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 1990s, of productions like Knights of the Zodiac 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 consume routinely. Examples of this are gekigá manga , little known compared to genres like shounen or shoujo. Therefore, in this post, we will explain what gekigá manga is and provide some reading tips to familiarize you with the genre.
What is gekigá?
Gekigá manga emerged in Japan around the 1960s, featuring mature and realistic narratives aimed at an adult audience. The term gekigá 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 very lines and style of the gekigá movement are also realistic. Thus, these manga moved away from the cartoonish characteristics of other works of the period. Over time, gekigá 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 was influenced by gekigá. However, because it's not part of the mainstream commercial manga industry in the West, these works aren't as popular in Brazil. Furthermore, because it's a somewhat older movement, gekigá doesn't always appeal to all audiences. Even so, there are good manga of this type published in Brazil that are worth reading.
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The Price of Dishonor: Kubidai Hikiukenin
Japan. Shogunate. At a certain point, the struggles waged in 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 swordfight on the battlefield, the defeated could keep their head on their neck... as long as they paid the right amount.
The Price of Dishonor is written by Hiroshi Hirata and is published in Brazil in a single volume by Pipoca & Nanquim .
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Satsuma Gishiden
After the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Japan experienced a long period of peace. However, this peace was only apparent... Battlefield wars ceased, but new types of conflict arose in the souls of the country's provincial inhabitants, especially among the samurai, who suddenly lost their purpose in life. After all, what is a warrior to do without war?
Also by Hiroshi Hirata, Satsuma Gishiden has three volumes published by Pipoca & Nanquim.
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Message to Adolf
In this story, we follow the lives of three Adolfs. The first is the son of a Nazi official at the German consulate in Japan. The other is a Japanese man, the son of Jewish immigrants. And the third is… Adolf Hitler. Three completely different people, with only their names in common, whose fates are intertwined with that of a Japanese reporter named Souhei Touge, holder of a valuable document that holds a grave secret about Hitler.
Recado a Adolf has two volumes and is also published by Pipoca & Nanquim.
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Golgo 13
Rugged and unfriendly, Golgo 13, also known by the pseudonym Duke Togo, is a ruthless professional assassin. Extremely cold and competent, Golgo 13 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 gekigá mangas, but they can already give an idea of the characteristics of the old movement and, who knows, win over new fans.
