while waiting for a friend...

[lazchan]

thought I'd type up a quick entry...

I was thinking about how much the manga industry in the U.S. has come in the last couple of years. Three years ago, you wouldn't find half the stuff on the shelves that you do now. More is coming out everything month. More stuff is getting licensed than ever before. What was once a sad fanboy(girl)obsession, is now a living, breathing commodity in stores and businesses now. Everyone seems to want to get on the bandwagon. Does that take the originality out of it? Are we less unique because we are now liking the things that are mass generated and now newbie-dubbie-fans are liking?

Comments

[piseag.livejournal.com]

>Does that take the originality out of it? Are we less unique because we are now liking the things that are mass generated and now newbie-dubbie-fans are liking?

The question is, do you care? For the record, I vote no to our being less unique.

[lazzchan.livejournal.com]

*laughs* No, I don't care. It's mainstream now. It doesn't make it any less specal.

[katsue_fox]

Wish it was like that over here! (UK) Viz lost their license over here, so there's a large amount of manga that we're not likely to find in the shops. Oh yeah, and our one and only decent Japanese bookstore in London closed down. ^^;;

[katsue_fox]

Re: the originality and newbie-dubbie-fans thing - I got into anime via watching dubs on childrens' TV channels with my son four or five years ago. Prior to that, I didn't even know anime existed. (Which feels kinda surreal now that I'm excitedly waiting for the *raw* episodes of new anime series to come out because I'm too impatient to wait until they've been fansubbed to see them!)

I've never really wanted to feel unique in terms of my interests because it's more fun being able to share interests with other people and being able to get hold of things more easily without going the online ordering route would be a nice option.

[caithion.livejournal.com]

I one of those evil types who rationaly knows new blood is good for the fandom but I can't seem to stop the little voices that go: "Squish the n00bs!"

Heh. What can I say, I like my fandoms small and neat. And I put all that effort into being able to read the things in Japanese.... Hehheh.

[lelu.livejournal.com]

Not that I'm a big fan of newbies, but...I think you have to remember this:

We were newbies once, too.

[lazzchan.livejournal.com]

:P yeah, i know. I dont think its a bad thing.