Vertical Inc. News

Japanese comics have come a long way in the last century. Most major publishers release dozens of new volumes a week. Magazine anthologies can be found on store shelves and kiosks in at least three different continents now. And the stories, designs, and formats of presentation found within those comics are as diverse as the readers that support this billion dollar industry. But there was a time when manga looked eerily similar to the funnies we read with the Sunday paper.

Four-panel comics, known in Japan as yon-koma, are now the fastest growing and most volatile market in the manga industry. There are more magazines devoted to these comic strips than there are mainstream shoujo and shounen magazines combined! Historically strips like Sazae-san, Kobo-chan, and OL Evolution take slice of life concepts and repackage them into bite-size comedic vignettes. More recently titles like Heartbroken Angels, Gloom Party, and Ebichu have revealed that less is always more when it comes to the funny, but in these crazy modern times anything can be twice as funny, even fish mongering, if drawn in a strip.

With new titles such as K-On!, Lucky Star, and Doujin Work ready to take over the manga reading world, Vertical’s 1-man panel will strip down the world of yonkoma to reveal why these comics are quietly becoming the future of serialized manga.

Location: Books Kinokuniya New York, 1073 Avenue of the Americas
Date: August 26, 2009 (Wednesday), 6:30pm-8:00pm
Soft drinks and snacks will be provided.
Please RSVP by emailing ed@vertical-inc.com

Twenty years ago a strange phenomenon arose from the depths of the Japanese literary scene. A generation of young writers raised on the sci-fi, mystery, and fantasy epics of writers such as Hideyuki Kikuchi, Jiro Akagawa,  and Kaoru Kurimoto began cranking out a new form of juvenile fiction inspired by the fantastic worlds and dynamic relationships found in their favorite novels, manga, and anime. In contrast to traditional forms of genre fiction these light novels, briefly called “fast novels,” have always been quick lively reads filled with adventure and ambition, and because of their accessibility they quickly earned the attention of the Japanese TV and film industry.

Today, light novels are anything but light. A high percentage of Japan’s new wave of literary greats, including OtsuIchi, NishiOishin, and Ohtaro Maijoh, are now coming from the pages of pop fiction magazines such as Kodansha’s Pandora and Kadokawa’s the Sneaker. Their books are bringing new life and new perspectives to an industry that was reluctant towards change. And after two decades of literally fighting their way through the Japanese publishing scene, light novels are looking to take on the world with heavyweights like FAUST, the Haruhi series, and Another Death Note.

In the next edition of Vertical’s semimonthly book club, America’s J-Lit leaders will guide readers through a lifetime of light novels—from the early fantastic tales of Slayers and Lodoss Wars to the earth-shattering Kodansha BOX line—as we reveal why the next wave of Japanese pop-culture will soon take us into the light.

Location: Books Kinokuniya New York, 1073 Avenue of the Americas
Date: July 29, 2009 (Wednesday), 6:30pm-8:00pm
Special Guest in attendance… Roland Kelts, author of Japanimerica
Soft drinks and snacks will be provided.
Please RSVP by emailing ed@vertical-inc.com

In the pantheon of manga there is one genre that sets itself apart from the rest—sports. One of the oldest genres and arguably the most beloved, sports manga is often referred to as the champion of genres by editors and artists alike. Yet, despite its many accolades and international respect, sports titles have not yet hit a homerun with North American readers.

Sports titles like Tomorrow’s Joe and Aim for the Ace helped lay down a foundation for Japanese pop culture back in the 60’s and 70’s. More than a decade later, Captain Tsubasa introduced manga to Europe and Latin America. And yet to this very day, many a sports manga contender has attempted to reach the Major Leagues of Comic-dom only to be relegated to playing a specialist role on bookshelves across America.

This Vednesday night Vertical’s own ballers will take to the field to pitch innings of unbeatable manga wisdom. Tackling everything from national pastimes to the new emergence of competitive eating comics, we will make a case as to why sports manga should be the undisputed world heavyweight comics champion!

Location: Books Kinokuniya New York, 1073 Avenue of the Americas
Date: June 8, 2009 (Wednesday), 6:25pm-8:00pm
Drinks and snacks will be provided.
Please RSVP by emailing ed@vertical-inc.com

What do Yanki and Yankees have in common? Clearly there is a collective sense of passion for community and brotherhood that cannot be measured by numerical means. Many Japanese Yanki and 18th Century American patriots also have been known for their hair as much as their willingness to take to arms…But that is where the similarities end.

Modern day Yanki are a mix of old-skool rebel charm and toughness wrapped in hip-hop threads and punk-rock bling. Being a Yanki is as much about the attitude as it is the outfit, and after being sent to reform school by PTAs and mass media for more than a decade these fictional thugs for life are once again taking the J-Pop scene by storm.

In the latest edition of Vertical Vednesday our Japanese pop-culture themed book club will carefully take on the world of Yanki in manga, prose and film. From the bad boys of Be-Bop High School to Hiroshi Takahashi’s modern day rebels without a clue, Yanki have repeatedly shown why nice guys always finish last.

Location: Books Kinokuniya New York, 1073 Avenue of the Americas
Date: June 24, 2009 (Wednesday), 6:30-8:00~
Drinks and snacks will be provided.
Please RSVP by emailing ed@vertical-inc.com