Wilson has teamed with Asakawa, an editor of the bimonthly Japanese magazine Ax, which prints alternative and experimental comics, to select works from 33 artists for this first English-language collection. As with any collection, there are hits and misses that are dependent upon the individual tastes of the reader. Some of the comics presented here are deep and introspective, others rely on off-kilter potty or sexual humor, and others still are horrific looks into the human psyche. And, lest anyone forget that manga is not a style of art but merely the Japanese word for comic, the artwork in this anthology will be a forceful reminder: it wanders as far across the map of styles as the writing does, ranging from rough, almost childlike pieces to lushly detailed creations. Violence, sexual situations, language, and adult themes reserve this for assuredly mature audiences, but libraries with alternative-comic fans or manga readers looking to move beyond the usual translated works would do well to add this collection. --Snow Wildsmith
From the Author
Hi all, this is the editor of the AX collection, Sean Michael Wilson
We are all very pleased with the great reception that the book has got. It was selected as one of the ten best comic books of 2010 by Publishers Weekly, who noted: "Within the pages of this greatly anticipated manga anthology are some of the most imaginative, lush, grotesque, and ridiculous comics to come out of Japan... It's an incredible selection." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)"
And recently it has been nominated for a prestigious Harvey Award in the category of 'Best American edition of Foreign material'. So please check out our 'AX:alternative manga', it's a wonderful collection of indie style, mature manga. You won't like every story in it, there are 33 of them and they are very varied - but you WILL be find out more about the range of manga that's been made in Japan. Keiken fueru!
About the Author
Sean Michael Wilson is from Scotland, now living in Japan. He is the only British pro comic book writer living in Japan. He has had many books published with a variety of US, UK and Japanese publishers, such as 'A Christmas Carol' (Sunday Times 'Best of 2008'), 'The Story of Lee' (NBM), 'The Book of Five Rings' (Shambhala Publications) and edited the critically acclaimed 'AX:alternative manga' (Publishers Weekly's 'Best ten books of 2010'). In 2016, his manga version of Lafcadio Hearn's Japanese tales The Faceless Ghost, was nominated for a prestigious Eisner book award.
seanmichaelwilson.weebly.com
