Después de la Guerra Chino-Japonesa de 1895, la península de Korea cambio su área de influencia. La debilidad de la dinastía Qing que gobernaba China fue sustituida por el Imperio de Japón, fuerte y dinámico, muy adelantado dentro de su Revolución Industrial y hambriento por un imperio. Durante los siguientes cincuenta años, los japoneses se apoderarían de cada parte y forma de la península, la dominaría con mano de hierro e impondría sus costumbres en contra de la voluntad de este pueblo. Por esta razón, el pueblo coreano (de ambas Coreas) mira con recelo al otro lado del estrecho de Tsushima, con una combinación de envidia, orgullo nacional y deseo de superar a sus antiguos opresores.
De forma callada y constante, Corea del Sur ha logrado consolidar una economía de mercado que la ha transformado en uno de los dragones del sureste asiático. Tal como sucede con las sociedades que logran cierto grado desarrollo económico, este se vuelve hacia el área artística; que desde los 80's se ha transformado en una ola coreana que ha invadido paulatinamente tanto occidente como a Japón. Aunque de forma callada y discreta, esta ola se ha transformado en un impulso innegable que ha invadido incluso el baluarte que todo Otaku considera inviolable del Sol Naciente, me refiero al manga y al anime.
Manhwa es una palabra que se deriva del chino manhua (al igual que la palabra manga). Esta palabra identifica a todas las ilustraciones artísticas de comic producidas por el pueblo coreano. Con una tradición muy rica y diversa desde su origen a principios del siglo XX, este ha explotado gracias a la incursión de la animación coreana en el mercado internacional. De esta forma, autores se han hecho nombre a través de historias de corte reciente; que combinan ciencia-ficción, terror, fantasía y la era feudal de su propia sociedad.
Aunque los puristas puedan decir que esto es una copia de la vía original, tal como lo mencioné en el artículo de Black God, el tiempo dirá como se desarrolla esta forma de arte. Aunque los esfuerzos de las puestas en escena de estas obras han tenido una acogida muy fría (Priest de Screem Gens), debo recordar que en la actualidad la mayoría de la animación de series de televisión (lo que incluye mucho del anime moderno) es realizado por mano de obra coreana barata. También es barata la compra de los derechos de estas obras y las de las novelas ligeras con respecto al manga establecido (por eso el aumento de las series de televisión basadas en estos materiales). Tal como nuestros abuelos lo expresaban ("Si es de Japón, entonces es malo" famoso en los comerciales de baterías de las Escuela para Todos de los 60) pero en nuestra generación ha quedado desmentido; llegará un punto en que la calidad de la península iguale a la de las islas. Y si no salen de sus laureles, podría superarla. Tal como Oriente lo ha logrado con cada aspecto del mercadeo moderno.
Obras
| Título | Creador | Casa de Publicación |
