your fanbase they suck and creating product for a fanbase that doesn't exist it tends to erode the fanbase.

[@ZAGON117]

its good story. simple as that.

[@johnf6861]

I started reading manga a year ago because the Marvel/DC comics quality of storytelling has deteriorated. The #1 reason I prefer reading manga is because it is pure storytelling without the social justice warrior and virtue signaling getting crammed down your throat. One unified vision from the same writer & artist from beginnign to end. The onboarding piece is true also...just pick up volumne 1 and go. Where do you start reading Batman? The one down side to Manga is that I don't see any "collecting" side to it except for having cool volumes in a bookcase, but there doesn't appear to be much collectible/rarity to it. Bottom line is that Marvel and DC have been infected by social justice warriors that have complete disdain for the comic-buying audience. Meanwhile, the Manga writers & artists are very appreciative of those who buy and read their books and are focused on entertaining you.

[@johnf6861]

Regie, I don't know if you've read any manga yet, but the one that made me a fan is Death Note. Read volume 1 and you'll be a fan. My public library has a huge variety of manga, so you can test out different manga without having to buy the books. Shonen Jump also allows you to read the first couple chapters of a manga online for free to see if it is a good fit.

[@RegieCollects]

This is helpful and some what consist with what I’ve heard from others online and offline. 👊🏾

[@magnadramon0068]

I think the reason is simply diversity in content. There are manga catering to every conceivable niche. The types of manga I read are shoujo and josei romance manga. I don't see hardly any romance centric comics. And the ones you do aren't going to feature the niche tropes and themes I like in shojo and josei.

[@RegieCollects]

What’s interesting is that comics were much more diverse in the past. There were a wide range of genres covered by both Marvel and DC. I think the indies are putting out a wider range of content than either Marvel/DC but they don’t have the reach that the big two have.

[@magnadramon0068]

@@RegieCollects Yeah that's the other big problem. Is that the alternative stuff that exist out there doesn't have a lot of marketing out their. Most people only know about Marvel and DC. As a kid I used to be a avid comic book reader. But the comics I read were stuff made for kids like Donald Duck and Sonic the Hedgehog. Even though I liked super hero cartoons I didn't read the comics because they felt to grown up for me. When I reached my teens I started reading manga because there was tons of manga that was relevant to my age group. I think this is another advantage manga has over comics. Manga publishers intentionally target a range of age groups. They have kodomo for kids, shonen/shojo for teens, and seinien/josei for adults. This means there is a type of manga for each age range. Comics is in a situation where they either target very young children or adults. But that intermediate stage of adolescence is left out.

[@scalderiso]

Not simple stories, it depends on the genre

[@RegieCollects]

Simple refers to the fact that there isn’t 80 years of history in the way

[@scalderiso]

@RegieCollects this is true . Plus manga is highly competitive if a manga doesn't sell its quickly cancelled . But for me I think where it shines is art work and non political upfront anddddd so many genres

[@user-ek4nh8oq8f]

Because American kids and teenagers rather spend 24/7365 on their phones and videogames.

[@RegieCollects]

Yeah, that doesn’t make sense. Sorry bro.

[@alexanderhieb7131]

In a fight comics solos manga.

[@robertf4157]

You can find Manga way easier without having to go to a smelly nerd store is a factor for sure.🤣 Price and content are a better bang for your buck. Maga has way more story in a single book and they don't stuff every third page with ads to fill a book like they do with comics nowadays. Comics on average (DC and Marvel) have 20 pages roughly and 9 of them have ads on them were manga is 180-220 pages in one book and has none. Comic prices are getting out of hand for how little you get you can buy books that have more content for the same price.

[@RegieCollects]

When was the last time you read a modern comic? I ask because comics have very few ads. I would add that comparing a manga volume to a single comic issue probably isn’t a fair comparison versus a collected work.

[@TheDarkSideOfYouSoul]

Simple stories? That is BS, manga had complex stories, the difference is that manga stories, even it they are long, eventually end, however in comics that doesn't happend, at least in DC and Marvel the death of a character it's just a pause until other writer pick up the character and make another storyline. Also, maybe some fools thing that just because manga aren't in "multiverse" and make a cross over with other characters of another manga every two issues that make it "simpler"

[@RegieCollects]

Simple as in less than 80 years of history, retcons, and various stories which is sorta the same point you made with your comment. 👊🏾

[@skinfluithero4885]

Read berserk and you’ll have the answer

[@ranialovedayana5353]

Regie have yu read mana at all?? Try read one then yul understand..

[@nola8220]

Manga is easier to understand. Stories told in volumes, not too many multiverse nonsense storylines. The writing in western comics is absolute garbage too. It's annoying, contrived, preachy, and just plain bad.

[@Donsposts]

1. Cheaper. 2. Less bullshit, 1 author and 1 version (mostly) 3. Way more genres/tags/sub-genres/stories to choose from.

[@iLoveLucy420]

Naruto,Fairy Tail and One Piece have made me cry at some point in their story….marvel and dc have not..Edit:the Future Lucy stuff from Fairy Tail still breaks me when I watch it.

[@click632]

There are a few reasons why manga out sells comics: 1) Manga has story's told from a variety of genres 2) Value for money (4 or 5 chapters in a volume for $9.95 US) 3) Manga is polled weekly by its fanbase, therefore lower is interpreted as the manga is not popular and therefore might lead to removal or canalization of the series. 4) My personal opinion is that manga authors create manga for the fans while comic authors create them for themselves 5) Manga creators do not alienate or attack their fans 6) Most manga has end story once that is complete the manga is done where comics is after a story is completed their another is another story, its never ending. How long can you tell the story of a single character and not get a bit tired.. 7) A lot of comics are criticized for being woke, but you never hear that when it comes to manga. (Please note I am not calling comics woke I am say that it is often referred to being woke by some people where as manga is not

[@Donsposts]

"simple stories" yea right.

[@RegieCollects]

“Simple” as in unencumbered by 80 years of recons and reboots.