Over the last few decades, Korean manhwa and webtoons have slowly but surely carved a niche for themselves in the mainstream comic scene. And as the demand for digital reading grows, webtoons and webcomics have only continued to garner readership. In fact, many of the biggest anime and K-drama franchises these days are either based on webtoons or are adapted into webtoons.
Amidst this exponential growth that the medium is witnessing, Webtoon has emerged as a leading hub. Beyond just localizations of all of the hottest Korean manhwa, Webtoon also offers its own original titles while also providing a platform for indie releases by artists and creators from all around the world through its Canvas program. As such, the platform truly has every possible genre under the sun, annd many unthinkably creative titles.
Gosu (2017)
Written by Ryu Giun and Illustrated by Moon Jeong-hoo
Martial arts manhwa are a dime a dozen no matter what platform you go to, but rarely does one come across a series as charming as Webtoon's Gosu. The series follows a young man named Gang Yong as he sets out to get vengeance for his master, only to find those who betrayed his master are long dead.
Thus, Gang Yong assumes the humble, peaceful life of a dumpling delivery man, whose chubby, adorable appearance belies his sharp, deadly abilities. Be it early Dragon Ball-esque comedy, expressive artwork, or spectacle-worthy fights, Gosu has it all, and the best part is that it's complete with a little over 230 chapters and an anime adaptation by Toei Animation on the way. The series is inevitably about to blow up with the release of its anime, making now the perfect time to catch up.
Tower of God (2014)
Written and Illustrated by SIU
With well over 600 chapters released across a 16-year-long ongoing run, and an anime with two seasons, Tower of God is one of Webtoon's longest-running epics. The series follows a young boy named Twenty-Fifth Bam who enters the eponymous tower, which is said to grant a wish to whoever makes it all the way to the top.
However, Bam's reasons for wanting to ascend the tower are a bit different, as all he wants at the start is to reunite with a friend of his named Rachel who also entered the tower. But of course, making his way up the tower is no easy feat, as every level is fraught with challenges.
Luckily, Bam also recruits allies along the way who make up Tower of God's charming ensemble cast along this grand adventure. While Tower of God's webtoon may seem intimidating due to its length and its rough initial art, there's good reason the series has held on as one of Webtoon's most popular titles over the years, and frankly, it's aged like fine wine.
Trapped (2022)
Written and Illustrated by Haemuri
Between Noblesse, Morgana and Oz, Vampire Family, and Unholy Blood, Webtoon hosts quite an impressive selection of vampire fiction, so much so that it's hard to single out the best one of the lot. That said, there's one completed series that stands out as an underrated gem in the genre, and it's none other than Trapped by Haemuri.
Trapped follows Han Chae-a, an ex-convict trying to get her life together until she crosses paths with Park Yunsu, a fellow churchgoer who's secretly a vampire. Mysteriously drawn to Chae-a for some reason, Yunsu frames Chae-a for murder and then uses the evidence to blackmail her into doing his bidding. Thus begins their game of wits, pulling Chae-a deep into this secret, dangerous world.
Besides the thrilling psychological elements of its story, Trapped's biggest draw is its excellent, slow-burning enemies-to-lovers romance that will keep readers eagerly scrolling through all 200 of its chapters.
Dungeon Crawler Carl (2025)
Based on the Original Novel by Matt Dinniman & Adapted by AETHON, Laurel Pursuit, Tevagah and Actus
Credit: Simon & SchusterPost-apocalyptic series continue to be Webtoon's biggest hits time after time, whether that's Sweet Home, All of Us Are Dead, The World After the Fall, or Omniscient Reader, to name only a few. And, one series that's recently joined these ranks is Dungeon Crawler Carl. Based on the hit novel of the same name, which now also has a tabletop game and a TV show on the way, Dungeon Crawler Carl has quickly cemented itself as one of the best new titles on Webtoon.
The series follows Carl, who, following a break-up with his girlfriend, is left with her cat, Princess Donut, when the rapture suddenly strikes. All of Earth is taken over by aliens and turned into one massive dungeon for the aliens' live game show. Carl and Donut somehow survive, and with no one else to lean on, the two end up entering the dungeon together, thus officially forming their own party dubbed "The Royal Court of Princess Donut." Clearly, the series is plenty of fun with loads of humor, action, and of course, feline shenanigans.
The Mafia Nanny (2023)
Written by Violet Matter and Illustrated by sh00
Besides localizations of Korean manhwa, Webtoon also hosts numerous originals, many of which, like The Mafia Nanny, are some of the best titles available on the platform. The Mafia Nanny follows Davina, a professional nanny part of the Elite Nanny Academy who is hired by the Venetian mafia underboss Gabriel Angelini to care for his young son Mikey after the mysterious death of his wife and Mikey's mother.
