Comic Book Vs Manga: Top Full Comparison 2022

Comic Book Vs Manga are visual narratives, but they have some key differences. Comic books are typically created in the United States and Canada, while manga is created in Japan. Manga is read from right to left, while comic books are read from left to right. Finally, comic books are usually for adults, while manga is for all ages.

Contents

1 Comic Books & Manga
2 American Heroes vs. Japanese Heroes
3 Stories
4 American Comics
5 Which One Is Better?
6 Conclusion

Comic Books & Manga

Although some may not tell the difference between Japanese Manga and American Comic Books (my mother), clear differences distinguish the two styles. We are the top tour & travel agency in Anime Tours and wanted to highlight their differences.

This article doesn’t claim which comic is better (although I will admit that American comics are my favorite online), but rather highlights the differences between both styles and how they can be entertaining and useful for in-flight entertainment.

Although some people may think one is superior to the other (hey, there’s a shrine for anime Japan), there are so many similarities that the differences don’t clarify which is the best.

This will make it easier to focus on the Super-Heroes and Action/Adventure Genres of manga comics. While I still enjoy talking about a slice of life and other genres, it’s not my intention to do so.

It is more beneficial to concentrate on the basics to help the examples make sense. Comics and manga cover so many topics and stories that it is easy to keep things simple.

Format & Distribution

The differences in style, distribution, and format are the most striking differences between manga and comic books. Manga is usually sold in a tankobun (book) or a weekly magazine. They are printed in black and often look almost like a digest.

American comics are printed and styled differently. American comic books are sold in magazines of 32 pages with colored print. You can also find collected editions (Omnibus, a kind of manga series) containing a limited number of issues or a specific story arc.

American comics can be summarized as colored and available in various formats, including individual issues, collections, graphic novels, etc.

Print

You may also notice a distribution difference in that Manga is not colored like Comic Books. Although some manga includes some coloring pages, most are printed in black and white regardless of whether they are part of a collection.

I will gladly retract my previous statement that Manga is better to read online than Comics if they upload manga with color.

Apart from the color difference, manga vs. comic books have one interesting thing: Japanese manga is published weekly. This allows readers to read multiple stories and the misadventures of the characters.

American comics have yet to pick up this idea, even though each comic is longer than a normal manga chapter and has more detail (and color). If you don’t like manga’s black and white visuals, you can wait for an anime adaptation (which is quite common for popular works).

Characters

One difference I noticed immediately between Japan’s Manga heroes or any story with competition, and American Comic Book heroes, like Marvel or DC, is that Japan’s characters are always stronger than their American counterparts.

They tend to maintain the same strength level, rarely becoming stronger. If a comic book hero does become stronger, it is usually not for very long. Let’s take, for example, the Superman vs. Goku debate.

First, I don’t know what they are. Second, you shouldn’t be reading this if you don’t know. There are many versions of Superman, but one version of Goku. Yes, Dragonball has seen spin-offs (some of which we try to forget, GT), but there is no alternative Goku or parallels.

If we put the two heroes against one another when they first appeared, I doubt Goku would ever win. Let’s now look back at where we are today. Super Saiyan Blue’s Goku will defeat Superman due to how strong Goku has become throughout the years.

Don’t you believe me? You can find a comic where Superman fights a god. Only two punches are needed to wipe out the entire universe.

Although Thanos may have done things like that, it is quickly dismissed and no longer gives him the strength he used to have.

It is also important to mention that while some American Heroes get huge power upgrades (Spider-Man had one, Thor was a Herald of Galactus recently, and Capt gets to lift things from time to time), these heroes won’t always last. Goku still has that strength and carries it for the remainder of the series.

American Heroes vs. Japanese Heroes

Another thing worth mentioning is the long-term longevity of American Comic Book characters and Japanese Manga heroes.

Let’s look at the timeline with Captain America, one of my favorite characters. His first appearance was in 1941. People still buy his comics and enjoy his movies.

Things are often refreshed and rebooted when they become too stagnant. (Okay, Cap, a Hydra agent, falls under the worse category).

These are often done in very science-fi ways. Marvel, for example, reset their universe with Secret Wars, which resulted in the merging of the multiverse.

This is only one way for new readers to update characters and concepts. Luffy, from One Piece, debuted in 1997. He is still searching for the treasure. American Comic heroes don’t seem to end, but a Japanese Manga will continue the story for as long as possible, ending it with a conclusion. And maybe even a spin-off.

The same goes for Replacing Heroes or characters with familiar titles. This is a topic that American comics don’t seem to use as often as Japanese stories. A Japanese manga’s protagonist isn’t often replaced, even though Goku may leave fate and the Earth to Gohan.

There are many more American comics than I can remember. American Comics is a great source of inspiration.

Manga is starting to take note of this trope in some cases, such as My Hero Academia. However, because of the amazing cosplay out there, manga authors feel a little hesitant about replacing their main characters.

Stories

The final comparison between these styles is down to their stories. I have many topics to discuss, but my main focus is on the stories’ length and shared universe. Japanese Manga is the best when it comes to story length.

Sometimes story arcs can go on for long periods.

While there have been many long arcs in Comics’ history, American Comics cover more than Japanese Comics. This is due to the time-traveling and interference by cosmic powers such as the Infinity Stones.

American Comics

Some may say that American Comics are short on storylines, such as Civil War, but American Comic Books have a different approach to long story arcs.

Marvel and DC are American Comic Books that share a common universe with their heroes. This could mean that what Batman does in Gotham could have repercussions for Wonder Woman, Superman, and even the Martian Man-Hunter.

Although Japanese manga is published in a weekly magazine, there is almost no overlap. There may be an occasional issue that is hyped to the point, but cross-overs between characters in manga stories are not something you’d find in comic books.

Crossovers can still be found even when the publishers are different (Marvel & DC, DC & Power Rangers, etc.).

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Which One Is Better?

This comparison clearly shows the superiority of Manga to American comics. Manga offers everything a reader needs: multiple genres and strong stories and depth and logical endings. American comics are great for beginners. Manga is, however, more captivating.

However, it isn’t easy to choose between them. American comics can be a good choice if you’re looking for something easy to read.

Conclusion

While many differences between comic books and manga, both have undeniable benefits. Comic books often feature more action and violence, while manga is more likely to focus on relationships and emotions.

However, both formats allow readers to escape into a different world and experience new adventures.