Giga Town: The Guide to ­Manga Iconography

Gr 6 Up–From the “sweat drop” to onomatopoeic Japanese words, manga is full of symbols that add emotion and nuance to any scene. Readers learn to interpret these “manpu” as their visual literacy develops, but few take the time to actually analyze them. This is where this handy guide to manga iconography comes in. As one of the few resources on the topic, Kouno is more interested in succinctly introducing the symbols and their usages, rather than their origins. The table of contents breaks them apart into three loose categories, with drawn images in lieu of text for ease of access. Each symbol receives a cute four-panel comic that demonstrates the symbol's use in manga accompanied by written explanations. These comics feature animals that are illustrated in a style inspired by the Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga, a famous set of Japanese scrolls dating back to the 12th and 13th century, which many attribute as a precursor to manga. All the gags throughout are charming snippets of slice-of-life that don’t overshadow the book’s main purpose. For aspiring manga creators, or those just intrigued by iconography, these images and the short descriptions make a practical reference guide.