Discussion Why do you read Edited Mangas

[PossesedNinja]

First off, I did try to search for this topic, but I did not find it on the search results (I might just be blind).

Second, I know this is a touchy subject, and have no objection to this being closed / deleted.

Third, This is mainly for a senior project research paper-thing, and I decided to research the Edited Manga-subculture, how that effects intellectual property, copyright, and how such a thing came to be.

So anyway, I don't really expect all my questions to be answered, and yes I will indeed credit your forum username in my paper, if you are wondering.

Why do you read Edited Mangas? Is it because it's faster, more accurate, etc?
How did you learn about Edited Mangas?
Do you think it's hurting or promoting the industry as a whole, and why?
Do you buy the manga?
Do you think that if it wasn't for Edited Manga, manga wouldn't be nearly as big in countries other than Japan?

Again, if the mods/admins decide this is too touchy, go ahead and close it. I don't expect any one person to answer all of them, any input would be much appreciated, as the paper seeks to analyze the arguments of both sides.

Thank you for your time,
PN

 

[krid77]

Why do you read Edited Mangas?

Because the chapters/volumes I read aren't released yet in my country, because the books are awfully expensive if you read about 10 different series a month...

How did you learn about Edited Mangas?

I was given scanlated manga when I didn't have the Internet yet xD

Do you think it's hurting or promoting the industry as a whole, and why?

Both.
Editors oftenly search for the most scanlated mangas/most popular titles on the Internet.
But on the other hand if you don't buy manga and don't erase them from your hard drive, then it hurts the industry.
But it is less hurting than animated contents.

Do you buy the manga?

Yes. About...4-5 volumes a month

Do you think that if it wasn't for Edited Manga, manga wouldn't be nearly as big in countries other than Japan?

In France or Asian countries: definitely not.
French people is the 2nd manga industry after Japan, manga was already popular in the 90s. Same thing in other Asian countries.
But Edited Manga sure contributes to promote manga when you see people from Eastern Europe, Africa, South America,...etc reading it.

I hope I answered well to your questions =)

 

[alpvonkri]

Why do you read Edited Mangas? Is it because it's faster, more accurate, etc?
How did you learn about Edited Mangas?
Do you think it's hurting or promoting the industry as a whole, and why?
Do you buy the manga?
Do you think that if it wasn't for Edited Manga, manga wouldn't be nearly as big in countries other than Japan?

1. I read Edited Mangas because I'm not Japanese, and sometimes It's difficult to obtain Japanese manga directly from Japan.
2. I learned about Edited Mangas when I was looking for the manga.
3. Legally it's almost sure that it hurts the industry because they don't pay, but it also promotes the manga culture and also gives the authors and series popularity and more money by some other indirect way.
4. True at certain point, because only Japanese speakers/readers may understand dialogs, but people who can't speak/read Japanese may also like to watch it even if they don't understand what they say.

 

[PossesedNinja]

Thank you both, Krid77 (yes it did answer my questions), and alpvonkri.

Please keep them coming, the more opinions the better .

 

[TitaniumChloride]

Why do you read Edited Mangas? Is it because it's faster, more accurate, etc?
It's faster, usually consistent (weekly releases as opposed to undetermined amount of months before an official translated volume), it can be more accurate (because the translations can be corrected more easily) and because it's usually in a digital format, I don't have to lug around books all the time (not that I don't like books; this is just it easier for travel).

How did you learn about Edited Mangas?
Through a friend I think. Or maybe just googling a series I was looking for. (Can't remember sorry)

Do you think it's hurting or promoting the industry as a whole, and why?
It does hurt the industry in terms of direct profit from volume sales, but I think that it's also a great promotion scheme. I wouldn't have even considered most of the manga I'm reading now if they weren't scanlated, let alone buy them. If it has a weekly release, that's a bonus because it keeps my interest in the manga going until I actually buy them. I think it helps merchandise sales in a way too...

Do you buy the manga?
When I can, and only the original Japanese volumes. I haven't bought all the ones I've read, but I'm working on it.

Do you think that if it wasn't for Edited Manga, manga wouldn't be nearly as big in countries other than Japan?
Yes, I believe so. With all the issues involved in localization and publication, not to mention the stigma usually associating comics to kids, manga wouldn't have reached out to it's currently huge fanbase (in terms of both age and location) if it wasn't scanlated.

 

[roma]

Why do you read Edited Mangas? Is it because it's faster, more accurate, etc?
How did you learn about Edited Mangas?
Do you think it's hurting or promoting the industry as a whole, and why?
Do you buy the manga?
Do you think that if it wasn't for Edited Manga, manga wouldn't be nearly as big in countries other than Japan?

