Comments | princess_tutu: Question for JConvicts

princess_tutu

Question for JConvicts

Oct 24, 2006 11:15

I didn't want to use the JCon LJ for this, but I need some advice. I know very little about anime, but I know absolutely nothing about manga and I'd like to start getting into it a little bit. How should I go about getting my feet wet? What should I start with? Where should I buy it? Or is it available online? Any basic info would help a bunch.

Comments 11

froborr October 24 2006, 17:06:26 UTC

At least around here, both Borders and Barnes and Noble have decently large and varied manga sections. I'd try them. Not sure what to recommend for starting; I've barely started getting into it myself.

princess_tutu October 25 2006, 15:32:58 UTC

I wish I had one of those stores closer to my location, but I can head to Columbus some weekend and go to both. Thanks!

mattymorgs October 24 2006, 18:52:51 UTC

For an informational resource I'd check out: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com. Consider it to be the "IMDb" of anime, manga, and such. As for starting your collection I'd recommend you pick up a series you don't know much or anything about but it seems like it would interest you. Whether it is "good" or "bad" will be entirely up to you and it will give you a starting point of what (not/) to look for in your future titles!

When you buy, I suggest checking out places like (if available) The Exchange, Family Dollar, Big Lots, etc. as the DVDs are rather inexpensive. Or even look at what is on sale at sites like:

http://www.rightstuf.com
(Recently ran a deal on Geneon brand animes that had them priced at $4-5 each, and for good titles too!)

-or-

http://www.animecastle.com
{Another good and inexpensive source.)

princess_tutu October 25 2006, 15:33:31 UTC

Thanks!

Welcome to my WORLD sumomoslsrzclub October 24 2006, 19:38:59 UTC

Hey, babe. I totally have you covered on this. Borders books is normally the best place to get them. B & N is okay, but they are rarely up-to-date and don't have a very good stock. They tend to have alot of random volumes and not stock up on anything that's already been bought. At least, that's what I've encountered. I've been to ALOT of them, but that seems to be the general consensus at all of them (B&N, that is). I love Borders. you can get them online from Amazon.com ( ... )

Re: Welcome to my WORLD princess_tutu October 24 2006, 19:50:36 UTC

Thanks, Emma. I figured you'd be able to help me out. : )

I doubt I'd like the lighthearted stuff. The action/drama stuff sounds good. Maybe something semi-serious, but also funny? I know a lot of anime that I watch is like that. Maybe I should just start there, since I know lots of shows are based on manga. But knowing your top picks can't hurt. Thanks again!

vikngeyez182 October 25 2006, 01:29:26 UTC

A site that I have found for purchasing manga is

http://justmanga.com/

Although I have yet to buy something from there, it really appears to be a good site and I'm always checking it. I might get some things from it soon, and if I do, I'll let you know about their service. One cool thing about that site is that if you make enough purchases you get to join the $5.55 Club which allows you to pick from a good selection of titles and buy them for only $5.55 a piece! I looked at the partial list they posted and it looked pretty cool in my opinion. The site also sells anime and other various things that are anime related.

Good luck!

Ryan

vikngeyez182 October 25 2006, 01:32:38 UTC

Oh, I forgot to mention that you can also preview some pages of the manga that you think sound interesting on that site as well!

princess_tutu October 25 2006, 15:34:13 UTC

Interesting. Yeah, definitely let me know if you order from them. You can catch me on AIM if you want: bobkitten316

sergemonsoon October 30 2006, 23:25:28 UTC

I don't know much about it either, but if you're looking for historical background, I'd recommend the book "Manga! Manga! -- The World of Japanese Comics" by Frederik Schodt. It's a bit dated (1983!) but it covers many genres that are still around today, and traces the history of manga back to the Edo era and beyond, through the pioneering work of Osamu Tezuka that led to the explosion of the medium in the 50's., through ... well, the early 80's. It even has some old-school manga in the back -- selections from Barefoot Gen, Tezuka's Pheonix cycle, and a comic from Matsumoto Reiji of Captain Harlock fame.
I've seen the book at a few different libraries -- look around and you might get lucky and be able to read it for free!