Is a traditional comic still a thing nowadays???

[MagicDaddy]

I'm a traditional comic maker. I love detailed manga like Berserk, Vinland Saga, etc, and try to draw a similar work. But I found that traditional comic making isn't popular anymore. Is it better to leave it for digital one?

 

[Snake99]

After getting used to the manga, I stopped being interested in comics. Both the art and the stories are more interesting to me in manga.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Let me ask you a question(rhetoric one) in return, what is the difference between a comic and a manga? I love manga and I don't really read comic books. I think I read one series only. Despite that, I see no difference between the two other than country of origin. Ok, maybe colors as well. Other than that, it's the same thing.

The reason why traditional comic books aren't as popular because the big companies that own them keep hiring bad authors and produce shitty books. That's also the reason why manga is slowly replacing comic books, because it has better authors, more or less. So I don't know, just call yourself a mangaka and you are good to go.

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

I'm a traditional comic maker. I love detailed manga like Berserk, Vinland Saga, etc, and try to draw a similar work. But I found that traditional comic making isn't popular anymore. Is it better to leave it for digital one?

I used to make manga-style graphic novels but eventually stopped when I realized making one without an assistant and keeping up with tight deadlines don't mix. Then I switched to writing light novels.

That said, while I believe in making use of what medium is available to you, I don't think of dropping something you like just for the popularity is good. For one, it may lead to eventual burnout and loss of interest on your part. Second, in a sea of many similar works, how do you suppose to stand out? Third, drawing and writing are just two components often mixed for better storytelling. While it is certainly popular, manga-/anime-style drawings are only secondary to many avid readers because what they look for is a story that is engaging to their likes.

The examples you used are a few evidences of what I'm saying.

There's also this one time in my country where an old comics guy (look for Carlo J. Caparas) decided to revive the traditional comic style. In an era where manga and anime drawings are popular, his efforts surely generated a buzz.

However, it ultimately failed because people didn't like the stories he wrote, instead of disliking the drawing style.

Finally, I am an illustrator that uses a combination of digital and traditional drawing techniques. Traditional from pencil to inking, and then digital for coloring. My main reason is that my hands are shaky when I use tablets (when drawing a straight line), and also, the Philippines has one of the ridiculously high electricity rates in Southeast Asia, so I can't afford to have a continuously open PC.

 

[ArchlordZero]

I think Manhwas are the new trendy thing.
Less clutter than manga and comics. Also, often comes colored.
They are also easier to read and more dramatic because there's often one speech bubble in one panel.
Not to mention that they are also perfectly made to be read in electronic devices.

 

[MagicDaddy]

After getting used to the manga, I stopped being interested in comics. Both the art and the stories are more interesting to me in manga.

I think so. Manga has more flexible theme and story telling. I like western comic because of the art. While manga is for the story

 

[l8rose]

As I think the poster was asking about physical work versus digital work and not about comic styles, both can feed the other but digital tends to be the cheaper of the two.

 

[MagicDaddy]

I think Manhwas are the new trendy thing.
Less clutter than manga and comics. Also, often comes colored.
They are also easier to read and more dramatic because there's often one speech bubble in one panel.
Not to mention that they are also perfectly made to be read in electronic devices.

I read manhwa. But it somehow feel like a bargain sell nowadays. All their theme are similar. System stuff, regression, I stopped reading that.

Let me ask you a question(rhetoric one) in return, what is the difference between a comic and a manga? I love manga and I don't really read comic books. I think I read one series only. Despite that, I see no difference between the two other than country of origin. Ok, maybe colors as well. Other than that, it's the same thing.

The reason why traditional comic books aren't as popular because the big companies that own them keep hiring bad authors and produce shitty books. That's also the reason why manga is slowly replacing comic books, because it has better authors, more or less. So I don't know, just call yourself a mangaka and you are good to go.

Manga is Japanese comic anyway. nothing different.

I read western comic solely for the art while manga for wide variety of story and theme. I agree with you. Comic seems so rigid because big company like DC and Marvel put so much strain on creativity.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

I'm a traditional comic maker. I love detailed manga like Berserk, Vinland Saga, etc, and try to draw a similar work. But I found that traditional comic making isn't popular anymore. Is it better to leave it for digital one?

My staff and I still deal with traditional. I know everyone thinks digital and AI will eventually pass us by, but it's not going anywhere, Thankfully.
People still love to see naturally drawn artwork, and will continue to love it.

 

[Snake99]

I read manhwa. But it somehow feel like a bargain sell nowadays. All their theme are similar. System stuff, regression, I stopped reading that.

Manga is Japanese comic anyway. nothing different.

I read western comic solely for the art while manga for wide variety of story and theme. I agree with you. Comic seems so rigid because big company like DC and Marvel put so much strain on creativity.

Exactly America is very rigid when it comes to comic themes, I'll give you an example, sports ones: Don't you find it curious that some of the best basketball (Slam dunk) and boxing (Hajime no Ippo) stories were created in Japan, when they are not exactly a country that excels in those sports, while America is the king in them? They have movies about that of course, but they have never made sports comic series like Japan does (Even the Europeans have more variety when making comics, the French being the best example), in America they are trapped in the cycle of superheroes and reboots

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Manga is Japanese comic anyway. nothing different.

I read western comic solely for the art while manga for wide variety of story and theme. I agree with you. Comic seems so rigid because big company like DC and Marvel put so much strain on creativity.

Yeah, in that sense traditional printed comic books are not on the decline at all. So if you want to go that way, go ahead.

