Key Takeaways:
– Naoki Urasawa’s ‘Monster’: A huge risk yet, a significant success in the manga world.
– The popularity of ‘Monster’ mainly attributed to the appealing character, Johan.
– The mystery genre is challenging in the world of manga, and Urasawa had to convince this to his editors.
Pushing the Envelope: The Making of ‘Monster’
The career path of every manga artist begins with a potential crash or triumph, and manga ‘Monster’ by Naoki Urasawa stands as a striking example of this. Its beginning teetered on the brink of rejection by the editorial team due primarily to its unusual trope. In fact, whether a manga is embraced or not entirely depends on the audience’s reaction, which ultimately determines a project’s fate.
Carving the Path to Success
Creating a successful manga involves deciphering and applying the unique factors that make it outstanding. For Urasawa, his task did not end at impressing the audience but extended to proving his point to the editors. The novel concepts he introduced were ones they initially found uninteresting. However, his perseverance and the successful formula he devised eventually won them over.
Convincing the Skeptics: Urasawa’s Encounter with Editors
In an interview shared via Reddit, Urasawa confessed the arduous task of creating ‘Monster.’ For a series that eventually rose to fame, its inception was more shaky than fans might imagine. Given the heavy reliance of the manga on the mystery genre, it presented a risky proposition. The impatient fans represented a potential threat for the series. Urasawa’s editors were fully aware of this and ready to dismiss the story.
Presenting the Unconventional
As Urasawa recounted about his effort to bring ‘Monster’ to life, he had to dramatically alter his previous approach. His project was an unconventional attempt at the mystery genre, which the editorial team assumed would struggle to succeed in the manga world. They were against the idea. However, Urasawa was confident about its potential and believed he could make it relatable and interesting through the inclusion of a ‘pretty young man’ character, Johan. The idea of Johan as the protagonist turned out to be positively impactful.
The Birth of Johan: A Turning Point
Understanding that the success of the manga required a unique approach, Urasawa decided to introduce a visually appealing character – Johan. This character was not just intellectually engaging but also visually striking, a combination that won audiences’ hearts.
Recognizing the ‘Johan Effect’ in ’20th Century Boys’
However, ‘Monster’ was not Urasawa’s only creation. He later embarked on another series, ’20th Century Boys.’ Contrary to his expectations, this new project did not enjoy as much audience reception as ‘Monster.’ Upon reflection, he realized that the absence of a character as alluring as Johan could have contributed to its lukewarm reception. He recognized that a handsome character was a secret ingredient for a manga’s success.
In conclusion, Naoki Urasawa’s journey with ‘Monster’ highlights the significance of understanding manga essentials and incorporating them correctly. By introducing a compelling character and taking a brave dive into the mystery genre, Urasawa has managed to create a successful manga platform.
Remember, success in the manga world is not easy or straightforward. It requires artistry, a good understanding of audience preferences, patience, and lots of hard work. It’s a lesson manga creators can learn from Urasawa’s ‘Monster.’ For manga lovers and enthusiasts, it’s another reason to love and appreciate this fascinating world of graphic stories.
(Manga ‘Monster’ is currently available for streaming on Netflix.)
