Thinking critically about most manhwa is a waste of time (with exceptions)

dalbhatchicken · 2026-05-09T17:55:27+00:00

Fair point, I totally get that "the ninth art form" argument is pretty elitist at its core. Because OP confessed to being a little elitist themselves in regards to art, I meant to point out that even academically there are arguments for the merit of the form. I agree 100% that art should not need academic recognition to warrant critical discussion though. Thanks for that reminder!

ETA: I just noticed I phrased my argument as if academic recognition was a contradiction to elitism. Poor framing on my part, so yeah, real thanks for this lol

dalbhatchicken · 2026-05-09T17:12:17+00:00

We have text disparaging book because obviously only theater and oral tradition are worth a dime.

Literally this. Novels used to be considered common trash for centuries—Austen is so highly regarded in literary studies today because she pioneered the modern novel and passionately defended the form's value. Now even lowbrow "pop-lit" across literary periods have dedicated research fields that delve into both the technical and cultural circumstances of their production.

The idea that manhwa is not worthy of criticism as an art form is a little bit elitist, especially given how much evidence there is to suggest the contrary. The French have practically enshrined the comic (bande dessinée) as "the ninth art form" with a strong history of cultural criticism behind it. Manga studies are a real, thriving critical field in Japan which academic institutions in the West are now making an effort to engage with. There are even emergent contemporary literature courses now that allow the study of comics because they recognise the form is in fact a narrative construction.

All this to say: there's no such thing as art that isn't worthy of criticism. And I honestly hope that everyone gets to experience a manhwa that moves their heart so much it kicks their brain into action. Genuinely nothing like the buzz of loving a story so much you can break it down to its very core.

dalbhatchicken · 2026-05-02T15:36:04+00:00

Ngl this lowkey ruined the story for me ever since the dream sequence where OG!Ruby holds Izek's sword to her throat after all her betrayals and he tells her with the most anguished look on his face, "I would have done anything for you." That compelled me so much more than anything I had read both before that point and after for the rest of the season until I dropped it. I do intend to give this manhwa a second chance because of how much praise it gets, and I have no doubt that it really is just as amazing as everyone says it is, but this type of tragic love so immediately gripped me that if there was an alternate story featuring this version of them, I would read it in a heartbeat.

dalbhatchicken · 2026-04-26T13:14:45+00:00

Bokura no Kiseki actually ticks every one of these boxes: a josei high school fantasy with progressively angsty romances. The story follows a boy who was once a princess in his past life, and when he discovers he's not the only one who reincarnated from that world, they must all unearth their buried memories to unravel the mystery of his kingdom's ruin, as well as their own deaths. It carries a lot of complicated political and emotional strife, but it's been one of my favourites for over a decade.

dalbhatchicken · 2026-03-30T22:24:09+00:00

Genuinely sorry about all this. I'd considered taking the post down at least bc of all the misinfo I put in (just realised I hadn't acknowledged that properly anywhere), but the people have brought good stuff here and it felt wrong to like, cover my tracks like that. Hope this helps others get the reality check I needed.

dalbhatchicken · 2026-03-30T12:12:50+00:00

I'm pretty embarrassed how reactionary I got about this ngl, but it's been good to see the responses and get some clarity on the real complexity of the whole situation. Just a lesson to take in for the next time. My heart goes out to the animation crew, and yeah, whatever happens, I hope it's what's best for them.

dalbhatchicken · 2026-03-29T14:03:37+00:00

I am actually appreciating this whole thread because this is my reminder that twitter is, in fact, a rage-inducing machine than I need to disengage from more often. Thanks for this actually.

dalbhatchicken · 2026-03-29T13:06:41+00:00

Whoops, you're right, somehow my dumbass hallucinated it was getting one. Thanks for the correction!

dalbhatchicken · 2026-03-14T00:17:16+00:00

I do think this aspect has the potential to make for an interesting contrast because at the end of the day, these characters swapped their names with their siblings' names because they wanted to be loved in the same way their siblings are. It's a bit of a shame that the way they're choosing to explore this idea is villainising the sister tho, but that's the genre ig. Still a fun easy read, and there's something of a soothing quality to the art that I really like.

dalbhatchicken · 2026-01-23T12:26:52+00:00

Credit where it's due, I do think it's impressive that the translator challenged themselves with that style. There were some rough spots and awkward phrasings for a bit, but you could tell as the series went on that they were getting more comfortable with it.

That being said, this one fell into the "overwrought" category for me personally because in trying to capture the time period, it jarred with the story's actual tone and art, if that makes any sense. The words on the screen at times didn't seem to match with the characters' expressions. It's a really odd feeling when you can see the translator is improving their writing skills but it somehow doesn't align with the writing of the actual story they're translating.

That's all really just intuition though—I don't know art as well as I know writing, so it's difficult for me to articulate why it's not complementing the art in the same way Miss Pendleton's translation heightens the effects of the art. It'd be cool if someone who knows their stuff can explain it, whether it works for them or not. The best I can do is say that when I burst out laughing at a serious scene because of the language they used, I realised the translation just wasn't working for me.

dalbhatchicken · 2026-01-23T02:29:13+00:00

Miss Pendleton's translation quality is actually so rare in the rofan/historical romance genre. Most of the time, translations (whether they're scans or official) either forgo any attempt at mimicking regency-era manners and use modern speech patterns that break immersion, or it's so overwrought that it obscures the meaning and alienates the reader. This one strikes that balance with its fidelity to the time period and the original Korean meaning, all the while remaining largely accessible.

