I think the characters of comics are definitely more well known than manga ones but I think there might actually be more manga readers :/ Not sure to be honest but based on the people I know, that seems to be the case.
The Comic Book medium is without a doubt way more popular and mainstream than manga, but currently, even though I don't agree with there being more manga readers than comic book readers (it's not like I can say it for sure, it's just a superstition), there's definetly more anime viewers than comic book readers, hell, even more than comic book and manga readers put together.
@strangeman: Its not made-up stuff. Look at the sales figures of manga in japan. Theyre in millions. Now compare that to comic books in america, where 400k is an impressive number for an issue to sell
Also, it makes sense that manga sells more, otherwise we wouldnt be seeing so many new anime series all the time
I'm curious, do Manga's ever get turned into Comic style format the way Comics get turned into Manga's? Like there is a Manga Batman correct? But are there Comic Goku's or Death Frenzy's?
I think that has a lot to do with comic heroes being around for decades and being ongoing stories, oppose to manga that tend to have a limited life span :)
@strangeman: Its not made-up stuff. Look at the sales figures of manga in japan. Theyre in millions. Now compare that to comic books in america, where 400k is an impressive number for an issue to sell
Also, it makes sense that manga sells more, otherwise we wouldnt be seeing so many new anime series all the time
I know it's not made up, Manga and Anime actually comprises an esential part in Japanese economy, it's that important, but I was reffering to a more global scale where, despite Manga and Anime becoming really mainstream in the last decade, I don't know if there's more manga readers than comic book readers, being that comic books are more inserted in pop culture. I see your point though, but who knows really, you're probably right given the unhealthy amount of weeabooism going around on the Internet nowadays.
I'm curious, do Manga's ever get turned into Comic style format the way Comics get turned into Manga's? Like there is a Manga Batman correct? But are there Comic Goku's or Death Frenzy's?
To be honest, I don't know. Shounen manga usually is easy to define, they're more.. manga-like (for the lack of better wording). But when it comes to Seinen manga, which is more mature, for older readers, it's normal to see a different art style, usually more realistic, and IMO, sometimes closer to comics. Ie: Rainbow, Green Blood, (both from the same artist).
@topic: IMO, comics. Specially some of their characters, like someone above said.
@strangeman: Its not made-up stuff. Look at the sales figures of manga in japan. Theyre in millions. Now compare that to comic books in america, where 400k is an impressive number for an issue to sell
Also, it makes sense that manga sells more, otherwise we wouldnt be seeing so many new anime series all the time
I know it's not made up, Manga and Anime actually comprises an esential part in Japanese economy, it's that important, but I was reffering to a more global scale where, despite Manga and Anime becoming really mainstream in the last decade, I don't know if there's more manga readers than comic book readers, being that comic books are more inserted in pop culture. I see your point though, but who knows really, you're probably right given the unhealthy amount of weeabooism going around on the Internet nowadays.
Yeah, thats what i meant. For some reason a lot of people are really obsessed with japanese culture and manga is obviously a big part of it
Plus, ive come across a lot more anime/manga conventions than comic book ones
Depends very much on where you are looking. In general, comic characters are more well known, but mangas are far more accessible, increasing the popularity.
In America and around the world, comic book heroes/villains are more well-known to the public masses. They're just simply more iconic due to the transition to cartoon shows, novels, live-action movies, toys etc. Companies like DC and Marvel are really good at marketing their A-list characters, which is easy since most of those A-listers have been around since the mid-1900s. If you travel around the world, you will seldom find a person who has never heard of Superman.
However, in terms of readership, I think manga has comics beat by a longshot. Japan doesn't really go all out with its manga media. Sometimes they might make an anime show or OVA, but they haven't reached the same level of recognition as American comics have. Pokemon and Dragonball are the only two franchises that I can think of that are household names.
They're really popular among anime fans, but I wouldn't consider those to be household names. Ask any random person on the street if they've heard of Pokemon. Then, ask a random person if they've heard of Yu-Gi-Oh!. A lot of things that we take for granted on Comicvine are actually really obscure to the general populace. For example, everyone I know is familiar with the name Bruce Wayne. Most of the people I know have no clue who Dick Grayson is.
Manga. In fact, I've never met a single person that was a fan of comics before and after having gotten into comics myself. Sure, I know plenty of people who love superhero movies and cartoons but I have seen dozens of manga readers but never met someone else who reads comics.
I'm kind of just guessing, but I think manga is more popular. It's more widely accepted in it's own culture and it's very common for there to be animated adaptions of just about every manga out there.
I always wonder what made more money here in America Manga or Comics. I am primarily a Manga reader myself with occasional Anime here and there. But I always wonder how the Market is doing between these types of mediums. How much does one series like Naruto compare to say a series like Batman. I always check weekly sales of manga to see what is topping the charts, but I never see how much it is being sold. Anyone else curious about it as I am.
Manga outsells comics by the thousands. I think it's largely because
mangas are easier to follow .. No 10-15 books starring a prominent character. Wolverine is in this book, but he's also in that book. He'll also be in a new future title next month etc, etc. That alone alienates a lot of people because, they do not know where to start.
more stories are adapted into animated TV series.
more animated films.
Comics have a large synonymous image with one genre and that's superhero fiction. Superhero fiction out shines every other genre and people who do not read comics are usually clueless that other genres even exist.
mangas are more diverse in media marketed demographics: There are more adult, teen, children specific books. Where as with comics, sex and gore has become the commodity.
manga also has more media content. Video games and music (soundtracks) are marketed toward fans to make them interested in reading the manga versions.
Manga fans (from personal observation/interaction) aren't nearly as much of a**holes like comics fans are. Yea manga fanboy rage is crazy but the vast majority of manga fans are far more nicer people.
Manga communities do not alienate people nearly as much as comic communities do. Manga's often times have LGBT leads.
Lastly manga is foreign. People of all creeds love to exotic-fy things that are foreign (cars, clothes, books, games, etc.)
Basically what everyone above has noted. Comic characters are a bigger part of pop culture and overall consciousness - specifically superheroes. Thanks to the advent of America as the world's premier superpower and all.
But manga is the more popular of the two. They're not just selling well in Japan - they're doing well all over the world, from Asia to North America.
Comics originally. Then manga did a leap in terms of popularity during the mid to late 90s, gaining popularity alongside the anime boom. Comic books are making a comeback due to superhero movies. Right now, comic books are more popular but anime fans seem to be louder.
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