When we talk about manga , we immediately think of works and demographics from the commercial circuit. Much of the success of manga and anime in Brazil came with the popularization, starting in the 90s, of productions like Saint Seiya and Dragon Ball Z, so this association is natural. However, the history of Japanese pop culture is extensive and encompasses much more than just the genres and productions we routinely consume. Examples of this are gekiga manga , little known compared to types like shounen or shoujo. Therefore, in this post we will explain what gekiga manga are and give some reading tips to help you familiarize yourself with the genre.
What is gekiga?
Gekiga manga emerged in Japan around the 1960s, offering mature and realistic narratives aimed at an adult audience. The term gekiga means something like "dramatic figures" or "dramatic images" and arose from artists who wanted to differentiate their manga from children's works. Not only the stories, but the art style and artwork of the gekiga movement are also realistic. Thus, these manga distanced themselves from the cartoonish characteristics of other works of the period. Over time, gekiga gave way to seinen.
Therefore, this type of work is an important part of the history of Japanese pop culture. Thus, much of what we see today in certain manga and anime has been influenced by gekiga. However, because it is not part of the mainstream commercial circuit of the manga industry in the West, these works are not as popular in Brazil. Furthermore, being a somewhat older movement, gekiga doesn't always appeal to all audiences. But even so, there are good manga of this type published in Brazil that are worth reading.
The Price of Dishonor: Kubidai Hikiukenin
Japan. Shogunate. At a certain point, the battles fought in the conflicting territories began to be negotiated and took on economic dimensions, when honor, tradition, and glory were replaced by pure and simple commerce. Through bargains struck during a sword fight on the battlefield, the defeated could keep their head on their shoulders… as long as they paid the right amount for it.
The Price of Dishonor is authored by Hiroshi Hirata and is published in Brazil in a single volume by the publisher Pipoca & Nanquim .
Satsuma Gishiden
After the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Japan experienced a long period of peace. However, this peace was only apparent… Wars on the battlefield ceased, but new types of conflict sprouted in the souls of the inhabitants of the country's provinces, especially among the samurai, who lost their purpose in life overnight. After all, what does a warrior do without war?
Also by Hiroshi Hirata, Satsuma Gishiden has three volumes published by Pipoca & Nanquim.
Message to Adolf
In this story, we follow the lives of three Adolfs. The first is the son of a Nazi officer at the German consulate in Japan. The second is a Japanese man, the son of Jewish immigrants. And the third is… Adolf Hitler. Three completely different people, with only their name in common, whose destinies are intertwined with that of a Japanese reporter named Souhei Touge, who possesses a valuable document containing a grave secret about Hitler.
Message to Adolf has two volumes and is also published by Pipoca & Nanquim.
Golgo 13
Robust and with a menacing demeanor, Golgo 13, also known by the pseudonym Duke Togo, is a ruthless professional assassin. Extremely cold and competent, G13 never fails in his missions. In the first adventure, Golgo 13 must kill a former double agent sentenced to death in the United States. In the second story, he becomes involved in a conspiracy to kidnap then-Pope John Paul II.
Golgo 13 is published by JBC and has three volumes.
These are just a few of the countless gekiga manga, but they can already give an idea of the characteristics of the old movement and, who knows, win over new fans.
