Hello and welcome to our new series, Webtoon April Launch Week Spotlight! As you can probably guess by the name, this series will focus on the various new series that are spotlighted during each April launch week. Which series are off to a stellar start, and which series need a few more episodes to develop? We will explore that here, starting with the month of April!
To The Stars and Back
While the premise certainly isn’t anything new, To The Stars and Back is full of charm and humor. The two main characters might be tropes we have all seen before, but creator Peglo has injected little quirks into each of them that makes them easy to fall for. The situations that the characters sit through are genuinely funny, and slice of life (Probably romance too) fans will find this series a delight.
Opposite of Always
Based on the novel of the same name, Opposite of Always starts off blistering fast, then slows down over the next few episodes. The science fiction and romance come together quite well, with a familiar concept and two characters with nice chemistry. The entire creative team comes together nicely to make something that readers will get invested in. If this series suffers anywhere, it’s the somewhat flat colors and a pace that sort of drags out at inopportune times.
The Tax Reaper
In The Tax Reaper a down on his luck aspiring civil servant finds himself unable to pay his mother’s medical bills or insurance. Ready to throw his life away, he has a chance encounter with a mysterious man that offers the protagonist an opportunity to take down wealthy people who abuse the tax system. The protagonist seems to have a gift for this, and it leads to some absurd situations. The first two episodes are rocky, with stiff dialogue throughout that feels far from natural. By the third episode. Writer WintersleepTurtle seems to settle in, and its easier for readers to suspend their disbelief. While the script isn’t perfect, the lettering and design choices throughout this webtoon are fantastic. Tension and other strong feelings are easily evoked, making this the comic’s greatest success so far.
Nina’s Magic Chest
Nina’s Magic Chest is a colorful adventure full of fun. It successfully switches in tone quite often, from lighthearted and funny to surprisingly dark at times. Young people who are struggling to make everything in their life click will find it easy to connect to Nina. The character designs aren’t noteworthy, but the bold lines and bright colors make this a visually pleasing comic. The third episode give a sort of glimpse as to where the series is going, leaving tons of potential for an interesting plot and mystery. The final panel in episode 3 is especially jarring, hinting at a high cost for Nina’s new paradise.Anyone who is wanting a bright and bubbly webcomic with dark energy looming around the corner will want to check this Webtoon out.
The Fox Club
I think a lot of the comics on this week’s launch week have fairly broad appeal. Most of the series dabble in a couple of genres, grounded in slice of life. This mostly applies to The Fox Club as well, though I don’t think the appeal is as universal here. The Fox Club is about an exclusive club of “It Girls” and how the protagonist and her gorgeous friend get sucked into their politics. It’s a somewhat entertaining premise, but the script is quite wordy and gets into the weeds quite often. There isn’t much action in the first three episodes, making The Fox Club a slow burn. The art is gorgeous on multiple panels, but the characters do look a little stiff, and the style simply doesn’t lend itself well to sequential art. All this to say that The Fox Club has potential and will likely be loved by its target audience, but it is hard to universally recommend.
King of the East
King of the East is another comic that isn’t as accessible to all readers, but in a different direction. It’s an action filled romp with tons of shounen influence. The setting feels unique, even if the characters and premise feel familiar. The story involves an old tale where the sky once had ten suns that burned the planet and filled it with demons. A great hero killed nine of the ten suns, saving the world but enraging the mother of those suns. Now our fairly typical protagonist needs to save the world from the demons being released by the angry mother. The art is the issue’s strongpoint, especially in the third episode. Everything moves great between the panels and the black and white flashbacks look remarkable. It’s too early to tell if King of the East will be exceptional, but it is certainly off to a strong start.
Roach
As the only horror comic on this list, Roach is the most uncomfortable read here. It doesn’t spend any time on build up-and by the end of the first episode everything feels gross and awful. Anyone who has a phobia of roaches will feel their skin crawl. The art style works for the tone of the story, and the creative team does an excellent job of taking advantage of the comic’s format. The use of black, empty space while scrolling creates dread, and these moments are just long enough to maintain the pacing that the series needs. There are still many questions to be answered so it’s hard to fully recommend Roach just yet, but there is enough here to keep reading for horror enthusiasts.
Lily Crown
Lily Crown will likely grip most readers instantly with its powerful opening and gorgeous art style. This colorful style is juxtaposed by a feeling of dread. That feeling gets validated as the tone suddenly shifts with a wedding announcement. The series about a young girl who escapes an awful political marriage with her two nights plays with tons of genres through just the first three episodes. The pacing is a little rocky, with some scenes feeling too short while others are too long. Still, the premise will hook many readers, and the stellar sequential art and creative lettering makes this a series worth sticking with for a bit.
Rewriting The Villainess
Writer and artist Honghye plays with the “Waking up in another world” trope in Rewriting The Villainess. A commander from a time filled with knights and conquest has her heart broken, and she wakes up in the modern world in a high schooler’s body. She is surrounded by people who look like her old peers and enemies, and even finds out that the girl who’s body she possessed is actually the author of her world. Worse, she is the villain of the world. This is a fun opening that might be full of tropes, but the characters and scenarios are so endearing that this is easy to ignore. The art looks nice, with a style that fits the slice of life narrative. The characters are wildly expressive and the panels are staged in a way that makes this Webtoon enjoyable to follow. Anyone who wants a nice “reverse isekai” with slice of life vibes will want to check Rewriting the Villainess out.
It’s On
The watercolor style, comfy vibes, and late 2000’s technology will make anyone who wants a relaxing and nostalgic fall for It’s On. It’s yet another slice of life comic, though this one feels different due to the art and the premise. It’s On focuses on two siblings who move to Los Angeles from Korea. It feels like nothing actually happens in It’s On, but the characters’ trying to thrive in their new setting is nothing short of entertaining. Anyone who doesn’t mind a more relaxed read that will hold a grip on their hearts will enjoy It’s On.
