Manga, Manhwa and Manhua: What’s the difference?
Comic books have been an integral part of your childhood. Almost all of you may have a favourite comic series you were extremely fond of, right? But apart from regular comics, have you ever read a manga? If you are not aware of what manga is, well, here goes! Manga is an extremely popular comic style from Japan that inspired animated shows called Animes. Well, if you do know about manga, do you know about other comics that originated from Asia? Ever heard about manhwa and manhua? Manhwa comes from the Korean peninsula, whereas manhua hails from China! Though these are all different forms of comics, they all have unique features. Which came first though? Let’s find out!
What makes Japanese Manga unique?
The Japanese word ‘manga’ is derived from the Chinese word ‘manhua,’ which means impromptu sketches. This form of comics is the biggest export of Japan. People around the world love manga and follow its characters religiously. This art form that gained popularity during the 19th century, is inspired by ancient Japanese art. The most noticeable feature of manga is its monochromatic format. The comics are read from left to right as all original manga is written in Japanese. However, famous series are translated in multiple languages. The creator of manga is known as ‘mangaka’ and due to the time it takes to complete one series, several mangakas tend to work on the same manga. As a result of its fanbase and popularity, manga comics generate a massive income for the Japanese economy. There are more than a hundred manga genres, meaning there is something to cater to each reader. Some popular manga comics include Naruto, One Piece, Full metal Alchemist, Bleach and Detective Conan!
Korean Manhwa are inspired from Manga
The Korean word manhwa was initially used with manga interchangeably. But now these comics have their own identity and fanbase. However, their origin is deeply rooted in manga and dates back to the early 20th century. Manhwa originated when Korea was still under Japanese occupation. During the Japanese rule, manhwa was partly used for political commentary. This comics genre created a huge controversy leading to complete censorship. The Japanese government even tried to completely ban manhwa as an art form. The censorship is the reason for the slow rise of manhwa to fame. Manhwa finally became popular in Korea during the 1960s! Major success for manhwa came in 2010 with the rise of online comic-sharing applications like LINE, Lezhin and Webtoon, that took Korean creators to audiences worldwide.
Now, one of the major distinguishing characteristics of manhwa from manga is that the former is found exclusively online – no prints! Another notable feature is that manhwa comics are read from left to right, just like regular English-language novels. Original manhwa is published in Korean. However, its booming popularity has led to translations in other languages too. The creators of manhwa are called ‘manhwaga.’ Manhwa is published in full colour. Some famous manhwas include Catharsis, DICE, Solo Levelling and Kubera!
Manhua: the missing realism
Well, to begin with, Manhua comics are created exclusively in east Asian countries like China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The first manhua was published in 1904 and was called ‘Current Affair Comics.’ It was greatly inspired by the war and politics of the time. Over the next two decades, many such comics were created. In 1928, the first manhua magazine was created. However, just like manhwa, manhua also fell victim to suppression by the government. Despite the suppression, manhua is becoming increasingly popular, leading to a growing demand for writers and designers. The creators of manhua are known as ‘manhuajia.’ Character depiction in manhua is more realistic and less stylistic than in manga! But one feature that sets manhua comics apart is that they can be read left to right or right to left, depending on the country of origin! Those produced in Mainland China are read from left to right, whereas the ones hailing from Taiwan and Hong Kong are read from right to left. Manhuas are produced in full colour and some notable examples include Song Of The Long March, Once Again, Martial Universe and The One.