Is reading manga childish?
By cambiste
@cambiste (1244)
India
July 26, 2008 3:50am CST
When you look at it, it all comes down to a black and white comic book. I haven't been able to shake off my manga-reading habits even though i'm soon going to leave my teenage years behind, but i keep worrying if it's adult-like to read mangas online..
4 people like this
18 responses
@movicont (495)
• United States
26 Jul 08
I don't see anything childish about it. It really depends on the type of manga that you read. There are some manga that are geared towards kids (like Naruto and One Piece) and there are others that are definitely aimed at an older audience (say 20th Century Boys and Monster). It's not really that much different than reading a book, except that it has images in it. Manga have (and can be judged by) the same story-telling concepts that all books have.
I wouldn't worry about reading manga unless it's somehow turned into an addiction that's taking over your life. Just have fun with it if you enjoy it.
@ashewalton (42)
• Canada
1 Nov 08
I wouldn't worry about it at all! As far as children go, kids will be kids, and it can be hard to explain to them that comics are just another way of storytelling. But when it comes down to your friends, it shouldn't be hard for them to understand. I used to be worried about it and more or less kept my manga-reading hobbies to myself after some cruel comments in grade school... but now that I'm graduating High School, I've found a lot more people that are also into it that I never would have thought were. And had I kept it to myself like I always did, I NEVER would have found out because they never would have said anything, either.
And the best thing when it comes to those who think they don't like it, or find it childish: find out their interests (you may be able to hazard a guess), and introduce them to a series that matches it. They may still not like it, but they may have new respect for the genre. And if they do like it, all the better and you've got a new manga-reading buddy ! : D
@troublesome (324)
• United States
9 Aug 09
Manga is for the enjoyment of people that like reading and viewing drawings in action. Only humans can act/be childish not the other way around. Manga isn't a human so reading manga isn't considerd childish, but the person reading it can be.
@cambiste (1244)
• India
31 Aug 09
Thanks. lol.
I guess. People expect grown ups to read books with good english. I've been told forever that manga-english will depreciate my own english as pictures may represnt a 1000 words, but they cannot bring you the vocabulary of a 1000 words unfortunately.
That's the view people who declare reading mangas as childish.
happy mylotting and thanks for your opinion.
@ratyz5 (7808)
• Philippines
13 Aug 08
Nah, can't be childish.. reading anything at all isn't childish at all..
Anyway, manga has variety as well when it comes to the audience that it entertains. From young girls and boys up to adult men and women. Manga can be just black and white and some are even in color. True, some contents aren't yet for children but, it doesn't mean that a reader goes childish when they read materials with contents aimed for children.
Remember story books for children? They weren't really intended for children before. Most children stories now are only alterations from what they were before when they were still being told in a wide range of audience with various age range. Recall Cinderalla? In the original, some of the step sisters actually had their feet bleeding just to fit that glass slipper. Beauty and the Beast? Not as romantic as it was made in that animated movie from Disney. Little Mermaid? Tragic ending. - just stating that it is how the reader interprets such stories and not because the story is stereotyped to be for children, then it would be childish when one reads children's stories. They can be interpreted differently anyway.. like how come Jack became a hero when he obviously stole from that Giant? 
@planeswalker (102)
• Singapore
2 Oct 08
hi,
i think it is ok to read manga when you reach adulthood as well. it is an interest. i am already 21 but i still read manga and very addicted to since young. i watch anime as well. last time when i was in secondary school, my classmate used to laugh at me being childish for watching anime, but so what. this is what i like to do. there are many people who are like us too. dun worry about it
1 person likes this
@missyphoebe (289)
• Philippines
27 Jun 09
i dont think so! reading it is like reading a book with pictures on it. there's a version for kids and adult mangas. but that's my opinion. hehe.. other people might say that it's childish but that's their point of view. it's either they haven't tried reading it yet or haven't give it a chance to entertain them. reading it is a form of entertainment. I am a kid at heart. I love raeding manga so i don't care if some people would call me that and laugh at me. :)
@shinokyoku (56)
• Indonesia
9 Aug 09
nope, nothing childish in reading manga, bacause the types, story, plot and the images is varied, where the variation rates for what age it should be readed for. .
