Comics vs. Manga: Deciding What to Read?

The most common joke about Comics vs. Manga is the question, “What and where do you start reading?”

The past three years have found me reading a lot more comics and manga, to the point where I’ve had to be more intentional about what I’m planning to read next year, mainly because there’s so much manga to choose from!

With Comics, it can often depend on the story, character, setting, and even the creators involved, especially if you’re coming to them via other media, like movies or games. Superheroes are the main culprit, so it’s less of a problem for me these days since I’ve lost all interest in capes and tights across all media — Matt Reeves’ Batverse and Marvel Rivals excluded — but there are many prolific creators with deep backlists that don’t include superheroes, too. (Which Jason should you start with? I have no idea, but The Left Bank Gang was my first and hooked me!)

With Manga, it’s almost always a very simple answer, whether you’re coming in fresh or via an anime or other media: Volume 1. (Junji Ito is arguably an exception to this rule, depending on your entry point. I started with Uzumaki and am worried that it’s his best work!) The downside, of course, is so many acclaimed series have dozens of volumes, and taking on a long-running ongoing series is like diving into a vast ocean.

NOTE: I generally use “comics” to refer to all comics, and “manga” when I’m specifically talking about comics from Japan, or comics that were explicitly inspired by Japanese comics, which are generally way more diverse in subject matter and visual style than some people realize. The latter usage has always been controversial, although maybe less so with each passing year? You’ll almost never hear me use “graphic novel,” which is what people who are embarrassed about reading comics like to call them. Sorry, not sorry.

Maybe Don’t Let Them Fight?

As a still-relatively new manga reader heavily influenced by Mangasplaining recommendations, getting into a popular long-running series remains a daunting prospect, especially since I still prefer print over digital comics, which means cost and shelf space are major factors, too. I just weeded and reorganized my bookshelves recently, and comics now represent more than half of what I own, not counting floppies.

I loved Pluto: Urasawa X Tezuka (8 tight volumes) and am finally planning to finish Death Note: Black Edition (6 thick volumes) in 2025, restarting from the beginning because it’s been a few years. I’ve found a few newer series that piqued my interest enough to stick with, including Witch Hat Atelier, Kaiju No. 8, and Clock Striker, along with continuing to explore Junji Ito’s work through VIZ’s excellent collected editions.

I’ve also been intrigued by Even Though We’re Adults and Delicious in Dungeon, but I’m not ready to commit to either of those yet.

Thanks again to Mangasplaining, I’ve had good luck with a couple of standalone stories (A Journal of My Father; Panorama Island) and am planning to re-read the first manga I ever read (totally randomly) almost 20 years ago, and somehow still own: 12 Days.

I’ve mostly avoided anything terrible but have had plenty of “not for me” misses, which start to sting when you add up each $10-$15 volume, especially since they’re literally the introduction rather than a complete story. I’ve realized I can pretty much avoid most Shonen series now, unless its acclaim consistently hits a specifically appealing note, because they’re literally not meant for me.

As for Western comics, I’ve become way more selective about what I’ll read, leaning more towards nonfiction and standalone fiction, relying heavily on recommendations from day job colleagues, my son, and occasionally general acclaim. I also have a healthy backlog of nostalgic collected editions and eight shortboxes of floppies to work through whenever I’m looking for a change of pace!

2025 TBR List: Comics

Because comics tend to be the most fluid category of books I read, I’ve only added eight to my TBR list for 2025, and they’re mostly manga this time around. Three are re-reads (12 Days; Death Note; Ronin), and only two were holiday acquisitions (The Library Mule of Cordoba; Wake). Others will surely join them in the months ahead, most likely already sitting on my shelves, but unlike non-comics and games, I can occasionally be tempted into prioritizing an unexpected new release.

Just don’t recommend another crazy long manga series!

Not pictured: Reinventing Comics: The Evolution of an Art Form by Scott McCloud, and Manga! Manga!: The World of Japanese Comics by Frederik L. Schodt.

Written by Guy LeCharles Gonzalez

Guy LeCharles Gonzalez is the Chief Content Officer for LibraryPass, and former publisher & marketing director for Writer’s Digest. Previously, he was also project lead for the Panorama Project; director, content strategy & audience development for Library Journal & School Library Journal; and founding director of programming & business development for the original Digital Book World.