What is this Manga, precious? you ask.

Manga is the Japanese form of what we call “graphic novels,” (or book-length comics, for those under rocks) and specifically refers to a style of art.  I had some exposure to the animated form of Manga in college, and quite honestly, I was stunned by the depth of creativity in their fantasy genre.  I was intrigued, and watched whenever I wasn’t working on essays and such, but didn’t know much about it.

Fast forward a year and a half, and my boss specifically asked me to develop a graphic novel collection for our teen area.

It was definitely a “trial-by-fire.”  I knew nothing about graphic novels and had to learn — fast.  I read everything I could get my hands on about Manga, and suggested titles for teens.  When the time came to order, I grabbed a cross-section of different titles out of different genres.

For fantasy, I happened to grab “Fullmetal Alchemist.”

I don’t generally do reviews, but “Fullmetal Alchemist” struck me being worthy today.   It’s the story of the Elric brothers, Edward and Alphonse (Al), on their journey through thick & thin to find out where they fit.  Edward is a State Alchemist, a government employee, and one of the best out there even though he’s only 12.  Edward’s nickname is “Fullmetal Alchemist” because his arm and leg have been replaced with “auto-mail” prosthetics, and his brother happens to be a suit of armor housing Al’s soul — both the result of an accident while the pair were trying to resurrect their dead mother (an action that is prohibited, actually).  Edward is on a quest to “put everything back to normal,” while at the same time look after his younger brother and keep up with his government duties.

All’s well and good until strange and sinister things start happening.  (I especially get a kick out of the appearance of the Seven Deadlies in human form….)

“Fullmetal Alchemist” is, by far, one of the more popular series in the collection.  I’m particularly fond of their steampunk-magic combination.  The Elric Brothers’ world is like the 1900s for us, only they have all the things a fantasy-lover would want: magic, both dark and light.

The thing I find interesting is this: reading a Manga, since it’s developed like a comic, is a lot like reading a movie.

Have you read a movie lately?

1. fancy, 2. illusion, 3. fantastic work of fiction

With technology stretching the realms of the possible reality, literature and imagination have adapted.  Perhaps I’m a little old-school, but I have recently discovered the “fantasy web-epic.”

A relative of the popular “web comic,” the principle of a fantasy web-epic is similar; someone creates a storyline, draws plates in graphic novel or comic book format, and uploads them to the web every so often. 

Ok.  It’s a “fantasy web-comic,” but I like epic better since it better fits the size and scale of these super-imaginative works.  These web-based storylines aren’t just your weekly strip from the paper.  They go on for months on end, sometimes years, (Roza has just passed the year mark, I think Inverloch went for several years) following the adventures and exploits of a large group of characters.

I think it’s really nifty, because it’s a creative melding of literature, art, and technology.  Sometimes, readers can even give the creator input, voting on plot twists, character attire, setting, and more.

The site I’d like to highlight today is Fantasy Realms, and my reasons for doing so are just because it’s cool.  The art is freakin’ fantastic, the story has all the elements of a strong, character-driven tale, AND, they’re friendly enough to support other web comics and epics too.  So if you don’t like what you see, you can troll through their blog and maybe find something more suited to your tastes.

Encyclopedia Mythica

This website is a comprehensive encyclopedia of folktales, mythos, and mythical creatures as they appear in classic literature and oral traditions throughout the world.  It even has an awesome search function, so if you aren’t sure about the name, or in what tale the critter/element appears, you can look through similar/closely related articles until you find the one you’re looking for.

But I like browsing the best!

Go.  Explore!

So please, don’t be shy; c’mon in and check things out — things will be moving around here pretty quick.