well, although, for example, it's an all age manga and some people thinks it's a child manga, in real it isn't a child manga. Not to mention a teenage manga or adult manga ( not because of the ecchi and stuff, but the plot, the violence etc). Hence, this conclude that reading manga is NOT childish. . . LoL
1 person likes this
@fuuyuki756 (388)
• Philippines
7 Sep 08
no, i don't think that reading manga is a childish thing. I am leaving my teenage years for about a year but i don't care. Being a black and white comic book is not the basis of determining if its childish or not. Many manga offers adult plots, like those with josei or seinen genre. Its not really childish and you shouldn't care about what others will say as long as you enjoy what you are doing.. ^_^
@semicolonp (518)
• Philippines
22 Aug 08
Nope, not at all. I mean, when you look at the best fiction stories out there, all it comes down to is a black and white textbook, don't it? :p
And you shouldn't worry about what others think of you anyway. It'll become very tiring very soon. If you like to read manga, then read the manga you like. If the manga you're reading is becoming too boring for you and you're thinking you're reading the wrong age-group, then pick something closer to your age. Pick some seinen or josei manga if shounen/shoujo does nothing for you anymore. Or maybe you just need a different genre. Try the psychological thrillers if little boys going on adventures for that one goal has been exhausted.
Isn't it a lot like a non-moving movie? And people don't deem you childish for wanting to watch movies,do they? :)
1 person likes this
@SaintAnne (5453)
• United States
9 Sep 08
I have the whole Battle Royale Manga series. And I may be a little childish but the story sure isn't.
@tiara50gorgeous (212)
• Indonesia
25 Nov 08
why reading manga is childish??
I like manga,,, so muuch
when I read manga on-line then it cause the manga original is too late rising for me
for example skip beat
the original one is too late rising
@twoplytissue (68)
• Philippines
30 Apr 09
There are still manga which are targeted at young adults and adults. So there's no need to worry over age. Others still read shounen or shoujo even if they're in their 30s.
@missyphoebe (289)
• Philippines
6 May 11
no! It's not childish at all. It's a source of entertainment and reading should be fun.
As an individual you are entitled to hold on to your own ideals and if some people don't get you at all just let them be. They are just prejudiced and not knowing at all what they are missing.
so, just enjoy reading those manga's :) you're not alone! There are a lot of manga lovers out there :) me included haha
@lossforredwords (3620)
• Philippines
26 Aug 08
I don't think that its childish at all. You can see lots of manga that has a serious theme and the plot were really complicated that i think even an adult would get serious too. I became into manga when I'm already an adult, Ilove reading from novels, to pocketbooks even with informative books and I think manga is no difference cause it can also entertain us and gives us so much insight to different life style and words of wisdom.
@diansinta (7544)
• Indonesia
26 Jul 08
Hi there cambiste,
I am 33 years old and i still like to read anime. I don't care if someone called me childish, anime will always interesting to me. Happy reading anime!!!
dian
@micpie94 (356)
• United States
31 Jul 08
Im a 14 y.o. boy and i read manga. I think i started about half a year ago. I know why people would say it's childish, but i really dont think it is. I do think that Superman comics are childish though. When I go to Borders to buy a manga, once in a while I see a middle-aged man browsing through the manga aisle. Usually it's an asian guy. I don't think i'll ever stop reading mangas. :) p.s my first manga i ever bought and read was "Reborn!". I reads severasl differen't titles. I like "Rosario+Vampire" and "Dance in the Vampire Bund" and MORE! I hope you enjoy manga for many years to come. :)
@ishralene09 (2260)
• Philippines
26 Jul 08
No it's not. There are manga titles that are even addressed for the adult spectrum(ecchi). So no, it's not childish. I love reading them too. But I've stopped about now, because of my frustration to earn and find a job and help the family. Don't worry, we are alongside you, reading manga as well. I'm 20, not that old, but there are older ones than me reading manga too. Like 30 to 40 years old, and it's bleach they are reading.
