Shohei Otomo has made the world of comics a little less funny, and a little more badass. The illustrations by the Japanese artist feature somewhat classic manga drawings, but with an angry twist.
The manga drawings by Shohei Otomo feature some graphic images of violence, but also more tame images with a slightly odd attitude about them. This collection is definitely worth seeing for yourself.
Implications - In recent years, comic books and animated properties have made the transition from underground subculture to major Hollywood hallmark. Corporations and brands can capitalize on these animated commodities by investing in advertising partnerships that allow for maximum revenue stream utilization (toys, video games, comic books).
What's Driving This Trend
- Dark Manga Illustrations
- Opportunity for brands to work with manga artists for unconventional ad campaigns that incorporate darker, more intense illustrations.
- Subversion of Classic Comics
- Opportunity for artists to explore the intersection of classic comic art and darker imagery, creating a subculture that can be capitalized by popular brands.
- Graphic Violence in Pop Culture
- Opportunity for edgier depictions of violence to be incorporated into mainstream pop culture, creating new revenue streams for brands and blurring the lines between underground subcultures and the mainstream.
Who This Affects Most
- Entertainment
- Incorporating the dark imagery and themes of unconventional artists into mainstream entertainment properties may appeal to a younger demographic and generate more revenue for the industry.
- Fashion
- Using darker, more intense illustrations in clothing designs may appeal to a demographic that is turned off by more traditional, cheerful designs, opening up new markets for fashion industry players.
- Gaming
- Incorporating darker, more intense depictions of violence in video games may help to attract the more edgy, hardcore gaming demographic to new titles and potentially open up new revenue streams for the gaming industry.
