November is nearly over which means it’s time for the usual monthly giveaway at Experiments in Manga! As has become tradition, November’s giveaway features a whole feast of manga rather than a single title. This month, everyone participating has the opportunity to win not one but four volumes of manga released (in print!) by Kodansha Comics in the last year: Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju, Volume 1 by Haruko Kumota, Kigurumi Guardians, Volume 1 by Lily Hoshino, Land of the Lustrous, Volume 1 by Haruko Ichikawa, and Love & Lies, Volume 1 by Musawo. As usual, the giveaway is open worldwide!
Although many manga publishers have started to release more and more titles digitally, Kodansha Comics in particular has been making tremendous strides in the digital realm over the last year or so. Personally, I much prefer a physical volume that I can hold in my hands, but I am still very happy that so much content is being officially translated and released. Even if it’s not in my preferred format, at least it’s available. But while I lament the digital titles that for one reason or another will likely never be published physically, there are still plenty of interesting and intriguing manga being released in print to keep me occupied.
So, you may be wondering, how can you win a cache of Kodansha Comics?
1) In the comments below, tell me a little about your manga reading preferences and habits when it comes to print versus digital debate.
2) If you’re on Twitter, you can earn a bonus entry by tweeting, or retweeting, about the contest. Make sure to include a link to this post and @PhoenixTerran (that’s me).
There it is! Participants in the giveaway can earn up to two entries and have one week to submit comments. If needed or preferred, comments can also be sent to me via email at phoenixterran(at)gmail(dot)com which I will then post here in your name. The giveaway winner will be randomly selected and announced on December 6, 2017. Best of luck!
VERY IMPORTANT: Include some way that I can contact you. This can be an e-mail address in the comment form, a link to your website, Twitter username, or whatever. If I can’t figure out how to get a hold of you and you win, I’ll just draw another name.
Contest winner announced–Manga Giveaway Winner: A Cache of Kodansha Comics Winner
I prefer physical volumes (by a lot, truth be told) but since I can’t buy a whole lot of comics I’m interested in where I live I do a lot of reading digitally as well.
1. I prefer physical volumes for the most part, BUT I’m starting to get digital copies for cheaper one shots or for much longer series to save space since I live in a small apartment.
2. I’ll be RTing @bunnycartoon on twitter!
OOOOOH.
1. I like to binge read. It’s part of the reason why I haven’t been able to read as much since school started, I know that even if I try to read “just a little” before bed that I’m going to stay up too late! I don’t care if it’s physical or digital really, when it comes to buying volumes I make choices based on the individual series, just give it all to me at once!
2. RT’d your tweet! (@wanderindreamr)
I’m a student right now in that uncomfortable pre-grad transition period where I may have to pack up and move at any point. My entire life has to fit into one rented room. Digital copies save me shelf space and keep my home from becoming a fire hazard―always a plus.
When I buy a series in print, it’s usually because it’s not available any other way, I want to share it easily with friends, or because the print edition is just too nice to pass up. My little sister and I also used to buy “bath books” in print (i.e. something fun we wanted to be able to read in the bath without fear of destroying our iPad).
And as you mentioned, there are tons of unique series that are only available digitally! Netcomics’ collection of bizarre josei manga, for instance, or the out-of-print titles on Viz’s app. Even Renta, which licenses 80% bad erotica and has never seen a web designer in its life, still managed to publish The Sorcerer on the Hill (a fantastic fantasy BL series with phenomenal worldbuilding). I’d love to see these titles in print so more folks could read them, but I’ll take what I can get.
1) Digital, I’ll buy the books and then rip myself a local copy using a script, also no companies are doing digital simulpubs.
2 ) RT’d you (@DasSteffan)
I meant physical simulpubs. No companies are doing physical simulpubs.
