The writers of manga, known as manga-ka, compose story lines that are of interest to and appropriate for every age group, from young children to teens to adults. The topics are usually based on science fiction or fantasy concepts, and each story is written to its particular audience. Therefore, some manga is well-suited for children, while some is appropriate for only adult readers. Many of the stories also possess themes of spirituality or morals, such as an evil character making a conscious change to good.
One of the things that makes manga characters unique is the depth of their personalities. Comic book characters in the United States are often created and developed by several people, whereas manga characters are created by one author. This ensures that their characterization is consistent and well-developed. Characters in manga seem more realistic because of the layers of personality that unfold throughout their stories. Manga-ka really get to know their characters, allowing them room to grow, just as a novelist does with his protagonists and antagonists.
The style of drawing used in manga makes it a very recognizable form. Colorful or black and white, a manga character normally has shaggy, unkempt hair, large eyes, a diminutive nose and a triangular mouth. Some characters are very cartoon-like in appearance, while others are extremely realistic in their human features. Fortunately, they lack the superhero attire we attribute to U.S.-created comics, and their clothing is much more fashionable.
Manga looks like an American comic book, with frames, or panels, of illustrated action and bubbles of dialogue and text to tell the story. However, the way you read a manga differs greatly from American reading. To read manga in the traditional Japanese method, you must begin at the back of the book. The last page is actually the first page of the story. Start in the top right corner and read across the page, right to left, moving down for each new row of frames. If there are two or more smaller panels to the right of one larger panel, read the smaller ones, top to bottom, before moving to the left.