Manga's First Century

"Manga are big. And in the growing field of manga studies, Andrea Horbinski’s work is a standout. With years of deep research, rich new insights, and sparkling prose, Manga's First Century will delight academics and serious fans alike."—Frederik L. Schodt, author of the 1983 Manga! Manga! The World of Japanese Comics

"Manga’s First Century is a landmark in Japanese popular culture studies, a comprehensive history that covers everything from prewar manga to boys' love to the rise and importance of fan culture. Above all, it illuminates the extraordinarily rich culture that is manga, making us remember why it has continued to fascinate readers for more than a hundred years."—Susan Napier, author of Miyazakiworld: A Life in Art

"Andrea Horbinski offers a meticulously researched history of Japanese manga, with an eye to the associated practices of anime and gaming and their massive fandoms. Indeed, it is impossible to isolate the histories and cultures of any of these art forms. But Horbinski offers a very concise narrative as she weaves her way through these complex sets of historical and cultural objects and subjects. Her original view comes from her discerning and critical eye for the evidence she has mined over many years of research, as she follows the threads of the history of manga within the intensely complex and tightly woven fabric of Japanese histories and cultures."—Frenchy Lunning, author of Cosplay: The Fictional Mode of Existence

"Horbinski provides a unique history of manga by cleverly weaving together the roles played by artists, publishers, and fans in the development of the medium, usefully contextualized in the ever-changing and globally engaged culture of Japan."—James Welker, author of Transfiguring Women in Late Twentieth-Century Japan: Feminists, Lesbians, and Girls' Comics Artists and Fans