So, you want to explore the world of manga…
In this brief guide, we will discuss, what manga is and how to read manga online for free. Do you know there are some of the best read manga online manga readers websites that allow you to explore your favourite manga comics for free?
No more talking, let’s start by explaining manga to someone new to this word.
What is Manga?
Manga is referred as an umbrella term, used for a wide variety of Japanese comic books and graphic novels all produced and published in Japan. Unlike other countries, comic books are published in full-colour medium, Japanese manga are only published in white and black colour patterns. Full-colour comic prints are only used for special releases.
As compared to other books, Japanese manga are read from right to left which is kind of off for English book readers. If you are new to manga then this will take time to get used to. In Japan, manga are released chapter by chapter only weekly or monthly through manga magazines such as Weekly Shōnen Magazine. If a series gains enough popularity among readers then after its completion chapters are collected and published in the form of volumes. For example, Tankōbon Volume features only a few important chapters of the overall manga series. Most manga series are long-running and can be extended over multiple volumes.
This is something imperative to keep in mind when starting a new manga series, make sure to read the volumes in the correct order. Reading small series is easier as compared to long ones such as Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi has only 12 volumes.
There Is A Huge Difference Between Manga And Anime
Are we all familiar with another Japanese umbrella term “Anime” or not? Well, for beginners, anime refers to all the forms of animation movies or books created and published in Japan. When people hear the word “anime”, they think of the adaption and transfusion of manga series such as Sailor Man and Dragon Balls. In 1990, the first anime series was aired on American TV and got enough appreciation from the West.
When a manga series has gained enough popularity among the public then it transforms into an anime. In some cases, it is different because sometimes an original anime becomes manga after its success in public. But there is a huge difference between these two terms.
Manga is available in print form but anime is an animated movie…..
From Where to Start
Do you know what is so magical about read manga online manga reader?
There is always something available for manga for everyone’s taste. Whether you are a fan of suspense and thriller or love reading high-school romantic fantasies and comedies, there is something always available for you to enjoy.
In Japan, manga is mainly categorized by the audience instead of genre. For example, Cardcaptor Sakura by CLAMP is a Shojo (young girl)” Magical Girl” manga but it does not mean a boy cannot enjoy it. That is simply how it is marketed in Japan. If you are a boy looking for a manga suggestion and love to read about mysteries or fantasy then search for Shōnen (boy) fantasy or Shōnen Mystery manga on Google.
Demographics & Genre of Manga
Well for your information, Manga covers various genres but there is no definitive list. In this section, we will mention the most prominent demographics and genres mentioned by the specialists, manga fans and library catalogers.
Popular manga genre
- Adult
- Adventure
- Action/Adventure
- Thriller
- Fantasy
- Comedy
- Bisexual
- Mystery/Detective
- Comic Adaptions
- Drama
- Erotic/Ecchi
- Graphic Novel
- Gender Bender
- Harem
- Humorous
- Legal
- Young Girl Fantasies
- Historical Fiction
- Horror
- Medical
- Magic/Magical Girl
- Monster/Kaiju
- Paranormal
- Parody
- Psychological
- Nonfiction
- Religious
- Romantic/College Romance
- Queer
- Romantic Comedy
- School
- Samurai
- Mecha (Machines & Robots)
- Science Fiction
- Shojo-ai (Boy’s Love)
- Shōnen-ai (Girls Love)
- Sports
- Social Life
- Spy
- Superhero
- Tragedy
The list goes on and there are much more genres to explore.
Five Basic Demographics of Manga
Manga is a popular Japanese comic art form, targeting a wide range of audiences; here are the five primary demographics of manga.
Shōnen: manga targeted at teen and tween boys
Featuring action, adventure and friendship themes, Shōnen manga targets mainly young boys between the ages of 8 and 18. It also features lots of action, thrill and comedy. The manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump has been routinely publishing Shōnen manga series for the last 30 years. The most famous Shōnen manga’s names are
Shojo: manga targeted at teen and tween girls
Mainly focused on romance, personal growth and relationship themes, Shojo manga is primarily aimed at young girls in the same age range as Shonen. The focus here is less on fiction/thriller and more on emotions, drama and idealized romance. Like Shonen manga, it also covers the story of a coming-of-the-age protagonist.
