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Bloomsbury Comic Studies offers “Manga – A Critical Guide”

By John Freeman on October 25, 2022

Bloomsbury Comic Studies - “Manga - A Critical Guide”

Bloomsbury Academic have just published Manga – A Critical Guide, edited by CJ Suzuki and Ron Stewart and hailed by Frederik L. Schodt as “stellar.”

This 280-page guide, released under the Bloomsbury Comic Studies brand, offers a wide-ranging, reasonably priced introductory guide for readers making their first steps into the world of manga. The team behind the book hope it helps readers explore the full range of Japanese comic styles, forms and traditions from its earliest texts to the internationally popular comics of the 21st century.

The book covers the history of Japanese comics, from influences in early visual culture to the global ‘Manga Boom’ of the 1990s to the present; offers case studies of texts reflecting the range of themes, genres, forms and creators, including Osamu Tezuka, Machiko Hasegawa and Katsuhiro Otomo; examines key themes and contexts – from gender and sexuality, to history and censorship; and critical approaches to manga, including definitions, biography and reception and global publishing contexts.

Manga – A Critical Guide also includes a bibliography of essential critical writing on manga, discussion questions for classroom use and a glossary of key critical terms.

Shige (CJ) Suzuki is Associate Professor of Modern Languages and Comparative Literature at Baruch College, City University of New York.

Ronald Stewart is Professor at Daito Bunka University, Japan. He has published widely on comics and Manga, including as a columnist for Japan’s largest national newspaper, the Yomiuri Shinbun.

• Manga – A Critical Guide, edited by CJ Suzuki and Ron Stewart is available here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) | ISBN 9781350072343 |

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.