Mangaman - Barry Lyga and Colleen Doran

Mangaman
Barry Lyga (Author)
Colleen Doran (Illustrator)
Haughton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN 9780547423159

Even though I am a huge fan of Barry Lyga's writing, this story took me by surprise. The philosophical underpinnings will keep your mind working long after you finish the book. In fact, I read it through twice in one sitting and know I will be going back and reading it again in the near future. It is the story of two teenagers. Ryoko and Marissa meet at a party. But Ryoko is from an alternate world that resembles out manga. He comes from a two dimensional world where the marks of the illustrator are real and now they follow him around our world. But he realizes that even though he comes from a world we would interpret as a story, that maybe our world is full of box frames and we just do not realize it. It a cross between eastern mysticism and religions, and a western, that all collide as the story takes place.

I have already told about a dozen people about this book and they were all just as intrigued as I was. The story is amazing and the illustrations wonderful. But what gets you most, is the essence of it. You will find yourself thinking about it long after you finish. It is an incredible story by an amazing author and a very talented illustrator!

Books by Barry Lyga:
I Hunt Killers:
I Hunt Killers (2012)
Game - I Hunt Killers #2 (2013)
Blood of My Blood - I Hunt Killers # 3 (2014)

I Hunt Killers Short Stories:
Down Time (2018)
Lucky Day (2014)
Career Day (2012)
Neutral Mask (2013)
Blood Boy (2014)

Brookdale High:
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl (2006)
Boy Toy (2007)
Hero Type (2008)
Goth Girl Rising (2009)
Bang (2017)

Archvillian:
Archvillain #1 (2010)
The Mad Mask - Archvillian #2 (2011)
Yesterday Again - Archvillian #3 (2013)

The Flash Series:
Hocus Pocus (2017)
Johnny Quick (2018)
Tornado Twins (2018)

Other Books By Barry Lyga:
Graphic Novels in Your Media Center: A definitive Guide (with Alison A.W. Lyga - 2004)
Wolverine: Worst Day Ever (2009)
MangaMan (with Colleen Dorren 2011)
Unsoul'd (2013)
After The Red Rain (2015)
The Secret Sea (2016)
Thanos Titan Consumed (2018)
The Hive (2019)

...

Short Story Project 2017
The Ghosts at 95
Loving The University
The Ideas of March
Four Minutes
Pulse vs. the Killing Fiend
Her Decade
The Life Cycle of Stars (Ignition)
Bobby
Trading Worlds
When I Die
The Autopsying of Michael Edward Morgan
Meet Me Tonight
...

Contributed to:
Geektastic (2009)
Who Done It? (2013)

Author Profile and Interview with Barry Lyga
Author Profile and Interview with Randall Banner