Balancing reading for fun and reading for school can be difficult, and the stress of starting a new book can be immense. However, the future for college readers is not dark; if you want to get back into reading (or get into reading at all), I highly recommend reading Webtoons.
Webtoon, founded in 2004, is an app (also viewable through its website on phones) dedicated to the creation of free, online graphic web series. Each story, called a “Webtoon,” is designed for handheld reading. Webtoons are broken up into chapters called “episodes,” with art being organized to complement the vertical scrolling used on phones. The platform consists of Webtoon Original stories (artists and writers who are paid by the platform to create) and Webtoon CANVAS stories (artists and writers who publish their content to the platform independently).
Webtoons typically update once or twice a week, and with each episode taking no more than five minutes to read, they are the ideal form of leisure literature for the busy college student. The stunning art that accompanies the stories may also be a nice break from the usual homework reading, further adding to the relaxing nature of Webtoons. This is not to say that Webtoons will make you tired. Rather, you will be on the edge of your seat as you read them. Webtoon has mastered the art of cliff-hangers, and I’m here for it.
No matter what book genres you read, you are bound to find at least a few Webtoons to enjoy every week. Below, you will find some Webtoons that I highly recommend looking into:
“Lore Olympus” (genres: mythology, romance) (ongoing)
A retelling of the myth of Persephone and Hades, in a world where the gods live with
modern technologies while the mortals are still in the classical Greek age. “Lore Olympus” reimagines Greek mythology, adapting it and melding it to fit one cohesive story (to this point, not every piece of Greek canon is canon in Lore Olympus, and some details are changed entirely). The brightly-colored art style is gorgeous, and the story arcs are more dramatic than a reality television show (a high bar to clear, I know).
“Heartstopper” (genre: romance, slice of life) (ongoing)
Soon to be a TV show on Netflix, “Heartstopper” revolves around the life of Charlie and
Nick, who meet at a British all-boys school. “Heartstopper” is the ideal Webtoon for the slice-of-life-lovers out there, and the Webtoon features some of the most well-developed group of side characters I have seen in a while. Their plots are equally compelling to Nick and Charlie’s, and yet they do not overshadow or detract from the main storyline. Each character grapples with a different aspect of high school, and in all, each subplot complements the others.
“Asterion” (genres: drama, sci-fi) (ongoing)
What if wishing on a star could bring about real, tangible change? “Asterion” (also the
name of the Webtoon’s main character) explores the lives of those who wish on stars and those responsible for granting those wishes. Granting wishes, though it may appear like a fairytale, is not a fairytale. The wish-granting industry that “Asterion” works for grapples with its own inner power struggles, and some people make wishes they may not actually want to come true. The Webtoon explores acts of desperation made at the last second to midnight and their consequences.
“The Croaking” (genres: fantasy) (ongoing)
In a world where society revolves around bird species hierarchies, there is a noticeable
distrust of crows. When Scra is the first crow accepted into the world’s most prestigious
military academy, his roommate Ky is suspicious about where he goes every night. That’s just the start of the two’s eventual friendship, uncovering deeper secrets of their society, and what the meaning of the mysterious “Croaking.” “The Croaking” creates an immersive and modernized fantasy universe with an incredibly well thought out history. As of the time of writing this, I do not yet know what the “Croaking” is, and I am on the edge of my seat waiting to find out.
“Jackson’s Diary” (genres: supernatural) (ongoing)
In 1989, Jackson starts his senior year at a new high school. Despite receiving a new
start, something feels amiss at school. It’s not until he meets Exer (resident popular kid)
that his reality really starts to change and feel more supernatural. I love the way that the
characters’ emotions are so clearly drawn; in a glance, you know exactly what is going
on in someone’s head. The Webtoon plays up the mystery of what is going on in
Jackson’s life while also exploring his relationships with his family and peers.
“Not Even Bones” (genres: thriller, supernatural) (ongoing)
Adapted from a book trilogy of the same name, Nita lives in a world where supernatural
beings are real—and who do not have the same rights as their human neighbors. Nita works for her mother, dissecting supernaturals and not concerning herself with the ethical implications until one fateful day, where she ends up on the other end of the knife. I really enjoyed book one of the original trilogy, and it has been fascinating to see two different artists visualize their takes on the book. “Not Even Bones” handles the themes of family life, humanity, friendship, and what makes a human human beautifully. (Note: this series is graphically violent at times due to its content.)
“Muted” (genre: supernatural) (ongoing)
A story of generational trauma and powerful magical families. Camille Severin is
expected to perform a ritual to summon a demon to bring her family success on her 21st birthday, but when the ritual goes wrong, it reveals the dark underside of her family and herself. “Muted” has the perfect balance of sweet moments that get you emotionally attached to the characters and then moments of heightened tension where everything you have come to love comes crashing down. The illustrations are drawn in such a way that it almost feels as though they are moving. “Muted” focuses on the themes of family heritage and inner-personal acceptance—similar to the themes present in Disney’s Encanto.
“Castle Swimmer” (genres: fantasy, adventure) (ongoing)
In an underwater world filled with oceanic life, the Beacon’s entire life is ruled by
prophecy. He wanders around the depths of the waters, fulfilling each civilization’s
prophecy before moving to the next. But what if he wants to choose a different course? I love how “Castle Swimmer” explores the found family trope, as well as its exploration of truth from different perspectives.
“Miss Abbot and the Doctor” (genres: romance, slice of life) (completed)
Doctor Marino lives a quiet life in his small town, that is, before the wild Miss Abbott
arrives. A romantic comedy set in the Victorian era. “Miss Abbot and the Doctor” really
reminded me of a longer version of “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, with some
fantastic side plots thrown in for good measure. The illustrations are sketchy with a
certain kind of warmth that draws you in.
“House of Stars” (genres: fantasy, adventure) (completed)
Lily lives in a boring town where nothing interesting ever happens, until young girls who
stray into the forest begin to go missing. Drawn to solving the mystery, Lily finds herself on a dangerous mission, and it’s not just her world at stake—the magical world right below her feet needs saving, too. “House of Stars” is reminiscent of the everyday living and subsequent fantasy of a Studio Ghibli movie, with expansive full-screen illustrations to top it all off.
“Always Human” (genres: romance, sci-fi) (completed)
In a world where technology has far-surpassed the modern day, you can change your
appearance through genetic engineering at a moment’s notice. “Always Human” is a story about two girls, one of which is unable to use this technology, and that despite how technological advancement alters us and our society, we will always be human. Although “Always Human” falls in the sci-fi genre, it has a distinct almost fairytale-like quality to it.
With new content added at a near-weekly rate, you will always be able to find something new and exciting. Happy reading!
Some other Webtoons of note for additional reading: “Suitor Armour,” “Heir’s Game,” “Of Swamp and Sea,” “Pyramid Game,” “Finding Wonderland,” “Sunflowers and Lavender,” “The Wolfman of Wulvershire,” “Lady Knight,” “The Wrath and the Dawn,” “Cursed Princess Club,” “Blood Stain,” “Raven Saga,” “When Jasy Whistles,” “Force Aquatica,” “The Witch,” “LUFF,” “Star Children,” “The Little Trashmaid,” “Have You Any Fear?,” “Brimstone and Roses,” “Punderworld,” “The Doctors are Out,” “The Witch and the Bull,” “The Reaper and the Waiting,” “Crumbs,” “Gourmet Hound” and ‘Emmy the Robot.”