| 0/6 (Zero/Six) | Lee You-jung | Net Comics |
| 100% Perfect Girl | Wann | Net Comics |
| 11th Cat | Kim Mi-kyung | Yen Press |
| 13th Boy | SangEun Lee | Yen Press |
| 50 Rules for Teenagers | Na Ye-ri | ADV Manga |
| 10대에 하지 않으면 안 될 50가지 | ||
| 8mm | You Na | DramaQueen |
| 9 Faces of Love | Wann | Net Comics |
| 사랑에 관한 7가지 이야기 | 지완 | |
| Absolute Witch | Kim Tae Yeon | |
| Adrenalin | Lee Jung-hwa | Infinity Studios |
| Aegis | Yoo Jin-ha | Net Comics |
| Aflame Inferno | Lim Dall-young (story), Kim Kwang Hyun (art) | |
| Almost Highly Classified | JTK | Net Comics |
| 2급 비밀 2-geup Bimil "2nd-Grade Secret" | 김진태 Jin-Tae Kim | |
| Animal Paradise | Yu Sue-mi | Infinity Studios |
| 애니멀 파라다이스 | 유수미 | |
| Angel Cup | Youn Jae-ho (story), Kim Dong-wook (art) | Tokyopop |
| Angel Diary | Lee Yoon-hee (story), Kara (art) | Yen Press |
| Angel Shop | Hwang Sook-ji | Central Park Media |
| The Antique Gift Shop | Lee Eun | Yen Press |
| 분녀네 선물가게 | ||
| Arcana | Lee So-young | Tokyopop |
| ArchLord | Park Jin-hwan | Tokyopop |
| Ark Angels | Park Sang-sun | Tokyopop |
| Armageddon | Se Lee-hyun | Central Park Media |
| Aron's Absurd Armada | MiSun Kim | Yen Plus |
| Aspirin | Kim Eun-jeong | Tokyopop |
| Audition | Chon Kye-young | DramaQueen |
| Bambi | Park Young-ha | Infinity Studios |
| Banya: The Explosive Delivery Man | Kim Young-oh | Dark Horse Comics |
| Bird Kiss | Park Eun-ah | Tokyopop |
| Blade of Heaven | Hwang Yong-su (story), Yang Kyung-il (art) | Tokyopop |
| Blazin' Barrels | Park Min-seo | Tokyopop |
| The Boss | Lim Jae-won | ADV Manga |
| Boarding House of Hunks | Hwang Mi Ri | |
| Boy of the Female Wolf | Han Yu-rang | |
| Boy Princess[1] | Kim Se-young | Net Comics |
| The Breaker | Jeon Keuk-jin | |
| The Breaker New Waves | Jeon Keuk-jin | |
| Bride of the Water God | Yun Mi-kyung | Dark Horse Comics |
| Bring It On! | Baek Hye-kyung | Yen Press |
| Café Occult | Oh Rhe Bar Ghun (story), Ahn No-uhn (art) | Infinity Studios |
| Can't Lose You[1] | Wann | Net Comics |
| Cavalier of the Abyss | Ga On-Bi | |
| Chocolat | Shin Ji-sang, Geo | Yen Press |
| Chonchu: The Genocide Fiend | Kim Sung-jaee (story), Kim Byung-jin (art) | Dark Horse Comics |
| 천추 | ||
| Chronicles of the Cursed Sword | Yeo Beop-ryong (story), Park Hui-jin (art) | Tokyopop |
| Chronicles of the Grim Peddler | Lee Joung-a | UDON |
| Chrono Code | Shin Eui-chul (story), Choi Il-ho (art) | Tokyopop |
| Chun Rhang Yul Jun | Park Sung-woo | Infinity Studios |
| 천랑열전 | ||
| Click | Lee Young-ran | Net Comics |
| Come back home | Chon Kye-young | |
| Comic | Ha Si-hyun | Yen Press |
| Couple[2][3][4][5] | Jae Sung Park (story), Sung Jae Park (art) | Central Park Media |
| Crazy Girl Shin Bia | Hwang Mi Ri | |
| Crazy Love Story | Lee Vin | Tokyopop |
| Croquis Pop | Seo Kwang-hyun (story), Ko Jin-ho (art) | Yen Press |
| Cutie Boy | Hwang Mi Ri, | |
| Cynical Orange | Yun Ji-un | Yen Press |
| Daring Students' Association | Cha Min-yi | UDON |
