2011, Viva La France
About French Comics & Manga, or "Franime"
I couldn't help but notice the difference in the American comic book & graphic novel market as it relates to Japanese anime and manga, and the French comic book & graphic novel market as it relates to manga, or at least the differences I've seen in stores like the American and French editions/versions of Amazon bookstore online, which is pretty much where most people shop for comics of any sort now anyway. Or at least, that is where I go to buy comics mostly, with rare exceptions.
First let's talk about the similarities and interactions between French comics and Japanese comics. Both French and Japanese comics take an extremely layered, extremely eloquent, technical, and delicate approach to background perspective and linework or "line weight" in terms of inking.
Both French and Japanese comics tackle the science fiction (SF), science fiction fantasy, and heroic fantasy genres equally well, and have cottage industries (correct term?) around such genres. Quite a bit more so than most publishers and comics in the United States that aren't Dark Horse.
Artwork in both French and Japanese anthologies, in both cases, is often quite beautiful to behold and look at. Both industries (French Tomes and Japanese manga tankobon and anthologies) influence each other and appreciate one another, a mutual cross-polination and cross-cultural respect.
American "OEL", or "world" manga is quite a bit more new and less established internationally than Japanese manga and French Tomes in certain ways.
Definitley a growing and expanding part of the overall international comics industry though. Looking forward to seeing how it develops. Keep up the good work, French and Japanese comics artists! Big fan here.