1]Well, I read Edited Mangas because it's faster. If I wait for the volume to be released (geographical issue) it'll probably take months at the very least. As for accuracy, there are different version of scans and it's good to read different versions.

2]I've known quite a number of people who were so into manga and everyday they're spending some of their time reading the latest chapters on the net. They gave me some infos on where to look for scans.

3] Edited Mangas might hurt the industry as there are those who would just prefer to read online or download the scans than buying. But there are pros, too. Because of scans, the public's awareness of these mangas increased instead of just a specific geographical location. And those who really love mangas will buy them even if you have scans everywhere.

4]For mangas that I truly follow, I do buy manga volumes. Unfortunately, I don't know where to buy the comic issues released every week. Finding copies in the local bookstore here is rare. I have to look for copies online and even then shipping is a problem. Still, I wanna have a complete collection of the mangas I like.

5]Yep, I think so. Having scans increase the fan base of mangas throughout. I'm not even from Japan but I just love reading mangas and Edited Mangas solve the problem of waiting. Waiting for issues for quite a long time results in loss of interest of the readers. So until a volume is released, scans it is!

 

[Nantalith]

Why do you read Edited Mangas? Is it because it's faster, more accurate, etc?

I don't like to wait and the translations are often better. Fans seem to capture the characters better than official translators. Fans also translate background stuff.

How did you learn about Edited Mangas?

Looking for information on 'what happens next'.

Do you think it's hurting or promoting the industry as a whole, and why?

I'm inclined to say no, it is not hurting the industry. Not having a monthly/weekly magazine to pick up and check titles means having to buy expensive books. I read the scans and if I like it, I buy the manga; it's better than not buying anything at all.

Do you buy the manga?

Yes - having the books is better.

Do you think that if it wasn't for Edited Manga, manga wouldn't be nearly as big in countries other than Japan?

Yes. It is difficult enough to get comics in my country, let alone manga. It is changing though.

 

[Revilenigma]

Why do you read Edited Mangas? Is it because it's faster, more accurate, etc?
A: They don't sell any where I live, it's faster and some of my favorite series haven't or won't be published
How did you learn about Edited Mangas?
A: Googling: download free manga
Do you think it's hurting or promoting the industry as a whole, and why?
A: promoting cause if it weren't for Edited Mangas most of us would have never discovered manga
Do you buy the manga?
A: I would if they sold it.
Do you think that if it wasn't for Edited Manga, manga wouldn't be nearly as big in countries other than Japan?
A: yes

 

[ittaak]

Why do you read Edited Mangas? Is it because it's faster, more accurate, etc?
I read Edited Mangas for different reasons depending on the series. I read scans of One Piece because it much faster than the Viz releases. I read Edited Mangas of Bleach to see how horrible it still is and because it only takes 1 minute to read a chapter. I also read them for series that aren't licensed or that will probably never get licensed.

How did you learn about Edited Mangas?
I learned about Edited Mangas after looking up Naruto on the internet after buying all six available volumes of Naruto at the time from Borders.

Do you think it's hurting or promoting the industry as a whole, and why?
It is probably doing both. It hurts it obviously because some people probably would buy more manga if they didn't have easy access to Edited Mangas but at the same time its easy access brings in people who wouldn't have found out about manga in the first place. All of them might not buy manga but it helps to expand the audience who reads it. A larger audience means a larger amount of people will possibly buy manga.

For me, Edited Mangas have saved me a lot money, in that I have been able to read ahead and see that I no longer like series that I used to buy. I used to buy Naruto and Bleach at the drop of the hat, but not only do I think both series are bad, but I don't like them anymore.
Series I wouldn't have found out about if not for scans like Pluto and 20th Century Boys, I plan to collect because I think they are great series. My rule for manga is that if I ever want to reread the series I will buy it, so if I ever get the urge to reread Naruto up to the time skip or Bleach up to end of the Soul Society arc, I will buy them.

Do you buy the manga?
Yes.

Do you think that if it wasn't for Edited Manga, manga wouldn't be nearly as big in countries other than Japan?
I would like to answer, but I don't know because the way I was introduced really goes all the way back to Sailor Moon. When I was a child i really liked anime like Sailor Moon, Inuyasha, and Yu Yu Hakusho before I even knew they were anime. Lokking them up online is what brought me information about Naruto in the first place. I read that he was a ninja living in a ninja village and had a rival and that's all I knew about it until years later. So when I ended in a bookstore and saw Naruto the shelves I read it and bought it. So Edited Mangas weren't in the picture then for me.

 

[Fugitive]

1. Why do you read Edited Mangas? Is it because it's faster, more accurate, etc?
2. How did you learn about Edited Mangas?
3. Do you think it's hurting or promoting the industry as a whole, and why?
4. Do you buy the manga?
5. Do you think that if it wasn't for Edited Manga, manga wouldn't be nearly as big in countries other than Japan?

