Jason Thompson (writer)
Encyclopedia
Jason Thompson is a manga critic, journalist, writer and comics artist.
, on October 13, 1974, and lived in Healdsburg, California
, for most of his childhood and adolescence. He began drawing and writing in the 1980s. He first became an anime and manga fan in 1991, joining his college's anime club
, while studying English and creative writing. Thompson graduated in 1995. In 1996, he became an editor at Viz Media
and was briefly the editor for their Game On! USA magazine. In the late 1990s, Thompson self-published some comics, including 1997's The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, which he regards as his 'first real comic'. After Game On! USA concluded, Thompson edited individual series before becoming the first editor of Viz's U.S. edition of Shonen Jump
magazine.
He creates his own webcomic
, The Stiff (2001 onwards), which he describes as a "manga-influenced romantic comedy" and "a horrendous, gruesome horror story", influenced by indie American comics and Japanese horror manga. It is planned to be 1000 pages long, and was published on Girlamatic
between 2003 and 2006 as one of their launch titles.
In 2003, Thompson's comic adaptation of The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath was adapted into a feature-length film that used artwork from Jason Thompson's comic series, as well as original artwork by Thompson. It premiered on October 11, 2003 at the H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival and was later released on DVD.
As of 2007, Thompson wrote for Otaku USA
.
Thompson is the author of Manga: The Complete Guide
(Del Rey, 2007), which he conceived in 2000. As an appendix to Manga: The Complete Guide, he posts daily reviews of manga on Suvudu.com, beginning in November 2009.
He made a cameo appearance in Hiro Mashima
's Fairy Tail
.
Thompson is the creator of the graphic novel
, King of RPGs
with Victor Hao, which he describes as a fusion between shōnen manga and tabletop roleplaying games. It was released in January 2010. He had previously submitted a pilot of the series to Tokyopop
's Rising Stars of Manga
competition, but later decided that he "didn't like the Tokyopop contract" and took the concept to Del Rey, who matched him with artist Victor Hao. Volume Two was released on May 24, 2011.
In 2009, Thompson was the artist of The Legend of Bold Riley: The Serpent in the Belly, part of a series written by Leia Weathington. It is available online, and is also planned to be published in print in 2010.
In September 2011, Thompson began raising money on Kickstarter
for a book titled The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath and Other Stories, which will feature his 122-page Kadath story (made from 1997-1999), as well as three other stories from the Dreamlands series: The Strange High House in the Mist (a comic adaptation of the eponymous story
, made from June 2009 to January 2011), The White Ship, and Celephais (made from March-September 2011).
This project had been planned since at least 2003.
Thompson also runs the "House of 1000 Manga" section on Anime News Network
, where he talks about lesser-known manga that he's discovered around his home.
Life and career
Jason Thompson was born in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, on October 13, 1974, and lived in Healdsburg, California
Healdsburg, California
Healdsburg is a city located in Sonoma County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a population of 11,254...
, for most of his childhood and adolescence. He began drawing and writing in the 1980s. He first became an anime and manga fan in 1991, joining his college's anime club
Anime club
An anime club is an organization that meets to discuss, show, and promote anime in a local community setting and can also focus on broadening Japanese cultural understanding. Anime clubs are increasingly found at universities and high schools. Organizers may also utilize public meeting spaces such...
, while studying English and creative writing. Thompson graduated in 1995. In 1996, he became an editor at Viz Media
VIZ Media
VIZ Media, LLC, headquartered in San Francisco, is an anime, manga, and Japanese entertainment company. It was founded in 1986 as VIZ LLC. In 2005, VIZ LLC and ShoPro Entertainment merged to form the current VIZ Media LLC, which is jointly owned by Japanese publishers Shogakukan and Shueisha, and...
and was briefly the editor for their Game On! USA magazine. In the late 1990s, Thompson self-published some comics, including 1997's The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, which he regards as his 'first real comic'. After Game On! USA concluded, Thompson edited individual series before becoming the first editor of Viz's U.S. edition of Shonen Jump
Shonen Jump (magazine)
Shonen Jump, officially stylized SHONEN JUMP and abbreviated SJ, is a shōnen manga anthology published in North America by Viz Media. It debuted in November 2002 with the first issue having a January 2003 cover date...
magazine.
He creates his own webcomic
Webcomic
Webcomics, online comics, or Internet comics are comics published on a website. While many are published exclusively on the web, others are also published in magazines, newspapers or often in self-published books....
