Been a school teacher for 20+ years and have taught every grade level from K-12. I can tell you what I have observed that works with school aged kids. I have turned many kids on to western comics and many kept up the hobby, but you're right when you say that manga hooks kids with greater ease.
Here's what I've seen:
1) The format of the smaller but thicker books makes it convenient for kids to throw them in their backpacks (collectability is mostly for adults...) and pass them on to their friends easily.
2) The variety of genres that are available to a number of kids (romance, comedy, horror, sci-fi, etc.) which again can be passed easily from kid to kid and is easily detectable from the covers.
3) mind-blowing art that is dynamic, complex, and yet easy to copy (being able to copy the art style onto their notebooks or scraps of paper is a HUGE thing that doesn't get talked about and can be seen with young kids w/ Dogman to older kids w/My Hero Academia and many years ago DBZ).
Been a school teacher for 20+ years and have taught every grade level from K-12. I can tell you what I have observed that works with school aged kids. I have turned many kids on to western comics and many kept up the hobby, but you're right when you say that manga hooks kids with greater ease.
Here's what I've seen:
1) The format of the smaller but thicker books makes it convenient for kids to throw them in their backpacks (collectability is mostly for adults...) and pass them on to their friends easily.
2) The variety of genres that are available to a number of kids (romance, comedy, horror, sci-fi, etc.) which again can be passed easily from kid to kid and is easily detectable from the covers.
3) mind-blowing art that is dynamic, complex, and yet easy to copy (being able to copy the art style onto their notebooks or scraps of paper is a HUGE thing that doesn't get talked about and can be seen with young kids w/ Dogman to older kids w/My Hero Academia and many years ago DBZ).
Just my 2 cents.
Rock On \m/
Loved all of this! Also, I live in Reading! Go PA