Manga Help! Where do I start?

Hi all. I'm brand new to both anime and manga, but it's not easy getting into these things!
When it came to anime, I started with movies like Spirited Away and Akira, moved onto shows starting with Lupin and now I'm into most any anime that's on TV.
But manga is a differant story all together. I've only read one American comic book series in my life (Spawn-and I still love it) and glanced at maybe a few others, but I actually don't tend to like our comics. I tend to gravitate towards the mind-screwing, hokey, or dark types.
Glancing at the friggin library of graphic novels of manga at the bookstore and comic book shop, it's very difficult to know where to begin. If I opened up one I'd get confused or scared away simply from the dauting task of trying to figure out where to start.
So I decided that the best way to start was from the begining. The first manga I ever bought was Tezuka's Metropolis, which highly appealed to me because I strongly appreciate the 1927 movie, and the anime film based on this manga, although I only later figured out it had nothing to do with the 1927 film.
It was easier of course, but just not entertainging enough. I decided I wanted something campier, maybe even cute. So of course the secound manga I ever bought was Astro Boy.
I now love Astro Boy
But what next? Well, I love the show InuYasha so I decided it would be easier to start with something I all ready know.

I enjoyed the first 2 Inuyasha graphic novels I read, but I was still significantly confused here and there as to order of events, meaning of badly translated dialogue, ect. Still, it was entertaining enough.
I love Cowboy Bebop so I next picked up that manga mostly because not only do I understand the show quite well, but it's even more authentic. Yet still I was disappointed and thereoly confused, although I think I'm just starting to get the hang of it.
Then I went all out. I picked up the first manga I knew absolutely nothing about, is relatively new, and scared me the most. At least I heard it was going to be funny.
I picked up Ramma 1/2. It was entertaining, but my confusion is killing me. I'm still not up to it. I didn't manage to finish the novel before I was worn out.

I need a suggestion badly. I need a manga that isn't as confusing as Ramma but is something I know nothing about, something that an anime show isn't currently airing that's based on it (the schedule of Adult Swim.) Something that can gently introduce me to real manga. The less nudity and violence the better.

(I was thinking the Lupin manga because I've only seen the 2nd show, and from what I hear it's completely differant then the original Manga.)

I know I've said a lot, but I'm really interested and I don't wanna mess up.

-Sarah of Borg

 

Try Short Program.It doesn't have an anime based on it,but it's a collection of a bunch of great tales.But if you're looking for action,you won't get a whole lot here.This is the book that really inspired me to be a manga artist.Read it.You won't be disappointed.You can buy it here:

http://store.viz.com/browse/SHORTPROGRAM/GRNOV/s.8ad82t2o

Or try Love Hina.I've read up through volume 9,and I love it.It's packed lots of hilarity,and some nudity.Once again,not much action,but a laugh fest. Here's more info on it:

http://www.tokyopop.com/dbpage.php?propertycode=LVH&categorycode=BMG

Those are the best places I can think to start.Did I help?

 

I agree love hina is a great manga and isnt to confusing. it doesnt really have any nudity in it. it has sexual humor in it, but it doenst really show any of them naked just very exposed ... best way i know to put it but it is a great manga.

 

I honestly don't see how you could be very confused by Ranma. It's fairly simple to understand. ::shrug::

My personal recommendations would include the following:
Inuyasha (even if Viz is stupid for flipping the pages)
Ranma 1/2
Gensomaden Saiyuki
anything by Yukiru Sugisaki, especially Megami Kohousei (Pilot Candidate) and DN Angel. I hear Rizelmine is pretty good too.
CLAMP stuff if you want some cute. Though I haven't read it yet, I recommend Angelic Layer and Magic Knights Rayearth.

Just keep reading and eventually it shouldn't get too confusing. It might help a bit if you pick up some American comics to read, for practice. ::shrug::

 

Sarah, you've confused me. I'm not entirely sure I understand the difficulty you're having with the manga you've picked up. Reading manga isn't any different than reading an American comic book, a regular book, or even watching an anime series. Maybe the fact that so many stories start in the middle of the action is causing problems?

The Inuyasha anime is based on the manga. This does not mean that they follow the exact same order of events. Just remember, the manga came first. As far as the translation goes, I can't help you. I don't read translated manga myself. However, if I had to hazard a guess, the "bad translation" would probably be due, in part, to the fact that Viz flips the Inuyasha manga so it reads like an American novel/comic.

As a note, Ranma 1/2 is not new. It came out before Inuyasha did, and Viz is currently rereleasing it in a smaller format. They still have it flipped though. Also, don't see where you could really be confused by it; the story is a bit psychotic at times, but it shouldn't be anything too insane....

Now, for suggestions. Bear in mind that I don't read translated manga as a general rule so I don't know what the translations are like. That said, if you're looking for cute sweet stories, I would suggest picking up Wish by CLAMP or Kodocha by Miho Obana. Both of them have been translated by Tokyopop.

My only other suggestion would be to go to your local bookstore, check out the graphic novel section(s), and see what they have available. Flip through a couple of volumes to see what looks interesting, then pick something up. Make sure to get the first volume to cut down on any possible confusion, and read slowly if you have to. There's a lot of great manga out there, after all.

~Shadrach Anki

 

Despite your suggestions I decided to pick up the first Lupin manga (Monkey Punch.) I'm sorry I still have a hard time comprehending this stuff.
I found some copies of the issues I was looking for of InuYasha and Ramma, and I'm progressively getting better. Once I got used to InuYasha, Ramma became easier, especially when I found out they were done by the same person.
I expected Lupin to be all right, and I knew that the manga was going to be much differant then the show, but this is extremely differant.
For one thing, in the 2nd show (the one I know well) Lupin never kills and is a "gentleman" but it's totally differant in the Manga. He's easily willing to murder and rape isn't beyound him. The characters are 100% differant as well, and the only humour there is isn't nearly as funny as the show.
But my real problem is comprehension. I have no problem comprehending our comics, but some reason I can't understand what's going on in Manga. It's just too confusing. I'll need a lot of practice, and it sucks reading a manga and not understanding it.

-Sarah of Borg

 

Well, keep practicing then, I guess, and good luck with it! Read each volume through a couple times if you have to. Sometimes you pick up new insights and such on a re-read. With practice, it'll get easier to read manga. Also, make sure you're reading it in the correct direction. I know that some companies (*cough*Viz*cough) flip the manga pages, which makes some dialogue not make sense, but makes the manga read like American books. However, other companies, like Tokyopop, don't flip the manga pages, so they read right to left. And Raijin apparently has some translated manga where the pages turn right to left, but the panels are read left to right. Be sure to check before reading which direction the pages go.

As for the differences between the Lupin manga and anime, that happens sometimes. A good example would be Violinist of Hameln, where the manga is insane and completely off-the-wall and such, but the anime is serious and reserved. ::shrug:: It depends on the director of the anime.

Again, good luck with your manga reading!

 

reading manga can be confusing at first. the advice i have for you is to try thinking of it as reading backwards. that makes it easier for me. now for a suggestion. i would suggest dragon knights if you like mythical stuff, or if you want something short, you should try wish. just keep practicing.

 

ooo...i like Ranma and Inu-ya...ooo and marmalade boy!! Sailor moon is good as well