Manhwa
MANHWA: Korean manhwa might not be as well known and celebrated as manga, but there are still plenty of popular titles that have made it outside of Korean shores. And its popularity with international audiences is growing by the day, especially among manga fans who are looking to branch out into something new.
Manhwa is its own entity, but its origins are firmly rooted in manga and date back when Korea was still under Japanese occupation in the early part of the 20th century.
Yet manhwa’s success didn’t happen overnight, and it took until the 1950s and 60s until it really took off around Korea.
This is partly because, during the Japanese occupation, some political manhwa was considered highly controversial, and the government even attempted to outlaw the artform completely. Censorship remained in force for years, which helps to explain manhwa’s slow rise to popularity both within Korea and on the international stage.
Manhwa enjoyed its first major boom in the 2010s, with the rise of online comic sharing sites such as Lezhin and LINE Webtoon. Suddenly, Koreans had access to a huge array of previously hard-to-find publications, giving rise to a whole new generation of fans.
Manhwa enjoyed its first major boom in the 2010s, with the rise of online comic sharing sites such as Lezhin and LINE Webtoon. Suddenly, Koreans had access to a huge array of previously hard-to-find publications, giving rise to a whole new generation of fans.
This digital-only trend has continued to this day, so much so that most manhwa is found exclusively online rather than in print.
Manhwa: What Makes It Unique?
MANHWA: These comics and graphic novels share many of the same characteristics as Japanese manga, but there are some key differences too.
One of the most notable is that manhwa is read from left to right, just like English language comics and graphic novels. This makes it easier for Western audiences who are more accustomed to this format, but it’s something to consider if you’re already used to reading manga.
All original manhwa is published in Korean, but many of the most popular series are translated into various other languages too.
That being said, manhwa is still up and coming outside of Asia. And as the international fan base is growing by the day, there’s nowhere near the number of English language publications on offer as there is in the manga world.
Manhwa artists are known as “manhwaga,” and the illustration style they use is quite different from the polished finish found in most manga. Characters are still depicted with large, cartoonish eyes, but they generally appear more realistic and less stylized.
Another key difference; unlike manga, manhwa is often produced in full color, especially when it’s published online as a webtoon (which is more often than not).
What Are Webtoons?
MANHWA: Some people use the terms “webtoons” and “manhwa” interchangeably, but strictly speaking; they’re not the same thing.
A webtoon is a full-color manhwa exclusively available in digital format. These days, webtoons are the most popular form of manhwa, and most traditional in-print manhwa is reserved for serious collectors.
The Key Differences Between Manga, Manhua, And Manhwa
MANHWA: Here’s a recap of some of the major differences between these East Asian publications.
- Manga is from Japan, Manhwa is from South Korea, and manhua hails from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.Manga is read from right to left, whereas manhwa is read from left to right, and manhua varies depending on its place of origin.
- Manga artists depict characters highly stylized, whereas manhwa and manhua comics feature more realistic-looking characters.
- Manga is published almost exclusively in black and white, whereas manhwa and manhua can frequently be found in full-color formats, especially online.
- Multiple manga issues are often collected into chapters and sold as volumes. In contrast, manhua and manhwa are almost always stand-alone and published weekly on webtoon platforms or in print.
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