Before getting an anime adaptation, Solo Leveling had already reached the peak of popularity with the manhwa. Over time, the manhwa industry is starting to take over the manga industry in numbers. The manga industry is still pretty popular within the boundaries of Japan and has loyal followers worldwide, but manhwa is better when it comes to certain aspects.
After Solo Leveling’s popularity, more people have shifted to reading manhwa. Their popularity is increasing, and it is fair to say that Solo Leveling acted as a flag-bearer for the manhwa industry. But there is a particular reason for it. Manga is failing in a certain aspect, and manhwa is excelling in that place, and it is pretty hard to deny the latter’s victory.
Manhwa Has Better Presentation Than Manga
Manga is older than manhwa and has been entertaining the fans for decades. But trends change with time. The manga industry is still following the same concept. On the other hand, manhwa or webtoon have grasped the ongoing trend and used it to magnify their popularity. With the trend of mobile reading growing, manga readers find it difficult to read on mobile phones since they are made to read through prints.
However, the manhwa industry has adapted to these needs and made it easier for the readers to scroll through the pages. It is like reading a storybook and provides the best experience. According to Korean Webtoon Association’s Chairman, Seo Bum Gang,
“In Korea, most people have their mobile phones with them at all times. They can be quickly and easily used, which makes reading webtoons simple. I think that’s the biggest advantage Korean webtoons have in the global market.”
On top of that, Webtoons are colored and provide accurate expressions that align with the animation. Since it is colored, it gives the fans an idea about the background and color palette of the anime. It is like stills from an anime. But the manga was made in black and white, with a few pages redrawn as colored editions.
One of the biggest advantages of webtoons is that they are made in portrait mode, while manga are made in landscape mode. The double-page spreads often become troublesome to read on small devices since zooming in causes the image to become hazy. With the rising trend of mobile reading, webtoon excel in every aspect, from design to experience.
Webtoons Have Increased Its Popularity Worldwide
Webtoons’ popularity has drastically increased in the last few years. Due to its easy readability and friendly user, more apps are getting released to promote it. Tapas and Tappytoon are two of the most popular manhwa reading platforms in Western countries and have more regular readers than manga. Manga Poke and Shonen Jump+ are overtaken by them.
Even though the manga industry is excelling within the Japanese national border and has millions of loyal followers, the new generation of readers is getting attracted to the better-structured way of storytelling. Solo Leveling was just the start, and there are several other manhwa that are equally good and just need proper exposure. Following its path, more might walk down the same road.
