Manhwa, the Korean term for comics or graphic novels, has seen a surge in popularity worldwide in recent years. One of the most striking things about manhwa is the breathtakingvisual beauty of the art. Manhwa artists are truly masters of their craft, using fabulous illustrations to bring their creative visions to life through beautiful art.
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Many top manhwa feature beautifully rendered scenery, elegant character designs, and vivid action sequences. The composition and flow of the panels also showcase the artistic talents behind these works. Whether it’s the dreamlike quality of the art in romantic tales or the high-impact panels in action manhwa, the visuals are just as engaging as the storytelling.
10Sweet Home
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 8.26
Sweet Home
Illustrator:Hwang Youngchan
Why Read Sweet Home Manhwa?
Sweet Home is a South Korean horror-thriller webtoon (a digital manhwa) written by Kim Carnby. Beneath its unassuming facade, Green Home harbors horrors beyond imagination. Young Hyun-soo discovers this all too late, seeking solace in the apartment after his family’stragic death. But soon, the monsters emerge – within the very walls.
A series of bizarre and terrifying incidents begin to happen, which turn people into grotesque monsters based on their internal desires, fears, and insecurities. The art of Sweet Home is one of its key features. Hwang Youngchan’s style is both gritty and detailed, creating a chilling atmosphere that enhances the horror elements of the story. In 2020, Sweet Home was adapted into a live-action series by Netflix, bringing the intense and suspenseful story to a wider international audience.
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August 01, 2025
9Cheese In The Trap
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 7.95
Cheese in the Trap
Illustrator:Soon Kki
Why Read Cheese in the Trap?
Cheese in the Trap is a widely acclaimed South Korean webtoon created by Soonkki. The plot of Cheese in the Trap is a complex mix of romance, psychological drama, andslice-of-life. It explores various themes, such as the masks people wear in society, the pressures of academic life, and the complexities of human relationships. The characters are well-developed, and the narrative does a great job of revealing their inner thoughts and motivations, making for a deeply engaging read.
The art in Cheese in the Trap is relatively simple compared to some other manhwa, but it is incredibly effective. The characters are drawn with clean lines and are easily distinguishable from each other. The backgrounds are often minimalistic, which helps to keep the focus on the characters and their interactions. The use of color is also noteworthy. Most of the webtoon is in full color, and the artist uses different hues to convey the mood of each scene.
Where to Read
August 22, 2025
8The God Of High School
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 7.0
The God Of High School
Author & Illustrator:Yongje Park
Why Read The God of High School?
The God of High School is a South Korean webtoon written and illustrated by Yongje Park. It’s about a high schooler named Jin Mori, who is invited to join a martial arts tournament known as The God of High School. Korea’sstrongest fightersjoin this arena to compete. While the premise appears simple initially, the story soon deepens and expands into a grand epic involving gods, demons, and the fate of the world.
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The artwork in The God of High School is vibrant and detailed, with a style that’s well-suited to the intense, action-packed sequences. Yongje Park’s art style evolves as the series progresses, becoming more refined and dynamic. The different martial art styles and supernatural abilities are depicted with a level of detail and creativity that brings them to life on the page.
June 30, 2025
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 6.8
Illustrator:Lee Kwangsu
Why Read Noblesse?
The story follows Cadis Etrama Di Raizel, a powerful noble who has awoken from an 820-year-long sleep and is trying to adapt to the modern world. The narrative unfolds as Rai encounters various other supernatural creatures, includingmodified humans, werewolves, and fellow nobles.
The color palette is often reduced, featuring predominantly grayscale images with occasional splashes of color for emphasis. The illustrator, Lee Kwangsu, does an excellent job of giving each character a unique look that matches their personality, which is a crucial aspect of character-focused stories. Lee also uses creative panel layouts and perspective shifts to make the battles feel more immersive and intense.
Where to Watch
July 27, 2025
6Winter Woods
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 8.05
Winter Woods
Illustrator:Van Ji
Why Read Winter Woods?
Winter Woods is a hauntingly beautiful story that combines elements of drama,romance, andsupernatural genres. The story follows an immortal man named Winter, who was created long ago through alchemy. Winter’s life changes when he meets a woman named Jane Reina, a writer with an outgoing personality. The illustrator, Van Ji, uses a delicate and detailed art style that suits the story’s tone perfectly.
