UK MANGA XL, is website dedicated to the review of original manga created by groups and individuals from the UK in printed form or on the internet.

There are sites on the Internet already that review other small press and indie comics, but none so far are dedicated to manga in the UK, and some don't review manga at all. It is my intention to bridge this gap in the review scene, and also unite all the producers of manga in the UK under one roof as it were. A place where every known UK manga studio, or individual manga artist outside of any organisation can be represented, and also a place where the comic patron can look at what UK manga studios have to offer.

UK MANGA XL also hopes to benefit small press manga producers and independent artists by hosting stands at events and spread word of the works of these creators. Our first event was in October 2006 where I hosted a table at the London MCM Expo with some success.

UK MANGA XL has the ultimate goal of promoting and creating awareness of the UK manga scene through reviews and events.

We have a policy of reviewing other peoples' comics with constructive critique a major part of that. Comics are more than just fine artwork, a really good comic has a well thought out script, a layout which helps convey the story in a manner which is easy to follow, and of course in manga styled works, there will be other methods of managing how the characters feel, and how they make the reader react. We create our reviews with the artist in mind as well. I don't just tell you if your work is rubbish, I also tell you why it is rubbish and how you can fix it. The same applies if your work is good. ^_~

All these things are judged as well as the artwork. I prefer this approach to the sarcasm and ridicule involved in some other peoples reviews I have read. This will hopefully help people to make better comics.

I was born in Dewsbury; a small town in West Yorkshire in England where I live now. I spent the first four years of my life living in Kent. I have worked since leaving school and it wasn't until recently I've been involved in the OEL manga Scene when I first discovered it existed around 2004.

I first discovered manga (well anime at least) when I was 18. I got sacked from one of my jobs at a bingo hall and found myself out of work for some time and ended up watching Pokemon to pass the time I had always been an ardent cartoonivore. Then I remembered seeing ads in old gaming magazines, and I made the connection. I soon found a shop that sold these things including manga comics and that's how I got interested in it. I was impressed by the artistic style and by the manga comics' unique way of telling a story with pictures; in some cases words are unnecessary because the pictures do all the work.

Still without the Internet I was kind of limited to what I could find. Then in 2004 I did finally get the Internet and then I discovered forums and later events, and that people in the UK actually design and produce their own take on manga comics. It opened up all the other manga sources that had been hidden from me before. The other great thing about the Internet is that there is so much you can learn from it.

In January 2006 I finally decided to get involved in this growing scene, and by February UK MANGA XL was finally up on the Internet, having never made a web site before, I used the Internet to teach me. Since 2006 I've reviewed over 40 comics and hosted a few exhibits at London MCM Expo as well as made a lot of friends. I aim to do a lot more in the future.