Forum - View topicNeil Gaiman manga hybrid *Ameri-manga*
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littlegreenwolf
 Posts: 4796 Location: Seattle, WA |
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I was trying to decide what to blow 10 bucks on at barnes & noble in the manga section when I spoted a new graphic novel called Death at Death's Door buy Jill Thompson *with help from Neil Gaiman*. It's about Death from Neil Gaiman's Sandman comics, so being a fan of the comic series, I picked decided on that over volumes Hot Gimmic and Alice 19 manga I've read before.
I spotted the graphic novel once before, but never took a look at it. Finally I decided to today, and am happy I did so. This has to be the first ever american attempt at a manga I actually enjoyed. *not to mention the only american manga other then tokyopop's rising stars that I've actually seen in barnes in noble*. Anyway, the point of this post is that I just wanted to make it aware to people new ameri-manga titles are popping up, and if anyone is intrested in it, to check this one out. Knowledge of the Sandman comics is recomended though *they're great to get into anyway  * This manga actually put me in a state of mind that american manga may actually have a future in America, and not too far off.
And to people who are mad at me for calling it a manga, . *shrugs* It has screen tones, and is black in white. That makes it close enough to manga to me. Korea has Mangwa, we can have Ameri-manga too.
You can see a couple samples of the some of the pages at http://www.comicbookpros.com/thompson/books/deathdoor.html And for sandman fans familar with the series, you'll get a kick out of this manga, especially if you're a Death fan. Some may not like Dream's personality in it, but I found him father funny. Course finding Dream kind of funny seems a bit.. wrong. |
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Dilandau
 Posts: 525 Location: Tea House |
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This title has actually been out for awhile. And it is indeed very well done. I don't know about Sandman, so I'm at a bit of a loss.
I'd buy just for the novely of a decent Ameri-manga. |
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littlegreenwolf
Posts: 4796 Location: Seattle, WA |
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The Sandman series is a must for anyone into psychological and fantasy comics. Neil Gaiman is an English writer who's written things such as Neverwhere, American Gods, Coraline, and tons of other highly regaurded fantasy books. In the late 80s he got together with some comic books artist, and gave them little stories to illustrait into comics that revolve around Dream/Morpheous, and Endless, which is sort of like a major good, and his family of Endless which are talking forms of Dream, Despair, Desire, Delirium, Destiny, Destruction and, of course, Death.
The Death at Death's Door manga is different from the other Sandman comics because it focuses on the little sister Death, instead of Dream. I find it funny too in the fact that it makes fun of Dream who all this time has been a big scary all powerful angsty guy in the Sandman comics. Guess Death's impression of him is less. 
For a beginner into anime and manga who wants to break into Sandman, I suggest the Yoshitaka Amano Sandman book. The other sandman books are in comic book form as far as I can tell, but Amano made watercolor pictures to Gaiman's Japanese themed sandman stories, and made it into a really gorgeous storybook. Yoshikata Amano is mainly known here for character designs such as Angels Egg, and a ton of Final Fantasy artwork. His sandman book is Sandman: Dreamhunters. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1563895730/ref%3Dnosim/broughsbooks/104-2118994-3829545 An intresting note I'm going to throw in there is that Neil Gaiman wrote the English Screenplay for the Princess Mononoke movie, which Disney then cut up for their own taste, meaning he's not the one responsible for those edits. |
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crazydumbek
 Posts: 182 |
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Or one can read Sandman: Season of Mists. Death: At Death's Door is really a side story of this book.
Another good Death book is Death: The Cost of Living, where death gets a chance to visit the mortal plane and meets a suicidal guy. |
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Dilandau
Posts: 525 Location: Tea House |
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Hey, cool. They are real books! *drools at the thought of reading books that inspire manga*
I'll have to see if I can find them in Australia. I hope you can get them from Borders... I've got two books to finish (won't take long) then I'll see if I can't find that book. It really sounds interesting. So, These are all novels based on a similar 'history' of the Manga, eh. Sandman: Season of Mists Death: At Death's Door Death: The Cost of Living Sandman: Dreamhunters What is the first one? Dreamhunters? *more drooling* |
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crazydumbek
Posts: 182 |
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Whoa! Sorry to mislead you there, but with the exception of Dream Hunter's, all of them are comic books/graphic novels.