1. It's free.
2. I found out that comics were online available for download. Through that I eventually found manga. Started reading it online, then eventually started downloading it.
3. Both. Hurts the industry when people don't buy the manga and only pirate the Edited Mangas. Helps in the sense that it is exposing new titles to people who would possibly purchase the manga.
4. Nope.
5. Possible, I can see that being the case, but I'm not sure or care.

 

[Gecko Moria]

Why do you read Edited Mangas? Is it because it's faster, more accurate, etc?
It's free and because it's the most up-to-date. And it's also the most convenient for me because I spend a lot of time on the computer.

How did you learn about Edited Mangas?
I just found it when I was looking for the latest chapter of a certain manga.

Do you think it's hurting or promoting the industry as a whole, and why?
Promoting. Not everyone can afford to buy the books but more people go on the internet, that way more people can read it. And, of course, it inspires great communities like this one. I definitely call that promoting if nothing else.

Do you buy the manga?
Sometimes. I have about 5-6 books that I own. I usually borrow form the library though.

Do you think that if it wasn't for Edited Manga, manga wouldn't be nearly as big in countries other than Japan?
Of course, I wouldn't be so into manga if I could only get them when I visit the library or buy them.

 

[bax]

Second, I know this is a touchy subject, and have no objection to this being closed / deleted.

Eh.. I don't see it like that at all. If anything else, it qualifies as opinion gathering.

Why do you read Edited Mangas? Is it because it's faster, more accurate, etc?

Personally, for its easy access and material selection process, nothing else. I used to buy native translated volumes before (see Q4 for more elaborate reasons), but honestly, I wouldn't even know all the manga I'm reading.

Internet is an easy method to get these manga.

How did you learn about Edited Mangas?

Back during the Dragon Ball era. Found it while browsing the internet looking for Dragon Ball stuffs >.> Can't remember the exact time, but around 6 or 7 years ago I think.. Can't remember

Do you think it's hurting or promoting the industry as a whole, and why?

Both.

It would be a lie if it doesn't hurt the industry. It hurts badly even, probably. Companies lost their potential sales to an impossible to control market (internet).

But on the other hand, it's not really promoting per se, but it does create an awareness and a subculture of its own. By doing that, it creates a massive awareness or even a craze, in which people call it "promoting". Not really your text book promoting by regular definition, but I guess you can say that.

In turn, companies gain benefit from this. Not really the idealistic outcome for them, but probably an acceptable outcome derived from an uncontrollable market (yet).

Do you buy the manga?

Always. Although it's becoming more expensive nowadays, but I still buy every single volume of all the manga I read (Japanese volumes). Although, it's the money factor usually play its part. I will buy the volumes, but when only my money allows me to do so. Otherwise, I'll hold the purchase until my monetary allows me to.

Corresponding to Q1, yes, I used to buy locally published volumes, but since it's hard to get titles here and plus with miserable translations, I learned Japanese. I also had to learn Japanese for my previous work. So nowadays, I just import the Japanese volumes either through custom order at my bookstore pr directly from sites like bk1.

Monthly purchase can be from 3 to more than a dozen books, depending on money.

Do you think that if it wasn't for Edited Manga, manga wouldn't be nearly as big in countries other than Japan?

I believe that statement is half true. Edited Mangas or rather the internet made the spread easier to reach. It's a global thing. I don't need to explain why and how, since it's just obvious.

The other half would be the actual effort by the official license holders.

 

[Xadyu]

Why do you read Edited Mangas? Is it because it's faster, more accurate, etc?

Because it's quicker to read new series, I'm not someone with a lot of patience, especially not when I see something I like. And I don't want to wait for months/years for it to get licensed and published in a language I can read. It may take too long, or it can even never happen.

Edited Mangas are the perfect way to ease my pain, and, the fact that I can check series out before I buy them is a big plus. Not every bookstore let's you read parts of a certain book in the store. You need to buy it before checking it out, and you can't return them in every store, and that's waste of money, if you don't like the series.

How did you learn about Edited Mangas?

I can't really remember that, but it was by accident, probably through a search engine like Google or something.

Do you think it's hurting or promoting the industry as a whole, and why?

Edited Mangas are hurting AND promoting the manga industry.

Why? Edited Mangas let you check out series for free, but if you like it, you'll buy it, just for the fun of it, just for having it and of course for the extras, for substance you can actually touch and make you feel good (lol).

But on the other hand, there are people who read something, and well, that's it, they'll never buy manga in they're lives, if they read it already, or something in that way.

Do you buy the manga?

Yes.

Do you think that if it wasn't for Edited Manga, manga wouldn't be nearly as big in countries other than Japan?

