From blockbuster movies like Avengers: Age of Ultron and acclaimed TV series like Daredevil, people are in love with comic adaptations. Marvel has made around $18 billion dollars from their movies, and comic industry itself was worth an estimate of $780 million dollars in 2013.
People love superheroes, but with their own tropes and pitfalls (like why can't anyone stay dead?) people are always looking for something new. Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man will always be household names and drive sales, but what if I told you that two of the best superhero series from the last six years have come from Japan?
One-Punch Man
How would you feel if you could beat anyone with one punch? Pretty awesome, right? Well, "Caped Baldy" Saitama can do just that. Sure, he saves people, but the man just wants one challenging fight in his life.
What makes One-Punch Man standout is that Saitama does the hero gig as a hobby. He doesn't care about public opinion or property damage, he just wants a challenging fight.
As such, the series parodies many tropes found in shonen manga and comics. The all powerful villain that won't shut up? The intense training scenes? Bizarre hero names and costumes? They are all taking to their natural conclusion or are made fun of in a smart way.
One-Punch Man does come in two flavors. The series is originally a self-published web series created by One, which he still writes and draws. We won't be praising One's art skills, but there is a charm to it:
A most valiant effort
The web series was popular enough for Shueisha to approach One for a remake, which is drawn by Eyeshield 21's creator Yusuke Murata. Everything is the same, except that Saitama is purposely left un-detailed in contrast to the world.
Viz Media has licensed this version for print and digital release. And did I mention that an anime is coming out this fall!
In a world where superheroes take themselves a little too seriously (like, dude, you're running around in a bat costume) One-Punch Man takes us back to a time when superheroes were fun.
My Hero Academia
If you're like me, one of you're biggest gripes with American comics is the lack of a coherent story. Multiple universes, different writers creating different storylines, crossover events that require you to buy issues of heroes you don't care about, and those dastardly retcons.
That's not to say American comics don't have great writing, Scott Snyder's Batman: Night of the Owls is a great modern example. But in general, manga tends to have clearer writing since one writer is in control rather than many.
This takes us to My Hero Academia. A story about a powerless boy who lives in a world where super powers are common. Enter a world of wacky characters with unique powers. Pretty much a Japanese version of X-Men, just with kids and way more lighthearted.
There are more manga tropes in this series compared to One-Punch Man. The setting is a school, the overall theme is to never give up, and there is a tournament arc. However, the art and characters are charming.
What sets My Hero Academia apart from everything else is the blend of comic and manga. While One-Punch Man parodies, My Hero Academia embraces the tropes, but still finds a way to subvert your expectations. If Izuku plays his cards right, My Hero Academia could become the next big thing.
This is not to say that American comics are too dark or not enjoyable but when we look at other cultures, they often have a fresh and unique take on something that is familiar.
What comic, manga, manhwa, manhua, etc do you find most fun?
Tags
Manga