Is known as a world-renowned Japanese animator and director of such movies as 'Spirited Away' and 'Princess Mononoke' and as co-founder of Studio Ghibli but he also deserves attention for his lesser-known works.
The first of these is 'Nausicaa (Of The Valley Of The Wind)' which should really be considered his magnum opus and by far dwarfs any of his other work. It is a manga that he serialized in 'Animage' over the course of 12 years between work on movies.
The second is called 'Shuna's Journey' and it is much smaller and more in the style of a picture book, whereas 'Nausicaa (Of The Valley Of The Wind)' is much more in the style of a biblical epic from history.
They both - Shuna's Journey especially - contain many elements that draw clear comparisons with other characters and themes in his movies and although both enjoyable on their own are worth reading, if only just to see how all his ideas developed.
You may also be interested to know that 'Nausicaa (Of The Valley Of The Wind)' was turned into an animated movie of the same name by Hayao Miyazaki himself that was pre-Studio Ghibli (it only adapts about the first quarter of the manga but can be enjoyed as its own story).
Being the busy man he is, Hayao Miyazaki also produced one other manga called 'People of the Desert' that was serialized and which predates both 'Shuna's Journey' and 'Nausicaa (Of The Valley Of The Wind)' being very early on in his career.
Here's a link to the entire story.
Here's a link to 'Shuna's Journey' on Amazon where you can buy the picture book.
And here's a link to the complete 'Nausicaa (Of The Valley Of The Wind)' boxset on Amazon where you can buy the manga.
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