Manhwa (a term that usually refers to South Korean comics) has exploded in popularity over the last handful of years, but after fans finish smash hits like The God of High School, it's only natural to wonder what the most underrated manhwa are. From relatable romance stories to high-octane fantasy action tales, covering as many themes as people are interested in, a variety of fresh and unique experiences await those looking for them in the realm of Manhwa.
Some manhwa titles, including Tower of God, Noblesse, and The God of High School, have become popular enough to receive praiseworthy anime adaptations and extend their reach beyond their core communities. Most titles, however, are unfortunately unable to achieve the same levels of acclaim, having nothing but a small yet dedicated fanbase to sing their praises outside of their native Korea. Manhwa is a diverse genre, meaning there are a wide variety of underrated series that will appeal to every type of fan.
10 My Blasted Reincarnated Life
As part of the Five Great Heroes, the warrior Hamel was reckless until the end, sacrificing his life to save the leader of his hero party, Vermouth Lionheart. Even though Vermouth promised to avenge him and slay the last demon kings, he must have failed - is what Hamel realizes as he is reincarnated with his memories, 300 years later, this time belonging to Vermouth's bloodline, under the name of Eugene Lionheart. Although this may seem like a typical reincarnation story on the surface, its surprisingly compelling story, engaging characters, and expressive art allow it to stand out among its manhwa peers, making My Blasted Reincarnated Life an exceptionally fun reading experience.
9 Teenage Mercenary
Teenage Mercenary follows Ijin Yu, the sole survivor of a plane crash in a foreign land. As he was only eight years old at the time of this terrible accident, he had no choice but to train himself and become a child mercenary to survive. His life changes for the better 10 years later, when he finally discovers his remaining family and has the chance to return to Korea, but no one can escape their own past. While the story of this manhwa may not be particularly innovative, the execution is excellent, with noteworthy highlights including well-developed characters, skillful art, consistent attention to detail, and engrossing action scenes.
8 Maybe Meant to Be
Jia Han is a 32-year-old whose parents keep pressing her to get married and move out. After running into her old childhood friend Mincheol Jin whose situation is not too dissimilar from hers, she randomly proposes, suggesting it would be an efficient way to solve both of their problems. To her surprise, he accepts, which marks the beginning of an unexpected romance. Maybe Meant to Be is exactly what it s itself as. There are no high-stakes events, action scenes, or mind-numbing mysteries to solve; only a heartwarming romcom story with natural romantic progression, charming characters, and appropriately delightful art. This series might be simple, but its heart and sweet story make it an underrated manhwa more fans should read.
7 Viral Hit
Written by the author behind popular manhwa Lookism Taejun Pak, known for its social commentary on appearance-based discrimination, Viral Hit is yet another work that doesn't avoid unexpected subjects. The story follows Yoo Hobin, an average scrawny boy who, tired of being bullied at school, finally decides to fight back, learning how to fight from video tutorials. The success of his first recorded fight only fuels his desire for power and fame. Everything about this manhwa is skillfully done, from the semi-realistic art to the relatable characters, but the highlight has to be witnessing the main character's progression, as he gets stronger at a natural pace.
6 SSS-Class Revival Hunter
SSS-Class Revival Hunter's story takes place in a world where a Tower mysteriously appeared, allowing hunters to take on its dungeon-like challenges. Confucius Kim is one such hunter, but his strength is nowhere near that of the high-ranking ones, which is why he envies them. His strong envy is rewarded by an appropriate skill, which allows him to copy others' abilities once he is killed by them. This manhwa may seem like a typical power fantasy at first glance, but it manages to differentiate itself through its distinctive art style and complex story arcs that focus on new creative angles, seeking to answer questions that such works tend to ignore.
5 A Stepmother's Märchen
Despite being a marchioness of a highly influential noble family, Shuri von Neuschwanstein's life could hardly be envied. Her husband married her and ed away when she was but a teenager, leaving her inexperienced self solely responsible for his children and fortune. As the oldest heir is about to get married and take over the household, finally relieving her of her duties, Shuri is suddenly sent to the past, this time determined to do things differently. A Stepmother's Märchen is a truly unique title, focusing on largely unexplored topics such as motherly love and the difficulties of the high society, whose emotional story is beautifully complemented by gorgeous fairytale-like art.
4 Your Throne
SAM's Your Throne follows two protagonists, Medea and Psyche, stuck in a complicated revenge story full of fantastical twists. Medea, who's always wanted to become the princess of Vasilios Empire by marrying Crown Eros, ends up losing to Psyche, whom Eros chooses as his fiancée instead. After a surprising twist of events, Medea and Psyche end up switching bodies, thereafter having no choice but to learn more about each other. There are many reasons to love this title, from the excellent anti-hero villainess protagonist to the captivating and surprising story and even the mesmerizing art; the cohesive combination of all these elements results in a memorable experience for this heavily underrated manhwa.
3 Something
Yunji Lee's Something follows the relationship of protagonists Gayong Doh and Woojin Han as it slowly evolves over time. Despite seemingly being complete opposites, the two became best friends in high school, and even study at the same college. Even though they consider their connection to be one of friendship, they can't control their feelings for each other. As a new take on the old childhood friends-turned-lovers trope, this title shines due to its sincere and realistic exploration of human emotions. The characters are relatable and so are their experiences, both related to love and maturing throughout college.
2 The Remarried Empress
The Remarried Empress's titular protagonist is Navier Ellie Trovi, former Empress of the Eastern Nation and current Queen of the Western Kingdom. Although she always seemed perfect, performing her duties justly with dignity, grace, and wisdom, Emperor Sovieshu suddenly chose to bring in a concubine and divorce Navier, which is when she declared that she would re-marry King Heinrey instead, maintaining her status as a monarch. While the premise may already be intriguing enough to draw readers in, the manhwa's distinct character designs, exploration of political and historical themes, as well as consistently engaging story serve only to complete the package.
1 The Legend of the Northern Blade
The Legend of the Northern Blade takes place in a world where a group of brave warriors known as the Northern Heavenly Sect have been protecting the world from the evil Silent Night. But when the sect's fourth-generation leader is accused of being a traitor, he is forced to commit suicide and disband the group, leaving his son alone to avenge his father's death and carry on his legacy. This might seem like a typical revenge story at first, but it gradually reveals itself to be the most underrated power fantasy manhwa titles, boasting an absolutely unique art style, a surprisingly refreshing story, and remarkable fight scenes.
Manhwa titles can be wildly diverse and varied, telling stories of all genres and themes. Some of them were lucky enough to receive the attention they deserve, but many others are still waiting for their chance to be in the spotlight. With so many intriguing and refreshing stories waiting to be discovered, the most difficult task for manhwa fans is choosing which fictional world to immerse themselves into first. Any fan of the medium who's already read the biggest hits owes it to themselves to read some of the most underrated manhwa out there.