| Dear Waltz | Yun Ji-un | UDON |
| Demon Diary | Lee Chi-hyong (story), Lee Yun-hee (story), Kara (art) | Tokyopop |
| Devil's Bride | Kim Se-young | Tokyopop |
| The Devil's Trill | Won Son-yeon | Net Comics |
| Do Whatever You Want | Na Ye-ri | Net Comics |
| Dokebi Bride[1][6] | Marley | Net Comics |
| Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do | Guiyeoni | |
| Dorothy of Oz | Son Hee-joon | UDON |
| Dragon Hunter | Hong Seock-seo | Tokyopop |
| DVD | Chon Kye-young | DramaQueen |
| Emperor's Castle | Kim Sung-mo | Net Comics |
| Eternity[2] | Park Jin-ryong (story), Shin Yong-gwan (art) | Tokyopop |
| Evil's Return[2][7][8] | Lee Jong-kyu (story), Shin Hwan (art) | Tokyopop |
| Evyione: Ocean Fantasy | Kim Young-hee | UDON |
| Faeries' Landing[2] | Hyun You | Tokyopop |
| Fantamir | Seo Eun-jin | Tokyopop |
| Fantasy Land[2] | Kim Si-young | ADV Manga |
| Fever | Park Hee-jung | Tokyopop |
| Fighting!! Guidance | Jeon Keuk-jin (story) and Eom Hye-jin (art) | Infinity Studios |
| Fobidden Kiss | Han Yu-rang | |
| Forest of Gray City | Uhm Jung-hyun | Yen Press |
| Forget About Love | SangEun Lee | Tokyopop |
| Freak: Legend of the Nonblonds | Yi Dong-eun and Chung Yu | Yen Press |
| Full House | Woo Soo-yeon | Central Park Media |
| Gadirok | Hwang Jeong-ho | ADV Manga |
| God Of High School | Park Yong-Je | |
| Good Luck | Kang E-jin | Tokyopop |
| Goong | Park So-hee | Yen Press |
| The Great Catsby | Doha | Net Comics |
| H20 | Hwang Sook Ji | Wink |
| Hard Boiled Angel | Lee Hung-se | Central Park Media |
| Heaven Above Heaven[9] | Hyun Kang-suk (story), Jeon Joong-won (art) | Tokyopop |
| Heavenly Executioner Chiwoo | Lee Ha-na (story), Park Kang-ho (art) | Yen Press |
| He's Dedicated To Roses | Hwang Mi Ri | |
| Hissing | Kang EunYoung | Yen Press |
| Honey Mustard | Yeo Ho-kyung | Tokyopop |
| Hotel Africa | Park Hee-jung | Tokyopop |
| Hotel California | JTK | Net Comics |
| I.N.V.U. | Kim Kang-won | Tokyopop |
| iD eNTITY | Son Hee-joon (story), Kim Youn-kyung (art) | Tokyopop |
| Id - The Greatest Fusion Fantasy | Kim DaeWoo (Story)) Kenny A.t. (Art)) | |
| Idol Shopping | Hwang Mi Ri | |
| I-Doll | Choi Mi-ae | Tokyopop |
| In Dream World | Yoon Jae-ho | Tokyopop |
| In The Starlight | Kang Kyung-ok | Net Comics |
| Immortal Regis | Ga On-Bi | |
| Island | Youn In-wan (story), Yang Kyung-il (art) | Tokyopop |
| 아일랜드 | ||
| I Accept You | Kwon Yeul Hee (story), Kwon Yeul Hee (art) | Qutie Comic |
| I Wish... | Seo Hyun-Joo | Tokyopop |
| Jack Frost | Go Jin-ho | Yen Press |
| Jade of Bango | Yim Ae-ju (story), Yim Jin-ju (art) | Tokyopop |
| June | Lee Young-ran | Net Comics |
| Kill Me, Kiss Me | Lee Young-you | Tokyopop |
| King of Hell | Ra In-soo (story), Kim Jae-hwan (art) | Tokyopop |
| Kung Fu Jungle Boy | Uhm Jae-kyung (story), Lee Chung-ho (art) | Central Park Media |
| A Kiss for my Prince | Kim Hee-eun | Infinity Studios |
| Land of Silver Rain | Lee Mi-ra | Net Comics |
| 은비가 내리는 나라 | ||
