100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

🐉 🔥 Happy Threshing Day! Pre-order the Deluxe Edition of Rebecca Yarros' newest release today! 🔥 🐉

Manga A Visual History

Brief Description
Take a deep dive into the wondrous world of manga, the Japanese comics phenomenon that has taken the world by storm. Manga has taken the world by storm. A richly diverse medium, the Japanese comics phenomenon has something for everyone—fantasy, horror, thrillers, romance, history, biography, sport,... Read More
Format: Hardback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock

Sorry, we're currently out of stock of Manga A Visual History. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Take a deep dive into the wondrous world of manga, the Japanese comics phenomenon that has taken the world by storm.

Manga has taken the world by storm. A richly diverse medium, the Japanese comics phenomenon has something for everyone—fantasy, horror, thrillers, romance, history, biography, sport, business, and even school textbooks.

Manga A Visual History chronicles the evolution of manga from its samurai-era beginnings, through its post-WWII surge in popularity, to its meteoric rise overseas. The book explores the key writers and artists who have shaped an entire culture with their visions and stylings, the iconic characters now recognised worldwide, and manga's impact on anime and live-action film and TV.

From classic favourites to lesser-known gems, Manga A Visual History is the definitive guide to Japanese comics. Featuring incisive insights from preeminent manga experts, this lavishly illustrated coffee-table compendium is a must for diehard otaku as well as the growing ranks of manga converts, who will treasure it for years to come.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241621936

Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 27 March 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: DK

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 255.0mm

Height: 307.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Jonathan Clements, translator, writer, and co-author of The Anime Encyclopedia- A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917 Zack Davisson, translator, lecturer, writer, and author of Yurei- The Japanese Ghost Erica Friedman, lecturer, writer, and author of By Your Side- The First 100 Years of Yuri Anime and Manga Frederik L Schodt, translator, award-winning writer and author of the seminal, best-selling Manga! Manga!, The World of Japanese Comics Rachel Thorn, translator, writer, and associate professor of Japanese Studies at Kyoto Seika University

Also by Jonathan Clements

View all
  • A Brief History of Japan
    A Brief History of Japan by Jonathan Clements is a captivating exploration of Japan's rich tapestry of history. From the era of ancient teenage priest-queens to the bustling modern age of salarymen, Clements weaves an engaging narrative that takes readers through the myriad transformations of a nation that once aspired to conquer China yet later chose to seclude itself from...
    Paperback
    $3299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Rebel Island
    The gripping story of Taiwan, from the flood myths of ancient legend to its 'Asian Tiger' economic miracle — and the looming threat of invasion by China. Once dismissed by the Kangxi Emperor as nothing but a 'ball of mud', Taiwan has a modern GDP larger than that of Sweden, in a land area smaller than Indiana. It is the...
    Paperback
    $4800
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • A Brief History of the Vikings
    Between the eighth and eleventh centuries, the Vikings surged from their Scandinavian homeland to trade, raid and invade along the coasts of Europe. Their influence and expeditions extended from Newfoundland to Baghdad, their battles were as far-flung as Africa and the Arctic. But were they great seafarers or desperate outcasts, noble heathens or oafish pirates, the last pagans or the...
    Paperback
    $2999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • A Brief History of China
    For millennia, China was the largest and richest nation on earth. Two centuries ago, however, its economy sank into a depression from which it had not fully recovered—until now. China's modern resurgence as the world's largest nation in terms of population and its second-largest economy—where 800 million people have been lifted out of poverty in the space of a few...
    Paperback
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 1 week
  • Japan at War in the Pacific
    By the time of Japan's surrender in 1945, an entire generation had grown up knowing nothing but conflict; but the transformation of Japan into a militarist power began decades earlier, with the toppling of the old samurai regime, and the rush of the formerly isolated nation onto the world stage. Japan at War in the Pacific recounts the dramatic story...
    Hardback
    $4499
    Available
    Ships in 1 week
  • Mannerheim
    Mannerheim by Jonathan Clements profiles Baron Gustaf Mannerheim, one of the most significant figures of the twentieth century and the only man to be decorated by both sides during the Second World War. As a Finnish officer in Russian service, Mannerheim witnessed the coronation of the last Tsar. He was reprimanded for foolhardiness and decorated for bravery during the Russo-Japanese...
    Paperback
    $4799
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • An Armchair Traveller's History of Finland
    In the American mind, Finland is often swept up in the general group of Nordic countries, little known and seldom gaining prominence on its own. But as Jonathan Clements shows in An Armchair Traveller's History of Finland, it has a long and fascinating history, one that offers oddities and excitements galore: from prehistoric herders to medieval lords, Christian martyrs and...
    Hardback
    $4399
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • A Short History of Beijing
    A guide to the history of China’s capital, from before its rise to prominence as the seat of empires to the 2022 Winter Olympics. Before China’s capital became a sprawling megacity and international centre of business and culture, its fortunes fluctuated under a dozen dynasties. It has been a capital for several states, including those headed by Mongolian chiefs and...
    Paperback
    $3599
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • A Short History of Tokyo
    Tokyo, which in Japanese means the “Eastern Capital,” has only enjoyed that name and status for 150 years. Until the middle of the nineteenth century, the city that is now Tokyo was a sprawling fishing town by the bay named Edo. Earlier still, in the Middle Ages, it was Edojuku, an outpost overlooking farmlands. And thousands of years ago, its...
    Paperback
    $3599
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • A Short History of Finland
    A fascinating history of Finland from prehistoric times to the twenty-first century. The modern nation of Finland is the heir to centuries of history, as a wilderness at the edge of early Europe, a borderland of the Swedish empire, and a Grand Duchy of tsarist Russia. And, as Jonathan Clements’s vivid, concise volume shows, it is a tale paved with...
    Paperback
    $3399
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks
  • Anime
    Japanese animation is at the nexus of an international multimedia industry worth over $23.6 billion a year, linked to everything from manga to computer games, Pokémon, and plushies. In this comprehensive guide, Jonathan Clements chronicles the production and reception history of the entire medium, from a handful of hobbyists in the 1910s to the Oscar-winning Spirited Away and beyond. Exploring...
    Paperback
    $6899
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Money and Me
    It's called personal finance for a reason. How can we use our income and wealth to make ourselves happier? What drives our financial decisions? How should we think about retirement and the financial markets? The answers to these questions vary for each of us. Join renowned financial writer Jonathan Clements on a fascinating journey to explore the connection between money...
    Paperback
    $5400
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks

