Manga has become increasingly popular in the US and Europe. John Abrams, who buys comic books for stores to sell, says that big stores now recognize manga's popularity. Unlike American comics focused on superheroes, manga tells different stories appealing to a variety of readers. Due to these factors, bookstores see potential profits in selling manga. The reporter also discusses how some manga is now produced in North America by companies like Tokyopop, helping contribute to manga's growth in popularity. Libraries are also seeing heavy checkout of their manga collections, with one library planning to expand its selection to meet reader demand.

1. Unit 5 Listening 1
Manga’s new popularity

2. Listening 1:
Manga’s New Popularity
1: A reporter will introduce
Manga, its special drawing
style and how it has become
popular in the US and Europe. The reporter goes to a
comic book convention and talks to different people.
John Abrams buys comic books for stores to sell. He
says that all the big stores in America know that
manga has become more and more popular. He says
that manga isn’t like American comics.

3. 2: John Abrams says that when he was a kid, comics
were about superheroes but manga:
tells different stories
different kinds of people read it
Manga stories are longer
People can read many books about their favorite
characters.
Because of these things, bookstores think that they
can make more money if they sell manga comics.

4. 3: The reporter says that there are lots of different
types of manga, and John Abrams agrees.
John Abrams also thinks that people like the drawing
style, and that many young people like the drawings
because they look like video games.
The reporter says that 60% of manga readers are girls.
She talks to Tina Roberts in a booth that sells Shouju.

5. 4: Tina talks about how wonderful
manga is and how she met Rumiko
Takahashi, the writer for InuYasha
At last year’s convention.

6. 5: The reporter talks about how some manga is made
in North America. This might be one reason why it is
becoming popular.
An American company called Tokyopop has become
successful.
Colin Baxter explained that Tokyopop was started by
Stuart Levy, an American who worked in Japan.
Tokyopop’s books were sold to Americans just like
they were sold in Japan – they weren’t changed at all,
except for the language.

7. For example:
They had to teach Americans
how to read manga from
right-to-left, instead of how
Americans usually read (left-to-right).
Books were also published in
black and white, instead of color.
Manga books were also cheap – under $10 US.
By 2005, Tokyopop sold 1000 different manga comics
and made over $40,000,000 US.
They also sell video games, films, and have manga
contests on Facebook.

8. 6: The reporter talks to Margaret Brown.
Margaret works for a library that has
a lot of manga comics.
Margaret says that manga is very popular
with children and young adults.
Each day 3 out of every 4 manga comics
In the library are checked out. The library
Is going to get more manga comics for their visitors.
She thinks that any kind of reading is good, and kids like manga
because it looks like TV shows and video games.
Manga also has good stories, and her library is making a club for
young people to discuss the different parts of manga stories.