Winter, with his white hair, pale skin, and ethereal appearance, perfectly encapsulates his otherworldly origins and ageless existence. In contrast, Jane, with her warm tones and expressive features, embodies the liveliness and emotional richness of human life. Lastly, the panel layout in Winter Woods is worth mentioning. The illustrator often plays with the panel shapes and sizes to guide the reader’s eye and control the pacing of the story.
July 13, 2025
5The Remarried Empress
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 8.04
The Remarried Empress
Illustrator:Sumpul
Why Read The Remarried Empress?
The Remarried Empress blends elements of drama, romance, andhistorical fiction, set in an alternate universe reminiscent of European medieval times. Empress Navier Troby, despite her dedication and competence, gets entangled in a love triangle when her husband, Emperor Sovieshu, brings home a mistress who desires to replace Navier.
After a series of events, Navier decides to divorce the Emperor and remarry, hence the title The Remarried Empress. The artwork of The Remarried Empress is one of its most celebrated aspects. Sumpul, the illustrator, employs a detailed and extravagant art style that perfectly complements the royal setting and high-stakes drama of the story. The color palette is rich and vibrant, with jewel tones often used to emphasize the grandeur and opulence of the royal setting. Furthermore, Sumpul’s ability to portray emotions through facial expressions and body language is commendable.
August 05, 2025
4A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 7.5
A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special
Illustrator:Wookjakga
Why Read A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special?
A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special falls within the fantasy andadventure genres, incorporating elements of action and time travel. The narrative revolves around Desir Arman, one of the last survivors in a world devastated by the Shadow Labyrinth. In a desperate attempt to avoid extinction, Desir is transported back in time to the period when he was a student at the prestigious Hebrion Academy.
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Armed with knowledge of the future, Desir takes it upon himself to prevent the impending doom. The detailed illustrations, dynamic action sequences, and effective use of color and lighting all contribute to the webtoon’s engaging and immersive reading experience.
August 12, 2025
3Purple Hyacinth
My Anime List (MAL) Score - N/A
Illustrator:Sophism
Why Read Purple Hyacinth?
Purple Hyacinth follows Lauren Sinclair, an officer in the Police Department who possesses a unique ability to detect lies. She teams up with the notorious assassin, Kieran White (also known as the Purple Hyacinth), to uncover a conspiracy within her city and seek justice for her tragically murdered family.
The artwork in Purple Hyacinth is often praised for its atmospheric quality and its ability to bring the dark, mysterious world of the story to life. It combines elements of Victorian and semi-steampunk aesthetics. One notable aspect of the art in Purple Hyacinth is the depiction of action scenes and murder scenes. Despite the dark nature of these scenes, the art remains visually appealing and even artistic.
June 16, 2025
2Tower Of God
Tower Of God
Illustrator:SIU (Slave. In. Utero.)
Why Read Tower Of God?
Tower of God revolves around Twenty-Fifth Bam, a young boy who enters the tower in search of his best friend,Rachel. As he progresses through the tower’s levels, he encounters various challenges, meets diverse characters, and gradually uncovers the tower’s complex politics and hidden secrets. One of the most notable aspects of Tower of God’s art is its world-building.
Each floor of the tower has a unique environment, and SIU does an excellent job of visually representing these varied settings. From lush forests to barren deserts, from bustling cities to eerie dungeons, the backgrounds are detailed and atmospheric, giving a sense of scale and wonder to the tower. SIU often uses unusual angles and viewpoints to create a sense of depth and three-dimensionality in his panels. This technique is particularly effective in action scenes and large-scale shots of the tower.
August 07, 2025
1Solo Leveling
My Anime List (MAL) Score - 8.6
Solo Leveling
Illustrator:Dubu
Why Read Solo Levelling?
The story centers around Sung Jin-Woo, initially known as the World’sWeakest Hunter.However, after a near-death experience in a particularly dangerous dungeon, Jin-Woo awakens as a player with the ability to see an interface only he can access. He can now level up his skills and abilities, essentially becoming a solo player in a dangerous game. Sung Jin-Woo’s character design is a standout aspect of the art. He starts as a weak-looking, almost frail character - a visual representation of his initial status as the weakest hunter.
As the story progresses and Jin-Woo grows in power, his appearance evolves to reflect his increasing strength and confidence. The action scenes in Solo Leveling are a visual spectacle. They are drawn with high levels of detail and dynamic motion, creating a sense of speed and impact. The illustrator makes excellent use of perspective and panel layout to enhance the intensity of these scenes. The action is easy to follow yet packed with enough detail to convey the unique abilities and combat styles of the characters.
August 11, 2025
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