Shares the story of the after-school comic book club at Martin Luther King Jr. High School in New York City, a group that has decided to concentrate on drawing manga, analyzing the processes and products of the club, and featuring profiles of selected students with examples of their work.

Foreword / by Françoise Mouly -- Introduction : the story behind the stories -- pt. I. The story. "Manga is my life" : foundations of the comic book club -- "Superman is so silly" : student connections to manga -- "I'm writing for my life" : literacy and learning -- "My name is Sayuri" : identity and culture -- "They changed. They really changed!" : inspiring educators -- pt. II. The students. Stardaisha -- C-Wiz -- Erick -- Samantha -- Tenzin -- Reggie -- Treasure -- Kischer -- Keith -- Conclusion : beyond the comics -- Appendixes. Anatomy of a comic book club -- Methodology -- Club members' favorite manga.