Review Fix chats with manga writer Josh Katz talks about his origin in the industry, his creative process and so much more.
Review Fix: Why does manga matter?
Josh Katz: Manga matters because it’s a way for people to escape from reality. It’s a stress reliever, a chance to feel as if you’re living in a whole other world created from your imagination. Although books, video games, movies, and tv shows also excite and entertain, manga has a certain level of flare that makes it unique. For example, limits are built into how strong protagonists can be in books, video games, movies, and tv shows. With manga, there is no limit to how strong a character can become, and that makes it so exciting to see just how much stronger they can be. The style of manga, the enthusiasm, the excitement, the laughter, the adventure it provides is a wonder in itself. Plus, there’s no shortage regarding what can be made possible with manga: like being able to jump through dimensions or being so strong you can shatter reality with a single punch, even being able to be reborn into a magical world. It’s those different types of stories that can be told and make manga beyond amazing.
Review Fix: How has manga changed your life?
Katz: Manga gives me a sense that when things are going poorly in my life and that dark days are ahead, that there’s a world I can go to in order to forget about my troubles. Whenever I need a good laugh, or need to see some outstanding action, I go and read some manga or watch anime. There are so many different genres that I love diving into that spark my imagination. And I’m not ashamed to admit that I enjoy play acting sometimes imagining that I, too, am a vampire attending high school or a demon lord or an isekaied soul or even a Super Saiyan blowing up planets. Also, if it weren’t for manga, I would never have met my best friend, Cassandra, who has become the little sister I always wished for since I was a little kid.
Review Fix: How did you know a career in manga was for you?
Katz: Throughout my life, I’ve been good at three things: writing, acting, and storytelling. And one day, I realized I had so many ideas for great stories that I just had to share them with the world. So, in my junior year at high school, during homeroom, I sat down and started working on my first piece of work, DYNASTY OF THE DRAGON. Now, writing the story was easy, but I knew that since I couldn’t draw, that would be a problem. But I never gave up, and as time went by, I had over a dozen stories in the making, but still no illustrator. Then one day, while in a manga chat room, I met Cassandra, who became my first illustrator for my series, BLAZE N’ BURST, and not long after that, I met the man who would help bring Dynasty of the Dragon to life: Sky Dinoy, who loved the story so much, that he jumped at it immediately. We’ve been working together since, and soon, all my stories had illustrators and we’d formed our own little group.
Review Fix: Who inspires you creatively?
Katz: A lot of good writers inspire me, and not just manga writers. J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Satou Daisuke, Miura Kentaro, Fuse, Kawakami Taiki, and of course, Akira Toriyama. But I’d have to say the manga writer whom I’ve always admired the most would have to be Rumiko Takahashi, creator of masterpieces like Ranma ½, Inuyasha, Urusei Yatsura, and so many others. She’s my hero among manga creators.
Review Fix: How are your mangas different or special?
Katz: Most mangas exist in a singular universe and don’t crossover, and when they do, it’s not considered canon. I have a plan whereby each of the mangas my friends and I are working on coexist on similar plains of reality and are able to crossover in canon storylines. You could think of it as a manga version of The Avengers or the Justice League, since I plan to eventually have my protagonists join together to combat a common enemy. I’ve thought that far into the future and have a basic outline on how it’s going to happen.
Review Fix: What about this manga? Sell us. Sell us hard.
Katz: Dynasty Of The Dragon brings everything that makes manga great to the table: martial arts, time travel, magic, epic action scenes, comedy, drama, betrayal, romance, and mystery. So many twists and turns waiting around each corner, such as the fact that not all is what it seems and those the readers will think to be the antagonists aren’t THE antagonists. Revelations come to light in this series that will have people’s heads turning upside down. And if this series goes the distance and makes it to anime, I am positive it will become the next best thing since Dragon Ball. Also, I like to combine some elements of reality into my stories, so there are quite a few lessons to be learned by reading not just this series, but some of my others as well. I find that while entertainment is good, it’s nice to be able to have some wisdom to go with my stories.
Review Fix: Who do you think will dig it the most?
Katz: People who are into things like dragon ball, Naruto, Bleach, Inuyasha, Rurouni Kenshin, and other series in that particular field. Those who enjoy the combination of action, comedy, and drama that they just can’t get enough of.
Review Fix: How do you want your books to be remembered?
Katz: It would be thrilling to know that reading my stories would not only bring joy to others, but also inspire them. There are many people who are struggling with their dreams and with life in general. It would warm my heart to know that by sharing my stories with the world, I helped contribute in some way to helping those people with their struggles. For them to be able to read these adventures and realize that limits are only based on one’s own thoughts.
That nothing is beyond our reach as long as we’re willing to fight for it. That dreams can come true, that nobody is ever truly alone in this world if they only know where to look for their friends, and that no matter how dark and hopeless things may get, there is always just one sparkle of light to guide us, so long as we continue to follow it.
Review Fix: What are your long-term goals for your work?
Katz: My long-term goals for not only Dynasty of the Dragon — but also my other stories and the stories my friends are working on — are to try and go the distance. Hopefully, our work will go so far as to make it to anime and who knows, maybe we’ll even see people cosplaying as our characters at conventions. I’d say some of our stories are even worthy of being made into video games. We’re hoping to go from being a group to a company, that through our combined efforts, we will be able to continue to grow, to inspire, and to entertain manga lovers and fantasy buffs around the world.
Review Fix: Why should someone support your work?
Katz: So far, we’ve managed to present good work with our limited resources. One who would support us could only imagine what we could accomplish if we weren’t so limited. Also, they’d recognize the different positive messages and life lessons that our stories sell to the world and would see a chance to both educate and entertain with these stories that combine and balance fact and fiction in ways only a select few writers can manage to produce.
Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?
Katz: Among our top stories that have made the most progress, the following are included in the top ten, all of which can be found on Webtoon.
1. Dynasty Of The Dragon https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/dynasty-of-the-dragon/list?title_no=326608
2. Blaze n’ Burst https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/blaze-n-burst/list?title_no=326737
3. Dark Throne https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/dark-throne/list?title_no=329186
4. Covet Fenrir https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/covet-fenrir/list?title_no=345182
5. Lycanheart https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/lycanheart/list?title_no=514323
6. Dragon Glyde https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/dragon-glyde/list?title_no=330016
7. Kia, Princess Of the Pride https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/kia-princess-of-the-pride/list?title_no=360130
8. Princess Tail https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/princess-tail/list?title_no=519327
9. LadyXMaid https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/lady-x-maid/list?title_no=344642
10. Chop Master https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/chop-master/list?title_no=327757
Review Fix: What’s next?
Katz: We have other stories in the making, MASTER OF MYTHS, ROYAL FLUSH and MARTIAL KINGDOM. But for now, we focus on the projects we’re working on and watch as bit by bit, we take one step closer to success.
Review Fix: Where can people find out more?
Katz: To see more of our work and enjoy the benefits of supporting us, you can find more at the following websites.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Otakuwolfmanga
My Website: https://www.joshkatzbooksite.com/
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