I'm a manga-style artist but that#03

I don't normally write rants, because they generally don't really solve anything and most people don't even bother to read them. But this time, I just have to get some stuff out of my head.

Why is manga style such a big deal to some people, and why the hell are people being such idiots about it? And by this, I mean the huge number of people involved in comics/manga in some way.
Let me explain: these days everyone and their dog reads manga. But as soon as a western artist takes into their head to start drawing a manga-style comic (or publish their manga-styled drawings in some other format), they are almost without exception faced with two really nasty groups of people.

Group 1: The pure western comic artists/fans. Their main argument: "Manga is just copying other people's style! It's not a pure comic style! Bury yourself under a rock for a few years and come here again when you actually know how to draw."
I have had people treating me this way, and I know a couple really wonderful manga/comic artists who have problems with these people. These amazing artists are beginning to doubt their style, thinking it's something ugly that should be hidden rather than displayed. When they show their work in the more serious comic artist circles, their work is first praised for it's humour and great grasp of concept, and then someone always asks "So, when are you gonna drop the kiddie style and start drawing REAL comics?". Explaining that this is your style gets you nowhere... the same person will most likely start ridiculing you and try to explain that manga is not a style, it's just being a copycat and taking the easy way out. Then they proceed to ignore you on the basis that "You'll never be a real comic artist until you get your original style". Even if the manga-style artist in question already has several years of successful published works behind them, they are not taken seriously as long as there's any small vestiges of manga in their style.

Group 2: The pure manga fans. Their main argument: "Because it's done by a western person, it's trash!"
The scary thing is, the majority of manga fans think this way. An artist may get a break if they publish their comics online for free, but as soon as they start thinking about publishing their manga-styled comic to earn a living as an artist they get snubbed by manga fans. The artists are called traitors, moneyhounds and worse, and their style is completely ripped to shreds because it's not pure manga.
According to some recent happenings on DA, there seems to be tons of people who hate Fred Gallagher for drawing in a manga-style way and actually trying to earn a living out of it. Tokyopop's manga-style comics by western artists don't sell as well as "100% authentic manga". There are tons of examples like this all over.

So, what's a manga-styled comic artist to do? No matter where they turn, they are met with hostility if they plan to get at all serious about drawing manga-styled comics for a living. Most professional comic artists don't take them seriously, and their own fanbase rejects them as soon as they "sell their soul for money". Many wonderful manga-styled artists have come to hate their own art, changing style dramatically to get away from the uncomfortable situation.
I'm beginning to get really pissed off at this situation. People are such purists that they are unable to accept artistic style for what it is. I'm always scared when I meet comic artists who draw in a western style; scared that they'll reject me, scared that they'll go into another long lecture about why manga is not acceptable. And if I ever decide to make a living out of drawing manga-styled comics, I know that I will have to fight with my fellow manga fans to carve even a small acceptable niche for myself.
Oh, and as a personal note... I really hate the distinction between manga and western comics. They're all comics, aren't they? Why doesn't Donald Duck have it's own style name? What about American superhero comics? Manga is just a style, but it belongs in the comic category and should be treated equally with all the other styles out there. Please people, grab a brain and accept the diversity of styles for the wonderful thing it is.  

I would like to hear other people's opinion on this situation. How many here agree with either one of these groups, and what are your reasons for it? I won't get angry at you or anything, I just want to try to understand better why manga is so controversial.

Oh, and congrats if you read this entire thing. Didn't think it'd turn this long.... *gives you all a cookie for the trouble* :3


Yarrr, so here I am, subscribed again. I just couldn't live without thumbnails and journal customization.... More customization to come, little by little! Journal pictures, stamps, things like that. Just wanted to test out this layout. ^^
I'm thinking about adding a featured artists section, and perhaps some thumbnails of recent favourites. What do you generally like to see on a person's DA page? Just their own journal? Anyone here ever check out featured artists or thumbnails?


Rawr. For all of you comic artists out there, there is an interesting thing called the 24h Comics Day on October 20th. :3 I shall be taking part in it too, as part of an event hosted by a local comic store. If all goes well, I'll have an entire comic to upload here after that.

Anyhow, here's a short small advertisement for the finnish-speaking peoples here:
24TUNTIA SARJAKUVAA
Kansainvälinen sarjakuvatapahtuma järjestetään lokakuussa toista kertaa Bukrassa. Lauantaina 20.10 2007 avaamme klo 10.00 ja piirtäjät aloittavat urakkansa heti. Kauppa on auki koko yön, sunnuntai aamuun klo 10.00 asti. Toivomme paikan päälle kannustavaa yleisöä. Mukaan piirtämään ovat ilmoittautuneet; J.P AHONEN, SOLJA JÄRVENPÄÄ, JYRKI NISSINEN, JAANA SUORSA, JOUKO RUOKOSENMÄKI, KAIJA PAPU, AINO LOUHI JA ESSI NOPANEN. Tervetuloa katsomaan kuinka sarjakuva syntyy!