Not all shojo manga are about romance and cute and fun girls. Its narrative varies as much as any other genre such as Nana by Ai Yazawa is another famous Shojo manga which covers the story of two young women as they fight their battles of sexual relationships, personal relationships and drug use to fulfil their dreams.
Some of the best Shojo manga that you should not miss out
Seinen: manga targeted at adult man
Unlike Shōnen manga, Seinen Manga features more action and violence with a serious and darker tone. It also features adult themes such as foul language, sex, graphic violence, politics, philosophy and psychological issues. Whereas Shōnen mostly offers characters with naïve, idealised and innocent views of the world, Seinen manga can be more complex and contain explicit content. Famous Seinen manga are
Josei: manga targeted at adult women
Targeted at adult women, Josei Manga features more mature narratives including romance, sex, personal relationships, career and daily life. Unlike Shojo manga, Seine reflects more realistic portrayals of relationships and reflects the experiences and concerns of adult women. Some famous names of Josei manga include
Kodomomuke: manga targeted at young children
Intended for young children, Kodomo manga is typically for children under the age of 8. Kodomomuke manga is designed to be simple and educational with stories that are easy to understand for children and represent clear morals. Some well-known examples of the Kodomomuke manga series include
Something Important To Know About Read Manga Online Manga Reader
Did we mention earlier that there is no rule stating that a man cannot read a Shojo series or a girl cannot show interest in Shōnen manga. It all boils down to someone’s personal interest. There are many cross-gender and age-divided manga series that can be enjoyed by both genders such as Fullmetal Alchemist.
Some manga disregard the conventions of their genre such as Promised Neverland by Kaiu Shirai and Yotsuba by Kiyohiko Azuma. These are Shōnen magazine but both series feature female protagonists.
We are discussing this point so the readers can have a better understanding of what concept differentiates various manga. Most people refer to all types of manga towards children which can lead to a huge problem. If a parent looking for well-meaning and educating manga unwittingly hands a sexually explicit manga to their child, it can only cause a disaster.
Some Important Facts about Manga
Art & Layout: Manga page layouts and panels are designed with specific reading directions for mind. Character’s expressions, actions and even the layout of scenes are all arranged in a manner to guide the reader’s eye from right to left.
Translation & Localization: do you know the translation of the manga is also available. For translated manga, publishers often practice retrieving the original format to respect the creator’s vision but some adaptions might make small changes. Knowing the localization can help you to appreciate the efforts made to keep the manga as close to the original as possible.
Story Engagement: understanding the format of manga will help you to understand the manga’s storyline better. The right-to-left reading style affects how you interact with narrative flows, scene changes and character interactions.
Manga Fan: Read Manga Online
Now you don’t have to live in Japan to enjoy Manga, many legal websites help you to explore this amazing world and read manga online for free. Here is a short list of famous and legal platforms where you can read manga online for free.
- VIZ Media: a robust publishing platform that is a famous name among publishers of manga in English
- Crunchyroll: a well-known name for anime streaming services but it also offers a section of selective manga titles to read online
- Manga Plus: controlled by Shuiesha, this legal site provides you free access to many of the latest chapters of manga series.
- Webtoons: primarily known for its webcomics, this site also offers manga-style content all available to read online for free.
- Shōnen Jump: an official name in the world of manga to read Shōnen manga created by Shōnen Jump. With this platform, you can access a wide range of series including classic and current hits.
Let’s Wrap This
The world of manga is far vaster than our thought and we try our best to cover as many aspects as possible. This is a beginner’s guide to clear the meaning of manga to readers, clear their doubts about manga and anime, understand between genre and demographics of manga and learn about legal websites to read free manga online. Not every manga series falls right into the basic guidelines written here and that’s totally okay.
The best part of the joy of reading manga is discovering new genres, narratives and tropes. When in doubt, do your research, understand more about the manga world and search for appropriate titles.