, The Stiff (2001 onwards), which he describes as a "manga-influenced romantic comedy" and "a horrendous, gruesome horror story", influenced by indie American comics and Japanese horror manga. It is planned to be 1000 pages long, and was published on Girlamatic
Girlamatic
Girlamatic, published by Joey Manley, is a member of the Modern Tales family of subscription-based webcomics anthology sites. Girlamatic publishes comics with a particular appeal for young adult women. The site launched on March 31, 2003 with...
between 2003 and 2006 as one of their launch titles.
In 2003, Thompson's comic adaptation of The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath was adapted into a feature-length film that used artwork from Jason Thompson's comic series, as well as original artwork by Thompson. It premiered on October 11, 2003 at the H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival and was later released on DVD.
As of 2007, Thompson wrote for Otaku USA
Otaku USA
Otaku USA is a bimonthly magazine, published by Sovereign Media, which covers various elements of the "otaku" lifestyle from an American perspective...
.
Thompson is the author of Manga: The Complete Guide
Manga: The Complete Guide
Manga: The Complete Guide is a 2007 encyclopedia written by Jason Thompson and published by Del Rey which provides basic details and short reviews of over 1000 Japanese manga titles that have been translated and released in English in North America...
(Del Rey, 2007), which he conceived in 2000. As an appendix to Manga: The Complete Guide, he posts daily reviews of manga on Suvudu.com, beginning in November 2009.
He made a cameo appearance in Hiro Mashima
Hiro Mashima
is a Japanese manga artist. He is most known for his fantasy manga Groove Adventure Rave, published by Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine, from 1999 to 2005. The series was later adapted into an anime. However, the anime adaption was cancelled before it could complete the series.In 2003, he...
's Fairy Tail
Fairy Tail
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiro Mashima. It has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine since August 23, 2006, and has been published by Kodansha in 29 tankōbon volumes . An ongoing anime produced by A-1 Pictures and Satelight was released in Japan on October 12, 2009,...
.
Thompson is the creator of the graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
, King of RPGs
King of RPGs
King of RPGs is an American graphic novel about roleplaying written by Jason Thompson and drawn by Victor Hao.-Development:Thompson first submitted the idea to Tokyopop's Rising Stars of Manga contest in 2004, and was inspired by Hikaru no Go and Knights of the Dinner Table.Hao's artistic...
with Victor Hao, which he describes as a fusion between shōnen manga and tabletop roleplaying games. It was released in January 2010. He had previously submitted a pilot of the series to Tokyopop
Tokyopop
Tokyopop, styled TOKYOPOP, and formerly known as Mixx, is a distributor, licensor, and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa, and Western manga-style works. The existing German publishing division produces German translations of licensed Japanese properties and original English-language manga, as well...
's Rising Stars of Manga
Rising Stars of Manga
Rising Stars of Manga was an English-language comic anthology published by TOKYOPOP from 2002 to 2008, and a contest held by the same company. It was originally semi-annual, but switched to annual beginning with the 6th volume....
competition, but later decided that he "didn't like the Tokyopop contract" and took the concept to Del Rey, who matched him with artist Victor Hao. Volume Two was released on May 24, 2011.
In 2009, Thompson was the artist of The Legend of Bold Riley: The Serpent in the Belly, part of a series written by Leia Weathington. It is available online, and is also planned to be published in print in 2010.
In September 2011, Thompson began raising money on Kickstarter
Kickstarter
Kickstarter is an online threshold pledge system for funding creative projects. Kickstarter has funded a diverse array of endeavors, ranging from indie film and music to journalism, solar energy technology and food-related projects.-Model:...
for a book titled The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath and Other Stories, which will feature his 122-page Kadath story (made from 1997-1999), as well as three other stories from the Dreamlands series: The Strange High House in the Mist (a comic adaptation of the eponymous story
The Strange High House in the Mist
"The Strange High House in the Mist" is a short story by H. P. Lovecraft. Written on November 9, 1926, it was first published in the October 1931 issue of Weird Tales.-Inspiration:An H. P...
, made from June 2009 to January 2011), The White Ship, and Celephais (made from March-September 2011).
This project had been planned since at least 2003.
Thompson also runs the "House of 1000 Manga" section on Anime News Network
Anime News Network
Anime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...
, where he talks about lesser-known manga that he's discovered around his home.
External links
- Official Website
- Jason Thompson's LiveJournalLiveJournalLiveJournal is a virtual community where Internet users can keep a blog, journal or diary. LiveJournal is also the name of the free and open source server software that was designed to run the LiveJournal virtual community....