Also by Zack Davisson

View all
  • Cat + Gamer Volume 4
    Just when office worker Riko Kozakura is beginning to rank up her Pet Owner skill from Beginner to Intermediate, another cat joins the household! Kozakura's handled her one cat, Musubi, well, but with twice the feline antics she'll have her hands full—and more XP to grind! Cat + Gamer Volume 4 introduces a new twist to Riko's life: Ready Player...
    Paperback
    $4000
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu (Manga)
    H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu (Manga) brings to life Lovecraft's most famous horror story, rendered in chilling detail by modern manga horror master Gou Tanabe! This complete graphic novel is presented in one volume. It faithfully reproduces the original Japanese release, featuring a title page in silver ink, eight pages in full colour, and eerie metallic copper tones with...
    Paperback
    $3600
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • H.P. Lovecraft's The Shadow Over Innsmouth (Manga)
    A new manga adaptation of the only H.P. Lovecraft story published as a book during his lifetime, by modern horror master Gou Tanabe! In the winter of 1927-28, the isolated coastal settlement of Innsmouth, Massachusetts was assaulted by U.S. government agents—its waterfront burned and dynamited, its people taken away to internment camps. Yet that was neither the beginning nor the...
    Paperback
    $5900
    Elsewhere:
    $6500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Cat + Gamer Volume 8
    Office worker Riko Kozakura lives to play video games, but her life changes forever when she adopts a kitten! Soon, she has two playful cats and takes lessons from video games to help raise them. Cat + Gamer was nominated for the Best Manga Harvey Award in 2022 and 2023! Riko Kozakura has been level grinding as a pet owner...
    Paperback
    $3900
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Yurei: The Japanese Ghost
    I lived in a haunted apartment. Davisson opens this definitive work on Japan's ghosts, or yurei, with a personal tale about the spirit world. Shifting from anecdotes to deep research to translation of ancient ghost stories, he explores the persistence of yurei in modern Japan and their continued popularity throughout the West. Colour images of yurei appear throughout the book....
    Paperback
    $3499
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Cat + Gamer Volume 7
    Office worker Riko Kozakura lives to play video games, but her life changed forever when she adopted a kitten! Now she has two cats and takes lessons from video games to help raise them. Office worker Riko Kozakura continues to learn and grow with her two cats. With twice the fun, twice the laughs, and twice the trouble, Kozakura has...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • H.P. Lovecraft's The Shadow Out of Time (Manga)
    From the modern horror master Gou Tanabe, comes the manga adaptation of H.P Lovecraft's The Shadow Out of Time. Professor Peaslee of Miskatonic University has been acting very strange-could he be out of his mind? No...his mind is out of him! From the modern horror master Gou Tanabe, comes the manga adaptation of H.P Lovecraft's The Shadow Out of Time....
    Paperback
    $5700
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Cat + Gamer Volume 6
    Cat + Gamer Volume 6 by Wataru Nadatani, translated by Zack Davisson, continues the delightful story of office worker Riko Kozakura, who has successfully expanded to a two-cat party at home. She continues to level up in pet ownership! Living with cats Musubi and Soboro every day is an adventure, and in her daily quests, Riko couldn’t ask for a...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

