The roots of manga can be traced back to 12th-century scrolls that featured satirical drawings of animals acting like humans. In the 19th century, manga began to take its modern form. Japan Punch, a satirical magazine created by the English cartoonist Charles Wirgman, circulated among Japanese artists and inspired them to produce their own magazines. In 1874, Kanagaki Robun and Kawanabe Kyosai launched the manga magazine Eshinbun Nipponchi, which paved the way for Osamu Tezuka—the “God of Manga”—who became a legend in the years after W.W. II. This exhibition explores manga’s enduring popularity, from Akira to Dragon Ball, and how the medium often tackles complex subjects such as sexuality and the human condition. —Elena Clavarino