Manga or Manhwa? The discussion between which writing, art style, and theme is better – Manga or Manhwa – has been up for debate for a pretty long time. We are here to finally answer that question once and for all.
Manga are Japanese comic books that fall into multiple categories. The most popular ones are Shonen, which is geared towards teenage boys, and Shojo, which is geared towards teenage girls. The term Manga (漫画) means “whimsical pictures,” which really captures the essence of the genre. Mangaka (Manga artists/authors) work with studios, including Weekly Shonen, the largest and most influential Manga publisher, to release Manga chapters online weekly and publish physical copies roughly two months later.
Manhwa are Korean comic books and novels. The comic books are best known for their colorful art and coloring vibrancy, along with vertical scrolling that is intended to be read on mobile devices. Its most popular genres are Isekai, which is defined by the main character being transported into a different world, romance, and action. Manhwa was influenced by Japanese Manga, but has become its own form of colorful art and unique plotlines.
Manga and Manhwa are very similar, but are separated by cultural differences and adaptation to anime. Adaptation is where popular comics become animations, and both are referred to as anime. For example, most mangaka work alone when it comes to writing the base of the story and world-building of the Manga, while Manhwa artists usually work in small groups to write a story. Even with a group of people working together on one Manhwa story, there are still stricter rules on storytelling. For example, some of the rules may include: no extreme gore or violence, a requirement of at least one thousand subscribers on a Manga and Manhwa app called Webtoon to create a Manhwa, and a requirement to maintain a respectful fandom. With Manga, however, authors don’t have to worry about any rules. Mangaka are very creative when it comes to paneling, art styles, power systems, and how violence is depicted, while Manhwa writers are restricted in how they write, draw, and develop plot.
When you enter a library, you see many different types of books on the shelves. These are organized by genre and category, and some clearly stand out. This is the case with Manga, as the display of Manga books is colossal compared to Manhwa. This is the case at bookstores as well. At the nearest Barnes & Noble in Rockville, there are rows of bookshelves full of Manga, and just a small shelf in the back of a separate section for mainstream Manhwas. That’s because Manhwa is mainly digital. You can read Manga online as well, but it’s not a preferable option since Manga’s primary format is print. It is important to note that reading Manga is different from reading a regular book. Manga is seen as a “backwards book” to foreigners because you read it from right to left, beginning at what many traditional book readers would call the back of the book.
So, which format is better, Manga or Manhwa?
Bethel: Manga is truly a better option. Both Manga and Manhwa’s most popular genre is action, but Manga is better because mangaka put so much thought and effort into their stories, which is more than Korean authors do.
“Hunter x Hunter” is about a boy named Gon Freecss, who strives to become a hunter in hopes of finding his absent father, Ging Freecss. Eventually, Gon passes the hunter exam, meeting new friends helping him with his adventure. I understand the criticism about this being a fairly basic plot, but Hunter x Hunter is truly an amazing story due to its incredible world-building and deep character development with Gon and other major and minor characters.
When you compare “Hunter x Hunter” directly to a Manhwa such as “Solo Leveling,” you see that the Manhwa looks like absolute garbage. Solo Leveling is about a boy named Jinwoo, who is the world’s lowest-ranked hunter at E-rank. Jinwoo magically gains the ability to level up by surviving the double dungeon, which is a D-rank dungeon, and because of this victory, he continues to level up and become stronger. “Solo Leveling’s” plot is something straight out of a Roblox video game that an eleven-year-old boy would play. As you keep reading “Solo Leveling,” the plot just becomes boring because every fight or newly introduced character is basically just the same thing. Jinwoo doesn’t have a real goal; he just becomes stronger for the sake of the story. As the story doesn’t have a true meaning or theme to it, the way that “Hunter x Hunter” and other Manga do.
In addition to better stories and characters, Manga has complex themes of morals and friendship that stand out. At the end of chapter 199 in Hunter x Hunter, Killua, a good friend Gon met at the Hunter Exam, carries Gon back to a nearby hotel after a gruesome battle with an enemy. As Gon is resting on his bed, Killua says in an aside, “Gon, you are a light. Sometimes you shine so brightly, I must look away. But even so, is it okay if I stay by your side?” This iconic moment with Killua’s thoughts shows growth in their relationship as Killua admires him while not feeling worthy of Gon’s brightness. Gon represents light as he is a sign of hope to Killua because of his contrasting dark past. Killua is saying Gon’s goodness is so intense that it overwhelms him, forcing him to “look away” because he isn’t familiar with his unconditional warmth. The question he asks: “Is it okay if I stay by your side?” This comes from Killua’s place of insecurity, where he feels he is unworthy of being Gon’s best friend because of his dark nature. Gon gives Killua a reason not to follow his family’s plans of becoming an assassin. Killua finds hope, purpose, and joy simply by being by Gon’s side.
Kourtney: Manhwa is the better option for many reasons, including that it has longer chapters and there are more options on what to read, such as isekai, historical, and romance. Manhwa has multiple historical books that stand out, which is not really the case with Manga. For example, a Manga called “One Piece” has been ongoing since 1997! This is about a main character named Luffy, whose goal is to find a legendary One Piece treasure with his rubber-like powers, which make his body elastic. Luffy’s rubber powers allow him to perform superhuman techniques, making him immune to physical forces. While some might think that a Manga that has been going on for so long is impressive, it’s really not. This one is an overall bad Manga because it has been an ongoing Manga for so long, which means that it has over 1000 chapters. Because of this, the plot eventually became repetitive and boring, and required new characters too often to continuously fill in plot holes.
A Manhwa called “Wind-Breaker” is a favorite for readers because of its realistic sports cycling plot and a dramatic art change throughout the chapters. In this story, the characters have a deeper meaning and their love for their sport is clear throughout its 567 chapters, though the story did come to an end in July, 2025. This Manhwa is about a teenage boy, Jay Jo, who is forced to join a cycling team. All the cycling team members end up being among his closest friends, and the story revolves around what happens while competing in the cycling race. He soon discovers his love for his friends and for cycling. This story is a good example of why Manhwa is more relatable than Manga. Jay Jo resonates with readers who are similar in age. Jay Jo has trouble with his feelings and gradually learns how to accept and understand himself and others. The Manhwa also had multiple scenes where the cycling is very realistic, which allows readers to genuinely tell what is occurring and what is happening when the characters are competing against each other.
A closer look shows you why “One Piece” just doesn’t compare to “Wind Breaker.” The entirety of One Piece is for Luffy and his team to find the One Piece, and since this is still an active story – again, it was created in 1997 – the main character’s goal has still not been achieved. However, in Wind-Breaker, Jay Jo slowly climbs his way up and wins the round each time in cycling races. He makes progress, unlike Luffy, which is really what you can say for the whole story.
While we both have our own opinions about which is better, we can agree on the fact that everyone has to try both and make their own choice. Check out one story for each and decide for yourselves! Bethel’s favorite Manga is “Attack on Titan,” and a Manhwa Kourtney recommends is “Your Smile is A Trap.”
