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I have a dedicated group of readers who come and see me three times a day to check out books. They're there first thing in the morning, at lunch, and at the end of the day. Thanks to them, my circulations this year are through the roof after only a month. They check out multiple books at a time, they talk to me at length about character motivation, themes, tropes, and creators. I am, of course, talking about my manga readers.

I came into my library four years ago knowing manga and graphic novels would be a major component of my library, because I happen to love manga. When I read for my own enjoyment, it's manga that I read. I love traditional books, but the combination of artistry and literary prowess that an excellent manga novel provides is something particularly enthralling to me. I know that my students who read manga and graphic novels demonstrated exceptional reading and writing skills. They have gone on to success in various fields. They demonstrate a higher likelihood of continuing on to be lifelong readers.

Other school librarians who have manga collections tell me the same things: their circulation statistics are up, their students are in the library more frequently, and reading as a whole is on the rise. Despite the results many of us report in our libraries, many school librarians are resistant to providing manga to their students. I believe this is often the result of stereotypes about the medium.

Stereotypes and Reality

The stereotypes are that manga is violent, filled with demeaning depictions of women, and is in some way deviant. These stereotypes are dated and xenophobic. While this may be true of some manga, it is also true of representations from every other form of literary expression. There are American novels and graphic novels that contain these elements. What we as school librarians need to do is make good collection development decisions so that we are selecting appropriate material, just as we do with any other medium that we select.

Also, the reality of manga today is that we have never seen more of a diversity of titles being published! There are amazing stories that center a variety of experiences. There are LGBTQ+ titles such as Boys Run the Riot (Kodansha USA) and I Think Our Son Is Gay (Square Enix Manga), and forthcoming titles about neurodivergence, such as My Brain Is Different: Stories of ADHD and Other Developmental Disorders (Seven Seas Entertainment). And longtime favorites such as Ouran High School Host Club (VIZ Media) and Fruits Basket (Yen Press) are free of fanservice and center themes such as friendship, identity, and moving past generational trauma.

But Where Do I Start?

Start small! My recommendations for a school librarian just building a manga library are:

Start with the first three of highly requested series. Consider purchasing multiple volume ones. Many of your readers may be starting their manga journey with you!

Consult students who love manga. But, also be sure to research yourself! Resources include:

No Flying No Tights: Review site focused on providing guidance to educators.

The Graphic Library: School librarian Sara Smith reviews comics and manga with depth and clarity with an outlook toward collection development.

You can find further resources, including book lists, at my own blog, Manga Librarian.

Seek out professional development! The Manga in Libraries series of webinars run by Jillian Rudes provides resources and expertise on manga collection development and instruction.

Read manga yourself! Manga is a wonderfully diverse medium with so many stories. And the stories that are popular with our students may not appeal to you personally. You may prefer stories like Magus of the Library (Kodansha USA), the story of a young boy whose passion is books, who is inspired by a group of amazing librarians to become a librarian himself!

"I Like This School Now!"

Such were the words of one of my students the first week of school this year upon seeing our manga section. When students are asking for books, it's an opportunity to welcome them into the school library! For students who love manga, it is a part of their identity, and having manga validates them. They feel seen, they feel welcomed. And that, more than anything, should make a school librarian excited to bring manga into the library.
Have you had success with manga in your collection? Do you have questions about incorporating manga into your existing collection? Comment below!

Categories: Blog Topics, Collection Development

Tags: collection development, manga, manga collection

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Manga Belongs in School Libraries - Knowledge Quest

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I have a dedicated group of readers who come and see me three times a day to check out books. They're there first thing in the morning, at lunch, and at the end of the day. Thanks to them, my... Read More ›

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Information and resources for manga readership, manga collection development, manga programming, and more!

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Manga in Libraries

Manga in Libraries provides book lists, webinars, and resources for manga readership, manga collection development, manga programming, and more!

#ReadManga

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Book Lists

Supporting All Learners

Defending the Collection

Manga and Anime Programming

Representation of Girls and Women

Why Manga?

Established April 2021

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Your home for the world's most exciting and diverse web comics and novels. Discover stories you'll love from all genres, only on Tapas!

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I'm the Queen in This Life

The Etruscan Kingdom is stained with blood when the king's illegitimate son Cesare conspires with his fiancée Ariadne to usurp the throne from his half-brother Alfonso. Despite Ariadne's devotion to the new king, her faith is shattered when she is betrayed by him and eventually murdered by her own sister, who wishes to be queen. To her surprise, Ariadne finds herself sent back in time to her 17-year-old self. As she navigates the perils and opportunities of palace intrigue, Ariadne must make the most of her guile and grit to ensure that her tragic future does not repeat itself.

