For people who want to start drawing manga, this book gives a good overall picture of what is required. First, one learns what drawing tools are needed, then how to use them, how to draw characters, and fill in the tones. From there, one learns how to make it all look manga-like, and how to handle backgrounds. It's all here in a this single volume.
A good primer for the cartoonist...what you will learn here is how **Japanese-style** comics are done for Japanese production (with a good dose of Japanese culture). Not so good a book to hand to a kid who wants to draw superheroes. I will hand this copy to another artist, not a newbie. Proportion, Perspective, Page Layout are all addressed here; you're bound to pick up something.
I appreciated the old-school, INK pen approach to drawing (and drawing rules), and the White Paint approach to correcting mistakes. No Photoshop here...all production art techniques here date to the early 80s (though the book was printed after 2000)
I do have an issue with how the women are rendered here (female characters ALWAYS depicted in mini skirts or hot pants)...Why is the lady on safari wearing thigh-high stockings? And just what is this thing about perky, tiny-skirted "Maid" costumes (with thigh-high stockings)? Gets tiresome.
This book is an excellent easy read for the ignorant fan of manga like me. I now have a new found respect for manga artists because all the work the put in page by page. Now I realize that the technology of the computer has changed a lot for artists but those who do this but even that can be tedious. This book is more of an introduction on how manga is made. For techniques and learning how to develop your characters, story you would go to a different book. If you are interested in drawing manga by reading this book will let you know how much work is in it and if you are really up to the task.