A scene from my new book The Spirit of Japan, art by Fumio Obata.
"Sean Michael Wilson is a comic book renaissance man." - Publishers Weekly
"Sean's books have won various awards and he has been included in the list 10 Great Scottish Graphic Novel Creators by the Scottish Book Trust. He has written more than 40 books, published by a variety of US, UK and Japanese publishers and translated into 12 languages.
His books are of two broad types:
1. graphic novels of original stories and various books on social issues.
2. manga style books on Japanese history and culture.
He does comic books outside the normal superhero/fantasy brands, going into areas such as history, biography, drama, and social issues, often in collaboration with universities, charities and book publishers. In 2016 his book 'The Faceless Ghost' was nominated for an Eisner Award. In 2017 he became the first British person to receive an International Manga Award from the Japanese Government. In 2019 his book 'The Many Not the Few' was launched by the Labour Party leader in an event in the Houses of Parliament. In 2020 he received the Scottish Samurai Award from an association promoting connections between Japan and Scotland.
He often gives lectures and talks about comics in schools and colleges, and has written articles for such places as The Japan Times, New Internationalist and The Herald Scotland. He has also written and directed programmes for television in the UK and Japan."
His books are of two broad types:
1. graphic novels of original stories and various books on social issues.
2. manga style books on Japanese history and culture.
He does comic books outside the normal superhero/fantasy brands, going into areas such as history, biography, drama, and social issues, often in collaboration with universities, charities and book publishers. In 2016 his book 'The Faceless Ghost' was nominated for an Eisner Award. In 2017 he became the first British person to receive an International Manga Award from the Japanese Government. In 2019 his book 'The Many Not the Few' was launched by the Labour Party leader in an event in the Houses of Parliament. In 2020 he received the Scottish Samurai Award from an association promoting connections between Japan and Scotland.
He often gives lectures and talks about comics in schools and colleges, and has written articles for such places as The Japan Times, New Internationalist and The Herald Scotland. He has also written and directed programmes for television in the UK and Japan."
Click on the cover image of each book to go to its own page
Coming Summer 2021
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Coming Autumn 2021
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Coming Summer 2021
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2020
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2020
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2020
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2018
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2019
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2019
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2018
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2017
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2016
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2016
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2016
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2016
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2016
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2015
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2015
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2015
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2015
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2014
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2013
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2013
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2013
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2013
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2013
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2012
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2012
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2011
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2011
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2010
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2010
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2010
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2009
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2008
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2007
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2006
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2005
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2004
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Books in a series
The Story of Lee - Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3
2010
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2015
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2019
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Bilingual (Japanese and English) books with Kodansha
2013
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2018
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2019
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Breaking the 10 - Vol 1 and 2
2016
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2018
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Illustrated Japanese History - No 1 and 2
2017
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2018
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Awards and notable work
Welcome to my web site, folks. As my grandfather used to say in Irish, 'Cead Mile Failte', a hundred thousand welcomes.
Please allow me a bit of showing off about the various awards that my books have got...
I was the editor of the critically acclaimed AX: alternative manga (Top Shelf) , chosen as one of the ten best comic books of 2010 by Publishers Weekly, and placed number 2 in their critics poll of books of the year, behind only Chris Ware. It was also nominated for a Harvey Award, a long established award for comic books in the USA. My graphic novel version of the classic A Christmas Carol (with artists Mike Collins and David Roach) was in the Sunday Times 'Ten best books' list in 2008 and won the gold medal in the 2012 'Language Learner Literature Awards'. My visual adaptation of Sweeney Todd (with Declan Shalvey) won an award in the Stan Lee schools awards, 2013.
In 2015 our book Cold Mountain (with Akiko Shimojima) won an award in the 'China Animation and Comic Competition 12th Golden Dragon Award' (in the category of 'Best Overseas Comic'). In 2016 my book Lafcadio Hearn’s “The Faceless Ghost” and other Macabre Tales from Japan (with Michiru Morikawa) was placed in the '2016 Great Graphic Novels for Teens' recommended reading list of this important library association in the USA: YALSA (The Young Adult Library Services Association). The book also received the Bronze Medal in the 2016 'Independent Publishers Book Awards', USA...and was nominated for a prestigious EISNER AWARD, in the category 'Best Adaptation from Another Medium.' At the end of 2016 our book, Secrets of the Ninja, got a medal in the '10th International Manga Award' 国際漫画賞 organised by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs 外務省. By chance I'm the first British person to get one of these awards.
In 2018 our sociology type book 'Portraits of Violence' received a medal in the 2018 'Independent Publishers Book Awards', graphic novel category. In 2019 our book 'The Many Not the Few' was launched by the Labour Party leader in a special event in the Houses of Parliament. Presumably the first time that has ever happened with a comic book? In 2020 I received the Scottish Samurai Award from an association promoting connections between Japan and Scotland.
Braw!
Welcome to my web site, folks. As my grandfather used to say in Irish, 'Cead Mile Failte', a hundred thousand welcomes.
