With its stylistic characters and vivid colors, manga has captured the imagination of millions. Now, Manga: Masters of the Art goes straight to the source -- the artists themselves -- for the ultimate insider's look at this global phenomenon. Each section includes a question-and-answer session, allowing the reader first-hand access to the artist's thoughts and ideas. They discuss how they became interested in manga, their first published work, where they get their ideas, the creative process, tips and techniques, artistic influences, the genre itself, and much more. Illustrations and photographs of each artist's most seminal works are accompanied by extensive, explanatory captions. Manga: Masters of the Art is a practical reference book, a fascinating look at how this incredible artwork makes it from concept to reality, and a thoughtful commentary on the genre -- perfect for the growing legions of manga fans. The artists featured are: Kia Asamiya (Silent Möbius, Batman: Child of Dreams) - CLAMP (Chobits, Tsubasa) - Takehiko Inoue (Vagabond, Slam Dunk) - Erica Sakurazawa (Between the Sheets, The Aromatic Bitters) - Jiro Taniguchi (Icaro, The Walking Man) - Yuko Tsuno (Swing Shell) - Tatsuya Egawa (Golden Boy, Tokyo University Story) - Suehiro Maruo (Mr. Arashi's Amazing Freak Show) - Reiko Okano (Onmyoji, Fancy Dance) - Mafuyu Hiroki (Apples) - Miou Takaya (Crazy Heaven, Map of Sacred Pain) - Usamaru Furuya (Short Cuts, Palepoli) Not all 12 artists Lehmann interviews are among Japan's most popular comic-book creators. Several are relatively obscure in their homeland, let alone here. But their diverse approaches to subject and style show there is more to manga than what Lehmann calls the " anime -esque" work that makes it Stateside. They include Hollywood movie buff Kia Asamiya, who has drawn such American characters as Batman ( Batman: Child of Dreams, 2003) and the X-Men; CLAMP, a four-woman collective that produces darker toned shojo (girls' manga ); Takehiko Inoue, who scored with Slam Dunk, an action-packed serial about a high-school basketball team; Suehiro Maruo, who works in the erotic-grotesque euo-guro genre, fusing sex and violence; and Erica Sakurazawa, whose tales of young lovers have garnered comparisons to Sex and the City. Lehmann's questions focus unduly on mundanities: work habits, use of assistants, deadlines. Fans may wish he had probed more into content and the nature of the stories but will be fascinated by the behind-the-scenes details and the generous samples from stories that prompt seeking out more. Gordon Flagg Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved With its stylistic characters and vivid colors, manga has captured the imagination of millions. Now, Manga: Masters of the Art goes straight to the source -- the artists themselves -- for the ultimate insider's look at this global phenomenon. Each section includes a question-and-answer session, allowing the reader first-hand access to the artist's thoughts and ideas. They discuss how they became interested in manga, their first published work, where they get their ideas, the creative process, tips and techniques, artistic influences, the genre itself, and much more. Illustrations and photographs of each artist's most seminal works are accompanied by extensive, explanatory captions. Manga: Masters of the Art is a practical reference book, a fascinating look at how this incredible artwork makes it from concept to reality, and a thoughtful commentary on the genre -- perfect for the growing legions of manga fans. The artists featured are: Kia Asamiya (Silent Möbius, Batman: Child of Dreams) - CLAMP (Chobits, Tsubasa) - Takehiko Inoue (Vagabond, Slam Dunk) - Erica Sakurazawa (Between the Sheets, The Aromatic Bitters) - Jiro Taniguchi (Icaro, The Walking Man) - Yuko Tsuno (Swing Shell) - Tatsuya Egawa (Golden Boy, Tokyo University Story) - Suehiro Maruo (Mr. Arashi's Amazing Freak Show) - Reiko Okano (Onmyoji, Fancy Dance) - Mafuyu Hiroki (Apples) - Miou Takaya (Crazy Heaven, Map of Sacred Pain) - Usamaru Furuya (Short Cuts, Palepoli) Timothy Lehman is a journalist who has worked in newspapers for over 20 years as an artist, designer, photographer, writer and art director where he has won awards in journalism, design and graphics. He is an expert in European comics and manga, and regularly lectures across the country on manga creation and anime. He lives in Portage, Michigan.
