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This content has been automatically translated from Ukrainian.
The world of illustrated stories is impressive in its diversity, and terms like "manga," "manhwa," "comic," or "webtoon" are often perceived as synonyms. However, there are significant differences between them, depending on the country of origin, presentation style, format, and even the way of reading.
Manga – Japanese art in black and white style
Manga (漫画) – are Japanese comics that are read from right to left. They are often printed in black and white, as this saves time and money, which is important for an industry where new chapters are released weekly or monthly. Well-known magazines like Shonen Jump or Young Magazine publish manga in series, after which popular works are collected into tankobon (individual volumes).
Manga has several main genre categories:
- Shonen (少年) – for boys (e.g., Naruto, One Piece)
- Shoujo (少女) – for girls (Sailor Moon, Fruits Basket)
- Seinen (青年) – for adult men (Berserk, Tokyo Ghoul)
- Josei (女性) – for adult women (Nana, Paradise Kiss)
The feature of manga is the emotional expressiveness of characters, dynamic fight scenes, and cultural references to Japanese traditions.
Manhwa – South Korean alternative to manga
Manhwa (만화) – are comics from South Korea. Unlike manga, they are read from left to right, like Western comics. Many modern manhwa are published in color in digital format, which distinguishes them from classic black and white manga.
Manhwa is often aimed at an online audience, so it is adapted for vertical reading on smartphones. The most popular genres include fantasy, romance, historical dramas, and action.
Famous manhwa:
- Solo Leveling (fantasy-action)
- The Breaker (martial arts)
- Tower of God (fantasy-adventure)
Malopys – Ukrainian term for comics
Malopys is the Ukrainian name for illustrated stories (comics). It encompasses both original Ukrainian works and adaptations of Western or Eastern comics.
Ukrainian malopys may stylistically resemble European bande dessinée or American graphic novels. An example is Daohopak – a story about Cossacks in a martial arts style.
Comics – Western format with bright colors
Comics are a general term for illustrated stories that originate from the USA and Europe. They are traditionally published in the form of individual issues or graphic novels.
The most famous American comics are superhero series:
- Marvel (Spider-Man, X-Men, Avengers)
- DC Comics (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman)
European comics (bande dessinée) have their own style, for example:
- Asterix et Obelix (France)
- The Adventures of Tintin (Belgium)
- Corto Maltese (Italy)
Western comics are usually published in color and have various formats – from magazine issues to large graphic novels.
Webtoon – digital comic for smartphones
Webtoon (웹툰) – is a modern comic format developed in South Korea. It is published online and adapted for vertical reading on mobile devices.
The main features of webtoons:
- Full-color illustrations
- Vertical scrolling of pages
- Often free first chapters, while subsequent ones require payment or waiting
The most popular platforms for webtoons are LINE Webtoon and Tapas.
Famous webtoons:
- Lore Olympus (romance)
- Sweet Home (horror)
- Omniscient Reader (fantasy)
So if you are looking for something new to read, the choice is vast – from classic Japanese action to Korean webtoons and Western graphic novels.
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