Please allow me a bit of showing off about the various awards that my books have got...
I was the editor of the critically acclaimed AX: alternative manga (Top Shelf) , chosen as one of the ten best comic books of 2010 by Publishers Weekly, and placed number 2 in their critics poll of books of the year, behind only Chris Ware. It was also nominated for a Harvey Award, a long established award for comic books in the USA. My graphic novel version of the classic A Christmas Carol (with artists Mike Collins and David Roach) was in the Sunday Times 'Ten best books' list in 2008 and won the gold medal in the 2012 'Language Learner Literature Awards'. My visual adaptation of Sweeney Todd (with Declan Shalvey) won an award in the Stan Lee schools awards, 2013.
In 2015 our book Cold Mountain (with Akiko Shimojima) won an award in the 'China Animation and Comic Competition 12th Golden Dragon Award' (in the category of 'Best Overseas Comic'). In 2016 my book Lafcadio Hearn’s “The Faceless Ghost” and other Macabre Tales from Japan (with Michiru Morikawa) was placed in the '2016 Great Graphic Novels for Teens' recommended reading list of this important library association in the USA: YALSA (The Young Adult Library Services Association). The book also received the Bronze Medal in the 2016 'Independent Publishers Book Awards', USA...and was nominated for a prestigious EISNER AWARD, in the category 'Best Adaptation from Another Medium.' At the end of 2016 our book, Secrets of the Ninja, got a medal in the '10th International Manga Award' 国際漫画賞 organised by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs 外務省. By chance I'm the first British person to get one of these awards.
In 2018 our sociology type book 'Portraits of Violence' received a medal in the 2018 'Independent Publishers Book Awards', graphic novel category. In 2019 our book 'The Many Not the Few' was launched by the Labour Party leader in a special event in the Houses of Parliament. Presumably the first time that has ever happened with a comic book? In 2020 I received the Scottish Samurai Award from an association promoting connections between Japan and Scotland.
Braw!
My strip with Michiru Morikawa about the 2011 Japanese Tsunami was the first comic ever featured in the Asia Literary Review, and my books Musashi and The Book of Five Rings (with Chie Kutsuwada) are the only two manga in the Freer Gallery of the Smithsonian Museum. In 2014 I was, to my surprise, included in the list '10 Great Scottish Graphic Novel Creators' by the Scottish Book Trust ('Scotland's leading agency for the promotion of literature, reading and writing'). I was especially pleased to be right next to my old childhood favourite 'Oor Wullie'. I hope Wullie will forgive me for all the showing off here.
I've given many talks on comic books and manga in the USA, UK, Thailand, Sweden and Japan. I've received grants from the Arts Council, the Society of Authors and the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation in support of my work. As to my education - I studied Sociology and Psychology in Glasgow Caledonian University, then took a Masters in Social Anthropology in Edinburgh University (hope they don't want it back!), finally qualifying as a college lecturer in those subjects at the University of London (UCL). My ideal job title, via the 1836 book Sartor Resartus would be: "Professor of Things in General". However, perhaps foolishly, rather than pursue an academic career I decided to focus on writing instead. What we see here are the products of that effort.
Myself and the artists I work with appreciate your interest, comments - and for getting the books!
Get my books here
My books can be bought (or nicked if you're feeling adventurous) from all good book shops and also on this amazon page:
http://www.amazon.com/Se%C3%A1n-Michael-Wilson/e/B003W2PMXI/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Or with free delivery from the Book Depository:
https://www.bookdepository.com/search?searchTerm=Sean%20Michael%20Wilson
Or:
Kinokuniya USA
Social Media Links
Hi folks! My various social media can be seen on this handy link. Feel free to add me and say hello on any of these. Our lovely books welcome your interest and support:
linktr.ee/seanmichaelwilson
Facebook, the page about my books there is:
https://www.facebook.com/Sean-Michael-Wilsons-Books-226026697451836/
Blog:
https://sean-michael-wilson.blogspot.jp/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/SeanMichaelWord
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/seanmichaelwilson/
Hi folks! My various social media can be seen on this handy link. Feel free to add me and say hello on any of these. Our lovely books welcome your interest and support:
linktr.ee/seanmichaelwilson
Facebook, the page about my books there is:
https://www.facebook.com/Sean-Michael-Wilsons-Books-226026697451836/
Blog:
https://sean-michael-wilson.blogspot.jp/
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/SeanMichaelWord
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/seanmichaelwilson/
Have a look at my other site, Radical Fun, for various newspaper articles I've written
As well as this main web site for my books I also have a website which is for various articles on culture, history, politics, etc that I have written for newspapers such as The Japan Times, The Herald Scotland, PRI radio in the USA, web sites and special pieces just on that site:
http://radicalfun.weebly.com
As well as this main web site for my books I also have a website which is for various articles on culture, history, politics, etc that I have written for newspapers such as The Japan Times, The Herald Scotland, PRI radio in the USA, web sites and special pieces just on that site:
http://radicalfun.weebly.com
