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One Punch Man webcomic vs manga: Comparing the two mediums and what they offer to readers who wish to explore the title.
The One Punch Man title is arguably one of the most entertaining modern Seinen titles. However, there is one thing that newer fans might not know about. Originally, One Punch Man was a webcomic series. ONE wrote and illustrated the entire series, and it is still ongoing.
Since its release, the title has received a manga and an anime adaptation. Fans are mostly well-acquainted with the manga adaptation, popularized by Yusuke Murata’s breathtaking illustrations. He incorporates a level of dynamism in his illustrations that most manga artists fail to capture. Therefore, the topic of “One Punch Man webcomic vs manga” has been debated over on numerous platforms.
This is quite an interesting topic of discussion since newer fans aren’t aware of the webcomic. Therefore, they might know the nitty-gritty details of what made the webcomic popular enough for a manga artist to adapt it. Furthermore, it is quite important to take a peek into the original work since it depicts the story in the way the artist intended to do so.
As a manga reader, you might enjoy the adaptation since the art style follows a set of aesthetic guidelines that are followed by most artists for this medium. The One Punch Man webcomic is vastly different from the manga chapters that we are used to. Let’s take a closer look at the original work as well as the manga adaptation to gain a clear understanding of what each offers to you as a reader.
One Punch Man Webcomic vs Manga: What Does Each Medium Offer?
One of the most obvious differences between the webcomic and the manga adaptation is the art. The webcomic doesn’t have the most appealing art style, which is why fans prefer reading the manga. The webcomic has a raw art style that can seem like sketches on a notepad. It isn’t particularly coherent, but it has a dedicated fanbase. These illustrations give fans a glimpse into how they envisioned the characters. Furthermore, it gives the readers a reference point since we can compare the characters shown in the manga and see Murata’s visualization after taking the original characters as a reference.
Furthermore, the webcomic has progressed a lot more than the manga adaptation. Therefore, fans can read the webcomic if they have caught up to the manga adaptation. There are a couple of differences when comparing the two, but the plot points featured in both mediums. Now, let’s talk about the manga adaptation. Fans will be interested to know that ONE writes the story for the manga adaptation as well. Yusuke Murata is only responsible for the illustrations. This is why the adaptation is excellent.
Yusuke Murata’s illustrations are on another level. They are dynamic, and he injects realism into his compositions. The perspectives he chooses in his compositions make him stand out, and some might even consider him one of the best manga artists of all time. The character designs are quite different from the original webcomic series. These are some of the key differences between the two mediums.
One Punch Man Webcomic vs Manga: Characterization
Since ONE plays an active role in the manga adaptation, the two aren’t all that different when it comes to the characterization of various individuals in the series. However, there are a few minor differences when it comes to the two characters – Saitama and Garou.
The Caped Baldy seems a tad bit more direct in the webcomic series. Other than that, there aren’t plenty of differences in the way he is portrayed in both mediums. The webcomic series portrayed Garou in a much better manner. The character felt a lot more organic in the webcomic series. Fans weren’t happy with how the manga adaptation handled the Monster Association arc. This brings us to the next point of discussion.
Monster Association Arc: The Tipping Point
Up until this story arc, fans loved both the adaptation as well as the webcomic series. However, the manga didn’t faithfully adapt the Monster Association arc. This arc caused a massive divide among fans of the series since the manga didn’t have the same soul it once did. There was a time when the manga felt like an upgraded version of the webcomic series. The reasons are unclear for this disparity.
However, fans have reason to believe that ONE might not be as involved in the writing process. The manner in which the Monster Association arc ended in the manga left a lot to be desired. Garou quite literally let go of his own motives. Furthermore, they introduced time travel only to bring back Genos. Furthermore, the fight was blown way out of proportion in comparison to the webcomic series. The progression and the conclusion of the Monster Association arc were far better in the original webcomic series.
One Punch Man Webcomic vs Manga: What Should You Read?
It is advised to read both the webcomic and the manga for a well-rounded reading experience. However, if you are new to the series, you could begin with the manga since the art style makes it easy to read. You can explore the webcomic series once you are accustomed to the world and the characters in it. There is no doubt that the manga is a good adaptation.
However, it is important to consume the material in a way that the author intends the audience to do so. The art style can be quite crude to someone new. But, as you read each chapter, the art and story tend to grow on you. ONE has mastered writing, and that makes up for the slightly underwhelming art style. That being said, the quality of illustrations also improves as the series progresses. Therefore, it is advised to start One Punch Man with the manga and then proceed to read the webcomic series.
Conclusion
Both the webcomic and the manga adaptations offer readers a multitude of things. Each reader is different and therefore prioritizes different elements. Some might read manga for the story, while some prefer the organic drawings to the animation seen on the screen. In that regard, the webcomic and the manga offer something unique to the reader.
The manga adaptation has some of the most breathtaking illustrations one can come across. On the other hand, the sketch-like crude art style has its own charm. Furthermore, the webcomic also presents the story in the way that the original author intended to do so. The writing is better in the webcomic series. Therefore, it is important that fans read both the webcomic and the manga adaptations if they wish to explore One Punch Man.
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