Taschen returns to documenting Manga with “100 Manga Artists”

By John Freeman on January 11, 2017

Since the original TASCHEN edition of Manga Design, Japan’s comic phenomenon has produced yet more captivating characters and a whole host of hot new talents. The revised and updated edition edited by Julius Wiedemann – 100 Manga Artists, out later this month – delivers the lowdown on the latest and the greatest makers and shapers of the manga scene.

Through an A–Z directory, you’ll discover the superstars – both human and fictional – of what is now a vast global industry, inspiring advertisers, filmmakers, creative professionals, millions of avid fans, not to mention an entire cosplay lifestyle, in which manga devotees in elaborate costume meet to celebrate the existence of their characters at huge conventions from Los Angeles to Leipzig.

From classic maestros – like Osamu Tezuka (creator of Astro Boy) and Katsuhiro Otomo (creator of Akira) – to newcomers such as Hajime Isayama, each entry includes biographical and bibliographical information, descriptions of main characters, and, of course, plenty of examples of the artist’s finest manga spreads and covers.

Editor Julius Wiedemann was born in Brazil, where he studied design and marketing, and has lived and worked in Japan, Germany, and in the UK. He holds the positions of Executive Editor for Design and Pop Culture, as well as Director for Digital Publications at TASCHEN Publishing. He has edited over 40 books in over 10 years, is a regular contributor to magazines, and has been on the jury of several awards all over the world.

Wiedemann’s publications have sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide, and among his most popular titles are Information Graphics, the series Illustration Now!, Logo Design, Japanese Graphics Now! and books about record covers and web design.

• 100 Manga Artists is due for release on 25th January 2017

• Buy 100 Manga Artists from amazon.co.uk – using this link helps support downthetubes

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as 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.