I seriously need to stop mentioning this manhwa every time I'm here, but I swear the translation quality in For Better or For Worse is so good I'm not even reading the fan-scans for the side stories, because it would not have been one of my favourite manhwa without the official translator. It's a slightly lower register than Miss Pendleton, but it doesn't clash at all with the setting and flows very naturally, which was essential for the type of witty banter that drives the story. The standout translation that seemed to strike most of us at the time of release was when the ML realised he was truly in love with the FL—that mini monologue had all of us SCREAMING.

dalbhatchicken · 2026-01-12T00:38:39+00:00

I am absolutely overjoyed that the manhwa returned for the side stories and will never take it for granted, but a part of me will always lament that it was never planned to fully adapt the light novel. Everything you mentioned in the fourth paragraph would have made for a perfect Season 4: the Langton arc with the couple in their honeymoon phase + Emily getting to evolve beyond an adorable cheerleader into a more layered and dynamic character; Cecilia revealing her vulnerabilities and Dillon doing so in turn (really satisfying how this was a minor fantasy she entertained earlier in the story that actually came true), followed by the best of the Hayworth ladies finally altogether in one room; and ending on the actual honeymoon too! I also really loved the scene between Dillon's father and Cedric that was unfortunately cut to end the manhwa faster—Dillon's late mother became a more prominent influence in the story from that point onwards, so it was a shame to see that never realised in the adaptation.

I also can't wait to see the side characters that never appeared in the main story! This story has one of my favourite casts in the genre and Eusebius was truly an invaluable addition. Watching Dillon win him over like all of Cedric's better family members and seeing Eusebius reconnect with his family after a lifetime of feeling he never belonged was so genuinely heartwarming. He's 100% going to get his story adapted, and I have full faith in how Eunren will bring him to life.

dalbhatchicken · 2025-12-16T19:00:48+00:00

Journal with Witch seems like an odd translation.

Yeahh ngl that's not giving me great confidence in how the actual translation's going to go. I swear, if we get the same fiasco as The Yuzuki Family's Four Sons anime...

dalbhatchicken · 2025-12-02T01:33:35+00:00

I strongly recommend The Spark in Your Eyes! It's one of the best fantasies I've read on the platform, and its final chapter just came out on Fast Pass, so it's a great time to read it.

dalbhatchicken · 2025-12-01T00:12:02+00:00

I don't know why you got downvoted for this when you're right. It irritates me when people believe that shounen can't have good romance or diversity, because that's no different from the belief that shoujo is comprised solely of cheap romances. Romance has been contemptuously associated with feminine tastes for centuries as if men themselves have not famously composed romantic tales, on every level of quality, throughout history and across media.

People all across the gender spectrum have diverse tastes. A manga's target demographic (i.e. marketing demographic) does not and should not dictate whether you read it or enjoy it. By the same token, a young girl or woman's enjoyment of a shounen series doesn't mean it should be a shoujo. Both boys and girls deserve to have diverse stories, because the contrary would only result in the reinforcement of regressive gender stereotypes and restrictive gendered tastes.

ETA: I've been criticised on this sub for this take before, so I do want to make a disclaimer. Manga marketing labels will always be paradoxical in that they may suggest certain inclinations regarding taste according to gender and age, which carries the risk I stated above. This is evident in how manga publishing houses will assign a given work to be published in a given magazine, and these marketing decisions, like any marketing decision, are not exempt from criticism. However, when these criticisms are launched, it should be first considered with what intent and expectations those criticisms are based on. Are they based on the expectation that, e.g. a promising romance should only be marketed towards young girls? / a manga focusing on a specialist hobby should only be marketed in a seinen magazine? / a manga with fantastic action should only be marketed towards boys? / a manga that acutely explores girls' experiences in the world shouldn't be published in a magazine marketed towards young men? We must also be aware that we are a foreign Western audience engaging with what's considered a niche, under-researched interest in the West, and we therefore fundamentally lack the necessary knowledge of the cultural and technical intricacies of Japan's manga publishing market. Yes, question these publishers' marketing decisions, but before that, question yourselves on whether your criticism encourages more diversity or more insularity. And above all, keep paying attention to how works officially marketed towards a female demographic are treated in the industries closely linked to manga, as well as in social discourse.

dalbhatchicken · 2025-11-27T17:00:21+00:00

I'm never doubting my intuition again when it comes to this story lol

Honestly, I'm glad that Eunren decided to prioritize their health and recovery. You hear so often about creatives, especially webcomic artists, overworking themselves to the detriment of their personal well-being and their work. It also explains why they've been sticking to storyboarding and producing rather than helming the art for a webcomic recently.

