Being a manga and webcomics fan is a wonderful thing. There are plenty of fantastic stories to read, as well as an infinite number of genres and plots. However, there are a few challenges that every manga fan faces. So let us work through them together. Here are five issues every manga fan faces.
Just one more chapter
Every manga and webcomics fan understands how difficult it is to stop reading. I’m sure you’ve told yourself “just one more chapter,” but it’s a lie. It’s so easy to keep reading even after telling yourself you should stop and go to bed. But, hey, who needs sleep?
Cliffhangers
Cliffhangers aren’t just limited to manga. We’ve all seen them in TV shows, comic books, and movies. They are intended to keep us reading and returning for more. To be honest, they do work. Nobody would bother with them if they didn’t work. Are they going to kiss now? Is the character dead? Who is the other woman he’s with? They’re not as bad if you have more chapters to read, but we’ve all experienced how frustrating it can be when you run out of chapters and wish the next chapter button was still there.
Waiting for new chapters/volumes
Waiting for a new chapter can be agonizing at times, especially if you are unaware of any schedule. I’ve had many manga that I have no idea when or if they will be updated at all. All you can do is check your manga and webtoons from time to time (or daily if you’re as obsessed as I am), hoping to see a new chapter appear.
Localization
It’s great when manga is professionally translated into your language, but it also means the manga is localized, which can completely change the dialogue. True, not everyone will understand specific references to Japanese culture or places, so it’s understandable that companies will localize manga to make it relevant to the people they’re translating for.
However, it can sometimes change the entire conversation, or even the entire character. It also occurs in anime dubs and video game translations. Character names and personalities can be changed, as can the meanings behind certain lines, titles, and so on, which can be annoying and disappointing at times.
Missing volumes/chapters
Because manga needs to be translated, it can be difficult to find volumes or chapters of the series you’re reading, especially if it’s a less popular or older series. It’s possible that it’s no longer in print or that the translations were stopped because they weren’t profitable. Some series are never translated. There could be a variety of causes, but it does occur. I’ve been looking for the last volume of a manga I’ve been reading for a long time and can’t seem to find it anywhere, no matter how hard I search the internet.
Can you think of any other issues every manga fan faces? What are your experiences? Let me know by leaving a comment.
Check out my anime/manga glossary for definitions of common used words in manga.