What’s the difference between Manga, Manhua, and Manhwa

If you’ve ever dived into the world of comics, you’ve probably come across the terms Manga, Manhwa, and Manhua. At first glance, they may look similar, but each comes from a different country, with unique styles, cultural roots, and reading formats. So, what sets them apart? Let’s break it down.

Manga, Manhwa, and Manhua are three terms used to refer to comics originating from different countries. Manga are Japanese Comics, Manhwa are Korean Comics, and Manhua are Chinese, Taiwanese, and Hong Kong comics.

Here are the detailed differences between these three types of comics:

1. Origin:

Manga:

Originated from Japan, has a long history, and has greatly influenced other comic genres around the world.

Manhwa:

Originated from Korea, heavily influenced by manga, but also has its own unique style and content.

Manhua:

Originated from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, bearing the cultural and historical imprints of this region.

2. Characteristics:

Manga:

Usually printed in black and white, except for covers and special editions.

Read from right to left.

Many genres, from action, adventure to romance, comedy.

Manhwa:

Often in color, especially digital versions.

Read from left to right.

Many genres, but often have modern, romantic elements and are related to Korean beauty culture.

Manhua:

Often in color, both print and digital.

Read from left to right.

Many genres, especially stories about martial arts, swordplay, palace fighting and Chinese historical and cultural elements.

3. Language and Style:

Manga:

Uses Japanese and has a distinctive drawing style, often with exaggerated facial expressions and intricate details.

Manhwa:

Uses Korean and has a relatively soft, delicate drawing style, sometimes more "glossy" than manga.

Manhua:

Using Chinese and having a variety of drawing styles, from traditional to modern, sometimes tending to exaggerate details for strong effects.

4. Name of the creator:

Mangaka: Manga creator.

Manhwaga: Manhwa creator.

Manhuajia: Manhua creator.

Popular Manga Series:

1. One Piece

One Piece

Gol D. Roger, a man referred to as the "Pirate King," is set to be executed by the World Government. But just before his demise, he confirms the existence of a great treasure, One Piece, located somewhere within the vast ocean known as the Grand Line. Announcing that One Piece can be claimed by anyone worthy enough to reach it, the Pirate King is executed and the Great Age of Pirates begins.

Twenty-two years later, a young man by the name of Monkey D. Luffy is ready to embark on his own adventure, searching for One Piece and striving to become the new Pirate King. Armed with just a straw hat, a small boat, and an elastic body, he sets out on a fantastic journey to gather his own crew and a worthy ship that will take them across the Grand Line to claim the greatest status on the high seas.

2. Fairy Tail

Fairy Tail

Celestial wizard Lucy wants to join the Fairy Tail, a guild for the most powerful wizards. But instead, her ambitions land her in the clutches of a gang of unsavory pirates led by a devious magician. Her only hope is Natsu, a strange boy she happens to meet on her travels. Natsu's not your typical hero - but he just might be Lucy's best hope.

3. Naruto

Naruto

Before Naruto's birth, a great demon fox had attacked the Hidden Leaf Village. The 4th Hokage from the leaf village sealed the demon inside the newly born Naruto, causing him to unknowingly grow up detested by his fellow villagers. Despite his lack of talent in many areas of ninjutsu, Naruto strives for only one goal: to gain the title of Hokage, the strongest ninja in his village. Desiring the respect he never received, Naruto works toward his dream with fellow friends Sasuke and Sakura and mentor Kakashi as they go through many trials and battles that come with being a ninja.

4. Kingdom

Kingdom

Millions of years have passed since the times of legends, when the worlds of man and gods were still the same. In these times it was the desires of man that moved the world. It is the era of the 500 year war: The warring states period. Kingdom is the story of a young boy named Shin who grew into a great general and all the trials and bloodshed that lead him there.

5. One-Punch Man

One-Punch Man

After rigorously training for three years, the ordinary Saitama has gained immense strength which allows him to take out anyone and anything with just one punch. He decides to put his new skill to good use by becoming a hero. However, he quickly becomes bored with easily defeating monsters, and wants someone to give him a challenge to bring back the spark of being a hero.

Upon bearing witness to Saitama's amazing power, Genos, a cyborg, is determined to become Saitama's apprentice. During this time, Saitama realizes he is neither getting the recognition that he deserves nor known by the people due to him not being a part of the Hero Association. Wanting to boost his reputation, Saitama decides to have Genos register with him, in exchange for taking him in as a pupil. Together, the two begin working their way up toward becoming true heroes, hoping to find strong enemies and earn respect in the process.

Popular Manhwa Series:

1. Solo Leveling

Solo Leveling

10 years ago, after “the Gate” that connected the real world with the monster world opened, some of the ordinary, everyday people received the power to hunt monsters within the Gate. They are known as “Hunters”. However, not all Hunters are powerful. My name is Sung Jin-Woo, an E-rank Hunter. I’m someone who has to risk his life in the lowliest of dungeons, the “World’s Weakest”. Having no skills whatsoever to display, I barely earned the required money by fighting in low-leveled dungeons… at least until I found a hidden dungeon with the hardest difficulty within the D-rank dungeons! In the end, as I was accepting death, I suddenly received a strange power, a quest log that only I could see, a secret to leveling up that only I know about! If I trained in accordance with my quests and hunted monsters, my level would rise. Changing from the weakest Hunter to the strongest S-rank Hunter!

