Without a doubt, the English-language webtoon market is booming. Digital platforms launch new titles every month. Even print publishers like Yen Press have begun announcing new print licenses at major conventions. Considering how many South Korean series hit North American shores these days, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep track.
So to help with that, here are some new webtoon releases from the past couple months.
Perhaps most noteworthy is The Hellbound by Yeon Sang-Ho and Choi Gyu-Seok. Enjoying a print release from Dark Horse, as well as a digital serialization via the Webtoon online platform, The Hellbound gained widespread fame thanks to the Netflix adaptation in November. The series details what happens when beings claiming to be angels begin appearing and predicting when people will die. If that weren’t enough, other supernatural monsters then appear at the declared time to kill the person. As you can probably predict, some people begin to take advantage of the ensuing chaos. The Webtoon version is currently available but due to supply chain difficulties, Dark Horse’s print release has been pushed back to late January 2022.
Yen Press made a splash earlier this year when it released both the Solo Leveling webnovel and webtoon. The publisher, known for its manga and light novel releases, followed up that success with an announcement about their intent to bring more South Korean titles to North American audiences. Their next release is The Abandoned Empress by Yuna and iNA. The webtoon follows Aristia, who was raised to be the companion of the future emperor. Alas, not everything goes according to plan. She finds herself cast aside for another woman. To add insult to injury, she’s killed. But she doesn’t stay dead. She gets a second chance at life and this time, Aristia intends to take control of her own destiny.
The Webtoon digital platform launches new series regularly. Their monthly launch events often serve as a way for dedicated users to earn coins for checking out new titles. While The Hellbound is perhaps the most noteworthy of titles released in recent weeks, here are some other series worth looking at—especially for readers hoping for something that’s not horror.
Wished You Were Dead by Seocheong and Aran
King Karloi and his wife, Evonne, have a disastrous marriage, to say the least. Karloi despises his father-in-law, who has made no secret of his murderous ambitions for the throne. This hate strains his relationship with Evonne, leading him to treat her badly. But his wife has a secret, one that could change his perspective—if only he’d give her a chance.
My Universe by gongyi and monnkyoung kim
College student Hayeon is normal in every way—except for her ability to communicate with outer space. Thanks to this talent, one day she meets an alien named Ujun. To further complicate matters, Ujun proceeds to possess the body of Hayeon’s crush. Unlike other Webtoon series, My Universe is complete and ready for binge-reading for avid readers.
Study Group by Hyungwook Kim and Seungyeon Ryu
Yusung Technical High School doesn’t have the best reputation. In fact, it’s considered the proving ground for future criminals. That doesn’t stop Gamin from having higher ambitions, though. He intends to defy the odds and get into university. He just needs to find a study group first.
The Greatest Estate Developer by Lee hyunmin and Kim Hyunsoo
Never let it be said that all transmigration stories feature the same kind of characters. Suho Kim is a civil engineering student. When he wakes up in the fantasy novel he was reading, he realizes he’s become a lazy noble whose family is burdened by a mountain of debt. Refusing to accept his character’s original fate, Suho proceeds to use his educational background to change his future.
While Webtoon is certainly the most popular and well-known webcomic platform, it’s not the only one. Plenty of new series have launched on sites like Manta, Tappytoon, and Tapas as well.
Death Candle by Leu
Bullied Mimi wants nothing more than to die. Alas, she always fails and ends up surviving. Mimi’s on the verge of giving up when she finds a website named “Death Candle.” There, she strikes a deal with a demon: she’ll help him collect souls and in exchange, he’ll help her die.
Leave Me Alone by fee1
After a difficult time in middle school, Doeun returns to her hometown to attend high school. She’s hoping for a quiet, uneventful educational life. Unfortunately, her childhood friends are now the hottest, most popular guys in school and refuse to leave her alone. Oh well.
To Melt Your Frozen Heart by ma’am and Schgitzel
If you’re looking for an unconventional romance, look no further. To Melt Your Frozen Heart features a weak male protagonist and the strong female knight heroine whose love he hopes to win.
What’s Wrong with Your Online Life by Jeong Gyeong Yun, Sinok, and Hwajin
Lee Hojin may seem like your perfect eligible bachelor, but he has a big secret. He’s a huge internet troll. Meanwhile, shy and pretty Han Seojung pretends to be a vulgar guy online. Active on the same forum, the two are online besties. But internet and offline collide when the two meet in real life as a potential marriage match.
The Flowers Dances and the Wind Sings by Sang Hang and Ianella
As Ersella lays dying, she has one regret. She wishes she had been a better mother. Unexpectedly, she gets a second chance and is sent three years back in time. But correcting her previous mistakes may be more complicated than at first glance.
That’s a lot of new webtoon releases, right? Horror, fantasy, action, and romance–there’s something for everyone!