Ask John: How Can Fans on a Budget Read Manga?

Question:
How can a no-budget (not even low-budget) young American boy keep up with current volumes of my favorite manga? Also, where can I find fans like myself who share the same love for anime/manga?

Answer:
Relative to domestic American comics, manga are actually not very expensive. The cost per page for translated manga is much lower than the cost per page for traditional American comic books. Regardless, I understand that young fans may not have a lot of disposable income. And there are so many manga available that collecting everything interesting can easily be prohibitively expensive. Not having a lot of extra money to spend can limit access to manga, but being on a budget doesn’t necessarily exclude all access to manga. Many public libraries across America now offer manga, and although not an ideal way to read, major bookstore chains like Borders and Barnes & Noble encourage customers to sample and read books from their shelves. You can also try to find local friends and schoolmates who are interested in manga and pool your resources.

Internet forums and fan sites provide instant access to countless other fans who share your interests. Organizing a manga or anime fan club through your school may also draw fans together. A Japanese pop culture appreciation group or manga/anime fan club that not only reads and watches anime but also discusses the Japanese culture depicted within manga and anime is a fun and educational activity that any school should be proud to sponsor. Local comic book shops may also be an ideal place to meet other manga fans. Friendly employees may be able to put customers with similar interests together (with parental supervision, if appropriate).