Manga has conquered America. Or so declares the November issue of the U.S. tech magazine Wired, which carries a 10-page manga story describing how manga is reshaping American pop culture. Booming manga sales — which, according to the magazine, account for almost two-thirds of the $330-million graphic novel market in the U.S. — also mean much of the traditional American comics are doomed.
Charles Danziger, a New York lawyer with Japanese clients and a keen cartoonist, has been inspired by the reversal of fortunes between the two forms. That's why he teamed up with manga artist Mimei Sakamoto on a cultural guide to Japan titled "Harvey & Etsuko's Manga Guide to Japan" (MG Press, U.S. $9.99).
The book, which mixes manga illustrations with American comic strips, features four characters — Danziger and Sakamoto, as well as their alter-egos: Harvey, a New York mouse drawn by Danziger in a Garfield-esque, traditional cartoon style, and Etsuko, a sexy manga cat drawn by Sakamoto. Harvey, originally not interested in Japan, comes to the country looking for work. There he meets Etsuko, and the two discover Japan together and become great friends.