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WEBTOON is home to thousands of stories across 23 genres including romance, comedy, action, fantasy, and horror. Read comics, webcomics, manga, and manhwa online or download the WEBTOON app.

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What's The Difference Between Manga, Manhua & Manhwa? -

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This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy we may make a commission, at no additional charge to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

We all know about manga, but if you're not familiar with other East Asian comics, the terms manhwa and manhua might be new to you.

Although they're all comics, manga, manhwa, and manhua, they all come from different parts of Asia, and they're pretty unique from one another once you look under the surface.

Manga, Manhua & Manhwa: What's The Difference?

In this post, you'll find everything you need to know about manga, manhua & manhwa. I'll demystify the terms and explain their key differences and similarities, so next time you head to the comic book store, you'll know exactly what to look for.

Manga, Manhua & Manhwa: Etymology

Before we begin, let's nail down these three terms and look at their origins.
Manga comes from Japan, manhwa is Korean, and manhua hails from China, Taiwan, or Hong Kong. The Japanese word "manga" and the Korean word "manhwa" are both derived from the Chinese "manhua," which translates roughly as "impromptu sketches."
Before these art forms gained global popularity, the terms were often used interchangeably to describe all types of comics and graphic novels, no matter where they came from. But these days, due to a rapidly growing international readership, the definitions have become more fixed in order to designate the comic's country of origin.

Before these art forms gained global popularity, the terms were often used interchangeably to describe all types of comics and graphic novels, no matter where they came from. But these days, due to a rapidly growing international readership, the definitions have become more fixed in order to designate the comic's country of origin.

#1. Manga

Manga is Japan's biggest export. NO matter where you're from the world, you're probably familiar with those iconic illustrations featuring cartoonish characters with oversized eyes.
The art form first gained traction in the nineteenth century, but its famous imagery is inspired by much earlier Japanese art.
Manga: What Makes it Unique?

The most noticeable feature that sets manga apart from manhwa and manhua is its monochrome format. While you sometimes find full-color front covers, manga is almost universally published in black and white.

The layout is designed to be read from right to left, and as you'd expect, all original manga is written in Japanese. But these days, thanks to a huge international fanbase, many famous series are now translated into multiple languages for a global audience.

When a manga is released, it's traditionally published in weekly magazines, such as Shonen Jump, Shueisha, and Kodansha, but monthly manga publications have also become popular in recent years.

Once a series becomes established, and multiple chapters are developed, issues are often compiled into complete volumes. Hence, there's no need to collect every original publication to follow the story.

A manga creator is known as a "mangaka," but since a series can span years, if not decades, multiple mangakas often work on the same manga. Plus, these gripping stories paired with intricate artwork require a whole team to see it through to publication, so there are usually plenty of non-mangakas working behind the scenes too.
Also Read: The 7 Best Sites and Apps to Read Manga
The Rise Of Manga

Manga generates a massive amount of revenue for the Japanese economy. Over the last three decades, its popularity has spread around the world, first to the US and Canada, then across Europe, and now, readers can be found in every corner of the globe.

In fact, manga now outsells any other type of comic or graphic novel in the United States, and the same is true elsewhere too.

Because manga is such big business, aspiring artists and writers train at universities across Japan, all competing to be the best in their field.

Many creatives have also made the transition from manga to another major modern Japanese artform anime. In fact, the majority of anime is based on an original manga publication, such as the smash-hit Fullmetal series and Demon Slayer Mugen.

Also Read: Manga Like One Punch Man: 8 Best Options

Manga Genres

There are hundreds of genres in the manga world, meaning there is something to suit every reader, regardless of their age or interests.

So, as there are too many to cover in this post, here are a few popular ones.

Shônen manga is traditionally aimed at adolescent boys, but thanks to a recent shift in attitudes around traditional gender roles, many young girls are also reading shônen these days. That being said, the main character is still almost always male.

Shônen is all about high-action scenes and epic adventures, and it often incorporates elements of lighthorror and violence.

The majority of readers of this manga genre are teenage girls, which makes sense since Shôjo takes its name from a Japanese word meaning "young girl."

Shôjo is less about action and adventure and more about emotional issues and relationships between friends and couples.

The artwork is highly idealized with plenty of bold, feminine symbols such as hearts and flowers, which are used to display the feelings of the characters within the stories.

The word "seinen" means "youth," but this is a much more adult-focused genre than Shônen and Shôjo. Readers tend to be males aged between 18 and 30, and some seinen publications also attract a fanbase of businessmen in their 40s and beyond.

All kinds of themes can be found within the seinen genre, from science fiction to pornography. The storylines usually feature grittier subject matters, and they put much more focus on character and plot development than the more simplistic high-action shonen manga.

Josei manga is a kind of grown-up version of shôjo. While it still features themes of friendship and romance and focuses on emotion rather than action, the artwork is less idealized, the characters are more complex, and the plot contains more mature and challenging themes.

