The Lost Haida Manga

About this book

From internationally renowned artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas, creator of the groundbreaking genre known as Haida manga, comes a landmark volume tracing the origins and evolution of an entirely new artform. Blending North Pacific Indigenous iconography with the dynamic language of Japanese manga and graphic novels, Haida manga transformed visual storytelling and redefined what comics could be. Yahgulanaas, one of the most influential contemporary Indigenous artists working today, conceived Haida manga as a bridge between cultures. The genre draws on Indigenous knowledge, lived history, and visual traditions to create a powerful new language of storytelling. With most of these works appearing in book form for the first time, this striking volume offers a rare opportunity to trace the development of a groundbreaking genre over the past forty years--from early experiments to fully realized visual narratives. Spanning from 1981 to 2025, this curated collection of 15 black and white ink comics showcases the remarkable breadth of Yahgulanaas's storytelling. Some works draw from Haida legends and Indigenous oral traditions, bringing ancestral narratives into conversation with contemporary graphic literature. Others confront urgent social and political realities, including the ongoing impacts of colonialism, cultural displacement, environmental destruction, and the complex relationships between people, land, and power. Throughout, humor, beauty, and visual ingenuity sit alongside profound examinations of history, identity, sovereignty, and responsibility. Inside this collection, you'll discover: Fifteen black-and-white comics--mostly rare and previously unpublished works--tracing more than four decades of artistic innovation More than 200 striking black-and-white illustrations exploring Haida legends, Indigenous knowledge, environmental stewardship, colonialism, identity, sovereignty, and community resilience The work of one of the most celebrated contemporary Indigenous artists, whose art has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world An essential resource for readers of graphic novels, Japanese manga, Indigenous literature, and visual art, as well as students and educators in Indigenous Studies, Art History, Comics Studies, and Post-Colonial Literature Both an artistic archive and a visual manifesto, The Lost Haida Manga documents the birth of a genre--and the vision of the artist who invented it. An essential volume for understanding one of the most original artistic innovations of the 21st century, The Lost Haida Manga captures the moment a new artistic language came into being.