1) Print. All the way. I like the feel of a physical book, but I also find it easier to flip back and forth between pages and stuff. On the negative side, it takes up a TON of space. And the cat will often get in the way when I read (sometimes, she will boss her way up to me and be like “no, this is cat time! Whatever that brick thing is, it’s not me, so let me lick your face right now!”) so it can often times not be the most physically comfortable way to read. She’ll do this when I’m playing games, 3DS or console, too, so I just accept it (life with a cat, right? Wouldn’t have it any other way)
Also, I typically binge read! When a new series comes out, I’ll read the first 3-4 volumes to make sure I like it though before continuing. Since I so often loan my manga to my friend, she often tells me if it’s still good later down the line (and I also pay attention to if reviews for continuing series are generally positive or negative around here, and if they take a turn for the negative, I may binge what I have to decide if I want to continue or not). Also, it seems that after the first 3-4 volumes, especially if they were read as they were released, I tend to forget what was going on. Seems my brain cannot hold information on 50 ongoing series at once with new volumes every 2-4 months, so it tends to quit while it’s ahead. If I can complete a full arc though, I can typically remember that. Full arcs is how I’ve been slowly reading One Piece, the idea of binging 84+ volumes, especially as ones as dense as One Piece, is not something that sounds like fun, so I’m going by arc on that series. If I can just wait for a series to be done, I’ll usually go that route (worked for Kamisama Kiss, doing it right now for Assassination Classroom and Magi), of course, One Piece probably won’t end for another 50 volumes or so anyway, so then I’ll go arc route.
Oh and I also kind of need to be in the mood. Since I also do video games and anime, and it’s been video game season for me, I haven’t read too much manga lately. I know in a few months, I’ll be all over manga again though (I tend to rotate at random).
2) Done @zawa113cj
I kind of have a mixed view on the debate, though I lean more toward the paper side of things. I like to read manga in their printed form, and if given the opportunity I prefer to have the books rather than just look at a digital version.
On the other hand, I appreciate being able to access digital, translated sources for manga when it isn’t readily available otherwise (hasn’t been officially translated in print, etc.). For instance, I’m a big fan of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou, but only the anime OVAs have been translated to English, so I have to go online for the manga.
Plus, I like reading a variety of (SFW) doujin manga, and most of that has only been translated into English by fans in digital formats.
Still, given the choice, I prefer print. There’s just a more fulfilling feeling to have the full book in your hands. Even if it means that I’m constantly running out of space for my manga…
I definitely prefer print, but I understand the appeal of digital, especially when it comes to bookshelf space. I tend to only buy the physical prints of series I absolutely love and want to read multiple times. If I was only reading something once… I might choose digital to save on overall costs or the library, of course. ;)
Best Wishes,
Joseph
1) I prefer digital more than print. I love the feeling of holding the manga in my hands more than just reading it on a screen and the smell but some manga do not have physical copies so I can’t my hands on it . Reading digitally saves room but I like seeing the real manga in my hands and keeping collections of my favourite series. I like digital more if the series is taking a while to publish but I love physical when it does release.
2) Retweeted @Sevolsyob
I’m a bit more leaning towards digital than physical, though that’s especially common with OOP stuff. But like with anything in terms of a published medium like this, sometimes it’s preferable to have physical references on hand when you don’t have the tech or don’t feel like getting it out.
Same applies for Dungeons and Dragons for me: I have a slew of physical books, though there are a lot that are so expensive it’s better to just have the PDF for the obscure reference. But if I really want to read it directly and be able to cross reference in terms of translation, then having a physical copy of the Japanese (if possible) and official English release is amazing.
RT @muichimotsu
I would pretty much only read physical copies of graphic novels.
These look like fun books from Kodansha!
I tend to prefer print, as I like having a shelf full of books that I can pick up and read at any time and any place. That being said, I don’t mind digital manga and have picked up more than a few myself. Heck, I subscribed to JManga back in the day.
I prefer the paper, i’m pretty traditionalist with manga. However when a manga i want is not available in my country, sometimes i use digital copies too, because buying from abroad is much more expensive.
RT @MauroPellencin
I will read anything I can get my hands on, though I have a huge stack of books that I’m going through for bedtime reading. I keep getting files to read on my tablet, but I end up reading the physical books first!