| Last Fantasy | Creative Hon (story), Kwon Yong-wan (art) | Tokyopop |
| Legend | Woo Soo-jung (story), Kara (art) | Yen Press |
| Les Bijoux | Jo Eun-ha (story), Park Sang-sun (art) | Tokyopop |
| Let Dai | Woon Soo-yeon | Net Comics |
| Let's Be Perverts | Lee You-jung | Net Comics |
| Lie to Me | Lee Young-ran | Net Comics |
| Lights Out | Lee Myung-jin | Tokyopop |
| Little Queen | Kim Yeon-joo | Tokyopop |
| Love in the Mask | Han Yu-Rang | |
| Love or Money | SangEun Lee | Tokyopop |
| Madtown Hospital[1] | JTK | Net Comics |
| Magical JxR | Lee Sun-young | UDON |
| Martin & John | Park Hee-jung | Tokyopop |
| Masca | Kim Young-hee | Central Park Media |
| Milkyway Hitchhiking | Sirial | Yen Press |
| The Missing White Dragon | Park Young-ha | Infinity Studios |
| Model | Lee So-young | Tokyopop |
| Moon Boy | Lee Young-you | Yen Press |
| My Boyfriend is a Vampire | Han Yu-rang | |
| My Girl | Paek Jeong Won | |
| Mythology of the Heavens | Lee Hyun-se | Central Park Media |
| Nabi: The Prototype | Kim Yeon-joo | Tokyopop |
| Nambul: War Stories | Lee Hyung-se | Central Park Media |
| 남벌 | ||
| Narration of Love at 17 | Kang Kyung-ok | Net Comics |
| Neck and Neck | Lee Sun-hee | Tokyopop |
| Noblesse | Son Jae ho (story), Gwang su (art) | Naver |
| Not So Bad[1] | E-hae | Net Comics |
| NOW[2] | Park Sung-woo | Infinity Studios |
| Oath to Love and Passion | Hwang Sook-ji | Central Park Media |
| One | Vin Lee | Tokyopop |
| One Fine Day[10] | Sirial | Yen Press |
| One Thousand and One Nights | Jeon Jin-seok (story), Han Seung-he (art) | Yen Press |
| Onihime VS | Lim Dall-Young (story), Lee Soo-Hyon (art) | |
| Operation Liberate Men | Lee Mi-ra | Net Comics |
| Passionate Two-Face | Lee You-jung | Net Comics |
| Peigenz | Oh Rhe Bar Ghun (story), Park Sung-woo (art) | Infinity Studios |
| Peppermint | Seo Eun-jin | Tokyopop |
| Peter Panda | Na Ye-ri | DramaQueen |
| Phantom | Lee Ki-hoon (story), Cho Seung-yup (art) | Tokyopop |
| PhD: Phantasy Degree | Son Hee-joon | Tokyopop |
| Pig Bride | Huh Kook-hwa (story), Kim Su-jin (art) | Yen Press |
| Pine Kiss | Lee Eun-hye | Net Comics |
| Pink Lady (manhwa) | Yeon-woo/Seo-na | Joongang |
| 핑크레이디 | ||
| Platina | Kim Yeon-joo | Central Park Media |
| President Dad | Rhim Ju-yeon | Tokyopop |
| Priceless | Lee Young-you | Tokyopop |
| Priest | Hyung Min-woo | Tokyopop |
| 프리스트 | ||
| Princess | Han Seong-won | Central Park Media |
| Planet Blood | Kim Tae-young | Tokyopop |
| Promise | Lee Eun-young | DramaQueen |
| Quantum Mistake | Hong Eun-so (story), Choi Myung-soo (art) | ADV Manga |
| The Queen's Knight | Kim Kang-won | Tokyopop |
| Raiders | Pak Jin-joon | |
| 레이더스 | ||
| Ragnarok | Lee Myung-jin | Tokyopop |
| Reading Club[11] | Cho Ju-hee (story), Suh Yun-young (art) | UDON |
| Real Lies | Lee Si-young | Yen Press |
| Rebirth | Lee Kang-woo | Tokyopop |
| Recast | Seung Hui-kye | Tokyopop |
| Redrum 327 | Ko Ya-seong | Tokyopop |
| Rolling | Shin Ji-sang | Tokyopop |
