Here are five of the finest ways to get started with manhuas, as well as where to find them.
Manhua is the Chinese version of manga and manhwa, and it’s making its way into English-speaking circles slowly but steadily. The fact that so many popular published series have yet to be translated into English and launched outside of China hasn’t helped the medium’s meandering path to the mainstream. Manhua’s style and storylines, on the other hand, are a perfect fit for anime and manga fans.
Manhuas is usually based on Chinese tales or modern novels, similar to how light novels are adapted into anime and manga. Many of the shows contain stories that are akin to the isekai genre, which now dominates anime. For anyone interested in learning more about manhua, here are five wonderful examples to read.
The Sun Knight: A Legend
The Legend of the Sun Knight is an epic fantasy tale that follows the fight for supremacy among numerous kingdoms. It was originally a novel series by author Yu Wo. The kingdom of Forgotten Sound is the primary kingdom, and each kingdom represents a different deity or goddess. The Church of the God of Forgotten Sound is guarded by Grisia Sun and the Twelve Holy Knights. Who represent the Church of the God of Forgotten Sound.
1/2 Prince
Yu Wo’s 1/2 Prince is evocative of various recent isekai series. It follows Feng Lan, a teenage girl who is the first person to log into the new MMORPG Second Life. She chooses to play as Prince, a male character, in order to show her brother. That she is capable of being one of the game’s finest players.
As the series progresses, Prince forms the Odd Squad, a group of pals that compete against other teams for dominance in the game. The mysterious Dark Emperor, who knows Feng in real life, as well as the self-aware NPCs Sunshine and Kenshin, are among the other characters. Despite its simple premise, it quickly develops into one of the great isekai stories of today. Unfortunately, no official translation exists, while the novel version can be read from Prince Revolution with permission from the author.
The Ravages Of Time
The Ravages of Time is a live-action Hong Kong manhua that highlights one of the medium’s other major genres: historical fiction. It’s written by Chan Mou and it’s about the Three Kingdoms period, including the fighting, betrayals, and political entanglements that occurred during that time.
It has a similar realistic painting approach to many of the more grounded manhua. Sima Yi, Liu Bei, Zhao Yun, and Lu Bu are among the historical figures included in the series, which aims for both historical accuracy and dramatic flair in its storytelling. It also provides insight into the cultural and military perspectives of life in China at the time. It’s one of the most well-known manhuas in the world, albeit English-speaking audiences have yet to discover it. The Ravages of Time is only available in Chinese on sites like Yes Asia.
Heaven Sword And Dragon Sabre
Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre is one of several film adaptations of a novel published in the early 1960s. During the Mongol conquest of China, Wuji Chang, a martial arts practitioner, seeks for the eponymous weapons. Chang uncovers the secret of his family’s connection to esoteric swords as he travels.
The series is an example of a Cultivation series, in which the protagonist seeks enlightenment through martial arts dedication. Its painting style is likewise extremely realistic and real. Unlike many other manhuas, it has been translated into English and can be purchased on Amazon.
Chinese Hero
A series named Chinese Hero was the first famous name in the manhua industry, and it continues to impact the industry to this day. It is directed by Ma Wing-Shing and follows a young guy whose name means “Chinese Hero” in English. The plot sees Hero try to avenge his parents and regain a lost treasure, which reflects the popularity of kung fu and wuxia films at the time the series was established in the 1980s. In America, his challenges pit him against Chinese gangs, ninjas, and bigotry, concluding in a tragic yet poetic life.
The series established the bar for more realistic-looking manhua, as well as reflecting the nationalistic ideals in China that are prevalent in many manhua, helping to contextualise the work. Chinese Hero is available on Amazon due to its popularity, allowing overseas readers to check out the series that helped put manhua on the map.
