Because I still have some thoughts to express about mangas

Time is running short, and I wanted to continue to speak a bit about manga and the power of images. Consequently, I went through another essay...

The power of images.

To start with:

The power of image was discovered since the beginning of the 20th century. Robert Capa during operation Overlord is one of the very first to use it.

The power of image made the American loose the war in Vietnam, the power of image decided of the hour and place were Desert Storm - for light purposes - was meant to start.

Because of the power of image, American invented TV - Oliver’s’ Stone Natural Born Killer is good illustration - while Japanese developed mangas and anime.

Mangas and animes have a great power. A power to denunciate or/and a power to escape.

Manga to denunciate

The manga Shamo is a wonderful way to support this vision of a manga.

Here is the story: “Ryo Narushima was a genius and looked to have no trouble of getting into Tokyo University and joining the elite of society. However, that summer something cracked inside Ryo's head. With a small knife he brutally murdered both of his parents only leaving his sister alive. Called parent murder he goes through his life from now on.”

Shamo is the story about a kid who basically refuse the salary man future. It is the story of what happen if you leave the system.

Manga to escape

Japan’s reality is far from glamour. Manga, is also made to travel far from it. Better than these virtual world - denunciated by the manga Hack sign -, there is One Piece.

Here is the story: “In a world of pirates, one man wants to become the greatest of them all: Monkey D. Luffy, who gained strange powers from eating the cursed Gum-Gum Fruit! Luffy and his crew, including Nami, a thief and swindler, and Roronoa Zolo, master of the three-sword fighting style, sail the Seven Seas in search of the legendary treasure "One Piece."

One Piece is a wonderful story full of strange creatures and amazing machines. The only limit is the reader’s imagination.

The power is in the characters

As a tool, mangas and animes are surely powerful. They aim for the heart and everyone’s sensibility. What Kusturica once said concerning TV is equally true for mangas: “mangas kills quicker than bullets”.

But, more than wonderful sets, epic universes or phantasmagoric magic, the power of mangas lies within it’s characters: they are us, they are the readers. Fragile, lost, lonesome... all falling or fallen angels.

The end of it all

No evil is pure evil in mangas or animes just like no good is pure good. That’s the story of every manga. There are no such things as alchemist laws but there is always a price to pay. And if thoughts are gray well, just like manga, actions and consequently life is in black and white.