Discussion Series Topic 7 - "Manhwa versus Manga"
 

As more and more manhwa* finds its way into the North American manga market, do you think that its popularity will increase to rival that of manga? How does manhwa compare to manga and could it ever surpass manga's popularity in N. America?

What is your opinion about manhwa in general? As a reader, do you feel you gain something different from reading manhwa than manga?

How do you think ICE Kunion's entry into the N. American market will fare?

Furthermore, what of the recent controversy surrounding the release of an 'anti' South Korean manga?

*Manhwa refers to 'comics' originating from/in Korea.

For additional info on ICE Kunion, read the three part interview from ICv2:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

It's an interesting question...

For me personally I don't really notice too much of a difference between Manga and Manwha other then the obvious (reads from different direction, different names).
I think it's the same with most of the American readers of graphic novels. Working at a bookstore, I've heard the kids refer to all of it as manga. Which perhaps isn't fair to the manwha artists. But what can we do... The section of the store is called the manga section and it's unlikely that it will ever get broken up into manga and manwha.

I shall assume there are vast differences between the two since there are differences between the countries and cultures that create them. But I just read whatever for the story and artwork. As for the anti-korean manga... That is certainly something to take into account in Japan and Korea, but it doesn't affect the sales in this country much. The likelihood of that title being licensed here is slim to none, and we don't really have the problem with South Korea... We do though have people who dislike Japan, and that hasn't hurt the manga sales. It's interesting to see how prejudices come to light only at certain times. After all the Japanese LOVED Winter Sonata and other Korean dramas and musicians, but they see a manga about hating them and they make it a bestseller.

In the end I don't think manwha will rival manga necessarily. I think it is just going to be included within it. Though I do hope the young 'uns will get better educated in the differences. I try and do my best at my job :D But it's hard enough teaching them all how to say the names properly... much less telling them this manga is manga, while this one is manwha....

I look forward though to more manwha, and more manga. Hell if China wants to join in I'll look forward to that too. If the plot and art are appealing, I don't care where it's from.

Even though I am Korean by blood, I never really felt a close bond towards others of my race nor for the country that raised my ancestors. In fact, some might go so far as to say... I hate Koreans. Yes. that sound about right. They're a cynical bunch of arrogant pricks that deserve to die. I'm only allowed to say this because I'm Korean.

That doesn't mean I've completely isolated myself from Korean manhwa though. The many I have read and watched weren't really that good. I'm sure some series had their distinguishing aspect, that made it standout sometimes, but little eye-catchers hardly keep my interest. However, as is usually the case, the overall presentation was very stale and boring.

The closest Japanese-made manga I can think of that would be a basic summation of what a typical Korean manhwa seems to imitate, would probably be Black Cat. I'm not saying that Korean manhwa rips off of Black Cat, or that it is the material that Koreans use as bibles when creating comics. It's not. I just meant that when I read Black Cat, I thought to myself, "Did a Korean think up this crap?" And that's all that I mean. The art was wonderful. The story was crap. The style was lacking. Charisma was almost non-existent. It was just a bland piece of crap read. And I think a majority of the Korean comics seem to be mirror images of it.

On the whole, I think the main aspect Koreans failed to make any progress with in the past decade is the story. I am not sure what exactly goes through the average manhwaga's head when he decides to start on a manhwa. If he's like any other average Korean I know, then it'll probably be the marketing. Koreans love money. In Korea, comic artists don't make money. When comic artists make no money, crap is delivered just so the author can survive. Then he will end up selling his ideas to gaming companies just to make some extra cash. Okay, so this is all just opinion-based. I don't really know what the hell makes Korean manhwa so bad.

As for Kenkanryu, maybe it's because I don't have an ounce of pride for my country that I fail to feel any enmity towards the manga. In fact, I'm intrigued by it. I think I'll order a copy online. I want to check this manga out. =3

And it's not like everything Korea produces is crap. I like some of their dramas and movies. Some. And some of their online comics are pretty nice. But on the whole, 95% of manhwa is crap. Then again, there are some pretty horrible Japanese manga... In fact, the number of crap Japan produces is probably on par with Korea's. The difference probably lies in the fact that within those several tons of crap is actually something worth reading.

"...do you think that its popularity will increase to rival that of manga?"

Yeah, it won't be a big surprise for me if manhwa is as popular as manga because it doesn't matter from WHERE it came from, as long as there's enough interest and a good story, what's not to like? ^^

"How does manhwa compare to manga and could it ever surpass manga's popularity in N. America?"

