Comics and the Origins of Manga

EIKE EXNER is an independent scholar who has taught at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and Josai International University in Tokyo. His research has appeared in the International Journal of Comic Art, ImageTexT, and The Comics World, and he has received the John A. Lent Award in Comics Studies.

"Through subtle formal analysis and groundbreaking archival research, Comics and the Origins of Manga makes a compelling argument for the strong influence of translated American comics on the development of modern Japanese manga."— Henry Jenkins, author of Comics and Stuff"Eike Exner has meticulously researched voluminous archival materials transnationally, analyzed them critically and carefully, and, in the process, challenged, contradicted, and corrected the history of manga's origins. Without any reservation, a history-altering masterpiece!"— John A. Lent, founder/publisher/editor-in-chief, International Journal of Comic Art"Its innovative perspective lies above all in the precision of the documentation and the scrupulous study of the phenomena of translation and borrowing as well as in the history of the narrative and auditory device of the comic strip. For all these reasons, it is a book that stands out for its effects of transmission of both knowledge and sound effects!"— Neuvieme Art"...a compelling investigation of an historical 'audio-visual' dialogue between the 'sound images' of comics and manga...this text becomes a meaningful revelation of the unique and multifarious histories of world print and comic cultures."— Frenchy Lunning, editor of Mechademia"An important research contribution that is both readable and layered with fascinating research excavations. . . . A scholarly must read for audiences interested in the history of manga, but also American comics, comics as a global medium, scholars working on media history, and historians of sound and the senses."— Matthew Penney, Concordia University, Pacific Affairs"Terrific book by Eike Exner - Comics and the Origins of Manga. A brisk-reading but deeply-researched study of the impact American comic strips had on the development of manga in the early decades of the 20th century. New from Rutgers University Press. 'I recommend it.' -me"— Joe McCulloch, The Comics Journal editorNew Books Network: New Books in Japanese Studies interview with Eike Exner— New Books Network: New Books in Japanese Studies"Exner's work is stunningly rigorous and detailed, surfacing a wealth of examples and specific moments of exchange."— Shawn Gilmore, Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics"I have been waiting many years to see something like Eike Exner's Comics and the Origins of Manga. Modern Japanese comics, or 'manga,' have enjoyed huge success around the world in the last three decades. So much so that today some fans occasionally seem to think manga—perhaps even all comics—are really a purely Japanese invention. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. In his book, using primary sources from inside and outside Japan, Eike Exner does a wonderful job of cutting through both mist and myths and showing us another reality."— Frederik L. Schodt, author of Dreamland Japan: Writings on Modern Manga"'Comics and The Origins of Manga charts the vital influence of US comic strips in Japan (as early as 1908) and to manga creators' incorporating balloons, sound effects and other audiovisual elements inside their panels."— Derf Backderf, author of Kent State"This is an excellent book that I enjoyed reading immensely. The topic is timely and important and the scholarship is meticulous and comprehensive."— Gennifer Weisenfeld, author of Imaging Disaster: Tokyo and the Visual Culture of Japan's Great Earthquake of 1923"Comics and the Origins of Manga is a fascinating, materialist account of the history shared between the Japanese and Euro-American comics traditions. With the rise of manga as a globally dominant idiom, the prewar development of the form has been of increasing interest to artists and researchers alike. Eike Exner's thorough, elucidating scholarship tracks this history in an engaging manner in what will undoubtedly be an important English-language reference work on the subject for years to come. Highly recommended."— Adam Buttrick, cartoonist"Really enjoyed this book. Fascinating examination of how early American comic strips influenced the develop of manga than is generally acknowledged. Highly recommended."— Chris Mautner, The Comics Journal writer

• AcknowledgmentsA Note on ImagesForewordIntroductionPrologue: The Historical Origins and Changing Meaning of "Manga" up to 1923Chapter One: "Popular in Society at Large:" the First Talking MangaChapter Two: "Listen Vunce!" The Audiovisual Revolution in Graphic NarrativeChapter Three: When Krazy Kat Spoke Japanese: Japan's Massive Importation of Foreign Audiovisual Comics         Chapter Four: From Asō Yutaka to Tezuka Osamu: How Manga Made in Japan Adopted the Form of Audiovisual ComicsEpilogue: The Myth of Manga as a "Traditional Mode of Expression"Brief ChronologyList of Foreign Comics in Japan 1908-1945 List of IllustrationsBibliographyIndex