Manga (pronounced mahn-gah) means Japanese comics. While the artwork, in many cases, looks simplistic and "inferior" to the intricate, stylish, and "realistic" drawings found in American comics, that is certainly not the case. Comic art in Japan comes from a different tradition, and along with the cliché elements like big eyes and speed lines, you'll find a sense of design and graphic representation that ranges from the complex to the emotional to the almost poetic. In storytelling terms (character development, plot, and emotional impact) manga often far surpasses its Western counterparts.