Some time ago, mainstream comic book publishers solely distributed superhero comics. But in recent years, there has been an explosion of other genres, including manga, manhwa, and webtoon-and we’re not just talking about children’s books here. Adults’ interest in and consumption of these works represents a sea change in the comic book market. If you want to know more about these three genres, keep reading!
Manga is a type of comic book in Japan which emerged as an imitation of American comics during the post-war period. The word manga itself comes from the phrase kanji manka or whimsical pictures. It was originally published in black and white, like most other comics are. Manga has a vast and varied history, from its cultural impact to the length of its stories. It is now widely read across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Japanese comics, or manga, are written in a vertical format, from top to bottom, and the pages flip counterclockwise. Due to the layout, many readers will have to read the manga from the back of the book. If you wish to give manga, a Japanese comic book, a try, you can do so by picking up a translated volume or by reading a classic manga at your local library or bookstore. Webtoons became popular in South Korea after Google’s acquisition of Naver (the largest webtoon platform) in 2000. The site is available in over 6 languages and offers comics with over 20 different genres to choose from. The average user spends significantly more time on these sites than they do on social media sites like Instagram or Facebook.
I think it has something to do with their interactive capabilities; there are lots of games you can play while reading your favourite comic. 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.
Manga’s introduction to Western markets in the early 2000s coincided with the boom of online reading. In fact, manga currently accounts for about 70% of all digital comics sales. Also, new adaptations like My Hero Academia and Black Clover seem to come out every year, making it unlikely that this is a fad that will soon die off. 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. Webcomics are only getting more and more popular, with some even making their way into classrooms throughout the world.