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

I have friends who are comic collectors and they tell me any of the comic conventions or whatever they call them, its like antique car shows now, a sea of grey hairs. He is nearly 50 himself and he is one of the youngest there. (According to him)

This might be different elsewhere, but here on the east coast of Canada, it is apparently just a bunch of old guys buying and trading them these days, as youth are not interested in the physical media, or don't have the money to spend on it.

I won't comment on manga/manhwa physical media, as I have zero clue about it.

Personally, I prefer digital media. I can read it in the dark, then when i get tired, shut my phone off and go to sleep.

 

[Deleted member 266]

comic and a manga

Something people usually don't think about is page numbers..

Like manga that comes out weekly, they hover around 20 pages per chapter unless it's chapter 1.
But manga that gets released monthly hovers around 50-60 pages per chapter.

The anatomy of a story changes with length, like 3 acts, or 2 beats? The pace.

Western comics hover around 30 pages the story structures tend to be more drawn out. and often have at least one "Down" tension moment, but manga can often go chapter after chapter with high tension, with a foot on the accelerator.

Spoiler

 

[MagicDaddy]

I used to make manga-style graphic novels but eventually stopped when I realized making one without an assistant and keeping up with tight deadlines don't mix. Then I switched to writing light novels.

That said, while I believe in making use of what medium is available to you, I don't think of dropping something you like just for the popularity is good. For one, it may lead to eventual burnout and loss of interest on your part. Second, in a sea of many similar works, how do you suppose to stand out? Third, drawing and writing are just two components often mixed for better storytelling. While it is certainly popular, manga-/anime-style drawings are only secondary to many avid readers because what they look for is a story that is engaging to their likes.

The examples you used are a few evidences of what I'm saying.

There's also this one time in my country where an old comics guy (look for Carlo J. Caparas) decided to revive the traditional comic style. In an era where manga and anime drawings are popular, his efforts surely generated a buzz.

However, it ultimately failed because people didn't like the stories he wrote, instead of disliking the drawing style.

Finally, I am an illustrator that uses a combination of digital and traditional drawing techniques. Traditional from pencil to inking, and then digital for coloring. My main reason is that my hands are shaky when I use tablets (when drawing a straight line), and also, the Philippines has one of the ridiculously high electricity rates in Southeast Asia, so I can't afford to have a continuously open PC. n

Exactly America is very rigid when it comes to comic themes, I'll give you an example, sports ones: Don't you find it curious that some of the best basketball (Slam dunk) and boxing (Hajime no Ippo) stories were created in Japan, when they are not exactly a country that excels in those sports, while America is the king in them? They have movies about that of course, but they have never made sports comic series like Japan does (Even the Europeans have more variety when making comics, the French being the best example), in America they are trapped in the cycle of superheroes and reboots

I'm living in a country where less than 1% of population has ever heard the American Football. But I know it from a manga. Eyeshield 21. Another Masterpiece from One Punch Man mangaka.

My staff and I still deal with traditional. I know everyone thinks digital and AI will eventually pass us by, but it's not going anywhere, Thankfully.
People still love to see naturally drawn artwork, and will continue to love it.

It's wonderful to know another traditional comic maker. Keep up, friend

 

[Deleted member 266]

Eyeshield 21. Another Masterpiece from One Punch Man mangaka

Lol, ONE Tomohiro gets usurped by Murata.

 

[MagicDaddy]

Yeah, in that sense traditional printed comic books are not on the decline at all. So if you want to go that way, go ahead.

I think what I need most is a community. Comic making is not even an industry in my country

I have friends who are comic collectors and they tell me any of the comic conventions or whatever they call them, its like antique car shows now, a sea of grey hairs. He is nearly 50 himself and he is one of the youngest there. (According to him)

This might be different elsewhere, but here on the east coast of Canada, it is apparently just a bunch of old guys buying and trading them these days, as youth are not interested in the physical media, or don't have the money to spend on it.

I won't comment on manga/manhwa physical media, as I have zero clue about it.

Personally, I prefer digital media. I can read it in the dark, then when i get tired, shut my phone off and go to sleep.

similar thing happen in my country. Physical comic is limited to collectors.

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

I think what I need most is a community. Comic making is not even an industry in my country

similar thing happen in my country. Physical comic is limited to collectors.

We are a mix of novelists, illustrators, comic creators here, so you're in the right place.

 

[MagicDaddy]

We are a mix of novelists, illustrators, comic creators here, so you're in the right place.

I made a novel from a comic storyboard, here. And found out that making comic is easier ?

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

I made a novel from a comic storyboard, here. And found out that making comic is easier ?

My main problem with writing a comic/manga is that I needed an assistant or two to keep up with the (self-imposed) deadlines. There are people who wanted to volunteer for me, but I insist on paying them (as someone abused for giving 'free stuff,' I don't like having someone draw free for me). However, my salary as a public school teacher isn't enough for an assistant's wage, even if it's just a side job, so I converted to novel writing.

Six years later, I'm a novelist with one complete series of 5 arcs, 400+ chapters, 1.2M words, and a few more uncompleted series compared to my manga average of one 40-page chapter I did myself for eight months.

 

[MagicDaddy]

My main problem with writing a comic/manga is that I needed an assistant or two to keep up with the (self-imposed) deadlines. There are people who wanted to volunteer for me, but I insist on paying them (as someone abused for giving 'free stuff,' I don't like having someone draw free for me). However, my salary as a public school teacher isn't enough for an assistant's wage, even if it's just a side job, so I converted to novel writing.

Six years later, I'm a novelist with one complete series of 5 arcs, 400+ chapters, 1.2M words, and a few more uncompleted series compared to my manga average of one 40-page chapter I did myself for eight months.

400+ chapter? My back is hurt just for imagine it alone. I can't even finish 3000 words in two day in my native language. How did you maintain your passion?