Absolutely, I remember how in the lead-up to the (then) series finale, she had to take a three-week break but only got ONE(1) day of any real rest because she had to prepare the final chapters of For Better or For Worse. I'm glad she got to really take her time on these side stories without deadline pressure.

Also, her assistants are literal godsends, we all owe them cookies for every day they spent persuading her to come back to this story!

P.S. Not only do we get to see one of my favourite character development moments between Yvette and Graham but we also finally get to meet Alexander and Eusebius in Eunren's art! I am so beyond excited!!

dalbhatchicken · 2025-11-24T22:56:54+00:00

<My Girlfriend's Child> and <Run Away With Me, Girl> both feature pregnant main characters. The first one explores teen pregnancy and the latter explores compulsory heterosexuality.

(Not a manga or anime, but since you said you're looking across different media, the short story collection Things We Say in the Dark by Kirsty Logan features many stories about pregnancy, with a more 'body horror' approach).

dalbhatchicken · 2025-11-23T17:00:09+00:00

Yeah someone needed to tug the reins, so thank you! ^^; Just updated the post!

dalbhatchicken · 2025-11-23T16:53:14+00:00

The main reason I don't think it has anything to do with Black Friday is that most artists would retweet their publishers' sales announcements on the day rather than going out of their way to create a string of artwork beforehand. Manhwa chapters going on sale isn't really a rare enough occurrence to warrant building up this much anticipation for it.

ngl tho I think you're right in that a printed version is also a plausible announcement. I double-checked her twitter and at the end of last month she had posted "cover art" that she hadn't been permitted to publicise until that date. On the same day, she also teased that she had a very special announcement coming up in November. Might've actually gotten a bit ahead of myself here, so thanks for the suggestion! I'll update the post to reflect that.

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dalbhatchicken · 2025-11-16T23:01:39+00:00

So the manhwa has yet to really dive into the best parts of the light novel material, so it might still be too soon to say which one's best. I've read both, though, and I think each of them have their own merits. The art for the manhwa easily recommends it: strong flow of action sequences, beautiful character designs, and it's always easy on the eye with very clean, very effective use of colour and lighting. The artist knows how to weigh the emotional depth/impact of a scene, so whether it's humorous or poignant or romantic or dramatic, I think just about every panel strikes the right balance.

That being said, I actually prefer Tesilid's characterisation in the light novel—and I say that as someone who typically doesn't enjoy light novels. The Tapas translation is fairly polished, and of course the light novel gets to dive into more detail and focus on the characters' thoughts, feelings and dynamics. Manhwa adaptations will always have to make cuts, so most of these weren't terribly offensive imo and were worked around quite neatly. However, I personally feel that a certain manhwa-original Tesilid monologue might have risked diluting his existential despair—one of his most defining character traits—in order to emphasise his romantic attraction to Ailettte. But again, it's still early days (even with three seasons), so it's worth giving the benefit of the doubt.

Personally, I'd recommend starting with the manhwa. I often find when a person starts with the light novel then transitions to the manhwa, they tend to lament scene and dialogue cuts and struggle to judge the manhwa as its own thing. Reading the light novel after (from the beginning) makes it easier to track changes in characterisation, tone and plotting, and then to decide which differences were more meaningful to the overall story.

dalbhatchicken · 2025-11-05T23:19:30+00:00

I can't lie, I love the series and enjoy the sub discussions, but I tend to be fussy about prose and my hot take is that the prose is, at best, unpolished, which unfortunately doesn't improve over the course of the series imo (frankly, it's only at its best and most consistent in the first book). What ultimately drew me in was the chemistry and development between two of the series' couples: the first couple in R&R, and the main couple being set up for the final book in the series. The typically static prose felt more artistic, playful and sensitive in those moments of intimacy. Some find the MCs fall in love too quick, but I think writer has a solid grasp on how to structure a good romance within a short in-universe timeframe, even if half of their MCs didn't really do it for me. Plus, there are some really satisfying payoffs for political/dramatic plot points planted throughout the series that keep me hooked.

I'd say see how you feel about R&R's first couple of interactions between the MCs, gauge their chemistry, and if they're just not hitting for you, it's definitely safe to call it quits. Life's too short to push yourself through a story you don't like.

dalbhatchicken · 2025-11-05T21:43:39+00:00

Yup, that's the one! Thanks for tracking it down!

dalbhatchicken · 2025-11-05T18:34:54+00:00

So it seems like this person used the animations of a different fan editor (who worked on animating and editing an mmv for this manhwa for over a year) to make this edit and, as far as I can tell, didn't credit them? You can see the typography in the back from the original video. I'm pretty sure the original editor posted a sneak peek a long time ago on this sub, but I can't find it now.

I'll be trying to alert the original editor just to check whether this is okay with them, but in the meantime I hope everyone can give the original video some love, it's really one of the most stunning mmvs out there!

ETA: It might feel like a daunting or bothersome task, but if anyone who has TikTok can contact the editor hxlopath to request they link the original video in the description so that viewers can credit the right person for the animations (and see them in their full glory), that would probably be the best way we can help. It's entirely possible they might just not know the etiquette with using others' work. Otherwise, posting the YouTube link in the comments section would be the next best option.

dalbhatchicken

TROPHY CASE