Question about manga on Tapastic

[ProjectHybrid]

Hey, everyone! I wanted to ask a specific question (not for debate or anything like that, just curiosity) but has anyone ever seen a manga here on Tapastic in the right to left reading format ever become premium? I know in the past some have been promoted but not premium (though I don't see too many these days). I was wondering if anyone knew any?

And if you're interested in manga in the right to left format here and love action, feel free to check out my manga!

Read A.O.D. | Tapas Web Comics

[candiedcotton]

The overwhelming majority of premium works are Korean imports that all follow the same mantra. They have nearly identical art styles and layouts. It's a larger issue than how the panels are laid out.

That said, I always strongly suggest not to write EOL manga reading right to left. There's no point and it confuses people. The reason they're right to left in Japanese is because the Japanese language is read right to left.

[ProjectHybrid]

I understand where you're coming from here. I know that while non-Japanese audiences have adapted to reading right to left manga formatting, it isn't as universal of a reading style as left to right. I wouldn't say to not create in the right to left format for an original manga, but I agree that not doing it is also a fair question/decision when starting a comic.

[candiedcotton]

It's up to you what you do, but I will tell you that without question it will do nothing positive and it absolutely will hinder your ability to get readers.

And it's totally fine if you're alright with that, but it's something to keep in mind.

[Kelheor]

At this point Tapas most likely doesn't even have premium colored comics in page format. Black and white and right to left reading - not at all. Best case scenario they will ask the creator to flip the pages anyway.

[ProjectHybrid]

Thank you for the feedback! I agree that it comes with a lot of challenges and may never make premium. It may also never be popular enough. It's possible it could and I'm happy to make it in the format that inspired me. Whether it will lead to big milestones, only time will tell. I made it farther here than I thought I would I appreciate the feedback and thank you for your input!

The question still remains on whether anyone has seen a manga in that formatting make it to premium? I'm very curious to see if anyone find's any!

[ProjectHybrid]

Hmm...do you think Tapas would have creators do that? I know when manga had come over they had actually flipped the panels to make them easier for readers (much the anger of the manga creators).

[ProjectHybrid]

Sorry, when manga FIRST came over. I forgot to add that LOL

[Freemints30]

The question still remains on whether anyone has seen a manga in that formatting make it to premium? I'm very curious to see if anyone find's any!

The answer is no. Maybe a long time ago when tapas was new but those types have long since rebooted and changed format or left and or ended. Honestly the manga right to left format is more a hinderance to growth rather than a help.

[ProjectHybrid]

Do you feel like they should have kept the original formatting?

[candiedcotton]

If they were originally in Japanese I think you'd have more argument to do it, or even keep the style, but when it's english as original language (EOL in the business) it makes your work look bad. At least from a business standpoint. It's sort of like when western folk only use Japanese names and Japanese lore and throw random hiragana or katakana into the work because they... well, the term that comes to mind is weaboo, but that's sorta derogatory... but it's basically seen as cringe.

And I say this having once been a pretty severe weaboo. I think a lot of us have been down that dark path, but in the end, it will only hurt your progress. Sometimes you gotta know when you need to let go of something.

[Freemints30]

Not really cus in general that kind format is so niche its doesn't really have a reason to be read that way. In Japanese makes sense cus that's how the language us read. Fan translations is makes sense cus those are very rough and trying to keep as close as possible to the OG made by usually ametures. For original English it just come off as to me anyway... tacky and bit of culturally blind tbh.

"I like it for the japanse aesthetics not for function"- made by a non-japanses reader.

Kinda way.

[Katzalcoatl]

You are looking for the wrong target audience. Tapas is a korean manhwa site.
People join for the manhwa. Any formatting that does not fit this style will not be featured.

If you want to post manga the right place to thrive would be a manga creator site such as mangaplus creators or mangadex.

[ProjectHybrid]

So you are encouraging to rather than make it in a way that is respectful to the medium to then change it to make money?

[candiedcotton]

It's actually disrespectful, if anything, to Japanese people, because it's essentially fetishizing their culture. It's... well to use the right term, it's cultural appropriation.

Right to left is not a medium.

[Katzalcoatl]

Like I mentioned before you are in a site with the wrong target audience. You can't expect to sell bananas in a videogame store.

[ProjectHybrid]

I see your point. Thank you for the input

[candiedcotton]

Yeah but most of those vehemently refuse EOL works. It's extremely common that they only accept Japanese manga (or originally Japanese/by Japanese people).

[moontokkym]

There's not really any point making a manga that isn't in original japanese nor intended for a japanese or french audience read right to left. Like other posters have pointed out, the reason imported manga is right to left is because the original japanese is read that way when lines are vertical.

The reason I add France is because it's the world's second largest consumer of manga after Japan, thus we have a couple of home-grown french manga, traditionnally published and in black and white, the most known being City Hall, Radiant, and more recently Les Légendaires Saga, they're read right to left because manga is so omnipresent here even little kids see the black and white pages and just read it that way, but from what I gather that's not the case for english speaking audiences (who went so far as to insist for a long time that the pages be flipped and coloured). Seeing as Tapas' audience is mostly english speaking (left to right) with korean manhwa imports (hangeul also being read left to right) there's barely a market for anything else.

[ProjectHybrid]

Thank you, everyone for your input! I am sad to see that a manga hasn't made it to premium status here on Tapastic, but I'm going to remain optimistic for it You all have made some valid points about formatting and audiences and I thank you for that. It definitely helps to understand why traditional formatted manga has not perhaps been well received on this platform.

Yet, I think it doesn't make it a bad thing. I think if we have a fanbase at all, then that's what's more important. We're all here to read and enjoy, right? So, I wouldn't go so far as to use the term "fetishizing" or "disrespecting" when we make our comics/novels in any format or style because it's not about that but rather just enjoying the work. If we enjoy making it, then others will enjoy reading it. So, from all your inputs, that is what I have come to learn. Thank you for answering my question! Hopefully someday we will see a manga break ground here and anyone here has as much of a chance as anyone else. Thank you all and best of luck to all of us