How much manga do you own? And how did you afford it? =P
By Leca
@lecanis (16647)
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
October 15, 2007 8:53am CST
I keep trying to get into manga, but it's annoying to read it online, usually. I don't know why, but it just bugs me trying to read it on the screen.
So then you come to buying manga. Which is insanely expensive. I have close to twenty volumes of Fruits Basket, 14 volumes of Naruto (which I just bought recently), several volumes of various CLAMP stuff (X/1999, Wish, Clover, Legal Drug, xxxHolic, etc), a couple volumes of Othello, about 10 volumes of Mars... the list goes on and on. Usually I start reading a series because I liked the anime, or just randomly picked up a volume of it at the store and thought it looked neat. But I never really finish anything, because by the time I have money to buy manga again, there's a different series I'm interested in!
So, how much manga do you own? Do you have any completed series? Can you afford to just buy manga anytime you want? Do you have a cheap source for it, or buy it at full price? And if you know how to get good deals on manga, PLEASE let me know!
3 people like this
20 responses
@canxnac (421)
• Indonesia
15 Oct 07
Well actually I've been collecting manga since I was on junior high school and there're about 50 mangas that I own now (some are oldies though =_="). But I live on a small city and it's kinda difficult to find new mangas here (and the prices r insane too 0_0), so I rarely buy mangas these days. Sometimes I just borrow my friend's mangas (and he/she borrows mine as well) if there's a series I would like to read. And thanks God the local library has pretty good collection of mangas too ^_^v
But now I prefer to download a manga from internet (since I found a good site where I can download the latest chapters of my fave manga ^^) then read it on my cellphone's screen hehe... It's much easier that way =)
P.S.:sorry for the sucky english T_T
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
15 Oct 07
I've only been collecting it for a few years now... I think the first one I bought was probably Fruits Basket, because I loved the anime so much.
I don't really have many friends that read manga, so I don't have the option of borrowing! That would be awesome!
Maybe I should give reading manga on the computer another chance, as it would be much cheaper. I just have a hard time reading it on the screen for some reason. I'm not sure if it's just because I'm so attached to paper books or if it actually hurts my eyes or is harder to keep up with. Still, where do you get your manga online?
1 person likes this
@ailema4ever (2668)
• Finland
16 Oct 07
Hi, lecanis!
I used to have hundreds of manga series when I was a teenager in Indo (but then I sold most of them to a librarian who opened his own little library filled with mangas). I used my pocket money to buy them. I'm not a fan of clothes, so I spent most of my pocket money to buy those mangas. Back then they weren't too expensive, but nowadays they're so expensive so that I prefer buying only short series. But now I live in Finland, the mangas are translated into Finnish, so I can't buy them. That's why I resort to reading mangas online, but you're right...it's always MUCH better reading actual books than reading books online.
I'm afraid I don't know a cheap source for mangas. Maybe there are some people selling used mangas online?
Can't you find some manga library there in your hometown? Maybe you should open a manga club or something so that you and other manga lovers can read one another's manga without paying too much. Sorry I can't help more.
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
16 Oct 07
Wow, a library with manga! That would be the most awesome thing in the entire world. lol
There isn't any manga library or even many people who read manga in my hometown really. It's starting to get popular in the United States, but I live in a small town, so such things are still kind of seen as strange and different here. In fact, if I talk about manga or anime to most people, I have to explain what they are. That's why I can't find anything in my hometown.
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
17 Oct 07
Wow, 15 years ago I don't think I even knew what manga was! I really didn't get into anime and manga until almsot 10 years ago, and even then I was seen as a huge "nerd" for being interested in such things. Well, actually, most people where I live still see it as nerdy or weird. I need to find a way to get more people into it here! =p
Lucky you to live in a place where manga is so popular and easy to find!
@ailema4ever (2668)
• Finland
17 Oct 07
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that, lecanis.
In Indo, manga has been booming since about 15 years ago, so there are lots of manga libraries and there are SO many titles published already in Indonesian language.
I hope lots more people know manga in the US so that there would be manga library so you can enjoy them...I LOVE mangas!!!
1 person likes this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
16 Oct 07
Sorry about that! It probably doesn't help any that my friend came on here and posted about mangoes just to be silly. =p
Manga is Japanese comics. They usually come out in magazines one chapter at a time, and then later get collected into books. So when I asked how much manga people owned, I was mostly referring to the books the Japanese comics get collected in.
In the United States over the last few years, Japanese comics and animation have become really popular. I started getting interested through the animation shows (anime) first, about 9 years ago now. But some of the shows were based off comics, so I started checking out the comics too. That's how I got into manga.
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
16 Oct 07
Hehe, yup, funny that some people thought I was talking about mangoes. ;)
It is a lot of information at once I guess. I tend to write long explanations. Manga and anime (Japanese animation) are just things that I'm really into, so i get excited talking about them. My avatars are always anime characters.