Davina's own dark past appears to be tied to the Angelinis, and thus she takes on the job to hopefully uncover the truth about her own parents and their mysterious deaths. Along the way, Davina learns there's more to her employer than meets the eye, and so the distrust eventually makes way for a fragile bond between Davina and Gabriel. The series is the perfect blend between dark mafia romances and wholesome action comedies like Spy x Family, all with a slow-burn romance that will keep readers on their toes throughout.
The Greatest Estate Developer (2021)
Based on the original web novel by BK Moon, adapted by Lee Hyunmin and illustrated by Kim Hyunsoo
The Greatest Estate Developer is among Webtoon's most entertaining isekai manhwa, which combines the well-loved trope of game mechanics with a healthy dose of comedy. The story revolves around Kim Suho, a regular civil engineer who finds himself transported into the medieval world of a novel as a useless side character named Lloyd Fronterra, who is known for being a drunken lout who brings ruin to his estate and his family. Lloyd is all but destined for a pathetic death; however, Suho makes up his mind to avoid this fate no matter what.
Thus, Suho begins to use his existing knowledge and skills to bring innovation to the world of the novel with only two goals in mind — to get rich, and to live an easy life. Of course, these goals end up being nearly impossible to achieve, but this is precisely where the fun of the story truly begins. The Greatest Estate Developer is charming and incredibly engaging with a surprisingly likable protagonist and a most absurd sense of humor that all together make this manhwa impossible to put down.
Purple Hyacinth (2019)
Written by Ephemerys and illustrated by Sophism
Unlike its flowery name, Purple Hyacinth is a dark, mysterious tale full of murder, conspiracy, tragedy, and even romance. The story centers around Officer Lauren Sinclair, who has the unique ability to detect lies and has devoted every moment of her being to uncovering the truth behind an old tragedy that took away one of her dear friends. However, Lauren somehow ends up joining hands with the city's most dangerous assassin, Kieran White, who goes by the alias that makes up the name of the series.
Thus, Kieran and Lauren set out to unmask the criminal organization terrorizing the city of Ardhalis known as the Phantom Scythe. Despite beginning their partnership ready to kill each other at the slightest sign of betrayal, the two eventually forge a bond that threatens to grow into much more. Altogether, Lauren and Kieran's enticing enemies-to-lovers dynamic coupled with the enthralling mystery of the Phantom Scythe make Purple Hyacinth an absolute page-turner.
The Remarried Empress (2020)
Written by Alphatart and illustrated by SUMPUL
The Remarried Empress is a fantasy drama series beloved by many for its romantic art style and swoon-worthy love interest. The manhwa follows Empress Navier and her budding relationship with Prince Heinrey which takes off when her husband, the Emperor acquires a new mistress. Despite being simplistic, The Remaried Empress's plot is far from predictable despite the very first chapter dropping the ball about the eventual divorce between the Empress and the Emperor and her subsequent marriage to the Prince.
The story and art remain consistent in quality throughout, with each new character introduced adding depth to the plot. The Empress herself is kind and capable, very much the typical strong female lead, but with an air of composure befitting her status. Her developing relationship with the mysterious Prince Heinrey amidst the underlying politics of high society and the ensuing melodrama brought about by the power-hungry mistress makes this manhwa an absolute page-turner with a K-drama starring Shin Min-a on the way.
Return of the Blossoming Blade (2019)
Written by Biga, and Illustrated by LICO
Return of the Blossoming Blade is a classic cultivation manhwa, where the conclusive battle between the great sects and the demon lord, Cheonma, one lone swordsman survived. Out of the countless soldiers sent for this final fight, Cheongmyeong manages to take Cheonma’s head, but as he collapses due to his own wounds, he laments how many lives this victory cost.
A hundred years later, Cheongmyeong wakes up in the body of a child beggar, only to find that his sect has fallen into ruin. Now gifted with a second chance at life and an ominous warning from Cheonma that evil will rise once again, he has to take his training seriously and raise up the next generation at Mount Hua.
Bastard (2015)
Written by Carnby Kim and illustrated by Youngchan Hwan
Bastard is a thriller series that follows Jin Seon, a young boy whose father is a murderer. Following the death of his mother, Jin is forced into being an accomplice to these murders for fear of his father getting rid of him as well. That is until his father sets his sights on Yoon Kyun, a girl from school that Jin manages to befriend.
Jin is forced to take a stand against his father and thus begins his journey to get stronger in order to break away from his father's influence. While Bastard's art is simplistic, the muted sepia tones do a wonderful job of conveying the ominous atmosphere and mostly bleak tone. The author also does a great job of portraying the cold terrifying nature of the father with some panels being certifiably bone-chilling.
English (US) ·