A wide-ranging introductory guide for readers making their first steps into the world of manga, this book helps readers move beyond manga available in translation to more fully explore the incredible diversity of Japanese comics styles, forms and traditions from its earliest texts to the internationally popular comics of the 21st century. In an accessible and easy-to-navigate format, the book covers: · A history of Japanese comics, from their emergence within modern print culture, through their astounding growth as an industry and diversification in form in the second half of the 20th century, and on to the present · Case studies of texts reflecting the range of themes, genres, forms and creators, including Osamu Tezuka, Machiko Hasegawa and Katsuhiro Otomo · Key themes and contexts - from gender and sexuality, to history and censorship · Critical approaches to manga, including definitions, biography and reception and global publishing contexts The book includes a bibliography of essential critical writing on manga, discussion questions for classroom use and a glossary of key critical terms.