2. Nano Machine

Nano Machine

After being held in disdain and having his life put in danger, an orphan from the Demonic Cult, Cheon Yeo-Woon, has an unexpected visit from his descendant from the future who inserts a nano machine into Cheon Yeo-Woon's body, which drastically changes Cheon Yeo-Woon's life after its activation. The story of Cheon Yeo-Woon's journey of bypassing the Demonic Cult and rising to become the best martial artist has just begun.

3. The Archmage Returns After 4000 years

The Archmage Returns After 4000 years

Lucas Trowman was the greatest archmage in history until he was condemned by Demigod to spend eternity losing his mind. But 4,000 years later, he’s thrust back into this world, into the body of Frei Blake, the weakest, most un-talented student at the prestigious Westroad Academy for mages. After all this time, the world of magic has barely progressed. Could this be the work of Demigod? Determined to find out, Lucas seeks to reach the highest levels of power once again and get his revenge.

4. Latna Saga: Survival of a Sword King

Latna Saga: Survival of a Sword King

After being recently discharged from military service and just drifting through life, Hanbin Ryu is suddenly transported to another world.

However, his “guide line,” the system bestowed upon him to help with his survival and growth, was filled with errors, causing him to be stuck in the tutorial stage for over 20 years.

When he is finally released from this personal hell, he finds everyone has turned against otherworlders like him. Just how will this low-level, super-tutorial newbie survive?

5. The Beginning After the End

The Beginning After the End

King Grey has unrivaled strength, wealth, and prestige in a world governed by martial ability. However, solitude lingers closely behind those with great power. Beneath the glamorous exterior of a powerful king lurks the shell of man, devoid of purpose and will.

Reincarnated into a new world filled with magic and monsters, the king has a second chance to relive his life. Correcting the mistakes of his past will not be his only challenge, however. Underneath the peace and prosperity of the new world is an undercurrent threatening to destroy everything he has worked for, questioning his role and reason for being born again.

Popular Manhua Series:

1. My Wife is the Demon Queen

My Wife is the Demon Queen

Listen up folks! I’m living my life with the Demon Queen!

A normal powerless male protagonist is entrusted to look after the fallen Demon Queen Isabella. Depleted of her powers, Isabella is forced to camouflage as a human and suppress her regal status. Evil masterminds plot to dethrone the powerful Demon Queen in a medieval fantasy land.

2. Tales of Demons and Gods

Tales of Demons and Gods

Nie Li became the strongest Demon Spiritualist and stood at the pinnacle of the martial world. However, he lost his life during the battle with the Sage-Emperor and six deity-ranked beasts.

His soul was then brought back to when he was still 13 years old. At this point in his life, Nie Li was considered to be the most pathetic of his peers. However, with the vast knowledge he accumulated from his previous life (his future), he began becoming stronger faster than anyone could expect. He also decided to help those who died nobly in his previous life become stronger as well.

Aiming to avert the future destruction of his home by demon beasts, and to avoid his previous fate of ending up destroyed, Nie Li fights to protect his lover, friends, family and fellow citizens who died in the beast assault or its aftermath. He also aims to destroy the so-called "sacred family," who will abandon their duty and betray the city.

3. The Devil Butler

The Devil Butler

Because he had the heritage of the ancient Demonic Emperor, Demonic Emperor Zhuo Yifan met the misfortune of being betrayed and killed by his trusted disciple. After being reborn, his cultivation went back to zero and he was trapped by a heart demon, given no choice but to become the housekeeper of the Luo Family's lone eldest miss. From being a Magic Emperor to being an insignificant housekeeper, how would he get along with his "heart demon eldest miss" and what power would he gain in order to lead himself and the declining family to rise back to the peak of the continent!

4. Martial Peak

Martial Peak

The peak of martial arts is solitary and lonely. It is an endless pursuit for unattainable heights as well. In order to surpass the limits of martial arts, growth and the will to survive in adverse situations is necessary. One day, Yang Kai, a disciple-on-trial (and floor sweeper) of the Lingxiao Martial Arts Sect discovered a Wordless Black Book. That marked the turn in his luck and the beginning of his martial arts journey.

5. I Am The Fated Villain

I Am The Fated Villain

Immediately after Gu Changge realized he had transgressed into a fantasy world, the world's protagonist, and fortune's chosen, vowed to take revenge on him. Envied by all, not only is the female lead head over heels for him, but he's also treated as a distinguished guest wherever he goes. Fortunately, Gu Changge's prestige and power are superior to everyone else's, so shouldn't it be easy to trample on a mere fortune's chosen?

Hold on… There’s a system dedicated to milking and harvesting the protagonist? Gu Changge smirked. “Seems like even fate wants me to fulfill my destiny as the villain of this world!”

Celestial wizard Lucy wants to join the Fairy Tail, a guild for the most powerful wizards. But instead, her ambitions land her in the clutches of a gang of unsavory pirates led by a devious magician. Her only hope is Natsu, a strange boy she happens to meet on her travels. Natsu's not your typical hero - but he just might be Lucy's best hope.

What genre do you like, what is your favorite series. Let's discuss below.