INTRODUCTION TO SATURDAY AM

Japanese MANGA and ANIME have inspired people worldwide for generations, but only in the past 20 years have they become a global phenomenon. Streaming services, cable TV, and increased digital distribution of both artists and their manga have inspired more people than ever. What began as, and still is, a predominantly JAPANESE cultural product now has practitioners and hobbyists from North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Unfortunately, three things have become apparent:

• • The vast majority of people will never live in Japan.
• • Few people will learn to speak Japanese.
• • The platforms in Japan do not showcase as many non-Japanese manga-style works as exist online.

Saturday AM hopes to be the bridge for those of us who LOVE MANGA but want MORE DIVERSE versions of it presented with the same love and care the Japanese comics receive.

Saturday AM is not a platform but a magazine and culture brand. Here EVERY TALENTED ARTIST OF ANY RACE, GENDER, or NATIONALITY can create their series for serious fans. The digital magazine launched in 2013 as a biweekly publication geared towards shōnen/shōjo manga (i.e., teenage readers— a.k.a. most Marvel Comics) and quickly grew a fandom that now encompasses over 60 countries. Likewise, our exclusive creators hail from six continents, with the most popular including WHYT MANGA (NIGERIA, creator of APPLE BLACK), SENY MANGAWORKS (HUNGARY, creator of SAIGAMI), and GLADISKSTUDIO (FRANCE/NIGER, artist of CLOCK STRIKER).

More than three dozen artists are working exclusively within our brand, such as Saturday PM (seinen, a.k.a. older teen male readers) and Saturday BRUNCH (LGBTQ and jōsei, a.k.a. older teen female readers). Furthermore, our brand has grown into COLLECTIBLE TOYS, MOBILE GAMES, PRINT GRAPHIC NOVELS, and APPAREL.

Since the beginning, Saturday AM has championed DIVERSE MANGA and the promise that more artists bringing their unique visions to the world can help expand the idea of manga-inspired comics.

We hope this book helps you create your MANGA-style CHARACTER with the confidence that there is an audience for authentic stories about heroes of all backgrounds.

FREDERICK L. JONES

Publisher, Saturday AM