Explaining the Worldwide Crush of Asian Comics (Manga, Manhwa, and Webtoon)
Some time ago, mainstream comic book publishers solely distributed superhero comics. Manga, manhwa, and webtoons, however, have seen a rise in popularity in recent years, and this isn't just in the realm of children's books. These works are popular among adults and are changing the landscape of the comic book industry. If you want to know more about these three genres, keep reading!
To wit: manga, the Japanese comic book genre that sprang up in the postwar era as a knockoff of its American counterpart. Manga derives from the Japanese term kanji manka, which means "fanciful images." It was originally published in black and white, like the great majority of comics. From its cultural significance to the length of its storylines, manga has a rich and varied history. It has now gained a large readership in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
Manga, the Japanese word for comics, is written vertically, from top to bottom, with the page-turning from right to left. This design choice means that many readers will need to flip the book over to read the manga from the back to the front. If you want to try reading a manga in Japanese style for yourself, visit a local library or bookstore for some classic manga volumes or start with something that was translated into English! In 2000, Google purchased Naver, the dominant webtoon platform, fueling a meteoric rise in webtoon popularity in South Korea. There are more than 20 distinct types of comics available on the site, and it supports more than six different languages. In fact, people spend a lot more time on these types of sites than they do on other online platforms such as Instagram or Facebook!
I attribute this to the fact that many games can be played with your favorite comic, making the experience that much more engaging. You can also chat with other readers who have been following the story for weeks/months now and share your opinions about what will happen next. Moreover, after finishing a comic, you may provide the author with constructive criticism to help them enhance the reading experience for other readers.
The rise of online reading started as manga was being introduced to Western markets in the early 2000s. In fact, manga is so popular that it makes up almost 70% of all digital comic book sales right now. And with new adaptations being released every year, like My Hero Academia and Black Clover, it's hard to believe that this is a trend that will soon fade out. It's also been reported that TV streaming sites such as Netflix are seeing an increase
in viewership because of anime series, meaning we'll be able to see more mangas on television. With webtoons continuing to grow and making their way into classrooms around the world, it looks like these formats will be around for quite some time. Check out this post that has expounded on the topic: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/parenting-double-standards-comics-flip-script_l_626181d8e4b04adcef042582.