Also known as yuri and yaoi, these two genres focus on LGBTQ+ relationships. Subject matters and themes within these genres are broad, and so while some stories are strictly romantic, many are packed full of action and adventure, horror and violence, and everything in between.

#2. Manhwa

Korean manhwa might not be as well known and celebrated as manga, but there are still plenty of popular titles that have made it outside of Korean shores. And its popularity with international audiences is growing by the day, especially among manga fans who are looking to branch out into something new.
Manhwa is its own entity, but its origins are firmly rooted in manga and date back when Korea was still under Japanese occupation in the early part of the 20th century.
Yet manhwa's success didn't happen overnight, and it took until the 1950s and 60s until it really took off around Korea.

This is partly because, during the Japanese occupation, some political manhwa was considered highly controversial, and the government even attempted to outlaw the artform completely. Censorship remained in force for years, which helps to explain manhwa's slow rise to popularity both within Korea and on the international stage.

Manhwa enjoyed its first major boom in the 2010s, with the rise of online comic sharing sites such as Lezhin and LINE Webtoon. Suddenly, Koreans had access to a huge array of previously hard-to-find publications, giving rise to a whole new generation of fans.Manhwa enjoyed its first major boom in the 2010s, with the rise of online comic sharing sites such as Lezhin and LINE Webtoon. Suddenly, Koreans had access to a huge array of previously hard-to-find publications, giving rise to a whole new generation of fans.

This digital-only trend has continued to this day, so much so that most manhwa is found exclusively online rather than in print.

Manhwa: What Makes It Unique?

These comics and graphic novels share many of the same characteristics as Japanese manga, but there are some key differences too.

One of the most notable is that manhwa is read from left to right, just like English language comics and graphic novels. This makes it easier for Western audiences who are more accustomed to this format, but it's something to consider if you're already used to reading manga.

All original manhwa is published in Korean, but many of the most popular series are translated into various other languages too.

That being said, manhwa is still up and coming outside of Asia. And as the international fan base is growing by the day, there's nowhere near the number of English language publications on offer as there is in the manga world.
Manhwa artists are known as "manhwaga," and the illustration style they use is quite different from the polished finish found in most manga. Characters are still depicted with large, cartoonish eyes, but they generally appear more realistic and less stylized.
Another key difference; unlike manga, manhwa is often produced in full color, especially when it's published online as a webtoon (which is more often than not).
Also Read: 5 Favourite Sites To Read Comic Books Online
What Are Webtoons?

Some people use the terms "webtoons" and "manhwa" interchangeably, but strictly speaking; they're not the same thing.

A webtoon is a full-color manhwa exclusively available in digital format. These days, webtoons are the most popular form of manhwa, and most traditional in-print manhwa is reserved for serious collectors.

#3. Manhua

The final entry in this list of East Asian exports is manhua, which are comics created exclusively in China, Taiwan, or Hong Kong.

The first published manhua was the 1904 "Current Affairs Comics', which offered a commentary on war and politics of the time. Over the next two decades, this new art form began to lay down its roots, and in 1928, the first-ever dedicated manhua magazine, Shanghai Sketch, was born.

The magazine sparked a small yet thriving manhua scene in both mainland China and Hong Kong, and by the mid-1950s, a second popular publication, Cartoons World, entered the market. This introduced a whole new generation of fans to manhua and solidified it as an important part of national culture.

But just like Korea's manhwa, manhua has fallen victim to governmental suppression and control over the years, and since the birth of the internet, many satirical or controversial comics have been censored and removed.

Manhua: What Makes it Unique?

Manhua comics and graphic novels can be read from either left to right or right to left, depending on where they come from. Generally speaking, manhua produced in mainland China is read from left to right, and those hailing from Hong Kong or Taiwan are read from right to left.
A person who creates manhua is called a "manhuajia," and just like Korean manhwagas, a manhuajia depicts their characters in a more realistic and less stylized fashion than their Japanese counterparts.
Manhua comics tend to be produced in full color rather than black and white, especially in their more popular digitized formats. And in recent years, manhua has taken on a brand new animated form through series such as Yi Ren Zhi Xia and Soul Buster.
Manhua is becoming more and more popular by the day, and there's a growing demand for these comics and graphic novels around the world.
But unlike the diverse themes of manga and manhwa, manhua generally falls into one of just four categories; politics, comedy, action, and kids, so whether it will ever rival the success of manga remains to be seen.

The Key Differences Between Manga, Manhua, And Manhwa

Here's a recap of some of the major differences between these East Asian publications.

Manga is from Japan, Manhwa is from South Korea, and manhua hails from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.Manga is read from right to left, whereas manhwa is read from left to right, and manhua varies depending on its place of origin.