In my head, manhwa and manga are the same. Sure, manhwa is read from left to right, but that doesn't change the heart of the story. For the second part of the question, again, it's not going to be a big surprise if it does in North America. Maybe the progress of popularity will be gradual, but you never know.

"How do you think ICE Kunion's entry into the N. American market will fare?"

I think if they do a what they said, then readers will probably buy from them. Although, there are already enough companies that license manhwa/manga that it might be hard for people to notice them.

"...what of the recent controversy surrounding the release of an 'anti' South Korean manga?"

I don't it's really that big of a deal. The mangaka of Kenkanryu is just ONE person in Japan, who doesn't represent ALL of them.

The sales say otherwise...

What I'm curious to see is if ICE Kunion is ambitious enough to do an anthology based of manhwa exclusively. Or if the other manhwa players in Korea will follow suit and either join in with ICE Kunion, or start their own competitor to it.

I don't read that many manhwa, but I feel like I've tried to read and then put down a lot more of them than I have with manga. I tend to find many of their stories a lot harder to follow. The way the frames are arranged a more haphazard, and things often jump around so much that I think I've missed a page. Even with the series that I stuck with (Descendant of the Dynasty, Ragnarok, Demon Diary), I feel like it takes more concentration to read and keep track of things. It's not precisely that the storyline is more complicated or anything, but I think the storytelling is not as fluid as with many manga that I read. Of course, this could all be because the manhwa and manga I read tend to be of different genres. I've seen manga with the same failings, just not as seemingly often.

Anyway, I don't think people will ever make a strong distinction between manhwa and manga in North America. Right now, manga-publishing companies are licensing and publishing manhwa right alongside their other titles. The spines look the same, the covers are designed in similar ways. You really can't tell the difference except that you're reading left to right instead of right to left.

Umm i dont know if most people care where the comic comes from. i think that manwha is a good diversion from manga, It keeps things from getting stale and redundant.

Having read around 10 different manhwa series ever, I am probably speaking from ignorance here (so perhaps I shouldn't say anything at all?) But... I have to say I agree with quethiril's statement: that manhwa is often a lot harder to follow the flow of. I don't know, maybe it's because I am less familiar with Korean culture than I am with Japanese culture (there's a lot of things I feel like I don't understand--family structure, education system, proper manners, fashion implications, what is "normal," etc) or maybe the titles I've read are lacking that special something that makes most manga click in my mind, but I get confused rather often... The names also throw me off--they seem longer, and I don't know how exactly I'm sposta be pronouncing them. The art generally seems similar among what I read; while Japanese manga does rely on many of the same styles, there's still plenty of experimentation and variation.

I've also noticed a lot of stories with very similar plot points, those being a girl falling for someone who turns out to be her cousin or a girl getting adopted into a rich family (or both). Maybe it's a coincidence (most of the [few] series I've tried are what would probably be equivalent to shoujo manga), but I feel like there should be SOME more creativity...?

I guess all this, so far, is my answer to part 2 of the main question. As for part 1, I don't know if it will be equally popular or not. I know there are plenty of readers who may prefer manhwa to manga; I don't care much for the series I've read, but I won't say that they're "no good" or that there will never be a series I like. Still, there are enough Japanese titles out there to keep me quite content. I guess I feel more comfortable with the Japanese culture (or what I know of it from anime/manga ^^;) than Korean, since I've been interested in those works far before I ever knew of any manhwa. Maybe once I've learned a bit more, I'll find myself enjoying more Korean works as well!

Please excuse my rather long and rambling post! I didn't answer the last parts of the question because neither are things I've really paid much attention to ^^;

In response..

as a Korean-American that has read many manhwa and someone who has lived in Japan and experiened both cultures first hand, I can seriously tell you that some of the themes, the art, the storylines in manhwa make it somewhat different than manga... though somewhat subtlely. However, I'm sure Americans/Europeans will have a harder time telling then I do. But it is important to understand that some of the points are sayings, or beliefs in Korean culture, especially if you're reading a more serious/dramatic series.

I prefer a great deal of less popular titles than the one that TokyoPop and other companies choose to publish.. usually what hits the Top 5 in Korea is not the best.. I also like a lot of older, less modernized titles.. but I'm straying.

Meh, I'm not surprised. Personally, Korea vs. Japan gets old after awhile. I'm sure in Korea there's a book that bashes everything Japanese. People have called me a dog-eater in Japan and I went on with life. This manga might have high sales, but it's not stopping the Kwave.