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| Hee-ya! |
Japan as filtered through European sensibilities. In 1997, Frenchman François Boucq tackled the emerging manga phenomena via his signature character Jérôme Moucherot in the short story Manga-Jutsu. Since the story pre-dates the manga boom, its understanding of Japanese comics is gleaned more from Dragon Ball than from Fruits Basket: referencing shonen heroes, silly fighting poses, copious speed lines, and dynamic martial arts action. It's a more limited perspective by the standards of today's market. If anything, its general view of Japanese pop culture still feels stuck in the 80s. The premise involves the comical attempts of various American and European comic characters learning how to fight, manga-style, from a wizened, old Asian master dressed in a karate-gi. Mister Miyagi would have been flattered. Given his approach, should I be glad Boucq didn't try to mimic the "big eyes" look often associated with manga characters? Because holy moley! the sensei looks like he could have played Mr. Yunioshi from Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Manga-jutsu may not be the most penetrating analysis of the Japanese medium, but at least Boucq recognised just how unusual and innovative manga was for contemporaneous Western readers searching for alternatives. Plus we get to see Spider-Man use the "Punch of Fong" on Superman.
