1. Well drawn Japanese manga and the Funny Pages (Calvin and Hobbes, Boondocks, etc.)

2. A culture with a great deal of beauty, poise, and grace. A culture plagued by racist/nationalist supremism. People who are currently masking severe economic and social shortcomings with flamboyant - sometimes irrational - optimism, even in the face of crippling impoverishment, and belief in their own potential. They have the capacity to show zen-like patience, wisdom, and manners while also showing flagrant failings in similar areas by the youth and outcasts of society.

3. Not much. Most manga I've come across were simply popular gate manga where little knowledge of Japan was necessary to appreciate the humor/action/drama. Those comics relying on heavy knowledge of the culture aren't as successful in the States, and so I haven't read many of them.

4. Oh my, you want it straight? Here it is then: Now, at this very moment, when I hear 'arab,' images of Israel/Palestinian conflicts spin through juxtaposed with names and faces of tyrannical, bloodlustful, unenlightened kings, sheikhs, mullahs, and imams while the reasonable are branded as heretical traitors and killed in the next suicide attack. You may thank the media presence for this lovely image. For my self, I perceive a culture and people who are capable of incredible things; who did incredible things in their time. Yet now they cling to outreasoned irrational ideals and concepts self-inflated past its glaring shortcomings all under the authority of a religion pushed upon the people without thought and without candor between true intellectuals free of political and social self-interest. The people have suffered under the evils of imperialism, fanatical dogma, pathetic economic balance between rich and poor, lack of education and freedom to choose and discuss, tyranny, and violence, violence, and more violence. Too much pride, not enough pride to see their own problems for themselves. If we could only stop for a moment and evaluate our own right and wrong, free of outside interference from incorrect assumptions and outside influence, then the Arabs will once again be the model of human civilization. It hurts to chastise my own peoples and cultural heritage, but there it is.

5. "Persepolis" and "Simoon"

6. I don't know about less tension, but it will bring to front many viewpoints and ideas. It'll certainly bring back Kalam, since Ijtihad worked out so well for the Muslim world after the Turkish caliphate banned the printing press.

(I know your thesis will be great! And do please work on that comic of yours - I'll be working on mine and hopefully I can catch up.) ;D