A few weeks ago I talked about different forms of reading, and what counts as literature. In short, most things count as reading, in my eyes. Audio books, eBooks, light novels, and the subject of today’s article: Webcomics.

I read a ton of webcomics (also commonly referred to as webtoons) in high school, and there are some that are still near and dear to me to this day. I’ve fallen off the webcomic band wagon lately, but I wanted to revisit some of my favorites and share where they are at now. Many of the comics I followed are now available in print copy, which means I can enjoy the stories I love in physical form.

I got my start on the app WebToons, which is one of, if not the, premier spot for online webcomic posting (at least for us English readers! There are other hubs for Korean and Japanese webcomics). Typically, a webtoon will update weekly, releasing chapters one at a time for a season, akin to TV shows. It’s fun finding new comics to read and getting to catch up, then enjoy the weekly updates. Often times, when a comic is finished, it goes onto the Daily Pass list, meaning you get a free chapter (or two) everyday. You can also purchase the whole series to read as fast as you want, with each chapter being about 50 cents. It’s a great way to still enjoy a finished series while still getting daily content, and super fans can still support the artists when they enjoy the finished comic by purchasing all of it. All of the comics below are available on the app for free, most of which require Daily Pass. So if they sound interesting to you, be prepared to slowly enjoy them, or to buy the series outright.

I’ve noticed an uptick in physical releases for webcomics (hence the timing of this article), and learned about the creation of WEBTOON Unscrolled, their imprint company, which got its start a few years ago and is quickly picking up. This means that many of my favorites which were once only digital may soon be on my shelves! Without further adieu, here are a handful of my favorites, and how you can read them yourself.

Siren’s Lament – instantmiso

This was the story that got me started with WebToons. I love mermaid stories, and when I saw an ad for this beautiful comic, I was hooked. A touching story about family, love, and finding yourself, I can’t recommend it enough. It has one of the best written love triangles I’ve ever seen, and the main character, Lyra, is relatable and enjoyable to follow. Also, there are many episodes that feature beautiful musical accompaniments that really enhance the whole experience.

This comic is about Lyra, a young woman who is struggling with the unrequited feelings she has over her childhood best friend. Since she has a broken heart, she becomes the target of a siren, who can give her a kiss and transfer the curse to her. The siren would become a human again, able to start a new life. She would lose her memories and live as a siren, until she finds another human to pass it on to. But when the curse is only partially transferred, she must team up with Ian to find a way to keep them both as humans.

This comic in not in print and does not currently have plans to be released physically, so it can only be read via the WebToons app. The author has a few other comics available to read, Eaternal Nocturnal and Fae Trapped. I’ve read all of the former, but haven’t yet gotten to check out the latter.

Hooky – Miriam Bonastre Tur

One of my younger siblings recommended Hooky to me, and I ate it right up in record speed, reading it when it was fully finished, before it got the Day Pass treatment. If you like magic schools, witches and wizards, and kingdoms at war, check this one out. It’s really heartfelt, has a plot that goes from lighthearted to serious in the best ways, and has wonderful sibling dynamics, as well as great relationships between the characters.

The story starts with twin siblings Dani and Dorian, as they miss the bus that was supposed to take them to magic school. Instead of admitting their mistake to their parents, they decide to have an adventure of their own where they can practice their magic. Little do they know, but missing the bus may just be the best thing that happens to them, as they meet new friends, learn some secrets about the magical world, and figure out which side they will wind up on.

This was one of the first WebToons to get printed, and I’m lucky enough to have all three editions on my hands! The art translated very well to print, and it’s wonderful to get to behold this great story with more than just my eyes. It’s still available to read online, as well as another comic by the same author, titled Marionetta, which you can find online or in print later this year.

Of Swamp and Sea – Mia Jay and Laurel Boulton

I’ll admit, I’m not caught up on this one. I think I fell off the WebToons bus while this series was on its final season break, but I still can wholeheartedly recommend this comic to you all.

This series features monsters and curses, a world struggling to determine what a true ‘monster’ is, and a girl who is thrown into the mix after the death of her father. Mercy hires Jonah, a monster hunter, to track down the beast. Instead the two need to team up when it possess her, giving her the burden of its bestial power. Good romance, great discussions of good versus evil (and how to define evil), and an enjoyable journey of self-discovery and acceptance ensue.

