by After KPOP, K-drama, and the Oscar-winning film Parasite, South Korea have a new export that feeds their economy. Webtoon is becoming very lucrative to many South Korean comic artists. Many of them are getting millions to billions of views which helps them to monetize their works.
Webtoon is gaining mainstream attention for one reason. These webcomics are free and have the quality of expensive graphic novels. Unlike Japanese Mangas that are black and white, These Korean comics are in full color. So they are more visually interesting to read. You have to pay money to read American comics and Japanese manga, legally. Webtoon artists make money from merch sales, fan donations, and adaptations.
Print Media is dying, and that made South Korea go with the ever changing times by using the internet so people can digitally read Webtoons. People are also broke to buy comic books and manga. You can read Webtoons with your browser or with an app.
They also have diverse genres from drama, romance, porn, mystery, adventure, to horror to action.
There is a Webtoon for all tastes, preferences, and age groups.
Webtoons are getting mainstream attention now because they got adapted into tv shows and movies. Many Korean dramas of the romance genre are adaptations of Webtoons.
The Art style of Webtoon is similar to Anime and manga but the characters look less cutesy. Most Webtoon creators are self publish, They just upload their works in the Webtoon website. It is seen now as the next Wattpad because of the mainstream adaptations it's getting.
Horror Webtoon Sweet Home got adapted into a Netflix tv series.
Action-adventure Webtoon Tower of God is adapted into an Anime. It is the first Korean work that became an Anime in Japan.
The South Korean entertainment industry is very supportive of the Webtoon industry that they are being adapted into movies and tv shows. Most Webtoons are set in Korea while others have foreign characters. So that's why some Webtoons might get Hollywood adaptations.
You don't need to be a Korean to be a Webtoon writer, Some American writers just partner became Webtoon writers. You have more chance to get mainstream attention if you make your characters Korean but it is not necessary since Tower of God doesn't have Korean characters.
Something that annoys me with Manga and Anime is the rampant unnecessary incest and pedophilia so I can see Webtoons taking over Anime and manga because they have a broader appeal and don't rely too much on tropes.
Western audiences are alienated by Japanese fiction's sexualization of underage kids on manga and Anime and the incestuous characters. I mean in almost every Manga and Anime I had seen there is an underage character who dates an adult or cousins or siblings who are too romantic with each other.
Americans are also moving on to Webtoon because of some controversial business decisions of Marvel and DC.
Comic sales in America is all time low while the biggest Audience of Korean Webtoons are now Americans. Many Webtoons are available in all languages.
Marvel insulted their fans with these unreadable garbage.
Gender Swapped and race bended version of the X-men.
African American female Gambit, Female Cyclops with Lesbian haircut,Tiktoker Male Black Archangel and Male Jean Grey.
New Warriors- The most unmarketable looking Superhero team I had ever seen and their powers are lame. The guy with glasses inhaled Internet Gas, so his brain is internet.
The girl with Blue hair is Non Binary and you will be accused Bigot if you use female pronouns because Non Binaries wanted They/them pronouns to be used on them. Their Power is to emit ice shurikens and their name is Snowflake.
Then Dc comics release this garbage:
Starfire, One of the most beloved DC Superheroines now have a fat goth Lesbian daughter who hates her.
I can see why American comic fans are moving on to Webtoons because American comics had been forcing politics to the audiences. So Webtoon is the future of comics industry. It has a broader audience due to diverse genres and does not insult its fans.
I cannot blame American comic fans to prefer reading these masterpieces!
The Webtoon Business becomes lucrative because first it is free and there are webtoons you can also read via apps. Compare that to expensive American comics and Japanese Manga. Also Webtoons don't have identity politics that has been plaguing American comics these days. The Mainstream Attention Netflix and Crunchy Roll gives Webtoons means they will continue to rise.
