Manga has taken the world by storm. A richly diverse medium, the Japanese comics phenomenon has something for everyone--fantasy, horror, thrillers, romance, history, biography, sport, business, and even school textbooks. Manga A Visual History chronicles the evolution of manga from its samurai-era beginnings, through its post-WWII surge in popularity, to its meteoric rise overseas. The book explores the key writers and artists who have shaped an entire culture with their visions and stylings, the iconic characters now recognised worldwide, and manga's impact on anime and live-action film and TV. From classic favourites to lesser-known gems, Manga A Visual History is the definitive guide to Japanese comics. Featuring incisive insights from preeminent manga experts, this lavishly illustrated coffee-table compendium is a must for diehard otaku as well as the growing ranks of manga converts, who will treasure it for years to come.