Manga artists depict characters highly stylized, whereas manhwa and manhua comics feature more realistic-looking characters.

Manga is published almost exclusively in black and white, whereas manhwa and manhua can frequently be found in full-color formats, especially online.

Multiple manga issues are often collected into chapters and sold as volumes. In contrast, manhua and manhwa are almost always stand-alone and published weekly on webtoon platforms or in print.

Conclusion

There's no doubt that manga has taken the world by storm, but these days, manhwa and manhua are also making waves in the global comic book scene.

These three East Asian exports share plenty of similarities, but as we've discovered, there are some pretty important differences between them too.

If you were puzzled by the differences between manga, manhwa, and manhua, I hope this post has helped clear up any confusion.

Are you a fan of manga, manhwa, and manhua? If so, which is your favorite and why? Let me know in the comments below!

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What's The Difference Between Manga, Manhua & Manhwa? -

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This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy we may make a commission, at no additional charge to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more details. We all know about manga, but if you're not familiar with other East Asian comics, the terms manhwa and manhua might be new to you.

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The Most Popular Manga For High School Students

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As a school librarian, it is clear that manga has come back stronger than ever in popularity (has it ever dissipated?). It is nearly impossible to keep copies of certain series on the shelves. Students of all ages are flocking to the library to borrow a huge range of titles. I wanted to highlight the ones that are the most popular. Some of these are more popular with ages 11 and 12 but still work for high schoolers, whereas others are a huge hit with teens, some of them up to age 18.

Manga and anime are a phenomenon that in my experience students flock to and never really get out of. That's a good thing in my opinion, and I run a weekly manga club to bring in new faces and to let the students watch Studio Ghibli films or other anime. It's a huge hit and a lot of fun. I would recommend starting a manga club to any school librarian if you have the time.

Now, on to the manga. In addition to checking our catalogue for borrowing stats, I asked our manga club what were the most popular titles, here's what I came up with. Titles are listed in terms of popularity with our students.

The Most Popular Manga for High School Students

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These are the manga that are so popular I cannot keep them on the shelves. They get worn out, they get borrowed before they leave the returns cart. I recommend them for your library shelves as well! For a younger audience, here are some manga for early to middle grade readers.

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The Most Popular Manga For High School Students

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As a school librarian, it is clear that manga has come back stronger than ever in popularity (has it ever dissipated?). It is nearly impossible to keep copies of certain series on the shelves. Students of all ages are flocking to the library to borrow a huge range of titles.

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Michael Earp from The Little Bookroom has some quick tips to help you select great graphic novels and manga for your school library.

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This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Silvana Reyes is a Mexican book blogger. She enjoys all types of sub-genres, but loves a good love story. Romance fiction is her heart and joy and you might find her screaming about book releases on her Twitter account.
View All posts by Silvana Reyes Lopez

Watching a sports match is exhilarating. A game, a team, a player, a crowd - they create a full picture. Whenever I'm watching a sports match, I feel like I can do anything. They definitely encourage me to do my best, even if I'm not talking about doing a sport. Because it speaks to more than that: it speaks to you going after a personal goal. You see each player give their all to achieve their ultimate dream, which, in this case, is winning. And that? That's outstanding. You see this happen in sports manga most of the time - one character who wants to be the best at something and all the trials that they have to go through to make it happen. People relate to that so easily because it's what you face in your daily life. The next best sports manga are going to make you want to be part of something bigger.

A sports match feels like a concert. Every single person on that field, on that stage, has something specific to do. If they do it wrong, if they don't focus on their task, everything will eventually crumble. For it to work like a well-oiled machine, every player has to do their job. When you're reading these best sports manga, you will encounter drama, emotion, surprises, friendships, but you will also find characters who have done everything in their power to play their favorite sport.

Sports manga are huge. If they're not making an action anime, they're making sports anime. I think they're the next best thing to mac and cheese, because I grew up watching sports, and I love them. I also enjoy finding manga about sports that aren't so popular. We've seen basketball, we've seen tennis, we've seen baseball. But what about skating? What about ballroom dancing? Competitive sports are all around the world, and it's a joy to find them on-page as well.

Haikyuu!! by Haruichi Furudate

Blue Lock by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura

Real by Takehiko Inoue

TOPPU GP by Kosuke Fujishima

Eyeshield 21 by Riichiro Inagaki and Yusuke Murata

Be it as an anime or as a manga, sports make you feel so many different things. One minute you're in shock because your favorite character just made the greatest play ever and the next you're crying because they lost. If you want more similar content, check out this list about sports manga and anime.

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Go Big Or Go Home! 14 of The Best Sports Manga For Champions

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Sports are so entertaining and fun to follow. Check out 14 of the best sports manga to feel like a champion!