While of course you can check it out on the app, this comic just recently has begun to be printed, meaning you can enjoy it in both modalities.

A Good Day to be a Dog – Lee Hey

This was another one of my first comics I read, and one that I still find myself thinking about. It has good humor, touching characters, and a romance that is atypical while still feeling natural.

In this series, Hana and her family have a unique curse. When they get their first kiss, they turn into a dog at night, until they receive a second kiss from the same person while in dog form. Hana is a school teacher who has avoided love and the curse, until she kisses one of her coworkers after a night of drinking. As if that wasn’t already hard enough, Hana discovers that he is terrified of dogs, making her chances of getting a second kiss incredibly slim.

This series is available through day pass, or in print (although most print copies are in Korean!) The comic was also adapted into a K-Drama, so you can watch the adaptation as well. It’s a fun premise, and the author has another series, See You in My 19th Life, which is also finished and very good.

Raven Saga – Chihiro Howe

If you like fairy tales, beautiful art, and a fun adventure, try out Raven Saga, which isn’t finished yet, but has a lot to offer.

Wen is a young girl who has lived her whole life in a cabin behind a magical barrier to keep her safe. But when her grandmother is captured, she must journey beyond her home to save her, all while learning secrets about herself, her family, and her hidden potential. She’s joined along the way by a forgotten prince, a boy named Corliss who has some sort of connection to her. Throughout their adventures, they encounter classic fairy tale characters and get closer and closer to the truth behind the various mysteries in the world.

Raven Saga is in a bit of a weird place currently. The first two seasons are available on the app, and volume two of the physical edition is about to be released in a few days, but there isn’t much news about when and where future seasons can be read. But check out what is available, and enjoy the story we have so far!

High-Class Homos – Momozerii

I actually started following this comic when it was being shared on Instagram. I was excited to continue to support it when it came to WebToons, and enjoyed following the new chapters until I went inactive. I really need to get back to these comics…

The premise for this one is really fun. A gay prince and a lesbian princess from two different kingdoms make a deal. They will get married to appease their parents and create an alliance in their kingdoms. On the outside, they will be a devoted and loving couple. But in secret, they will have their suitors, who will serve as their royal guard or lady’s maid, respectively. Fun romantic antics, great soul searching, and an eventual mystery reveal make this comic light hearted, enjoyable, and a great piece of queer media.

This one is also available online or in print, with issue two having just been published earlier this year.

Space Boy – Stephen McCranie

Space Boy has been running on and off for almost a decade, and has loads of episodes to check out. It’s one of the only sci-fi WebToons that I’ve read, and has some incredible depth and heart behind it. There are over 350 chapters currently posted online, so if you’re in need of a longer story, check this one out.

In the future, Amy and her family live on a mining colony in deep space. But when the mine closes and her dad loses his job, their family needs to relocate to Earth, a journey that will take three decades. They travel while in cryogenic pods, meaning Amy wakes up in both a new place, and in a new time. While adjusting to her new life, she meets a boy, Oliver, who seems to have the emptiness of space inside of him. In the background, an alien artifact, is about to be observed in person by humans for the first time.

You can read this bad boy for free on the app, or you can check out the 23 volumes that contain the story thus far. I look forward to seeing this comic finished one day. Updates have been slow over the last few years as the author devotes time to raising his kids, but it’ll be well worth the wait.

Mystical – VAN.J

I have to end with one of the most beautiful comics I’ve read, Mystical. This one is finished, and will have you feeling all kinds of whimsy, heartbreak, and wanderlust, in all the best ways.

Garam is an artist who, after the death of his mother, moves to his grandmother’s old house to focus on his art and process his grief. While there, he finds a mysterious stone, which, when submerged in the water, turns into a beautiful water spirit. The spirit, which he calls, Myst, has none of her memories, but becomes more and more like a human the more time she spends with him. She becomes his muse, and helps him love his art and himself once again.

Once again, you can find this story on the app, or read the physical copies in Korean. The art is wonderful, the setting beautiful, and the story heartwarming and melancholy at the same time.

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Wow! I a lot more that I can share, so maybe stay tuned for a part two? Honestly, writing this article has made me very nostalgic for these stories, so I very likely may redownload the app to revisit them. If you’re in need of some good things to read before bed, or want something to read without carrying a book around, WebToons are a great way to go! And remember, it still counts as reading, with the added enjoyment of art to go with it.

Enjoy!

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