The history of Japan is fascinating and thus inspiring, but often Western culture is also an inspiration for Japanese artists. And here’s the question: what can mangaka do with European and American heritage? Here are some examples.
Historical figures in a fantastic world – Kohta Hirano Drifters
Let’s imagine a typical fantasy world, so we have several human states, plus standard fantasy races like dwarves and elves. However, let’s add to this historical figures transferred to this reality. So not only can dragons fly in the air, but a Japanese pilot with his machine can also come here. Hannibal and Scipio as two grandfathers, always arguing with each other? Joanna D’Arc wielding flames? How about Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid massacring infantry with a Gatling gun? What if Hitler ended up in this world? How would he treat misfits like dwarves or elves?
Crazy plot, full of strange ideas, can it work? Kohta Hirano from the combination of sometimes so different elements has created an amazing story, filled with violence, but also humor. He also brilliantly outlined the characters, and the relationships between them lead to many interesting and sometimes funny scenes … for example, when a Japanese pilot from the Second World War meets with an African Scipio. Although the main characters are played here from Japanese history, it cannot be denied that other historical figures are also interestingly depicted. Hannibal, despite his age – and therefore a problem with urinary incontinence – is an excellent strategist who constantly throws up some unconventional ideas. Of course, you have to take into account some controversy. Well, but that’s how it is – not everything,
Playing with fairy tales – Kaori Yuki The revolution according to Ludwik
The revolution according to Louisis nothing more than playing with the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. Of course, they were changed in a specific way, because the main character is Ludwik, who is looking for a bride. His story begins with a meeting with Snow White, who turns out to be a calculating princess. Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel were of course paid killers, but in this case, the appearance of Ludwik in their lives influenced their chosen path. Cinderella is a few seemingly cosmetic changes, the main character of the fairy tale has no tiny feet, only big feet, which she is ashamed of. However, the prince, for a completely different reason, but also at all costs, will want to find Cinderella. On the one hand, Kaori Yuki added many humorous threads, and on the other, more than once, she emphasized the dark side of positive characters from fairy tales.According to Ludwik, the revolution is an example of great fun with tradition. The character of Ludwik fits perfectly into the stories, and the fairy tales gain a new dimension and after reading this manga on Cinderella, the Goose or the Frog King, no one will look in the same way anymore.
Japanese Wild West? – Masasumi Kakizaki Green Blood
What do we most often associate the Wild West with? Cowboys, slaves and the question of their emancipation, high noon duels, chasing cattle across the prairie, bank robberies, Indians and the like. Admittedly, at first glance, mangaka does not add much new. His view of the Wild West is stereotypical, so we have all the elements I mentioned earlier. Some threads, like those related to Indians or African-Americans, seem a bit forced, as if the author thinks that in a good western, these elements must necessarily appear. What, however, Green Bloodbrings a new one? First of all, the main character uses a unique weapon that will always be associated with this manga. This is not just an unusual Colt model, but a converted revolver with a bayonet. Secondly, the plot at some point resembles a computer game in which the heroes take turns fighting with minor bosses to finally face the “main evil”. Of course, the fight is extremely epic and even the bullet aimed at the boss’s chest does not impress him. And, what is worth emphasizing, instead of the typical shootings and duels in Green Blood , the blade of the bayonet and even the fist will be used as often.
What do the artists from the Land of the Rising Sun have to offer?
Mangas enable communing with so distant, but also extremely fascinating culture of the Far East. Drifters , Revolutions According to Ludwik , Green Blood is an interesting perspective of Japanese artists on European culture and history. For obvious reasons, Kohta Hirano focuses more on Japanese characters, and they are the main characters, although he describes the personalities of famous Europeans in an interesting way. Green Blood proves that westerns are painfully clichéd, just like the image of the Wild West. Nevertheless, the mangaka tries to lead the plot differently, and instead of epic shootings, duels with the use of melee weapons and fists dominate. Whereas Revolutions according to Ludwikshow how the author from the Land of the Rising Sun transforms famous fairy tales into her own fashion, and instead of a clear division into good and evil, shades of gray dominate here. To sum up, communing with manga not only gives you the opportunity to encounter something amazing, but also can expand your knowledge or allow us to look at something from a completely different perspective.