2022 January Webcomic Roundup: Heroes and Villains
This month’s roundup features webcomics that explore what it means to play the role of a hero or a villain (or both.) Characters who find themselves in new worlds or situations. The question of the chosen one’s true purpose. Resisting or embracing fate. Webcomics in this roundup are from WebToon and Tapas.*
The fourteen webcomics below include tales of second chances, defying destiny, self-discovery, and unbreakable bonds. Characters who are accused of terrible crimes despite what had truly happened. The schemes and manipulation that lurk in the shadows undetected. Challenging decisions and questioning what’s moral. So here we go!
Straylight Tiger by flying-frappe (NEW!)
Welcome to the world where humans are either born as shifters, endurings, or mere mortals. Angeline Varonis goes to Crytopia City for her first year of University.
I’m impressed by the worldbuilding and action sequences in this webcomic. The first three episodes unravel the structure and hierarchy of Crytopia. An exciting and fun webcomic for readers who enjoy superhero media and or anime.
Be My Villain by mintibi (NEW!)
Mills has high school and two super-agent dads to deal with. He’s worried enough about his dads getting injured while fighting criminals, but then their arch nemesis, Shadowmaker, rescues him one day.
I’m curious to know what’s going to happen next here. The dynamic characterization and suspense (but especially the characters who make this story) are spot on.
DOUBLE THE SOUL by Dama Serry (NEW!)
Ektor comes from a family that possesses the ability to convert spiritual power into energy. They discover that they share their soul with another, their duet. Ektor and their duet can amplify their energy, making the two souls powerful.
I admire how the creator introduces the characters and shows compassion in their internal conflict. I’m looking forward to where the creator takes these two characters.
Nineteen-year-old Celeste works as a Janitor, but she knows that she deserves better. An encounter with an unusual fish leads to her discovering a world inhabited by cryptids. From there, she learns about her destiny and joins her new friends.
An imaginative transported-to-another-world story about what it means to be a “chosen one.”
Read more webcomics by Black creators here.
Your Throne by SAM
Lady Medea had lost her throne and engagement to Crown Prince Eros to Lady Psyche. Determined to take back what’s rightfully hers, she and Psyche unexpectedly switch bodies. The two learn more about each other and the real reason why Crown Prince Eros had chosen Psyche.
First off, the evolving friendship between Medea and Psyche exceeds my expectations. Women realizing how their society and overlords rob them of their agency. Realizing the true culprit behind manipulating and tearing women’s relationships (especially between social status/class) apart. Excellent plot structure and consistent tension as well.
Thornstone by Vicente Miranda (Completed) (Creator’s site is unavailable)
Iris’s determination to hone her powers and join the war against another nation lead to challenges and difficult decisions. As the stakes rise higher, Iris risks becoming a traitor and losing her friends.
This webcomic fulfills my desire for stories about complicated women. Iris screws up over time, runs into conflicting desires, and experiences the consequences afterward. Plus, I admire the complex worldbuilding and character dynamics.
Memories of Amisi by potchimew
Amisi wakes up without her memories. She must navigate through a medieval-esque world, befriending a shapeshifting and a princess along the way.
A gorgeously constructed webcomic about regaining the past and the self. I look forward to where the creator takes this story.
Also, check out potchimew’s other webcomic, Vampire Girlfriends.
Read more webcomics by Black creators here.
Canvas Chronicles by M.V.V. Artworks
Xeth Guardia, a reluctant mage, feels stuck at a crossroads. A group of masked villains, the Anticarra, settle on Xeth’s homeland of Chromia Island. He seeks help from a monk named Jinx after learning that the Anticarra is searching for something called the Canvas.
A fun fantasy adventure with well paced action sequences. It’s also a story that tackles the hero’s journey engagingly.
Ella paints astonishing depictions of fantastical landscapes. But her motivation to paint dwindles after her boyfriend breaks up with her. A new friend convinces her to flee to Ireland, where she meets unearthly men and enters a world beyond her fantasies.
The contrast between what Ella imagines while painting and literally exploring another world is impressive. We get interiority with Ella, and her character development is one to watch.
Read more webcomics by Black creators here.
Caravan by Feather Mage (with co-author Muddauber)
Shana travels with her caretaker, Yun, to find a cure for her mysterious illness. A mysterious swordsman joins them, and the three encounter friends, foes, and enemies throughout their journey.
The creator does an excellent job of creating a complex and mesmerizing world. I especially find myself still wanting more of these characters after reading.
Suzannah, B’onca, and Tyris navigate through their homeland in Africa to find the pieces of the great sword called the Shyning. Putting together the pieces will save their world from darkness. However, the three aren’t the only ones in pursuit of the sword.
If you’re seeking an African fantasy, this is it. I highly recommend this webcomic for its wonderful characters and promising premise.
Read more webcomics by Black creators here.
Into the Light, Once Again by YUYA & TicaTica (NEW!) (Creators’s sites are unavailable)
Framed for nearly murdering her younger sister, Princess Alisa is sentenced to death. After her execution, she’s reborn as the princess of a neighboring kingdom. Apparently, this kingdom is also the enemy of the kingdom from her past life. She grows up distrusting her new family. When she discovers her magical powers, she contemplates whether she could avenge her previous life’s injustice.
The protagonist’s narrative arc is compelling and realistic. Of course she doesn’t trust her new family, as loving as they are, because of what happened during her past life. I can’t wait to see what happens later on during her narrative arc.
The first three episodes are available to read for free on Tapas.
I’ve been granted free access to Into the Light, Once Again in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Lady Evony by REDICE STUDIO, Neida, & Jaya (Creators’s sites are unavailable)
Instead of being executed, Lady Evony, accused of murder, is freed from prison after a transfer of power in her country. Under the guardianship of Grand Duke Schneider, she learns to empower herself and reclaim her agency.
This webcomic surprises me. Grand Duke Schneider encourages her to find her own way as she helps other impoverished and abused women. Evony, beaten into submission while imprisoned for years, struggles with overcoming her trauma.
The first four episodes are available to read for free on Tapas.
I’ve been granted free access to Lady Evony in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom by Iru & Mo9Rang (Creators’s sites are unavailable)
A children’s clothing designer from South Korea dies from overworking and is reincarnated into the body of Snow White’s (named Blanche in this webcomic) stepmother named Abigail. Seeing how the king neglects Blanche, Abigail decides to treat her with love and affection.
The relationship between the protagonist and Blanche is so endearing. And the king, who starts as cold-hearted and a jerk, becomes more dimensional as the story progresses. An intriguing twist on the Snow White story.
The first three episodes are available to read for free on Tapas.
Check out more villainess webtoons here.
I’ve been granted free access to Not-Sew-Wicked Stepmom in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Webcomics I’ve Reviewed This Month:
First Impressions: Vibe Check! by Ucheomaaa
First Impressions: Seeds of Doubt by Tani Andrews
Webcomic Reviews by Burkely Hermann (December 2021 – January 2022):
The Pirate and the Princess by Sapphire
She’s a Keeper by Darunni Comics
Babe! Series by Darunni Comics
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Is there a webcomic that you’d like to recommend (doesn’t have to be this roundup’s theme)? Feel free to comment below. I’d love to hear from you!
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For more great webcomic recommendations, check out our Wednesday Webcomics archives! Check out previous roundups here.
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*My mentioning of any platforms on this post is unsponsored.
Author: Bradda M.
Bradda M. currently lives in Virginia. He teaches ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) at a public school and spends his free time reading and watching movies each night with his partner. For The Geekiary, he writes about webcomics and SFF media.
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