Manga refers to Japanese print cartoons and comics. Typically manga is drawn in black and white and is read right-to-left. Manga series tend to be long- running and can span dozens of volumes. For example, the popular series Naruto has 72 volumes and was published over a span of 15 years. Manga covers a wide variety of topics, subjects and genres, but most of it can be divided into two categories: shonen and shoujo.
Shonen
Shonen manga features more action and adventure. This genre often has science fiction or fantasy elements with plenty of fighting and more male protagonists.
Shoujo
Shoujo manga features more "slice of life" stories with drama, intrigue, and interpersonal relationships. Shoujo can also feature other genres like fantasy and science fiction, but will focus more on characters than action- driven plot. Romantic comedies are often featured in shoujo.
"A Beginner's Guide to Manga" by Amanda Pagan, New York Public Library
