The Extra Guardian Missed The Right Time To Leave Manga

Okay, picture this: It's 2010. You're at a bookstore, the kind with comfy chairs and a perpetually brewing coffee smell. You're browsing the graphic novel section, and there, nestled between Watchmen and Maus, is a small but dedicated manga shelf. The selection is decent, maybe some Naruto, Bleach, Death Note – the gateway drugs, right? Remember those days? Good times.

Now, imagine that bookstore disappearing. Not literally (hopefully!), but imagine its manga section vanishing. That's kinda what happened when The Guardian, a UK-based newspaper, decided to close down its dedicated manga review section, The Extra Guardian, a few years prior. And honestly? They jumped ship way too early.

The Timing Was... Off

Let's be real, back in the mid-2000s, when The Extra Guardian was kicking, manga was already building momentum. It wasn't some niche thing only weeaboos (remember that term? Yikes!) were into. It had a growing audience, a passionate fanbase, and a heck of a lot of creative potential. It was a cultural tsunami gathering force.

But The Guardian seemed to think it was more of a puddle. They pulled the plug, citing – and I'm paraphrasing here – "not enough readership to justify the cost." Ouch.

Really? I mean, were they tracking actual readership numbers? Or just going off gut feeling? Because, from where I was standing (and from where a lot of people were standing), manga was about to explode.

Think about it: The internet was becoming more accessible, scanlations (unofficial translations) were spreading like wildfire (which, yeah, had its own issues), and anime adaptations were getting more mainstream attention. Manga was no longer confined to specialized comic book stores; it was popping up in libraries, bookstores, and even supermarkets. Hello, Fruits Basket at your local Barnes & Noble!

And then, boom! The 2010s happened. Streaming services like Crunchyroll and Netflix started investing heavily in anime. Manga sales went through the roof, driven by titles like Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, and countless others. Suddenly, everyone was talking about manga. Even people who previously swore they only read "serious" literature.

Could They Have Been Ahead of the Curve?

Imagine if The Extra Guardian had stuck around. They could have been the go-to source for insightful, critical reviews of manga. They could have fostered a community of readers, writers, and artists. They could have been a major voice in the growing manga conversation.

Think about the kind of content they could have created. In-depth analyses of complex narratives? Check. Interviews with groundbreaking creators? Check. Explanations of cultural nuances for Western audiences? Check! (Because, let's be honest, sometimes those cultural nuances are wild.)

Instead, they missed the boat. And while other publications eventually picked up the slack, The Extra Guardian could have been a true pioneer. They could have been the name associated with quality manga criticism.

Now, I'm not saying it's easy to predict the future. No one has a crystal ball (unless you're reading a magical girl manga, of course). But the signs were there. The demand was growing. The market was expanding. The Guardian just didn't see it – or, perhaps, didn't believe it.

Lessons Learned (Maybe?)

What's the takeaway here? Maybe it's a reminder to pay attention to emerging trends, even if they seem a little niche at first. Maybe it's a lesson in trusting your gut and believing in the power of storytelling. Or maybe it's just a wistful "what if?" moment for all of us who remember the early days of manga fandom.

Whatever it is, one thing is clear: The Extra Guardian left the party way too early. And they missed out on one heck of a celebration. And that, my friends, is a real shame.

It also serves as a good reminder that trends can sometimes sneak up on you! Don't be afraid to take a chance on something new. Who knows, you might be the next big thing!