I prefer print but if they release on digital faster with a potential of physical releases, I don’t mind getting the volumes digitally. Also at some point, we run out of shelf space and things get out of print (I’m so bitter about out of print series from defunct publishers like Go Comi and CMX Manga) so having the digital option is fantastic! My only gripe right now about digital is that Viz continues to be stubborn and doesn’t allow Bookwalker to sell most of their titles (none of the popular shonen/shojo series are sold on their service which is a bummer for someone who prefers buying from one service for organization). I’m also at least glad that some books that would never get a physical chance (or cut short since distribution is crazy expensive in the US and we have worse physical sales than France) have a legal way of supporting the mangaka!
Also RTed @kpossibles
If I’m buying something, I strongly prefer physical volumes. But recently my public library has started using the app Hoopla where I can borrow ebooks and comics and there’s really no beating the convenience of being to borrow thousands of comics for free any time of the day. Sadly hoopla doesn’t have much manga, but I’m hopeful it will eventually!
Retweet @watoonya
Check if your library also uses Overdrive!! Another excellent online borrowing system, which occasionally has books Hoopla doesnt (some really good Graphic Novels in there)
Personally, I prefer physical copies.
I did read a few chapters of Koe no Katachi on Cruchyroll back then (but it was free, don’t remember why)
I don’t think I’m willing to pay for digital Manga….
That kinda makes feel slightly bitter about the exclusive books by bookwalker, especially when it’s smth I would love to own as Inari konkon koi iroha.
And it’s even worse when it comes to LNs.
I’m really glad that Seven Seas are bringing J-Novel works to the print market.
Retweet by
@BloodyGaikotsu
I prefer physical volumes. I love manga, and particularly black and white ink work. I spent my childhood reading manga and poring over the pages and all their details. Digital formats are not as easy to flip through, and holding a book in my hands holds a much greater appeal. However, digital books tend to cost less and take up less space, which is important for me right now as I am doing a lot of moving. If an increase in digital-only publishing means more titles are brought into English, I can’t help but be happy about the progression of publishing routes for foreign comic creators. I will always prefer physical books, but the expansion of the digital market is vital for ease of access, among some of the other reasons listed above.
I definitely retweeted (@frenchpressplz) and shared the link on Paper Cat Press, too. Always happy to share your blog, as you must know! Take care and be well. Thank you for offering your insight and these giveaways :)
1. I prefer print edition by far. It is much easier to read and you can look at your collection on the self. I usually order print editions online. I am not really a fan of all the only digital licenses and I hope that Kodansha prints some of these titles.
2. I tweeted about the contest @Sairinni
It is always better to have printed copies, but in my country(Greece) there is not a big variety of printed manga, so I end up just buying the digital copies.
I also prefer physical copies. I don’t have a lot of money or space to spend on them, though. But every time I go to a comic shop, to Japan, to wherever manga books are sold, I buy as many as I can :) I have the habit of collecting Volume 1 of series I have heard of but never read/watched before, and collecting all volumes of my favorite series. Right now I have a collection of manga in different languages: japanese, english and spanish :D
I prefer physical copies over digital. I like being able to physically hold it in my hands and take it wherever I want to go without having to worry about the internet or how much charge my computer or ipad has. It just feels more substantial when I can physically hold it.
I only use digital when it is something that I don’t physically have access to like out-of-print manga, which can be hard to find and/or too expensive to afford.
1) I’m in the physical camp… but only because haven’t a good way to read digital comics.
I don’t like having to sit at the computer desk when getting into long reads (the in-browser Graphic Novels navigation on a couple borrowing sites are also horrendous), and my phone screen is just too tiny to really appreciate excellent art or page layouts (it really destroys the experience if you have to zoom into it panel by panel to read the word bubbles…..)
2) tweets @persoconchii
I prefer physical copies over digital because they’re easier to read, and for manga that has translation notes at the end, it’s kind of a hassle to flip back and forth with an ebook. However, because my shelves are already overflowing with the print copies I own, I’ve started buying more digital manga.