‘We can get very caught up in a hierarchy of reading material placing books above comics’ – the blockbuster success of manga

We ask the experts about the popularity of Japanese graphic novels, and if it’s appropriate reading material for kids and teens

Bruno Batista, co owner of Big Bang Comics in Dundrum Town Centre, pictured with a selection of the Japanese Manga Comics.Picture Credit:Frank McGrath

Ed Power

A few weeks ago I found myself in the Cork branch of Waterstones furtively photographing the shelves. I was lurking by the manga comics section, sending pictures to my nine-year-old daughter, who had asked that I buy her a new book.