I’ve always loved comics, and over the years I’ve tried a variety of sites for reading online. My new favorite platform is Webtoon. Developed in South Korea in 2004, the digital publishing portal curates a ton of quality comics that are presented in a vertical scrolling format that is great for reading on your phone. Since discovering the app I have been addicted to a few series that have really fantastic stories and (often times) gorgeous art.
Webtoon is completely free to download and read. The only place you end up spending money is if you want to read an episode of a comic early. Webtoon releases these episodes weekly, but the artists often will have the next few ready to go and by spending coins you can gain access and get a jump on the story.
So now that we have an idea of how the app works, let’s get to the fun stuff: What are my top 5 favorite Webtoon comics that keep me coming back for more?
5. GremoryLand
GremoryLand is a Horror Webtoon created by A.Rasen. Their work often has a lot of psychological twists and turns that keep you guessing as to what the deeper story might be. In GremoryLand, six friends from highschool get strange invitations to be the first to check out a new theme park. The park seems carefully tailored with horrors that target each individual in the group and, once inside, the way to escape is to survive. The story weaves in some elements from Rasen’s other comics, making for a terrifying series that will leave you on the edge of your seat each episode.
4. Covenant
Explodikid’s Covenant is an action-packed queer comic about a young exorcist fighting against the forces of hell. He may be chosen by God, hang out with angels, and have holy powers, but Ezra really doesn’t have much faith when all is said and done. The organization Ezra works for tasks him with protecting Sunny, a gorgeous yet troubled young man who the demons are desperate to get their hands on. What is Sunny and will Ezra find his faith? You’ll have to read to find out!
3. The Makeup Remover
No this comic isn’t about your typical facial cleanser on a quest to leave your face feeling fresh and clean. The Makeup Remover is a little bit romance, a little bit makeup lessons, and a whole lot of drama. The premise is that our main character, Yeseul, has never been into wearing make-up, but when she heads to college she suddenly feels the pressure to try. She accidentally runs into a talented makeup artist, Yuseong, who decides to use her as his model in a reality TV makeup competition. The two help each other grow and make for a great team; combining Yeseul’s artistic perspective and Yuseong’s talent to come up with amazing takes on the competition’s challenges. I actually feel like I am engrossed in the reality show as I read and am so excited to see how each contestant interprets each theme.
2. Sweet Home
Sweet Home is a horror comic that tells the story of Cha Hyun-soo, a young man who is left in a deep depression after a tragic accident. One morning he wakes up and the world has changed and not for the better. Humans are suddenly turning into vicious monsters and attacking people. Cha Hyun-soo must team up with the other residents of his apartment building to fight for their survival. The story has some amazing characters and you really feel a sense of dread and despair for them. The Webtoon is finished so you can read the whole comic for free. As a bonus, the comic was made into a Netflix original series, and they did a really great job with it.
1. Lore Olympus
Based in Greek mythology, Lore Olympus retells the story of Persephone with a modern twist, but it’s so much more than that. This romantic comic illustrates the complex lives of the gods and deals with some weighty subjects (trigger warning: This story does deal with a character being raped). The author, Rachel Smythe, does an amazing job of telling the story of a conflicted young woman who is falling in love but must first find a way to love herself for who she is and throw off the shackles of who everyone else thinks she should be. From the stylistic art style to the wonderful characterization of the gods, I fell in love with this comic. Fans will also be excited to hear that Lore Olympus is being made into an animated Netflix Original. I cannot wait to see my favorite characters (Hades’ doggos) brought to life!
To read these comics and more head on over to Webtoon at www.webtoons.com.
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