Hello! So, I feel that as a comic artist this is a bit more of a nuanced topic than most give it credit for, especially since the country where the source material is produced (Japan) generally has a pretty dramatic cultural difference when it comes to work ethic in general, but there is also something to be said about pursuing what you believe to be, your life's work-- your life's MEANING.
Often times when I would read about mangaka becoming sick, or a legendary writer dying (Satoshi Kon was my first real opportunity for reflection), I would react with disgust-- overworking is awful on your health! That is SO true! Totally not disputed. But I think that a lot of artists, myself included... accept that we are going to kill ourselves a little faster than other occupations, and that is because for us it isn't simply just about the pay or compensation overall.
It's about our fervent need for our stories to be seen. For our ideas to take to page and make something bigger than ourselves. Returning to Kon for a minute, I remember when I'd heard he passed away at only 50 years old-- I was devastated, but when I went to do more research ...I saw the man's catalogue was genuinely prolific and he was one of the best animation directors to ever live, and I believe that is because he believed more in the art he was making and what he was getting out of that, than this stubborn race to live and "be healthy" for as long as possible.
So, what I mean to say...is that even in a perfect world, a stubborn artist will still overwork-- compensation or no. Because to them, a World where their story doesn't exist is a World they don't want to live in. When I consider how much time I put into things that seem frivolous, or I take jobs that people would think aren't well compensated enough... I also consider what my life would be like if I DIDN'T work hard at making what I needed. Because good art takes time, and we only have so much of it before we are too old or too tired to make what we dream of.
I am happier being "overworked" with art specifically; because the more I make, the closer I get to being truly proud of my life accomplishments. And if I got sick or died young because of those accomplishments...I think I'd be able to make my peace with that.
SO TL;DR-- I agree that major manga publications are FAR too strict on their mangaka and that releases shouldn't be quite so demanding-- But also remember that sometimes it is a choice for us to go full throttle simply because the more we work at it, the more we can show and release, and the more we see our existence affirmed and our dreams realized. And if it were me... I'd want to feel like I had the agency to make that choice pragmatically in the hopes that others would accept my decisions.
