Japanese for comics, Manga is now used in the English language as a generic term to refer to all comic books and graphic novels originating from Japan. Nevertheless Manga as an art and storytelling technique may also extend beyond Japanese creations. AmeriManga is the term for comics by American artists using Manga style. Manga in Japan is meant for all ages whereas in the US youngsters in their teens and twenties make up the majority of readers.

Japanese graphic novels are not necessarily restricted to giant battling robots, despite having plenty of them. In the US, the most popular manga disciplines are science fiction and fantasy but subjects can be diverse. Horror, romance, military epics, sports stories, family dramas and school stories are some of the many possibilities.

As a reader you need to remember that Manga being essentially from another culture has a different history, literature and even different values from ours. Or instance regular Manga may at times feature brief nudity in non-sexual situations like bathing. Japanese culture does not consider them to be unsuitable for children.

Differences are also likely in the humor, obscure gender roles, clothes and hairstyles, which can appear most peculiar. They have been declared acceptable to Japanese readers and add to the authenticity, intrigue and popularity of Manga among youngsters in the US. Parents are advised to take a decision on whether it is appropriate for their own children.

An outsider may presume Japan was inspired by comics from the West, which is not the case. Cartoon type of art has been made in Japan from ages ago with even humorous drawings of animals and caricatured people dating back to hundreds of years with unmistakable similarities to modern manga pics. Certainly some aspects of Manga may have been from the West with Osamu Tezuka, the founder of modern Manga having been influenced by Disney and Max Fleisher. Nevertheless the primary features like simple lines and stylized techniques are undeniably Japanese.

As all good and real stories have an end so does Manga. Heroes and heroines die, get married and disappear. Manga is specially created to bring tears to your eyes or make them open wide in fascination right to the very last line of the credits.