| Romance Papa[12] | Lee Young-ran | Net Comics |
| Roureville | E-hae | Net Comics |
| Ruler of the Land[2] | Jun Kook-jin (story), Yang Jae-hyun (art) | ADV Manga |
| Rure | Seomoon Da-mi | Tokyopop |
| Saint Marie | Yang Yuh-jin | ADV Manga |
| Sarasah | Ryu Ryang | Yen Press |
| Sartai | Roh Miyeng | |
| 살례탑 | ||
| Saver | Lee Eun-young | Tokyopop |
| Scissors | Lee So-young | Tokyopop |
| Seduction More Beautiful Than Love | Lee Hyeon-sook | Tokyopop |
| Shaman Warrior | Park Joong-ki | Dark Horse Comics |
| Blade of the Phantom Master | Yang Kyung-il (art) Youn In-wan (story) | |
| 신암행어사 | ||
| Sky Blade Sword of the Heavens | Hyun Kang-suk (story) and Shin Ah (art) | ADV Manga |
| Soul to Seoul | Kim Ji-eun | Tokyopop |
| Snow Drop[2] | Choi Kyung-ah | Tokyopop |
| Star Project Chiro | Baek Hye-kyung | UDON |
| The Summit | Lee Young-hee | DramaQueen |
| Sweet and Sensitive[2] | Park Eun-ah | ADV Manga |
| Sweety | Park Jae-sung (story), Kim Ju-ri (art) | Infinity Studios |
| The Tarot Café | Park Sang-sun | Tokyopop |
| Threads of Time | Noh Mi-young | Tokyopop |
| The Guy Who Will Give a Kiss for 5000 won | Hwang Mi Ri | |
| The Legend of Maian | Lim Dall-young (story), Jeong Soo Cheol (art) | |
| Fever | Park Hee-jung | Tokyopop |
| Totally Captivated | Yoo Ha-jin | Net Comics |
| Tower of God | Siu | Naver |
| Traveler of the Moon | Lee Na-hyeon | Infinity Studios |
| Two Will Come | Kang Kyung-ok | Net Comics |
| Unbalance Unbalance | Lim Dall-young (story), Lee Soo-hyun (art) | Infinity Studios |
| Under the Glass Moon | Ko Ya-seong | Tokyopop |
| Utopia's Avenger | Oh Se-kwon | Tokyopop |
| Veritas | Yoon Joon-sik (story), Kim Dong-hoon (art) | |
| 베리타스 | ||
| Very! Very! Sweet[13] | Shim Ji-sang (story), Geo (art) | Yen Press |
| Visitor | No Yi-jung | Tokyopop |
| Volcano High Prelude | Ahn Chul-jung | Dark Horse Comics |
| Warcraft: The Sunwell Trilogy | Richard A. Knaak (story), Kim Jae-hwan (art) | Tokyopop |
| What is Fate...? | Choi Kyung-ah | Tokyopop |
| Witch Class[14][15] | Lee Ru | Infinity Studios |
| Witch Hunter | Cho Jung-man | |
| XS Hybrid | Song Ji-hyoung | Dark Horse Comics |
| XS엑세스 | ||
| Yodong's Vampire | Lee You-jung | Net Comics |
| 요동의 뱀파이어 단 | ||
| Yongbi the Invincible | Ryu Ki-woon (story), Moon Jung-who (art) | Central Park Media |
| You're So Cool | Lee Young-hee | Yen Press |
| 넌 너무 멋져 | ||
| Your Lover | Han Seung-won | Net Comics |
| Zero | Lim Dall-young (story), Park Sung-woo (art) | Infinity Studios |
| Zippy Ziggy[16] | Kim Eun-jung (story), Hwang Seung-man (art) | Infinity Studios |
En España varias editoriales probaron suerte con el manwha como sustituto barato del manga ya que sus licencias eran más asequibles, pero pese a que trajeron muy buenas obras, parece que el manga coreano no cuajo.
ResponderBorrarEl gran Catsby (la obra a la que pertenece el dibujo de los gatos de la estrada) es una obra maestra que todo aficionado al cómic debería leer.