Stop making bad manga

[Mike]

http://www.comixpedia.com/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=547&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

I haven't read all of that yet, but it looks pretty scathing.

[Kimo]

Considering he's speaking more about artistic creativity and originality, this is probably only scathing if you draw bad manga.

You could substitute bad McFarlane, Ramos, Lee, and Mad artists for bad manga-- it's a parallel argument: Why be a pale imitation of someone else, when you can have your own style and story?


I agree though that there's nothing wrong with influence. Whibbage's work is a fantastic example here.

Check out Exile From Kiirs, Reman Mythology, or Tired Feet

guess you'll need a link...wait a minute.

http://www.felaxx.com/

She's blended manga with her own style-- the result is an original, unique voice.

it's a good as anything going.

kimo

[Super Rats]

On the one hand, I agree, as would most people, that original is better.

On the other hand, the article is kinda pointless since it's complaining about amatuer creators creating amatuerish material.

[whibbage]

Kimo - thanks, and u said it =P

I dunno. I drew really really shitty japanese-inspired comics when I was in high school, and if that's how people start out because those kinds of comics and cartoons are part of their lives, what's wrong with that? Let them grow and figure it out, just like any other artist works with their own influences. Hell, for a while all my characters looked like ranma. But as you get older your perception on the world changes, and so does your style. I'm not going to go knock down someone because their work isn't original and unique during their early stages of developement. That's like telling a child they're being bad because they like to repeat everything they hear. Does this mean they'll grow up repeating everything they hear all the time? No, I don't think so. Somewhere along the line they're going to want to start saying things of their own, and when they do the things they heard earlier will have a part in what they say, and that mix of experiences is how we get unique opinions. I think it's the same way with art.

[Paul M.]

http://www.deviantart.com/view/2210483

21st comment made me smile.

[Kaligula]

Paul, that picture is hilarious.

[Ed]

But really, no hard feelings. If I offended you, i'm sorry.

ahhh you punked out at the end

[Inkthinker]

Good editorial, I like it. It's pretty much right on all counts. Says a lot of stuff that I agree with, some of it quite strongly.

[Hazard]

That is a good article, very interesting. It makes a lot of sense, and the same could be said for anyone imitating any style badly.

[Carter]

Maybe people should stop making bad comics period?

--Carter--

[Paul M.]

ahhh you punked out at the end

maybe one day when you're older you will understand.

It was grown up talk.:o

[Mike]

Whibbage has some of the most original content and style for an "American manga". She's one of the good ones.

[StrayTanGenT]

You guys make it sound like racism or something.

"She's one of the good ones."
"Some of my best friends are American Manga artists."
"What? Share a water fountain with an american manga artist?"
"We need to segrate american manga artists from the regular artists."
"etc."
"etc."
"etc."

Man... it seemed funnier in my head when I first thought of it. =\

[whibbage]

heh good point stray tangent...

Thanks mike.

I guess it does kinda irk me when I get categorized because I don't really read or watch japanese cartoons anymore, they're just one of my innumerable influences and just because my faces tend to be manga-ish I'm suddenly a pure manga artist.

I feel that what I do is more for american audiences, coming from an american perspective. doesnt' that make me an american comic book artist? This is why I hate the title "amerimanga" for my anthology. It just categorizes my friends and I. anyway, I don't want this thread to be about me and my angst so I'll shut up now... =P

[Inkthinker]

EJ said it best ina recent interview... he doesn't call himself a "manga comics artist", because that's redundant. Manga MEANS comics.

I try not to use the term "manga style" since I think it carries too much of a preconcieved connotation with it... I try "Eastern style" when I have to describe the aesthetic.

[DrVictorVonDoom]

I loves me EJ.