@3lilangels (4639)
• United States
16 Oct 07
well my friend,i dont have any but my niece has a load of stuff,she is just a anime queen lol.she loves it very much.she gets alot of her stuff on ebay for alot cheaper than the stores.pattie
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
16 Oct 07
*nods* I think ebay might be my best bet. Buying those things new in the stores is just ridiculously expensive.
Glad to hear that your niece is enjoying anime! There's a lot of good stuff out there! Oh by the way, did you get my emails back?
1 person likes this
@3lilangels (4639)
• United States
16 Oct 07
yes i did hon and i emailed you about it.thanks so much.
1 person likes this
@sheenmadness (1286)
• Philippines
15 Oct 07
Hi lecanis,
I am not really an anime fun. That is why I am not familiar with the characters you've mentioned. But i do love reading romance novels and I got plenty of them. LOL! Sorry girl for responding when in fact i don't know about them. Hope I don't get you annoyed.
1 person likes this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
15 Oct 07
Manga is basically Japanese comics. Sometimes anime is based on them, but sometimes manga are stand-alone books that don't have anything to do with an anime. They usually come out chapter-by-chapter in special manga magazines, and then later get released collected in book form, but sometimes they go straight to book form, I hear.
I have plenty of other types of books as well. My bookshelves are moderately organized by category: manga, religious books, other types of references, poetry, novels, etc. I have a LOT of books.
It's okay that you responded anyway, I appreciate it. And really the topic could apply to any type of book! I used to read romance novels when I was younger, but I haven't read one in a long time. Now I have an impulse to go get one! =P
2 people like this
@sheenmadness (1286)
• Philippines
16 Oct 07
Thanks buddy! Im glad yo did. :) I love romance novels maybe because Im a romantic fool. LOL! Hehehe try reading it again and tell me how does it feels now that we are no longer at our teens? :)
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
16 Oct 07
I have less manga than I've seen anime. Most times I just have a book here or there and I do need to catch up. Can't really afford them since I want to save up. Plus its fighting with my comic book budget (also on the downward trend). Sigh, maybe I am growing old or something.
Ah My Goddess
Azumanga Daioh
Chrono Crusade
DBZ
Ichigo 100%
Negima!?
Ranma 1/2
Urusei Yatsura
Also there are places I just read manga online, (or just screenshot from time to time.)
1 person likes this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
16 Oct 07
Oh no!!!!! Don't go!!!! *giggles*
I can't really afford manga these days either. All of what used to be my fun money seems to go to diapers and junk like that. Darn adulthood and parenthood and all that. (Just kidding, I love my baby like crazy.)
Actually, I have some Azumanga Daioh, completely forgot about that one. Pretty funny stuff! I really need to start reading manga online so I can catch up with all the series I'm way behind on! I keep avoiding discussions on anime and manga because I don't want to be spoilered on stuff. =P
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
17 Oct 07
Well from what I've seen most anime and manga threads seem to be releases, or shows people like, or its people recommending anime. This with the typical what do you like about x anime (so okay some spoilers there).
As for manga there are some I definitely want to get just because they are still going on.
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
16 Oct 07
I sense the power of the nerd side falling within me...
It is too late for me Luke... *respirator*...
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
12 Nov 07
I dont own any since its not my thing but my niece and her partner are HUGE on manga, though I dont know if they actually own any..
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@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
20 Oct 07
*smiles* I have my previous avatar around on the computer, I'm sure she'll get used again of these days. I'm just in a different mood right now.
Awww, thanks for letting me know you care, even if you don't have much of a response to this topic! =P
@Flight84 (3048)
• United States
15 Oct 07
I don't own much so far. I have the first 18 volumes of Naruto and I plan on getting 19-21 as soon as I get paid. I just have to buy up a few at a time. They are pretty reasonably priced for a book I think, but it does add up if you're not careful. I'm really into Naruto right now, as you know, and I'm really getting into the manga. I'm planning on reading some new mangas of a few animes I've heard about.
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
15 Oct 07
Naruto is probably the next thing I'll be buying more of too. I really eventually want to catch up on Fruits Basket and a couple other series, but the Naruto obsession of the moment is most pressing. It's funny because my husband and I were really into Naruto a couple of years ago, before it started coming out in the United States, then lost our source of it online for a while, and then suddenly it came out in the U.S. and we were like "Oh yeah, Naruto!!!!" *giggles*
I want to get back to work just so I can buy manga now! I've been out with illness since mid-June, so I'm pretty darn broke. I wouldn't have even bought the Naruto I did, but I got some money for my birthday and decided to actually spend it on something I wanted instead of bills, since it WAS my birthday. =p
@kyttiewitch (56)
• Germany
15 Oct 07
reading online (more then a few pages) is a pain in the butt I totally agree with that. For some reason I can't do it! Maybe because I can't totally relax while reading or maybe it is the screen glare? I am not sure. However, my husband used to be a part of a monthly anime club where they sent a few vhs tapes once a month lol, maybe they have one for manga too? That might be a cheap way to go plus you get introduced to things you might not normally read.
