A The Japanese comic scene underwent great changes particularly in 1959 with the publication of the weekly shonen (boys') comics such as Shonen Magazine and Shonen Sunday.

These weekly comic magazines derived their popularity from the gekiga or a long story-type form of comic. Marking a shift from the novel, comics carried various types of stories that completely enthralled their youthful audiences.

Heroes and heroines appearing in these comic magazines even became their contemporary heroes and heroines such as Kyojin no Hoshi (The Star of the Giant's Team) and Ashita no Joe (Joe of Tomorrow).

Girls' comics later appeared after boys' comic and catering to the rising popularity of these comic magazines to a larger audience of various age groups, comic magazines for youths and adults appeared in rapid succession.

The contents of these comics varied widely ranging from gag comics to a moving story, but enough is provided in the contents for the enjoyment of all age groups. Comics in Japan have established itself on par with the written and the visual as an influential form of media to transmit information. Comics in other countries are usually limited to being a form of children's entertainment or being
directed to a narrow segment of interest. People overseas who are not familiar with the actual situation might find it strange to see many adults in Japan buried in comics.