My Manga Journey: From Manga to Manhwa

Struggling to create manga can be challenging, especially when time is a factor. Balancing family life, a full-time job, and multiple writing and side projects often leaves little room for intensive artistic pursuits. Since completing my first one-shot, Love From Al Khadhimiya, I have been contemplating the best platform to gain recognition for my work. One option that has stood out to me is Webtoons. However, Webtoons has a very different format from traditional manga, which poses both a challenge and an opportunity.

Traditional manga takes a considerable amount of time to produce due to its detailed artwork, extensive panel layouts, and the standard right-to-left reading format. While I am now familiar with the basics of manga creation, I still want to improve my speed without sacrificing quality. Yonkomas, or four-panel comics, are great for quick storytelling, but I crave the depth and narrative complexity of a longer story. As I began writing chapter two of my one-shot, I realized that I needed a more efficient production method. This led me to explore alternative styles and techniques, which ultimately brought me to the world of manhwa.

What Are Manhwas?

Manhwa refers to Korean comics or graphic novels, similar to Japanese manga but with distinct differences in format, style, and cultural influences. Unlike traditional manga, which is usually printed in black and white and read from right to left, manhwa is often in full color and designed for vertical scrolling, making it ideal for digital platforms like Webtoons. This format allows for smoother reading experiences on mobile devices and a more cinematic storytelling approach.

Manhwa artists, known as "manhwagas," often utilize digital tools extensively, making the transition between illustrations more fluid and efficient. This streamlined approach to production is precisely what I need to maintain consistency in my storytelling while managing my other responsibilities.

Why Manhwa Is More Beneficial Than Traditional Manga

1. Faster Production Process

Traditional manga demands intricate linework, screentones, and highly detailed backgrounds. Manhwa, on the other hand, embraces a more fluid art style with fewer constraints, allowing for quicker completion of chapters. Because of the vertical scrolling format, panels can be larger, and backgrounds can be reused more effectively without feeling repetitive.

2. Digital-First Approach

Manhwa is primarily created for digital consumption, which aligns perfectly with modern content consumption habits. Platforms like Webtoons, Tapas, and Lezhin cater to digital readers, reducing the need for physical printing and allowing creators to reach a global audience instantly.

3. Flexible Paneling and Layouts

Manga follows strict paneling conventions, often requiring artists to carefully structure each page. Manhwa, on the other hand, benefits from a more flexible layout with long, flowing panels that enhance the storytelling experience. This makes it easier to control pacing and create dramatic moments with less effort compared to traditional manga.

4. Color Advantage

Most manhwa is in full color, which adds a level of vibrancy and immersion that black-and-white manga sometimes lacks. While coloring can be time-consuming, modern digital tools make the process much more manageable, allowing for the efficient application of shading and effects.

5. Mobile-Friendly Format

With the rise of smartphones and tablets, mobile-friendly comics have gained immense popularity. Manhwa’s vertical scrolling format caters directly to this audience, making it easier for readers to engage with stories without constantly zooming in and out, as they would with traditional manga pages.

Redefining My Process: Adapting to Manhwa Production

As I transition from manga to manhwa, I have started redefining my creative workflow. Here’s how I’m optimizing my process for efficiency and quality:

1. Restructuring My Page Layouts

Instead of traditional manga’s dense paneling, I am adopting a 1 to 3-panel structure per page, which ensures a clean and digestible reading experience. By limiting the number of panels, I can focus more on dynamic compositions, making each scene more impactful.

2. Implementing a 10-Page Limit Per Chapter

To maintain a steady production schedule, I have set a goal of creating 10 pages per chapter. This manageable length allows me to keep a consistent release schedule without feeling overwhelmed. It also ensures that each episode contains a compelling story arc.

3. Prioritizing Artwork Over Panel Quantity

With fewer panels per page, I can dedicate more time to refining the artwork. Instead of squeezing multiple panels into a single page, I can use larger, more expressive illustrations to convey emotions and action sequences more effectively.

4. Utilizing Digital Tools for Efficiency

Since manhwa is primarily digital, I am shifting my workflow to tools like Clip Studio Paint, Procreate, and Photoshop. These programs allow for efficient coloring, paneling, and background creation. Additionally, using assets like 3D models for perspective and digital brushes for textures speeds up the process.

5. Focusing on Storyboarding and Flow

Manhwa’s vertical scrolling format relies heavily on smooth transitions and pacing. Instead of thinking in terms of traditional comic book pages, I now structure my scenes with the flow of scrolling in mind, ensuring that dramatic moments are emphasized through spacing and panel arrangement.

6. Exploring Webtoon-Specific Techniques

Since Webtoons is one of the leading platforms for manhwa, I am researching its best practices. This includes:

• Using cliffhangers at the end of each chapter to encourage reader engagement.

• Creating teaser panels to build anticipation for the next episode.

• Experimenting with animation effects, such as moving backgrounds or subtle GIF elements, to enhance immersion.

  
  

Final Thoughts: Embracing Change for Growth

Switching from manga to manhwa is a significant shift, but it is a necessary one for my creative journey. Traditional manga, while deeply rewarding, is a time-intensive process that doesn’t align well with my current lifestyle and goals. Manhwa offers a modern, flexible alternative that allows me to tell stories more efficiently while maintaining a high level of artistic quality.

As I continue to refine my workflow and adapt to this new format, I look forward to sharing my progress and experiences with fellow artists and readers. Whether it’s through Webtoons or another platform, my goal remains the same: to create engaging, heartfelt stories that resonate with a global audience. The transition from manga to manhwa isn’t just about making production easier—it’s about embracing innovation and finding new ways to tell the stories I love.

Stay tuned for more updates on my journey, and feel free to share your thoughts if you’re also navigating the world of manga, manhwa, or digital comics!