To many Westerners, Manga is synonymous with fantasy -- its glossy lines, popping color palettes and fanciful scenarios are an escapist's delight. 

But one of the most celebrated makers of the wildly popular Japanese graphic novels says he draws on reality as much as possible. 

Takehiko Inoue was just 23 when his second Manga propelled him to fame in Japan. 

"Slam Dunk," published in 31 volumes of magazine "Weekly Shonen Jump" in the early 1990s, followed the fortunes of a loveless delinquent who joins a basketball team to impress a girl, and then discovers a natural ability for the game. 

Inoue's interest in Manga was piqued when, at nine years old, he read a popular baseball Manga called "Dokaben." It had "attractive characters," he recalls, "and how they play baseball and how their bodies were drawn -- all these things looked so cool." 

A keen basketball player at high school, Inoue says drawing a basketball Manga was a natural way for him to combine his two loves, and he believes "Slam Dunk" readers could see the obvious enjoyment he took from drawing basketball. 

"I really drew it in the way I liked, did whatever I wanted," he says. 

"Slam Dunk" has now sold almost 120 million copies, been licensed in 17 countries, and adapted into an anime TV series. An English version was released in North America in 2002. 

Its popularity endures: According to a 2012 survey by research group goo, it is still the second most popular Japanese Manga, and is responsible for the single most memorable piece of dialogue -- when a coach says, "If you give up, the game is already over!" 
What was it about?
 followed the fortunes of a loveless delinquent who joins a basketball team