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A review by brinnet
Wandering Son: Volume Five by Shimura Takako
3.0
As I read through this series, I can't help but be aware of how very different manga is from most American graphic novels I've read. It truly does have its own cultural writing style.
In all graphic novels, the white space between panels (the gutter) is space where action happens and your mind fills in the gaps. The thing is, in Japanese manga, the gutters have so very much going on. By the time you get to the next panel, so much may have taken place that you really need to pause and think about it. In American graphic novels, you may start with the swing of a punch, and in the next panel, contact has been made. But in manga, you may start with the swing of a punch, and in the next panel, a student is sitting in the nurse's office with a bandage. So yes, in both novels someone is punched, but in the American style, it's much more common for each piece of the puzzle to be spelled out. In the Japanese style, you have to infer so much more. This isn't panel-to-panel, but it happens often enough that I notice it.
Anyway, nothing of particular note to report about this volume. I do like it a bit more because the students are transitioning from elementary school to junior high school and issues of puberty are beginning to appear. I'm interested to read the next volume again -- I want to know how these issues of growing up impact students who feel increasingly uncomfortable with their assigned gender at birth.
In all graphic novels, the white space between panels (the gutter) is space where action happens and your mind fills in the gaps. The thing is, in Japanese manga, the gutters have so very much going on. By the time you get to the next panel, so much may have taken place that you really need to pause and think about it. In American graphic novels, you may start with the swing of a punch, and in the next panel, contact has been made. But in manga, you may start with the swing of a punch, and in the next panel, a student is sitting in the nurse's office with a bandage. So yes, in both novels someone is punched, but in the American style, it's much more common for each piece of the puzzle to be spelled out. In the Japanese style, you have to infer so much more. This isn't panel-to-panel, but it happens often enough that I notice it.
Anyway, nothing of particular note to report about this volume. I do like it a bit more because the students are transitioning from elementary school to junior high school and issues of puberty are beginning to appear. I'm interested to read the next volume again -- I want to know how these issues of growing up impact students who feel increasingly uncomfortable with their assigned gender at birth.