XYZ Manga is a combination visual and written story similar to, but not exactly the same as, Western comics. Set up with speech bubbles with detailed art panels like manga comics. Art styles vary between artists, often depicting beautiful characters with large eyes (such as Shugo Chara), but occasionally turning to an almost realistic approach (such as Death Note). There is no set style for drawing manga, but big eyes, spiky hair and bright colors stand out as stereotypes.

Unlike reading English books or comics, one must read manga panels from right to left. You can find any type of manga, from action-packed shonen, usually romance-focused shoujo, to quirky slice-of-life, dramas and thrillers to space cowboy epics. In terms of the range of manga genres, manga sits on a continuum of age appropriateness. When looking for a manga, one should look not only at the genre, but also at the topics discussed in the story.