No matter where they are from, I will read everything!

The internet is a fantastic tool to shorten distances and keep us up-to-date on what is new and trendy worldwide!

And by trendy, I mean... Manhuas! Or is it Manwha? Maybe a Webtoon? Could I say webcomics?

These words are so similar; I’m sure I am not the only one who gets mixed up, amiright? 😝

They virtually mean the same thing. Mangas, manwhas, and manhuas are comic books. Webcomics and webtoons are comics released online.

But we wouldn’t have so many words if they were precisely the same thing, so let’s see the differences between them:

What is Manga?

This one is the easiest! Manga is the term used outside Japan for Japanese comics. In Japan, it refers to any comic book.

In mangas, pages are usually black and white, and the reading direction is from right to left; characters often have extravagant designs, and there are many stories for young and adult readers.

What is Manhua?

The term originating from the other two, Manhua, refers to comics from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

The art style is usually highly detailed and full-colored. The reading direction can be from right to left, usually in Hong Kong and Taiwan, or from left to right.

Manhuas don’t vary much in themes, usually politics, comedy, action, or stories for children. But who knows if this scenario will stay the same now, as it’s becoming more popular.

What is Manhwa?

The word Manwha, as you can expect, describes the comics created in South Korea. They are also colored, and their characters tend to have a more realistic design than those from mangas.

The reading direction is usually from left to right, and the story can be about many different topics. It is especially easy to notice when we check their newest form, the webtoons.

Manhwa or Webtoon?

South Koreans came up with the word Webtoon to talk about manwhas published online, and as webtoon sites and apps became popular, the term spread across the globe.

It is often used as a synonym for a webcomic, but they are different!

Webcomics keep the traditional format for printed works, but webtoons are optimized for vertical scrolling, which works best for electronic devices.

What Really Matters

I can’t help but see webcomics, especially webtoons as the future of mangas, manhwas, manhuas and even western comics. But it doesn’t mean one is better than the others!

Each comic book is highly influenced by the author's and the country's cultures, political matters, and preferences, making all of them beautiful and unique!

Manwhas and manhuas are getting increasingly popular with time, which means more anime for us, like the upcoming Solo Leveling! Despite all the controversy, I'm looking forward to watching the anime version!

And the truth is that, regardless of where the story is from, I’m always willing to give it a chance and give MYSELF a chance to discover a new awesome title!

What about you? How do you feel about all these different formats and works? I'm curious to know what you think about this subject. You are more than invited to join my Otaku Community and share your thoughts with me!

Images from IMDb, Solo Leveling Wiki, Chang Ge Xing Wikia