Manga are among the world’s most successful forms of visual storytelling today—but how did they become the global phenomenon we know now? Why are manga read from right to left? How have formats, design, and storytelling changed over time, and what distinguishes independent productions from the mainstream?
At this edition of Treffpunkt Gutenberg, manga expert Dr. Felix Giesa from the Comic Archive at the Institute for Research on Children’s Literature, Frankfurt University Library, takes the audience on an unusual journey of discovery. He will bring twelve selected manga and publications to Mainz and use these original objects to trace the reception and development of manga—from early publications and changing reading directions to evolving formats, design, and today’s international manga culture.
Rather than focusing on abstract theory, the evening puts the books themselves at the centre. Together, we will look closely at the objects, identify differences, and follow key developments in a visual, narrative, and book culture that has long since spread far beyond Japan.
Venue: Gutenberg Museum MOVED, Auditorium, Reichklarastraße 1, Mainz
Date: Thursday, 3 September 2026, 6:00 p.m.
Admission: Free of charge
Registration: Please register at: info(at)gemeinsamfuergutenberg.de
We warmly welcome both dedicated manga fans and anyone curious to discover the medium for the first time. No prior knowledge is required.