Gift Guide for Manga Lovers

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This Christmas, our Booksellers have been busy curating gifting guides to suit all. Whether you're buying for that cousin who lives to travel, a Cricket obsessed uncle; looking for the perfect gift for little ones, big ones or difficult ones, we've got you covered.

Presenting our Gift Guide for Manga Fans:

Manga: A New History of Japanese Comics

Eike Exner

The immensely popular art form of manga, or Japanese comics, has made its mark across global pop culture, influencing film, visual art, video games, and more. This book is the first to tell the history of comics in Japan as a single, continuous story, focusing on manga as multipanel cartoons that show stories rather than narrate them. Eike Exner traces these cartoons’ gradual evolution from the 1890s until today, culminating in manga’s explosion in global popularity in the 2000s and the current shift from print periodicals to digital media and smartphone apps. Over the course of this 130-year history, Exner answers questions about the origins of Japanese comics, the establishment of their distinctive visuals, and how they became such a fundamental part of the Japanese publishing industry, incorporating well-known examples such as Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon, as well as historical manga little known outside of Japan. The book pays special attention to manga’s structural development, examining the roles played not only by star creators but also by editors and major publishers such as Kōdansha that embraced comics as a way of selling magazines to different, often gendered, readerships. This engaging narrative presents extensive new research, making it an essential read for enthusiasts and experts alike.

The Art and Making of Arcane

Elisabeth Vincentelli

The Art and Making of Arcane takes readers through the visual journey of Riot Games' and Fortiche's revolutionary animated series. Featuring early art styles, evolving character designs, and jaw-dropping worldbuilding artwork, this volume is the definitive compendium of Arcane's creative process and vision. Arcane and League of Legends fans alike will be amazed by the visual development of fan-favorite champions, the breathtaking cityscapes of Piltover and Zaun, and the riveting inventions of hextech and Shimmer. This book includes early designs showing how characters evolved visually, gorgeous vistas of sprawling background and setting art, and interviews with over 20 key animators, writers, directors, artists, game designers, musicians, and other creators.

Heaven Official’s Blessing (The Comic), Volume 1: Tian Guan Ci Fu

Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (author), STARember (illustrator)

A fallen god unravels supernatural mysteries and comes face-to-face with ghosts from his past in this manhua (comic) adaptation of the New York Times bestselling danmei novel by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu. Featuring stunning art by STARember, the official manhua produced by BILIBILI COMICS is now available in English in print for the first time. Xie Lian, once the darling of the heavens, is a twice-banished god infamous for his fall from grace. Eight hundred years have passed since his mortal life as the Crown Prince of Xianle, and he’s now the laughingstock of the three realms. So when he ascends to godhood for a third time, it causes an uproar among his divine peers. Ascension may be nothing new to Xie Lian, but this time he has no followers, little power, and less luck. To repay his heavenly debts, Xie Lian must descend to the Mortal Realm to hunt ghosts that prey upon the living. There, he encounters a mysterious stranger – but is this newcomer friend or foe . . . or something else entirely?

The Essential Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz

Mark Evanier (author), Charles M. Schulz (illustrator)

From cultural milestones such as NASA’s Apollo 10 lunar and command modules being named after Charlie Brown and Snoopy to the classic holiday specials that continue to draw millions of viewers, Peanuts has a lasting influence that few works of art or literature can claim. The power of these iconic characters is also evident from the popularity of modern-day animated movies and iPhone shorts, and even the Gen Z phenomenon of so-called 'Snoopy Girls'. This spectacular deluxe edition celebrates the 75th anniversary of Peanuts and the life, art, and legacy of Charles M. Schulz, and comes packaged with unique bonus materials.

