Life in manga

As Fukushima experiences a disaster worse than the typical Godzilla thrashing, the residents’ resilience shines so much, you almost see the anime speed lines and sun beams pop out behind them. And as a thank you for all the good (Pocky sticks) and the bad (J-pop) that this ring-of-fire archipelago has given the world, I’d like to feature today the magnificent black-and-white miracle that is the manga comic.

Manga, although simplistic at first glance, is a storytelling style that is highly infectious and surprisingly affecting. The art form is known for stretching the imagination in the barriers of what can be told. There is no piece of life that can be dubbed too mundane to feature within its pages. Within a manga anthology, you can have yellow spiky-haired aliens, corporate intrigue, medical drama, and cutesy hamsters or Pokemon thrive in the same space.

And despite the deep breadth between worlds, all these fantastical narratives hook the reader on the oriental way of honor and heroism. Whether a demon hunter or a fluffy white lion, they all live by the code of the samurai. And the black-and-white art aptly complements this way of life as a reflection of the view that the world is either black or white (i.e good or bad). And all these characters comfortably live in it and rise above the grays of existence. So, whether 50 nuclear meltdowns come their way, the choices of living in manga are simple. It is ultimately deciding between living sub-standardly or pushing on to prevail in excellence. May we learn how to follow the beat of the rising sun and shine on.

Global Manganization

Not all pieces of Manga take place in fiction. It has been a recent trend that the lives of real public figures have been made more accessible as they are manganized.

A small Dalai Lama in a big world: The path of the 14th Dalai Lama is to fight the forces of government violence with his humility and simplicity.

And I’d like to present to you three world warriors that naturally fit in this fantastical world. Although far removed from the sensibilities of the Japanese, these personalities are rich in the samurai spirit. Like vagabonds, they have spread their message without house or home to flesh out the universality of their ideals to all corners of the earth. And more importantly, they continue to live in such a way that their clear visions for humanity always rise above the grays of uncertainty.

Reincarnated Ink:The 14th Dalai Lama

At the age of two, Tenzin Gyatso was thrust into the responsibility of being the 14th Dhalai Lama. Unlike his former reincarnations, Gyatso must face the harsh realities of 20th century such as Mao and communist China that threaten the dharma or human law of all people. It is not an easy path especially one fought with non-violence even at points questioning his own beliefs. Yet, he prevails — to carry the weight of the survival of his people as he talks to political and religious leaders. And by the end of the manga, the 14th Dhalai Lama proves that, as cheesy as it sounds, “No complicated dogma or religious teachings are necessary to be able to love.”

More Than A Shirt Stain:Che Guevara

The story opens up with a kid being asked why he is wearing an “El Che” shirt and he replies that it is because it is what’s cool. The manga soon delves into its purpose which is to raise El Che to more than a shirt stain. The illustrated biography highlights Che as a man with a mission. Parallel to the 14th Dhalai’s life, Che travels the world, too, and meets public figures in extending his ideals. The difference though is that he resorts to guerrilla violence in South America and Africa. The path of Che is a lonesome one as he loses allies along the way and has to fight it alone. In a poignant scene, he must even meet his family in disguise and cannot reveal himself for their safety. Che’s story is an example of the sacrifices a man must do to reach his dreams.

Numbers In Action: Warren Buffet

In a society that believes that a singing voice can change the world (See any American Idol audition), investor Warren Buffet proves that the sharp mind can save the world. The manga explores Buffet at his nerdiest teen years as he crunches out numbers and develops man crushes on economic theorists. As he matures, we see him grow into an intellectual powerhouse, as he swoops down to revive companies and the jobs of thousands despite the odds. He, at times, does these interventions radically at no cost, which places him as a rebel in his own field. The end of his bio shows, his thousands of “groupies” gather annually to meet and honor him. Thus, showing that there are many ways to make a difference and it must begin with embracing who we are.

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Che Guevara and The 14th Dalai Lama are published by Penguin and available at Powerbooks.

Warren Buffet An Illustrated Biography by John Wiley & Sons. Order it at http://as.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/index.html.

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E-mail me at mailto:readnow@supreme.ph.