Release That Witch — the manhua
Release That Witch was adapted into a full-colour manhua by the Zhihua Culture (之画文化) studio, with Ye Qing and Xiao Hei as lead artists. Launched on 4 February 2019, it is published on Tencent Animation, Bilibili Comics and Qidian, and collected volumes have been released by Harbin Publishing since 2021.
Origins and publication
The manhua is supervised by Yuewen, owner of Qidian, and produced by Huawen Tianxia. It follows the novel's plot while foregrounding the witches and their powers, as well as the humour of the exchanges between Roland and those around him. The full-colour vertical format is designed for smartphone reading.
How it differs from the donghua
The manhua predates the donghua by seven years and already covers far more arcs than the animated series. It simplifies some of the novel's technical passages to keep the pace and gives the witches a strong visual presence. The 2026 donghua offers its own interpretation of the characters with a different look.
Reception and success
The manhua found a loyal audience in China and abroad, notably through Bilibili Comics. It is appreciated for its humour and characters, though some readers feel it emphasises the witches' looks more than the technical side that makes the novel original.
Trivia
- The manhua launched on 4 February 2019, seven years before the donghua.
- It is published on three platforms at once: Tencent Animation, Bilibili Comics and Qidian.
- The Chinese collected volumes have been published by Harbin Publishing since 2021.
- The manhua's tagline sums up the novel: "magic is productive force".
My take
A pleasant manhua that conveys the novel's humour and endearing witches well. It is less technical than the book, which makes it more accessible but also less original. I recommend it as an entry point, especially to find out what happens after the donghua.
Who is it for?Donghua viewers who want to know what comes next, and readers of humorous fantasy webtoons.
— Spidermas, for Donghua Fan