More from Arts & Culture

View all
  • Dylan's Pick
    Bold Types
    A tribute to 32 truly independent bookshops throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, from north of Auckland down to Dunedin, and coast to coast. Jane Ussher's photographs show every bookstore in its unique nature - including behind the counter, smoko rooms, the mess which tells the hardworking story behind the joy of matching books with customers. Jemma Moreira's careful editing has crafted...
    Hardback
    $5500
    Elsewhere:
    $7000
    Available
    Ships in 1 week
  • Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    New Release
    Disney Moana: The Official Cookbook
    Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far you’ll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...
    Hardback
    $4499
    Elsewhere:
    $5299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • This Angry Pen of Mine
    This Angry Pen of Mine by Layne Staley invites you to dive into the untold creative world of Layne Staley, the legendary voice behind Alice in Chains. This extraordinary collection showcases his handwritten lyrics, deeply personal poetry, stunning original artwork, rare photos, fan tributes, and so much more. Step into the world of Layne Staley like never before. For the...
    Hardback
    $7299
    Elsewhere:
    $8999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • They Bloom Because of You
    Bestselling author and Instagram sensation Jessica Urlichs returns with a new collection of beautifully observed poems about the ever-evolving journey of motherhood - the hard, the magic and the fleeting. ‘A raw and honest read that makes you feel seen and understood in a way that will bring you to tears.’ - Hilary Swank ‘A book to keep close and...
    Paperback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3600
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Odyssey
    Composed at the rosy-fingered dawn of world literature almost three millennia ago, The Odyssey is a poem about violence and the aftermath of war; about wealth, poverty and power; about marriage and family; about travellers, hospitality, and the yearning for home. This fresh, authoritative translation captures the beauty of this ancient poem as well as the drama of its narrative....
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3599
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Leaves of Grass
    A collectible new Penguin Classics series offers beautiful, slim, clothbound editions of ten favourite poets. In 1855, Walt Whitman published his first collection of poetry, Leaves of Grass. The volume received great praise from leading Transcendentalist poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. This encouragement led to what would become a lifelong project, as Whitman expanded and rewrote the volume until his death...
    Hardback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Great Writers and the Cats who Owned Them
    Throughout history, cats and writers have bonded together in a magical combination of comfort, companionship and inspiration. The famous authors featured here range from Samuel Johnson, whose cat Hodge dined on oysters, and Edward Lear, whose charismatic cat Foss was missing half his tail, to Margaret Mitchell, L. M. Montgomery and Dorothy L. Sayers, who rescued her kitten Blitz from...
    Hardback
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Beautiful Chaos
    The Instant Sunday Times Bestseller Selected poems from bestselling author and Instagram poet, Jessica Urlichs. 'These words awaken the magic of life by celebrating the ordinary.' - Giovanna Fletcher Motherhood is messy and beautiful, and hard and humbling. We adore our children and sometimes we miss ourselves. Beautiful Chaos is a collection of raw, honest poems about motherhood, capturing everything...
    Paperback
    $2900
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • To the Women - The New Collection of Wise Words Every Woman Needs
    THE COMPLETELY UPDATED COLLECTION WITH OVER 70 BRAND NEW POEMS, FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES NO.1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF WILD HOPE AND WORDS TO LIVE BY 'Amazing . . . Donna's words speak to my heart' Davina McCall To the Women is a celebration of the beauty, strength, and joy of being a woman. A love letter to our deep capacity...
    Hardback
    $2999
    Backorder
    Ships early August
  • Wreck This Journal: Now in Colour
    The creative journey continues with Wreck This Journal: Now in Colour by Keri Smith, the latest and most vibrant edition of the groundbreaking series that redefined journaling. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this edition brings the playful destructiveness of the original to life in dazzling full colour, adding a dynamic new dimension to the beloved prompts. Whether you're a seasoned Wreck-er,...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Odyssey
    The Odyssey by Homer is a monumental epic that has enthralled readers for centuries with its rich tapestry of adventure and human struggle. It chronicles the perilous journey of Odysseus, the cunning King of Ithaca, as he strives to return home after the fall of Troy. During this ten-year odyssey, Odysseus confronts myriad dangers, both natural and supernatural, that test...
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Iliad
    When Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey appeared in 2017—revealing the ancient poem in a contemporary idiom that was "fresh, unpretentious and lean" (Madeline Miller, Washington Post)—critics lauded it as "a revelation" (Susan Chira, New York Times) and "a cultural landmark" (Charlotte Higgins, Guardian) that would forever change how Homer is read in English. Now Wilson has returned with an...
    By Homer
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.