Most anime fans are familiar with manga, which are Japanese comics, but few know comicKorean version of manga. Manga has become significantly popular in the past few years. While it has always been popular in Japan, it seems that the United States and the Western world in general have found an unstoppable appreciation for this form of entertainment, including anime.
Manga has been incredibly successful. Eiichiro Oda's One Piece manga is now the best-selling work of literature by a single author of all time, surpassing JK Rowling's Batman and Harry Potter series. What some anime fans don't know, however, is that many of their favorite manga series are not Japanese.
Manhwa is the Korean term for Korean comics and has introduced stories like Solo Leveling and The God of High School to global readers. Manhwa is directly influenced by Japanese manga and is often confused with Japanese manga. because their storytelling styles and techniques are similar. In addition to its widespread popularity in Korea, Manhwa comics have expanded beyond the Eastern market to outlets in the United States such as Webtoon. Furthermore, many Manhwa have been adapted into movies, dramas, and TV shows.
What are the best websites and apps to read Manwha?
From Webtoon to Manta, Manhwa Fans Have a Wide Variety of Reading Options to Choose From
Luckily for manga fans looking to learn about manhwa, the stories are available in similar places. One of the main places to find the latest and most popular manhwa is Webtoon. The basic version of Webtoon is free to download. Once downloaded, Webtoon readers can use the Coins system to view available stories. Readers also have the option to unlock exclusive episodes for different periods of time.
Furthermore, Coins also allow readers to get early access to the latest comics by purchasing a Fast Pass. Webtoon also has free browsing options, such as Daily Passes that refresh daily or Free Coins that are given away periodically during promotional chapters. Finally, Webtoon's exclusive original series are free to read and ongoing series are updated weekly.
While Webtoon is certainly the most popular comic library, according to GameRant, Manta is another great choice for reading manhwa. This subscription platform gives readers access to all comics for a simple, straightforward fee of $4.99 per month. Manta is available to comic readers via a website and mobile app, with a highly-rated interface that instantly displays the highest-rated series, completed stories, and top hits in a given genre.
However, in addition to these recommended resources, there are many other libraries, such as Tapas, Tappytoon, Lezhin Comics, Toomics, INKR Comics, and Pocket Comics.
What are the unique features of Manhwa?
Manhwa, in the form it is known and experienced today, has grown in popularity in recent years. As such, the style and approach of manhwa creators can be defined as more modern and influenced by technology compared to the manga industry, which can still be quite traditional. This is why the majority of popular manhwa are webtoons, and this digital form of publishing certainly influences their look and style.
Many manhwa, including Solo Leveling, are digitally colored. Furthermore, they are often designed to be read vertically, making the experience significantly different from manga. Finally, manhwa creators seem to favor themes and genres that have proven successful, such as fantasy or isekai. Another extremely popular manhwa genre is Villainess, or Otome, in which the main character is reincarnated inside a story-driven romance video game, often in the role of the evil villain.
What are the best beginner manhwa you can read right now?
There is no limit to the variety of Manhwa stories available to new readers.
Perhaps the most popular manhwa of 2024 is Solo Leveling. Based on the webtoon manhwa series, Solo Leveling is an original fantasy action-adventure anime created by Chugong. The story follows Sung Jinwoo, who was killed in a high-level dungeon. However, he was reborn and this time, he has a plan. Using a unique program that only he can see and interact with, Jinwoo begins to level up at an incredible rate and now intends to use his newfound power to cure his mother and rise up in the world.
Aside from Solo Leveling, there are countless other series that are perfect for manga fans looking to immerse themselves in the world of manhwa. Great start to the series includes Eleceed, Legend of the Northern Blade, Leveling Up with the Gods, Limit Breaker, Mercenary Enrollment, Omniscient Reader Viewpoint and The Beginning After the End.
While manga has a wealth of stories to explore, fans often find themselves wanting to explore stories from other Asian cultures. Manhwa, comics from South Korea, are the perfect transition to explore what storytellers around the world have to offer. From similar art styles to recognizable storytelling tactics, manga fans won't feel much of a shift from manga to manhwa. However, through sites like Webtoon or Manta, comic providing readers with the key to unlocking a whole new world of stories waiting to be explored.
