American Comics vs. Japanese Manga? Which do you like more and why, who would win if they clashed?

Ok....

I like both, and for different reasons. Because of this I cannot choose between the two. I mean, I enjoy a good story, and thats why I generally like manga more, but then I read a graphic novel like Watchmen, and then I am conflicted.

That being said...

For the sheer fact that there are two characters in the world of American comics that have power over the molecular structure, I would have to say American comics would triumph in a clash.

There is no way to actually stop Dr. Manhattan or the Silver Surfer... And with essentially a wave of their hand they destroy adversaries MOLECULARLY, in other words, they destroy the basic structure of their opponents, sorry, but not even Goku could stand up to that, not even Superman. They can destroy worlds more efficiently than Majin Buu.

That, and aside from DB there are few anime/manga with all powerful beings, but American comics are are chocfull of them. So really... I can't see how manga world would win.

Just for the hell of it... If I were going to make an army of 5...

1)Batman as the commander, no one can think as far ahead as he can, and he is a perfect field commander, using his wits to get ahead of his opponents. (can be exchanged with Adrian Viedt, another super smart guy who thinks ahead, but I personally prefer Batman, but if it was Viedt, though he is a "hero" he is really more of an anti-hero, so he would go FAR past what batman would EVER do)

2) Dr. Manhattan- all powerful being 1, can control molecular structures, and can destroy just about anything he wants. Add in the fact that he is indestructible and immortal... well manga team has a problem already. Even if Batman happens to die, he has it covered

3) Silver Surfer (notice how I am only going for heroes?) - all powerful being #2, same applies to this guy as Dr. Manhattan

4) Amazo - all powerful being #3. Ever evolving android....Can replicate the powers and abilities of any super powered being in his vicinity... So he meets ANY being from manga world... he gets their power, and therefore can use their same power against them... (btw, just being in the presence of the other 2 on our team means we have 3 people who can pretty much destroy the universe without breaking a sweat)

5) Superman - Not really needed with the other 3 all powerful beings, but just thrown in for good measure.

Now, on the other side...

Sorry, but I can't think of ANYONE who can tangle with those 5...

So sorry manga... can't really deal with American Comics...

Part 1: I prefer Manga by far. Although Comics are cheaper here (since we dont have to import or translate them), I find I enjoy Japanese Manga way more. Comics can be too "messy" in their attention to detail and it takes away from what's really happening in the panel. Sometimes there is a lack of consistency when the character(s) are drawn. I do like how Comics are mostly all in color though.

Part 2: I'm gonna use facts and statistics with my answer here ><:

I say Manga would win. Manga has been around since the late 1700s, while the first documented American Comic book didn't come out until 1833. So if its going to be an army of "numbers", Manga has more on its side. And if the fans of the two Verses were to collide, again I say Manga. I've been to many Cons (not just Anime Conventions) across the states and the Manga/Japanese followers are in greater number.

I don't differentiate. Manga is currently a much more vital and flexible medium -- Samurai, fantasy, technology, psychological thrillers all find room in them. There used to be crime comics, westerns, superheroes and space operas, and now everything is an unholy mashup of superheroes and space operas. I find current American comics decadent, but they don't speak for the whole of comics.

I especially enjoy Franco/Belgian comics from sixties and seventies, the stuff which led to Metal Hurlant, which was translated into English as Heavy Metal. I've been reading Spirou lately, but there isn't as much happening there as there used to be, though there is still a lot more than American Comics.

As for part 2, the whole point of superhero comics is that they are power fantasies and these days they seem to be infantile power fantasies. There is no reason for logic -- if the Comics-verse met the Manga-verse the Comics heroes would win.

You know, I think the fight only depends on who struck first. Basically, I am in favor of anime/manga (because I'm biased! I don't read much comics, so I'm sure they're equivalent powers in comics too [maybe?!]), and I say anyone who says that comics will win for sure is simply not knowledgeable about anime.

You have Harushi in anime, who's a god whose wish will override the world (Now come Silver Surfer and kill her; I like to see that brat's death). Then you have Lelouch (the censored!). He can order anyone to do anything. Which means immortality won't save you. Hmm... Now insert Light with his death note. Gone is Bruce Wayne, and anyone whose real name is known by light (We assume light won't accept the shinigami's eye trade). Now comes Reshi of Blade Dance. She's not only a black spirit, but a very cute one. Gone is Flash, the impulsive. Add Tatsuya the monster from "The irregular magic highschool", and see who can manipulate the molecular structures. Add kyubi of Madocka Magicka, and you'll face the threat of an advanced civilization whose is capable of creating Magic Girls just by one Incubator. We can guess what else they can do.

And it is also true that Superman the immortal is in fact killable by those green things.

And honestly, I think comics are just another show of American low culture. Any comparison made will show you that comics are more suited for a passive wish-fulfilment. Mangas can do more, though I say avoid both and go read Essentialism.

Short: prefer manga and manga would win.

Long: manga simply brings more to the table. The comic scene is domimated with two scenarios; hero vs villain or anti-hero vs villain. The stakes are always high, the scene is always dark and gritty, the souls of the characters are always sacreficed to the advancement of the plot. It feels forced.

Manga, on the other hand, is the essence of freedom of expression. I once read a manga called Gacha Gacha Secret. I read from beginning to end the pointless and unimportant exploits of a guy who liked a girl and was given an unusual way to become her friend. The plot was at the same place when the series ended as when it began. Yet i was humored and content throughout.

You just don't get that with Americana.

As for your battle, i will put forward five characters.

One is mecha, Zearth, from Bokurano.

One is without any superpowers, the blind samurai from Until Death Do Us Part.

One is supernatural, Aizen from Bleach.

One with superpowers, Lucy from Elfen Lied.

The last is a born commander, Lelouche Lamperouge / Zero, from Code Geass.

I think I've covered all the warrior steriotypes with these, feel free to pit any of their Comic counterparts against them!

I really prefer manga over american graphic novels/comics. I just find them to be...perhaps, less verbalization and more imagery. Sometimes, I find myself reading something like...I don't know...the Sandman...and I just feel like it goes on and on and on and on...I prefer manga because it holds my interest with the constant action, the exaggerated facial expressions, the dramatic reactions, etc. It's usually quite fast-paced and also, pretty darn cute :) I guess I just prefer the style of art, in general. I am also just more drawn to the Japanese culture as opposed to the American culture, so that can play a role. I also tend to enjoy the common plotline of something extraordinary/fantastical/supernatural happening to just a regular person...this often shows up in manga (Death Note, for example). I guess I also like how mangas are quite often converted into animes. I'm a very visual person and I find it fun to be able to read something and also watch it as a television show. I'm sorry I don't have much else to say, wish I could write you an essay but...I guess I'm just more attracted to manga. I've never been much of a american- superhero-lover...so, I'm probably really biased. I've never liked superman or the hulk or spiderman or batman, etc.....not my type of reading material.

I prefer Japanese mangas because there are mangas for different age range, gender and many story line while comic are manly about superheros

I like Japanese manga more because there's alot more categories than American comics since comics mainly talk about superheroes and stuff.....Yeahh...

I can't decide which is better, but I think manga would win because of one person, Light. He can write their names on the death note.

i like japanese manga better because it has like ninjas and samarias but comics only have heroes but sorry if this is not good.