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
15 Oct 07
Wow, I've never heard of such a club for anime or manga! That would be awesome! I'll have to check around and see if I could find anything of the sort! Thanks for the suggestion.
I think for me it's just that I can't relax or something. I'm on the computer so much anyways you'd think the screen glare wouldn't really be the issue. Though I have noticed that I didn't appreciate the artwork as much either when I read online, as opposed to having the manga in my hands. I don't know why.
It would be neat too to be introduced to new things! Mostly if I read manga it's because I saw anime related to it first, or because I've read other things by the same author, or even just I randomly picked it up off the shelf and thought it was interesting. But I'm sure there is tons of awesome manga out there that I'm never even seeing or hearing about!
@megumiart (3771)
• United States
23 Feb 08
I have a a four volume series called Jelly Beans, and a bunch of shojo monthly manga mags that my aunt sends me and my sis from Japan. I'm not sure that any of them are released in the US, but the shojo mags are pretty cheap in Japan. One magazine has at least 1,000 pages, literally. They're like 3 inches thick! And only cost 450 yen, which is about $4.50. :P
1 person likes this
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
23 Feb 08
A lot of the shojo stuff I like started in those types of mags! I wish I could get something like that in English... manga here is so expensive!
Right now I'm starting to learn to get used to reading online, though I'm still buying the volumes of my favorites when they come out. :)
@relaxtealeaves (38)
• Malaysia
12 Nov 07
i dunno how much i own.i'm too lazy to count it. but anyway, i have a complete collection of slam dunk, feel 100% (just 1 more to a complete collection), chocolat, umizaru, miss, le cirque de carakuri, hot gimmick and bitter sweet chocolate. other manga i own were one shot manga. i have almost hundred of them i guess. at my place, manga are quite affordable (and sold out quickly too) and available at most book stores
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
12 Nov 07
Haha, yeah I'd be too lazy to count too! :)
Oh, I wish manga were more affordable for me, and more easily available. I usually wind up ordering online, because it's cheaper and there's more selection, but even then it seems like I could easily go broke buying it. ;P
@YamiKiba (937)
• United States
13 Jan 10
Hmm. I usually have a few random volumes of various manga lying around my room. Like volumes 4, 7 - 9 of Gravitation, Loveless volume 9, Lost Boys (a one shot/volume manga), T.R.A.S.H, volume 1 of Baby and Me. . . .what else. . .volume 1 of Yellow, volume one of Yami no Matsuei, among several series. I have never had a complete set of manga before unless there is only one volume in the series so I read most of my manga online since its more convenient for me.
@punkincat (214)
• United States
8 Jul 09
I have a closet full. I find a lot of titles at half price books or use at Amazon is another good source. I try to finish one title and not look at another until I finish, sometimes that works.
If you ever go to a convention on the last day you can find some deals ( sometimes). Akon has a manga libuary. There was a place on line that rented manga ( like blockbuster I never tried it )
I also read Shoden jump, Shoto Beat, and have just tried Zen. I find this is cheaper and gets in more titles than getting all the manga. The draw back is that their is more in the manga than the mag.
Hope this helps.
@KellyChan (45)
• United States
3 Jul 09
I have 26 mangas (I don't feel like listing them all right now though xD) The only thing i'm close to having the complete series of is Aishiteruze Baby, I have every volume but the first one because I gave that and a few volumes of it I already had to a friend after I won the complete series :) I never have money so I can't afford to buy manga, i'm lucky though because I think i've only bought manga once (I bought 5 at that time) and the rest I got was giving to me as birthday and Christmas gifts. Also I can get alot of manga from the library. I don't know any cheap sources to buy manga so when if I were to buy some i'd have to pay full price
@olisaur (1922)
• United States
26 Nov 09
I have about 20 manga books- but they're all "hand-me-downs" from my japanese aunt. I was really crazy about manga for a while, but these days I've lost interest. My local library has a pretty nice collection of manga books and anime on dvd, and at Hastings (I think its a chain store?) carries used manga that sells for about $6 a book. :o
@ReViewMeMedia (3785)
• United States
2 Aug 10
I usually buy it if RightSTuf.com has it on sale or if I have extra birthday monehy. I also use the money I earn from writing reviews to buy manga. if I don't want to buy it and I know it's popular enough that my local library has it, I'll borrow it and read it for reviews and earn a little extra cash while using money I earn to get the ones I like.
