The Wrath and the Dawn (WEBTOON - 67 Chapters)

Looking for a webcomic that is historical, romantic, and action-packed? Then look no further than the webtoon The Wrath and the Dawn, a historical fiction that follows the story of Shahrzad, a young woman who as an act of revenge marries the Caliph (King), Khalid, even though all of his brides are executed at sunrise. Leaving behind everything she’s ever known, Shahrzad infiltrates the palace with a foolproof plan: not only will she stay alive, but she will kill the Caliph and end his reign of terror once and for all. While this story is technically classified as a “fantasy,” the epic love story between Khalid and Shahrzad is simply too fascinating to be ignored; therefore, it takes the top spot on my list.
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My Review: This webcomic is everything I could want and more. From the beautiful art to the enthralling plot, keeping up with this story has truly been an eventful journey. The series is currently on hold after the ending of the first season on January 25, so now, more than ever, is the perfect time for new readers to binge this profound series. 

Lore Olympus (WEBTOON - 144 Chapters)

Now, I’m sure that no one is surprised that the most popular webcomic series was able to make this list; nevertheless, I believe that the story completely lives up to its hype. A modern retelling of the Greek myth The Taking of Persephone, Lore Olympus follows the story of the greek gods and goddesses of Olympus, specifically Persephone, who has lived an extremely sheltered life under the wing of her mother, Demeter. Wanting to become more like the other Gods and Goddesses she often envies, Persephone leaves her home with her mother and moves to the underworld, a place sweltering with gossip, wild parties, and of course, forbidden love. As we follow Persephone, we watch as she becomes acquainted with Hades, a God who doesn’t seem to be as bad as all the rumors make him out to be. Smitten by his looks and silver tongue, Persephone quickly develops an infatuation with the man. This is their story.
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My Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this webcomic. I found it to not only be humorous but intriguing as well as the story dealt with its surplus of different situations. While I was a bit apprehensive at first when reading this series since I am knowledgeable about the actual Greek myths, the author does a good job of creatively retelling the occasionally strange stories in the myths.

Heartstopper (Tapas - 182 Chapters)

This webcomic is unquestionably on the list of ones that somehow manage to melt my heart more and more every time. The story follows Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay overthinker, and Nick, the kind rugby player with a big heart who meet at an all-boys grammar school. The pair quickly become great friends until something more begins to take root. Could it be… love? A story full of lgbtq+ representation and other issues that many teens face, Heartstopper is one of the more feel-good comics that still manages to tug on your heartstrings every time.

My Review: I really enjoyed this webcomic. From the personal developments of each character to the fluffy romance between Charlie and Nick, reading this webcomic was truly a delight. The side couples in the story were a cute addition to the plotline as well.

Edith (WEBTOON - 86 Chapters)

This webcomic is definitely one of the more realistic character portrayals in the romance genre. The story follows Edith, a young woman who struggles with her confidence, morals, and her life in general by not only holding herself to high standards but men as well. For as long as she can remember, Edith has always had a finicky relationship with love, especially since she constantly searches for the “perfect man,” who quite frankly may or may not exist. When she begins to give up hope on ever finding true love, in come two not-so-perfect men: one who seems to be a knight in shining armor ripped from a fairytale love story with dark secrets, and the other a brash reality check of a bad boy. Who will Edith choose? That is for the reader to find out.
 
My Review: This webcomic has a special place in my heart, as I felt like I could heavily relate to the main character. While romance is the focal plot for this story, the other plotlines of self-acceptance and self-worth are just as important for the development of the main character. This is an aspect of the series I really appreciate since many other romance webcomics tend to neglect the individual development of a character in the name of romance, which leaves them feeling rather flat personality-wise.

Long Exposure (Tapas - 128 Chapters)

This webcomic is undoubtedly one of my most favorite lgbtq+ romance stories I’ve ever read. The storyline follows Jonah, a nerdy teenager who just wants to make it through high school without being bullied by Mitch, the school’s notorious bad boy. However, we don’t all get what we want, as Jonah is soon forced to be partnered with Mitch on a class project. While everything seems to be going about as well as it should at first, the story takes a dramatic turn when the boys develop superpowers after a strange encounter with a “research center.” After this incident, everything seems to spiral out of control. From being followed by some suspicious individuals to overcoming personal challenges, the pair continue to try their best to live as average high school friends--that is, until they grow much closer.

My Review: As I’m sure you can already guess, I am absolutely in love with this webcomic. From the unique art style to the entertaining plot, reading this completed story was sure to keep me interested till the very last second. While the general tone of the story is very light-hearted, some very serious issues are brought up as well, which gives the characters a further sense of personality depth as the reader follows their raw emotion-filled journey to solve these issues.

NYLA SANDERS