What Makes the "God of Manga" Great?

A Look Into the Depth of Osamu Tezuka's Comics

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Disclaimer: Some artworks shown in this newsletter can be graphic.

I only read two of Osamu Tezuka’s comic series when I was young.

It wasn’t until my adulthood that I caught up with some of his other famous works.

And they are absolutely mind-blowing.

Tezuka was extremely prolific. During his lifetime, he had produced more than 450 comic books. (Some say 700. But at that level, who is counting, really?)

The most impressive thing about Tezuka’s comics is the philosophy behind his work. He was a solider in World War II and almost died during an air raid in Osaka. This near-death experience made him weave a theme into all his books: the dignity and values of being alive.

The work that amazed me most is his epic series Phoenix.

(Sadly, he died before could finish it.)

I was struck by the story’s depth. The series pinged back and forth in time, from ancient Japan to the future in outer-space. All of them carry the same theme: war, pain, what it means to survive, and what it means to be human.

It’s like a reading companion to Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens: A Brief History of Mankind.

Part of me wonder: if someone today pitches a series like this, would it ever get picked up by an American publisher?

For starter, it’s a lengthy story. Tezuka had not even finished it, and it is already 12-books long. This means it’s a pretty risky investment from a publisher’s perspective.

The topic is heavy, which means the market might be small.

The drawing style leans young – by today’s standard. But content-wise, it gets gory. An art director might (rightfully) ask, “Who is the target audience?”

I personally have no problem with artwork that looks like they’re for a younger audience but contains adult themes, but this is something you have to consider when you pitch to publishers.

Keep in mind, you have the freedom to create whatever work you want, but the publisher also has the freedom to invest in whichever work makes the most business sense. (Of course, one can always self-publish!)

In the end, as a reader and a fan, I am grateful Phoenix exists.

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Have you read any of Tezuka’s work? What’s your favorite series to recommend? I look forward to your thoughts on the comments section below.

My Journey to Comics and Graphic Novels

Welcome! This is the origin story that kickstarts my substack newsletter.

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I was a BIG manga (Japanese comics) reader in grade school.

I constantly made little comics and dreamed of becoming a comic creator some day.

At first, I wanted to be a syndicated comic strip cartoonist, like Charles M. Schulz, who created the wonderful Peanuts, or Jim Davis’ Garfield, or Patrick McDonnell’s Mutts.

I even created my own comic strips in my college newspaper.

But, alas! The comic strip syndication industry was at its end of life before I graduated college. As far as a career goal, that was a dead-end. Webcomics was at its infant stage, but I personally didn’t enjoy reading on screen. I wasn’t into superhero comics, and despite my love of manga, I wasn’t drawn to the limited art-style back then.

Fast forward many years, I switched from an event-exhibit designer to a full-time children’s book author and illustrator. I had the incredible luck to work with many amazing editors and art directors, and I learned a lot about the art of storytelling. I still love and continue writing and illustrating children’s books today.

And whenever there was a chance to make comics…

In the mean time, the graphic novel industry was changing and evolving. What was once a non-existent market in America became an exciting scene, filled with talents and great storytellers.

I wanted to do my own series, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready.

But…

Why not take a leap of faith?

After working on many different ideas and proposals (trials and errors, a.k.a. the fastest way to learn), I came up with a story series filled with everything I love – action, humor, friendship, adventure, and mythology. (Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Younger Readers. Publication date: April 2, 2024)

Order on Amazon

(I want to emphasize how much I love and support local independent bookstores! They are great to both the reading communities and local communities. Ordering through Bookshop helps independent bookstores, and I highly encourage it. I also recommending ordering books through my favorites: Once Upon a Time and Green Bean Books.)

My adventure as a comic and graphic novel storyteller has just begun. I want to share with you everything I learned, from reading and observing, to creating and revising, to challenges and overall thoughts. Perhaps it will inspire you to read more amazing comics and graphic novels.

Or, better, yet, to create your own.

Let’s have fun learning together!

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Are you into comics and graphic novels? What’re some of your favorite titles? Are there topics you look forward to reading about? I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the comments section below.

Greetings!

Hello! I’m Maple Lam, a published children’s book author and illustrator, and I have a LOVE comics and graphic novels.

This newsletter will focus on everything I learned and loved about this sequential art form, including studies, work process, what I observed and learned from the greats, the publishing industry, behind-the-scene contents, interviews, etc.

My goal is to share this passion with creators and readers who love comics and graphic novels.

I don’t anticipate anything 18+, but I will cite art samples periodically that may include graphic images. Please use discretion if you are a minor.

Bigotry or harassment in the comments will result in immediate blocking.

Let’s level up together by learning from each other!

Stay tune!