Frequently Asked Questions
So what is OzTAKU?
OzTAKU is a community, specifically for Australian manga style cartoonists, although anyone is free to join
However, all communities need a common purpose, and resources to keep the members interested in the commuity. As such, OzTAKU also provides assistance with all manner of the production cycle, from help with improving art, to substantially discounted art supplies, and even help in pre-press production.OzTAKU's common purpose is the creation of manga by the artists that are part of the community. A manga isn't truly made until it's published, however, so OzTAKU also publishes a lot of manga under its own imprint.
Further to that are the resources required to pay for publication and bandwidth, so OzTAKU has a range of ancillary commercial functions. Not only does OzTAKU sell a lot of the manga that it helps publish, it also teaches classes, runs events and even conducts a number of social outings in capital cities..
What does "OzTAKU" mean?
The word "OzTAKU" is an English pun on the Japanese word "otaku".
Otaku literally means "house", but has recently taken on the new connotation of a very obsessed nerd, but in the West, it specifically means a manga or anime nerd.
The lower case "z" has been added to make it "Oz", as in Australian.
We're basically Australian manga nerds.
How do I join OzTAKU?
Simply sign up to the forums.
If you want to take part in OzTAKU activities, that's the best way to do it. From there you'll get to know members, know what's going on in terms of social activities.If you want to contribute to OzTAKU's publishing efforts, you will need to get in contact with Avi via our webmail form.
Where can I buy OzTAKU's publications?
OzTAKU goes to most anime and pop-culture conventions around Australia.
You're also able to purchase OzTAKU from all good comic shops, selected news agents, and Borders bookstores.
You publish comics, so how come some of them aren't suitable for my kids?
It is a sad fallacy that comics are meant for children. They are not.
In Victorian times, illustrated "penny-dreadfuls", were one of the most common forms of books. The upper classes, however, did not appreciate the masses getting in on the whole "literacy" thing, and attempted to dissuade people from reading by pressing the notion that images retarded the working mind and infantilized the reader.This trash psychology (which was never empirically verified) gained sway in England and America (and therefore Australia), turning the great tradition of illustrated novels into mindless pulp comics for children. Europe and Japan managed to continue their proud tradition of comics for adults.
With that in mind, OzTAKU seeks to promote all sorts comic artists, and urges them to tell the stories that they want to tell. Not the stories that they think will sell, or have the greatest market appeal, or are specifically aimed at children…
