Hirohiko Araki's New Manga Techniques

Hirohiko Araki's New Manga Techniques: How to Create a Villain (荒木飛呂彦の新・漫画術 悪役の作り方, Araki Hirohiko no Shin Manga-jutsu Akuyaku no Tsukuri-kata) is a book written by Hirohiko Araki released on November 15, 2024. It is a sequel to the book Hirohiko Araki's Manga Techniques, in which Araki discusses the "golden path" to creating manga more in-depth. It was originally titled Hirohiko Araki's Manga Techniques - Continued (続・荒木飛呂彦の漫画術, Zoku Araki Hirohiko no Manga-jutsu) when portions of it were published in JOJO magazine.

The book was formally announced on October 7, 2024. Extracts from the book had previously been published in JOJO magazine 2022 WINTER and JOJO magazine 2023 WINTER, which released on December 19, 2022 and December 19, 2023 respectively.

Summary

Araki delves deeper into his "trade secrets" and discusses how to create villains, as charming villains are the key to a good manga. He reviews the four basic structures of manga and what to do when one has trouble creating a character: for instance, Araki suggests creating the main character and villain at the same time. As an example of what to consider when creating a villain's background, he includes character information sheets for Dio Brando, Yoshikage Kira, and Funny Valentine. He talks about character deaths, stating that authors shouldn't let their feelings decide whether a character should die or not if it goes against the story's natural flow. Recently, Araki has wanted to portray villains more realistically rather than simply being strong, inspired by the film Joker and its more realistic depiction of the titular character and his circumstances. Araki also discusses how he wrote and developed the villains of each part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure up to JoJolion, including Kyoka Izumi from Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan, whom he sees as a villain for Rohan Kishibe due to their conflicting philosophies.

Araki walks through the process of creating a new villain from scratch, introducing Kinjiro, a boy that loves mushrooms. Once a character's core traits are established, the "fate" of the manga is set, and creators must stay true to its foundational elements, rather than altering the story for external trends or commercial pressures. He concludes that aspiring manga artists should forge their own creative path along the 'royal road' of manga, while being mindful of societal influences; they should draw inspiration from personal experiences but also continuously learn about the world to create deeper characters and stories.

The book features additions that weren't present in the JOJO magazine publication. This includes an extra section about The JOJOLands, as well as the character information sheets for Kira and Valentine.

Table of Contents

Introduction

• Beyond the Art of Manga
• Why Villains Are Important
• Discovering Connections Toward "Fusion"
• All Elements Are Created "Simultaneously"
• On the "Enemies" of a Manga Artist

Chapter 1: Review and Deep Dive into the "Four Basic Structures of Manga"

• Key Points of Each Element in the "Four Fundamental Structures"
  • Character
    • The First Thing to Consider: Motivation
    • Character Profiles as a Switch
    • What Can Be Changed and What Should Stay Consistent
  • Story
    • The Story Always Moves in the Same Direction
    • The Rhythm of Introduction, Development, Twist, and Conclusion and the 19-Page Constraint
    • Avoiding Rule-Breaking
  • Setting
    • Don't Just Draw a World You "Want to Immerse In"
    • Reality vs. Fantasy
  • Theme
    • Having a Theme Helps Avoid Getting Lost
    • What Makes Roman Holiday Great
    • The Foundation is Godzilla vs. Ultraman
  • Art
    • Finding Your Own Art Style
    • Art is an Evolution of Human Intelligence

Chapter 2: Super Important! The Basics of Creating Villains

• On the Timeless Nature of Villains
• Thinking of the Protagonist and Villain as a Set
• The Protagonist's Role in Accentuating the Villain's Evil
• This is Dio Brando's Character Profile!
• Avoiding Unbelievable Actions or Dialogue
• Learning About Society's Evils
• Today's World of "Con Artists"
• The Author's Philosophy Reflected in Villains

Column: About the Enemies of JoJo Throughout History

• Part 2: Kars, Wamuu, Esidisi—Why the "Pillar Men" Appeared
• Part 4: Yoshikage Kira—The Fear of an "Ordinary Person"
• Part 5: Diavolo—A Mafia Boss Among Criminals
• Part 6: Enrico Pucci—The Priest as a Facade
• Part 7: President Valentine—The Strongest Are Often the Most Principled
• Parts 8 & 9: Rock Humans and Beyond—Enemies as "Inhuman Forces"

"How to Create a Villain" Practical Guide, Part 1: How to Create Kyoka Izumi, Rohan Kishibe's Editor

• The Most Troublesome Enemy
• The Editor Who Brings Trouble
• Kyoka's Profile
• Thorough Analysis of the Short Story "Hot Summer Martha"
• What Rohan Defends: "Freedom of Expression"

"How to Create a Villain" Practical Guide, Part 2: Starting from Scratch to Create a Villain

• Using Real People as Models
• Looking for "Quirky Characters" at Ceremonial Events
• "Kinjiro the Mushroom Lover"—Creating a Villain without a Protagonist
• Refining the Character Profile
• The Weekly Manga Formula: One Idea per Issue
• The Fate of Manga That Even the Author Cannot Defy

Chapter 3: Continuing on the Royal Road of Manga

• Editors Aren't an "Enemy"
• When You Don't Know What to Fix
• The Trap That Can Ruin a Manga Artist
• Let Revered Works Guide You
• Why Artists "Can't Draw" Sometimes
• Don't Draw Manga Just for Yourself
• Pay Your Taxes Properly
• My Decision at Age 30
• The Joy of Drawing
• The Future of Manga and Japanese Culture

Extra Section: About The JOJOLands Chapter 1 and Panel Layout

• Creating Emphasis with Panel Layouts
• Before and After Large Panels
• Explaining the Opening of The JOJOLands Chapter 1!

Afterword

Gallery

• 
  Full Art
• 
  Cover without Obi
• 
  Cover in JOJO magazine
• 
  JOJO magazine 2022 WINTER Cover
• 
  Ultra Jump December 2022 Ad
• 
  JOJO magazine 2023 WINTER
• 
  Ultra Jump December 2023 Ad

Trailer

Hirohiko Araki Release Commentary

See Also

• Hirohiko Araki's Super-Favorites! Rules of Movies
• Hirohiko Araki's Bizarre Horror Movie Analysis