New York gets an indepth look at groundbreaking manga Garo

by Chris MaGee

If you're a fan of manga and Japanese culture and live in New York City then you are in for a big treat this spring. Deb Aoki has posted the news that The New York Center for Book Arts is holding an exhibit of the pioneering manga Garo from April 14th to June 26th. Titled "Garo Manga: 1964-1973" the exhibit curators have brought together every single issue of the manga journal over the first deacde of its run. Founded in 1964 by Katsuichi Nagai Garo helped to launch the careers of such legendary artists as Sanpei Shirato (Kamui Gaiden), Yoshiharu Tsuge (Neji-shiki), Shigeru Mizuki (Gegege no Kitaro), Yoshihiro Tatsumi (A Drifting Life), amongst many, many others. Although it would be published until 1991 this exhibit covers the magazine's early glory days when it functioned as a virtual experimental cultural laboratory.

As an added treat guests will be able to attend a talk between the exhibit's head curator Ryan Holmberg and renowned manga artist and animator Akino Kondoh at the Center on Wednesday, April 21st. Definitely a must see event.