According to Manga page on Wikipedia, the style has its origins in 19th century Japan.
Since its modern inception in Japan post World War 2, the genre has exploded into a myriad niches.
Any Manga virgin standing in the Manga section of a reasonably stocked bookstore or a specialy comics and games shop will wonder where to start.
Newbies and those somehow familiar with Manga might want to expand their knowledge, discover new artists, consider its influence on fashion, movies, video games and more.
I have a roadmap for you.
From .Hack to Yukama Kunihiko, Manga Impact (Phaidon Press) offers 350 vignettes on some of the key players in the Manga and Anime fields.
Directory is followed by food for thought with essays ranging from 'Time as an artificial creation' by Grazia Paganelli and 'Mann(g)a from Heaven' by Michel Roudevitch to 'From City to Network' (Imaginary cities of Japanese animation) by Carlo Chatrian.
On 'Serge the Concierge' I covered Tea Flavored and Wine Soaked mangas as well as Manga Meets Louvre which do not appear in Manga Impact.
A plateful of Manga for Tokyo Thursdays # 180
Previously: Land of 1000 Earthquakes and Many Futons, Ben Stevens Gaijin Guide to Japan
(* Images copyright Phaidon Press, used by permission of publisher, Ishii Katsuhito sketches for a character by director courtesy of Ishii Katsuhito Artworks)