Manga isn't even close to being as big as in Japan, and Edited Mangas isn't going to change this.

Anime's promote the manga more then Edited Mangas do, they are the source to make manga big in other countries besides Japan. If I visit forums from my country, 99% doesn't even know what Edited Mangas are/or don't read them. The other 1% do just read once in a while.

It doesn't support them in buying manga etc tho'. And that's the key into making manga big. SALES! If people would buy more, companies would license more, would promote more, and would do actually better jobs at is in publishing it.

 

[stelok]

Why do you read Edited Mangas? Is it because it's faster, more accurate, etc?
It is because they are free.

How did you learn about Edited Mangas?
Through the internet.

Do you think it's hurting or promoting the industry as a whole, and why?
It is hurting and promoting the industry. Good news: It may lead legions of new readers to buy manga. Bad news: people would rather read manga for free than buy them.

Do you buy the manga?
Yes, a few manga.

Do you think that if it wasn't for Edited Manga, manga wouldn't be nearly as big in countries other than Japan?
Probably not.

 

[Sloggett]

Why do you read Edited Mangas? Because I enjoy finding out/reading different manga series that may never see the light of day in my own country.

How did you learn about Edited Mangas?
While looking for information about current series I was reading/buying I found many links and websites with scans.

Do you think it's hurting or promoting the industry as a whole, and why?
I think it's doing both. For series like naruto which gets scanned weekly it has to hurt as many fans won't buy the series now. Although lesser known series it generates interest and as soon as volumes become available fans will go out of their way to buy what they already know about.

Do you buy the manga?
Yes.

Do you think that if it wasn't for Edited Manga, manga wouldn't be nearly as big in countries other than Japan?
Lesser known manga wouldn't survive.

 

[Binky]

Why do you read Edited Mangas? Is it because it's faster, more accurate, etc?
Speed and accuracy.

How did you learn about Edited Mangas?
I was a purely anime viewer at first, and from joining some online communities learned that Edited Mangas were to Manga what fansubs were to anime. Then I happened to find myself in a group.

Do you think it's hurting or promoting the industry as a whole, and why?
I'm not in a position to speak with any assurance with regards to global trends and so on, but I can say, that amongst those friends I know who follow Manga, none would have spent a thing were it not for being introduced to the form through Edited Mangas.

Do you buy the manga?
Yes. I do not, admittedly, own every series I have ever read Edited Mangas of, but I am an active buyer.

Do you think that if it wasn't for Edited Manga, manga wouldn't be nearly as big in countries other than Japan?
Edited Mangas have raised the profile of Manga in general, yes.

 

[L0ki]

Why do you read Edited Mangas? Is it because it's faster, more accurate, etc?
Lack of monetary compensation for the service.

How did you learn about Edited Mangas?
By chance on the interwebz.

Do you think it's hurting or promoting the industry as a whole, and why?
It's hard to say if the number of people exposed to new manga, converting them in potential customers, exceeds the number of cheap bastards like me who wouldn't spend a cent on manga.

Do you buy the manga?
Read the previous answer.

Do you think that if it wasn't for Edited Manga, manga wouldn't be nearly as big in countries other than Japan?
Probably not.

 

[Mushashi]

of course it helps the industry, most poeple buy the manga aswell, i buy volumes ive spent 100 dollars a week for the last 3 years buying volumes, not much is really coverd in english currently sure things are growing and i much prefer a book in my hands, but half the series i read a find out about from them being popular Edited Mangas that i would never of even picked off the shelf

 

[stelok]

I can't read Japanese and many manga are still unlicensed.

 

[Newkerzy]

Why do you read Edited Mangas? Is it because it's faster, more accurate, etc?
faster & up-to-date

How did you learn about Edited Mangas?
I was looking around youtube & stumbled upon some Naruto manga chapters. & I also checked out some fanarts (again, on youtube), some of them mentioned deviantart. Then while looking around for some fanarts, a deviant mentioned a Naruto fan group then that fan group mentioned about Edited Mangas & I found Onemanga.

Do you think it's hurting or promoting the industry as a whole, and why?
Both, it helps promote manga but at the same hurts the industry.

Do you buy the manga?
Only for mangas that haven't been scanlated or has been dropped by Edited Manga groups. I'm also planning to buy Naruto vol.47 soon since it's just way too epic to pass up.

Do you think that if it wasn't for Edited Manga, manga wouldn't be nearly as big in countries other than Japan?
Yep.

BTW, someone mentioned that Jump editors also checks out scanlated manga on the net. Now, if they did that they should've been smart enough to keep Double Arts.... or,at the very least have American Jump to publish it & continue it. (I mean, hello Double Arts is more popular with international fans true, but that's a big chance to raise a brand new cash-cow like Naruto)