Shonen Punk

Eleven years ago when I was a young seventeen year-old Highschool Junior, there was a huge out burst hip hop and manga influenced comic artists. Not being a huge fan of hip hop music or culture I kind of disregarded it as uncool. It was then that I had decided I wanted to mix Punk Rock visuals/music/lifestyle with Manga styled comics. The only comics we had back then that wer e remotely punk rock were the TankGirl trades, and a few indie titles. But there weren’t any manga i knew of at the time doing this.

It wasn’t until the year 2000, that I chose to be the first to do it. and I coined the term Shonen Punk. It was a kind of homage or play on words to Shonen Jump and various other shonen anthologies I had picked up via some stores through out Los Angeles. I continued onward creating a plethora of comic ideas about punk kids in odd manga-esque situations. I think the only thing holding me back was that my art wasn’t up to par yet. Though I suppose If i had discovered the internet prior to 2003 I might have become a bit more known. but thats a different story all together.

2002. It was a very important year in my progress as this martyr or punkrock infuzed manga. It was teh year I created alittle mini comic that i published myself called D.e.m.o.n Girl Eva! I passed it out at local music shops and all over my constant trips to and from San Diego. This wa smy first publick showing of my style and vision. It contained amany homages and parodies of classic anime storylines and ideas. 2002 was when I discovered the internet
. sur e Iknew of its existance but i only downloaded comic art and stuff from crawlspace i believe it was called. fr the remainder of 2002 I began rewriting D.e.m.o.n Girl Eva! under a new title. I renamed it Log On! The misadventures od Chiizu and Eva Pinkada. still unpleased, I re-wrote it several times this time using the name Eva.exe I had posted it on my art site i had on some free hosting. I had named my site Shonen Punk, Yes I was still toting that name around. In 2003 I decided I would change the focus of my website. I converted it into the name of The comic I’d been writing and rewriting for so long. Shonen Punk the Web Comic had been born. I had a decent start up, made a few fans from sweden and some from japan to my suprise.

It was a little after this that I started to see more Punk influence in comics and manga. I was a bit distraught as i felt my passions and dreams were being raped from under me. But I kept moving on. A part of me felt even though I’d never be credited for it, in my eyes I will always be one of the pioneers of this new punk rock manga that was growing about. I was content with that. despite it being saturated by hot-topic punks. which as we all know to quote Mc Lars “-is not punk rock” But none the less I like the fact that a vision I had 11 years ago still stands true today and not just by me but a lot of others. yes some of them are just posers jumping on the hype-wave. But It’s kinda like watching someone else raise your baby for you. you feel cheapened and trivial but still hope for the best for your baby even if you never get called daddy or mommy by it.

Eleven years. Eleven years and still I do not find my self with some kind of adult jaded vision. I’m still heavily passionate about Punk rock and manga. I still believe that it could be more than just comics about punk bands. Punk rock is not just about rising to become famous like these punk comics do these days thats utter shit. Punk bands are about having fun, having something to say and getting f***ed up on the substance of your choice. Punk rock is about danger not selling shoes. I can say what Punk rock is. But its easy to tell what Punk rock isn’t. Here’s to hoping the movement stays strong and that it keeps its integrity before going the way of the buffalo.