There are two universal truths in today’s rapidly changing comics industry. The first is that Dog Man is the defining comic of our time. Second, more people are reading manga and webtoons (aka vertically scrolling comics) than ever before. Therefore, we at Comics Beat have decided to embark on a new venture called Beat’s Bizarre Adventure. Every two weeks, three writers recommend their favorite books and series from Japan, Korea, and other countries. This week, we’re introducing a vertically scrolling re-edit of a classic action series, a comic adaptation of an excellent boys’ love web novel, and (again) Osamu Tezuka.
Gantz:T
Writer/Artist: Hiroya Oku
Platform: Jump Toon
I first learned about Gonzo when my ex-girlfriend introduced me to Studio Gonzo’s animated work on a date night. That day, we devoured the entire series and were so moved by the end. So I immediately went to the manga and read them all! It’s wild action, amazing creature designs, detailed line art with amazing values, and Hiroya Oku’s unique art style.
Cut to 2024, and surprisingly, Gantz was reformatted for JumpToon as Gantz:T. Having watched the original anime and read the manga, I had to see how a story like GANTZ could be adapted to a scrolling format. The first thought that came to my mind was how would they handle blood, gore, and uncensored full-body nudity?
From the first few frames, it’s clear that Gantz:T is simply reusing the original manga’s panels, scaling and reconfiguring them for the vertical scrolling/webtoon format. Each panel is digitally colored using simple cell shading. Some negative spaces within the panels are assigned colors or patterns to add visual variety or enhance the mood of the scene. Gutters also provide patterns and effects to distract the reader. Visual effects such as depth of field and motion blur are also applied to the art. These visual effects also cleverly censor the blood and gore in the manga.
The team at JumpToon found creative ways to censor the art without significantly changing it. Blood and blood splatters are darkened and hidden by motion blur. Nudity is cleverly cropped out by readjusting the size of the frames or omitting them entirely. Gore is hidden by motion blur, using gradients, coloring as a silhouette, or simply cropping if possible. The facing page is split into two separate panels for adaptation. This often feels out of place as the art is literally split in half rather than a single panel.
That aside, it doesn’t really affect the flow or the story itself. My experience reading the JumpToon version was much the same as when I first read Gantz. I had no idea this was a webcomic until I saw the changed panels and remembered that this is an adaptation of a manga. Gantz:T is a secure, mobile version of Gantz that you can read in full color on the go or on your computer. However, if you want to experience the series in its original form, we recommend reading the manga.
At the time of writing, Gantz:T is available on JumpToon, but only in Japanese, as the app does not yet offer an English translation. You will need a JumpToon account to access the webtoons, even if they are toned down. But it was fun to read how and why the changes were made. — Justin Guerrero
run wild
Artist: Zuoerkangdong
Original work: Go Che
Platform: Tappytoon
Danmei, which means “to enjoy beauty” in Chinese, is a genre of Chinese literature that focuses on male couples. It’s been gaining popularity lately, and for good reason. The story is well written and the couple is swoon-worthy. Sa Ye, or Run Wild, is one of my favorite Danmei series. I was overjoyed when I learned that it would be officially translated into English and available on Tappytoon.
The story begins when the main character, Jiang Cheng, is kicked out of his home by his adoptive parents and sent to a cold, boring city to live with his lethargic, gambling-addicted father. His first day is eventful to say the least. He saves a mute, unkempt-haired, skateboarding girl named Gu Miao from a bully and calls her brother to come pick her up. Surprisingly, Gu Miao’s younger brother, whoever he was, immediately rejected his call and even told Jiang Cheng to “kill the hostages.”
When Jiang Cheng actually arrived, he didn’t have much of a good impression of the boy with music notes in his hair, other than admiring his long legs. When Jiang Cheng finds out that they are deskmates at school, he doesn’t feel much better. Although the two are at odds at first, Jiang Cheng and Gu Fei become each other’s light in this cold and boring city.
‘Run Wild’ is a modern band name that focuses on two young people trying to survive in a world they don’t belong to. Jiang Cheng and Gu Fei both have great potential, but are suppressed and suppressed by their circumstances. Jiang Chen is unloved and lives alone. A city where it will be more difficult for him to succeed academically. And Gu Fei becomes a father and brother to his disabled sister, and as a result, he feels he can never escape.
While you may not agree with each of their decisions, the complexities of Jiang Cheng and Gu Fei are so well written that you can understand their reasoning. The two find a home and family in each other. Once they fall in love, you can’t help but get caught up in their relationship.
The pace of Run Wild is slow compared to other popular Danmei. However, fans of family stories and growth journeys should definitely read this series. — Hilary Leon
Phoenix: Karma
Writer/Artist: Osamu Tezuka
Translation: Jared Cook, Shinji Sakamoto, Frederick L. Schott
Touch-up art and lettering: Walden Wong
Design: Izumi Evers
Editor: Ian Robertson
Publisher: VIZ
I first encountered Osamu Tezuka’s “Phoenix” series when I was in high school. That second story arc, “Future,” rewired my brain. I couldn’t believe that a story of this scale could be told in a manga! Needless to say, Tezuka was painting Future in the late 1960s, almost 30 years before I was born.
The fifth story arc, “Karma,” ran from 1969 to 1970. This story is about two men: Gao, a one-eyed, one-armed wanderer, and Akanemaru, a genius sculptor. Gao was severely abused by his companions, and finally went on a rampage and murdered the village. While in flight, he attacks Akanemaru and cuts off his dominant arm. Akanemaru has to learn carving all over again. Meanwhile, Gao’s misfortune teaches him the true nature of the world and he begins his own path to becoming an artist.
Karma is a story about art. How it is made, why it is made, and what remains. Akanemaru’s injury transforms him into a sculptor, and although he achieves success as a result, his abilities slow down. Meanwhile, Gao discovered a passion for sculpture as an adult. At first I dismissed it as a waste of time, but sooner or later I couldn’t stop. Sooner or later, the two will come into conflict over religious politics. The outcome of that duel will determine their fate, but if the Phoenix is to be believed, the future was set from the beginning.
Karma is also a masterpiece of formalism, with the layout of every panel and page carefully chosen. Rather than a pure cinematic “story manga”, Tezuka reuses film techniques in a way that only works in manga. The nonsensical gags that are common in his works are kept to a minimum here. As a result, karma acquires a kind of solemnity. It’s still larger than life, but it’s depicted more as a religious allegory than a cartoon.
A perfect introductory book on Osamu Tezuka. Indeed, some may argue that “Black Jack,” “Buddha,” and “The Telling of Adolf” are Tezuka’s best works. His 1947 manga Shintakajima has always been his most influential work. However, as a work that combines all the greatness of Tezuka’s works, there is nothing that can surpass Karma. The only thing I would like to point out about this book is that compared to other Phoenix stories, women are treated extremely poorly in this book.
But considering that, I wonder why Phoenix isn’t so easy to find these days. This story is available as an e-book, but physical copies cost several hundred dollars. Viz should reprint this so the next generation of readers can learn what they were missing. — Adam Wescott
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