Season of Mists is actually the only one on the list with any direct relation to continuity in the Sadnman series as it is Volume 4 of a 10-volume series. The rest are pretty much side stories, so there is no chronological requirement for reading. Word of Warning: I have only browsed through Season of Mists, but I don't think that you need to read the three preceding books to get the gist of the Fourth book since At Death's Door summarized it and the principal characters quite nicely. I've read and thouroughly enjoyed the other books. Another neat thing about the books is that, with the exception of the Death books, all of them are available in hardcover. BTW: There's also a children's book written by Jill Thompson called The Little Endless Storybook with SD versions of the Endless. Looks like an interesting read, but it's kind of hard to find. If you are interested in reading novels by Gaiman, then might I suggest Neverwhere and Good Omens (co-written by Terry Pratchett). |
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Dilandau
Posts: 525 Location: Tea House |
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Ah! I see.
So would it be advisable to read the novel (Dream Hunters) first? I'm still not real clear on where the novel comes in to the story. And also, who prints the comics? |
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crazydumbek
Posts: 182 |
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They are all done by Vertigo, which was originally the Graphic Novel division of DC Comics.
Um. Which novel are you referring to? |
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Dilandau
Posts: 525 Location: Tea House |
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Dream Hunters. The novel novel. I liked the 'Ameri-manga' and the book sounds interesting, so, I'm just a little concerned that if I read the Novel I might ruin some other part of the story. |
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crazydumbek
Posts: 182 |
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Oh. Sorry. I guess I'm not really paying attention too well. I sort of got confused when you called Dream Hunters a novel. It's kind short to be considered as one. You would probably finish reading it in a less than one night's sitting.
Dream Hunters is pretty much self-contained and does not figure the continuity of the Sandman book. You won't have any fear of spoilers. In fact, if you rip the title pages off, you might not recognize it as a Sandman story at first. BTW if you want to take a look at Amano doing Marvel characters (two anyway), you should check out the Electra/Wolverine graphic novel. |
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Aaron White
Old Regular
Posts: 1365 Location: Birmingham, Alabama |
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Jill Thompson is one of my favorite comics talents; check out her Scary Godmother series of children's books and comics! Anyway, she's been hip to the anime/manga scene for a while; You can see hints of it in her Scary Godmother series and her work on the last volume of Grant Morrison's The Invisibles. I recall Totoro making a cameo in an issue of Sandman, but I dunno if Jill drew it.
I haven't gotten this Death manga yet, but that's a cash issue, not an interest issue. |
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Dilandau
Posts: 525 Location: Tea House |
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Looks like I'll have to special order them in any case.
Thanks for all the info! |
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The Xenos
 Posts: 1519 Location: Boston |
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Pops head into thread at mention of Neil Gaiman.
Well I dunno what I can say that hasn't already been said. I started picked up each of the ten volumes of the main series back in highschool. I was simply blown away by it. Such a beautiful and epic story. It jsut show you how amazing comics an be. Plus how can you not love Death. The Death 'manga' by Jill Thompson is quite fun. Yeah it's a sidestory, so I think knowing the story helps and adds alot, but isn't needed. I think the story happens in like volume 3 or 4 ? The one with teh key to hell. Anyway excellent book. I acutlaly still need to read Dream Hunters, despite my last girlfiend (who also was a Death fan) getting me hooked on Amano's work. I do ahve some of his other books like the Elektra Wovleine one for Marvel, an artbook, a wallsroll, and some really nice cards. Also, on my to read lsit, is that recent Sandman compalation which I got for Christmas. Dunno if it's for people who haven't read the series though. Anyway, just want to agree that the Sandman series is excellent. A bit distubing at times, but always remains classy and quite literate. -Xenos |
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Confused_Killer
 Posts: 16 |
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Death a Death's Door is fantastic. For an american attempt at anime, it was a good try, and well thought out. The artist really knew how to make the Endless look half anime and, well, half Neil Gaiman American style. I loved how young they made Morpheus look, I beleive it fit his mopey and gothic style character better than how many of the American Sandman artists depicted him, who seemed to make him look way to old. Death was one of my favorite characters, and it was nice to see her get a key role in a book. I also liked how they made the anime style not over-exagerated. For example, Teen Titans is an american anime that made me want to gag. The anime sweatdrops and comical/anime expressions were overdone, it made it seem as though it was trying to hard. Way too hard. Although, when I picked up this Sandman sequal-thingy comic, I was afraid they would make the same mistake as with Teen Titans, and just the mere thought of Morphy with an anime-style sweatdrop over his head makes me shiver. I'm glad to know someone else likes it too!
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