AKIRA Hardcover Collection 1

Katsuhiro Otomo

The epic, timeless hit that inspired the legendary anime film and made the word 'manga' part of the global vocabulary returns in a new hardcover edition. The AKIRA Hardcover Collection features the original right-to-left manga reading format and Katsuhiro Otomo's original, hand-drawn sound effects in a beautiful, large-sized collectible edition. Thirty-eight years have passed since the end of World War III, and the megalopolis of Neo-Tokyo has sprung from the bones of the devastated old city. By night, the borderlands between glittering towers and irradiated ruins are ruled by criminals, cultists, and street gangs. Two childhood friends (and rivals), Kaneda and Tetsuo, ride with one of these gangs. By day, the military and a secret elite toy with the psychic phenomena that caused the devastation in the first place. A high-speed incident on a decrepit express road will lead to a collision between Tetsuo, Kaneda, and forces they cannot hope to understand and that will change them forever. The AKIRA Hardcover Collection features the updated translation and lettering of the 35th Anniversary Edition box set, now available one book at a time.

Ultimate Anime: 100 Essential Films and Series

Joe O’Connell

Anime is a vast and vibrant universe. From soot sprites to super robots, Dragon Balls to the Dragon Slayer, it’s drenched in Japanese culture and overflowing with must-see megahits. For newcomers, it can be overwhelming. This book is here to help. From the arthouse tragedy of Belladonna of Sadness to the suave swagger of Cowboy Bebop and the genre-busting touchstone that is Haruhi Suzumiya, there are worlds beyond worlds begging to be explored – all unexpectedly connected through shared ideas, visual language and wild creative cross-pollination. Immerse yourself in hidden gems and essential classics alike. Navigate the rules and mythologies used to build these diverse universes. Master the cultural references needed to appreciate the dialogue and subtext. Each title will lead to your next favourite – and a deeper love for the artform. You’ll be an ‘otaku’ before you know it.

The Apothecary Diaries Art Book

Tuoko Shino

Experience all the gorgeous art from the first fourteen volumes of the best-selling The Apothecary Diaries light novel series! Get immersed in the historical setting and intriguing characters of The Apothecary Diaries, the original light novel series that inspired the hit manga and anime! This jacketed, hardcover volume includes more than 300 lavish pieces of art from light novel illustrator Touko Shino. In addition to every illustration from the light novel series, this collection includes previously unpublished character designs, promotional and exclusive art, and an interview with Shino. Every turn of a page delves deeper into the world of this enthralling series!

Vagabond Definitive Edition, Vol. 1

Takehiko Inoue

Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher—the most celebrated swordsman of all time. At 17 years of age, Miyamoto Musashi—still known by his childhood name, Shinmen Takezō—is a wild young brute just setting out along the way of the sword. In the aftermath of the epic Battle of Sekigahara, Takezō finds himself a fugitive survivor on the losing side of the war. Takezō’s vicious nature has made him an outcast even in his own village, and he is hunted down like an animal. At this crucial crossroads in Takezō’s life, an eccentric monk and a childhood friend are the only ones who can help him find his way.

Studio Ghibli: Architecture in Animation

Studio Ghibli

Explore the dazzling animated worlds of Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and more with Studio Ghibli: Architecture in Animation! Learn how the visionary animation studio brings its vibrant worlds to life through hundreds of pieces of concept art, sketches, and background paintings that illuminate the architectural inspirations of Studio Ghibli’s animated classics. Distinctive interiors, imaginative exteriors, breathtaking landscapes, and the interplay between the three are all examined in detail through collected remarks from acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki, exclusive commentary from renowned architect Terunobu Fujimori, and quotes from the artists and art directors of Studio Ghibli’s beloved films.

Uncanny: The Origins of Fear

Junji Ito

Horror manga legend Junji Ito has fascinated the world with his beautiful and strange tales, from his debut story “Tomie” to Uzumaki, Gyo, and many other famous works. In this professional memoir and horror manga analysis, he tells all and digs into dark recesses—reflections on influences from his childhood, thoughts on manga, next-level idea-generation techniques, character design, craftmanship, and more. Full of never-before-told insider anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories, this is a must-have book for fans who want to immerse themselves completely in the world of Junji Ito.