Top 5 Binge-worthy Webtoons to Read Before You Die

Alexandra Yu
6 min readDec 27, 2020

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Love reading comics? Things that update on a weekly basis? Then you should read webtoons! Below I have listed my top 5 favorite webtoons of all time that are sure to pull at heartstrings and leave you thirsting for the next week’s episode!

But… WHAT is a webtoon?

LINE Webtoon logo

LINE Webtoon, more commonly known as Webtoon, was founded by JunKoo Kim in 2004. The popular app and website contains online comics that are posted by aspiring artists, updating on a bi-weekly, weekly, monthly, or other recurring basis. The stories span a variety of genres, from action and fantasy to slice of life, mystery, or romance. All webtoons start out on Canvas, where anyone can publish a webtoon for free. If a Canvas webtoon gains popularity, the author restarts the series and the comic becomes a Webtoon Original where the creators are paid by Webtoon.

Now… On To My Top 5 Favorite Webtoons of All Time!

5. Cursed Princess Club by LambCat(comedy)

Screenshot from an episode of Cursed Princess Club (belongs to author)

Blurb about the series from the author:

Meet Gwendolyn — living proof that princesses don’t always have it all. See, although she lives in a castle and her father is the King, Gwendolyn isn’t like a movie princess, or even a fairly-tale princess. She’s got a big heart, but isn’t particularly attractive and doesn’t have a Disney-quality singing voice. But one night, she accidentally stumbles upon the twisted world of the Cursed Princess Club, and her life will never be the same. Hexed and cast out, the ladies of the club are just the people Gwendolyn needs to show her that just because she doesn’t “fit the mold” does not mean she’s any less of a princess.

Cursed Princess Club is an inspiring and uplifting webtoon sure to brighten spirits with its dash of youthful humor! After meeting with the princesses in the Cursed Princess Club, Gwendolyn, the youngest princess of the Pastel Kingdom, slowly begins to navigate the turbulence in her life. As more problems arise, the relationships between the characters are strengthened, and one can be reminded about the kindness and loyalty that can be found through true friendships. Cursed Princess Club addresses ideas of self-love, sisterhood, and problems even princesses can’t avoid. Every week, be ready to laugh a little and aww at the kindness of the characters in this webtoon!

Click this link to read Cursed Princess Club!

4. Midnight Poppy Land by Lilydusk (romance)

Screenshot from an episode of Midnight Poppy Land (belongs to author)

Blurb about the series from the author:

After making a grisly discovery in the countryside, a small town book editor’s life gets entangled with a young Mafia lord and his intimidating bodyguard…even as every step she takes draws her deeper into the dangerous underworld of the city.

Although Midnight Poppy Land may be a bit slow and confusing at the beginning, stick with it! The plot development and character growth as the series progresses is amazing. Poppy, the main character, is an editor for a small publishing company, while Tora is a mysterious bodyguard for the heir of one of the most prominent gangs in the city. As their lives suddenly begin to entwine, the plot thickens — throughout the series, Lilydusk keeps you on the edge of your seat, engaged till the very last panel, and obsessively checking your phone in anticipation for the next week’s episode!

Click this link to read Midnight Poppy Land!

3. Freaking Romance by Snailords (romance — completed series)

Screenshot from an episode of Freaking Romance (belongs to author)

Blurb about the series from the author:

A sexy supernatural story about being out on your own, finding your dream apartment and discovering that your new place is haunted by a handsome spectral stranger from another dimension. Sure, HE can’t see you and YOU can’t touch him, but who said every relationship starts out perfectly?

WOW! Snailords is a master at cliffhangers and pulling at heartstrings! Every week, I was left wanting more — the complex pasts of the characters allows the plot to evolve to a new level every time it is read, and one is sure to go back and analyze (maybe a little too obsessively… :) previous scenes and conversations. Zylinth, the main character, suddenly encounters Zelan, a mysterious green-haired boy. They live in the same apartment, yet two dimensions apart! This tale of their heart-wrenching and lovable romance is amazing, and look forward to a 3+ hour binge of this series!

2. Purple Hyacinth by Ephemerys / Sophism (Mystery)

Screenshot from an episode of Purple Hyacinth (belongs to author)

Blurb about the series from the author:

Her ability to detect lies has made her an outstanding officer of the law — despite being haunted by her inability to save the ones she loved from a gruesome fate many years ago. Now, she uses her powerful gift to defend the defenseless at any cost — even if it means teaming up with a deadly assassin to fight evil in a world gone mad.

Lauren, a police detective, has the amazing ability to determine whether or not someone is lying. Kieran is the Purple Hyacinth, famed assassin for the Phantom Scythe terrorist group. As a looming terrorist plot threatens to disrupt peace in the city, they team up to take down corruption in Ardhalis. I cannot describe how captivating this webtoon is — the plot, the art, and even the music helps set a devious mood, trapping me in the episode and reading as fast as my brain can process! Ephemerys and Sophism have created a mind-bending, mysterious, and entrancing webtoon, a story that will captivate you no matter what episode you are on!

1. Eleceed by Jeho Son / ZHENA

Screenshot from an episode of Eleceed (belongs to author)

Blurb about the series from the author:

Jiwoo is a kind-hearted young man who harnesses the lightning quick reflexes of a cat to secretly make the world a better place — one saved little child or foster pet at a time. Kayden is a secret agent on the run, who finds himself stuck in the body of a…um…decidedly fat old fluffy cat. Together, armed with Jiwoo’s super powers and Kayden’s uber-smarts, they’re out to fight those forces who would let evil rule this world. That is, if they can stand each other long enough to get the job done.

This series is just *chef’s kiss*. I LOVE IT SO MUCH!! Jiwoo is a quiet high school boy, a super sweet, loyal, and just all around lovable character that. Kayden, the most powerful Awakened One of all time, is suddenly stuck in the body of a fluffy, chubby tabby cat. One day, Jiwoo stumbles along Kayden, and from there, their relationship blossoms. The loving, humorous conversations between the two will fill your heart to the brim with happiness, and you will be left rooting for the characters every step of the way. Plus, the art is beautiful, and this series is so captivating that every week I always save Eleceed for last (last one is the best one :). If you decide you want to become part of the webtoon community, I highly suggest you start with this one!

If you have made it this far, thank you for listening to me rant about my favorite webtoons! After reading many webtoons for the past three years, I have (*ahem*, maybe a bit too religiously) followed these webtoons as the creators update them each week, and I will say they are the best of the best! Many people in the webtoon community love all these series, and it will be easy to come together and concoct theories about each comic. Feel free to strike up a conversation or ask me any questions about webtoons — have fun reading!

**All pictures, characters, and plot lines belong to the authors of each series or LINE Webtoon. The opinions shared are only my own thoughts :). **

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Alexandra Yu

Alexandra, aka Alex, is a teenager living life to the fullest in the Bay Area. She loves writing, art, and basically anything else she can find to do.