Element of Japanese comics? (9)

I believe the answer is:

manganese

'element' is the definition.
(manganese is a chemical element)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for manganese that I've seen before include "Element - Anne's game (anag)" , "Metal used in steel making" , "Metallic element, Mn" , "Hard grey metal, Mn" , "Element, symbol Mn" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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