Japan Times Interviews Stan Lee about Ultimo Manga

From Comipress: Otaku USA editor Patrick Macias recently interviewed Stan Lee about his new manga project, Ultimo. In the Japan Times interview, Lee talks about how he's had to change his working style to collaborate with Hiroyuki Takei, creator of Shaman King and his co-creator on Ultimo and why American readers are getting excited about manga:

"I'm really not surprised at all. People get bored easily and they're always seeking out things that are different, provided they are well done. Manga has a totally different look to it than the average American comic book. It has a different style and its own mystique. And the fact that it's both different and so well done makes it very appealing to a growing body of American readers."

Lee also makes an interesting distinction about the differences between how Japanese manga artists and American superhero comics creators set up their stories:

"Their (the Japanese) way of approaching a story is a little bit different. For example, when I write a story in America, I take a little time to introduce the characters and build up to a climax. Sometimes in Japanese manga they like to open with a lot of action and get the reader involved right away.... But the objective is the same: to have characters people can believe in and stories that are interesting and exciting and will keep the reader coming back for more."

Check out the Japan Times interview here, and check out my report from the Ultimo press conference at New York Comic-Con and some preview images from the Japanese debut of Ultimo.

Image credit: Photo - © Deb Aoki, Ultimo - © 2008 by Stan Lee - POW! Entertainment / Dream Ranch, Hiroyuki Takei / Shueisha Inc.