With the growing popularity of the 'How to draw manga' books in the USA, PULP and VIZ's publishing of this forgotten, but brilliant guidebook to success, or failure, depending... where was I? I seem to have run off on a big-word rant. Oh well.

Anyway, this book shows us the best and worst parts of working in an existing and popular medium, and the compromises you must make to experience even modest success.

Darn. There I go again. Just assume I was talking about something interesting there.

Perhaps the best part of this whole book is that you never know if this is a parody or an honest take on the world of harsh deadlines and demanding publishers. Or perhaps it's brilliant satire and informative advice combined. Who knows?

A few rules taken from the book-

'The basis of all manga is theft'

(every manga artist rips off otomo!)

'you dont need to know your subject matter to make a story about it' (Mahjongg manga. 'nuff said.)

'Graphic and lewd pictures of Aihara-sensei published in a monthly format are the key to success' (As told by Aihara-sensei)

Okay... maybe the third rule is B.S....

BTW- If you replace 'manga' with 'movie', you pretty much experience the true creative processes hollywood uses to create such blockbusters as 'master of disguise' and 'Street Fighter.'