I’ve gotten back into Webtoons recently, after seeing some recommendations pop up and others appear as printed editions in my comics shop. After reading through a few romance comics for the past couple days, I’ve picked three I think everyone should keep on their radar this year. There are definitely more, and I might make another post at a future date, but right now these are my picks to read. Check them out and let me know what you think!
*****
Love 4 a Walk
Creator: Nuria Sanguino
Genre: Romance, Slice of Life
Tropes: Grumpy/Sunshine, Opposites attract, Pets
Updates on: Fridays
Overview: Pam has been dumped too many times, but this last one was the last straw. When her ex makes her choose between him and her dog, Bob, she chooses her dog. Now single and with a dog that doesn’t like to be alone, how can she avoid falling for the mysterious neighbor upstairs, especially when he’s so good with dogs?
What do you look for in a good comic when you first start reading? One of the first things I notice is the art style. I’m pretty picky sometimes, and will often refuse to read a series if the art isn’t great or too stylized. Sanguino has a great art style here, so that’s a huge plus. I love her character designs and how she draws her animals. You can always tell how good an artist is by how they draw animals. Especially here, it really makes the series better.
I love the simplicity of the story here and the inclusion of their pets. A girl-meets-boy who teaches her how to care for her unruly dog – queue romance. There are only three episodes up for free right now on Webtoon, but I’m definitely interested in seeing where the story goes. The characters of Pam and Tyler seem interesting in a preppy-meets-emo, opposites attract kinda way. Anything with cute pets and I’m in!
****
Mafia Nanny
Creator: Violet Matter
Genre: Action, Romance
Tropes: Mafia, Single Father
Updates on: Tuesday
Overview: Davina is an elite nanny, trained at a very exclusive school. The rules are simple: protect the charge, obey the principle, and don’t get emotionally attached. Her first assignment seems to challenge all those rules, as her first client is a Venetian underboss who’s determined to get under her skin. Will Davina get sucked back into the world of organized crime she thought she left behind, or will this job present an opportunity to find answers about her past?
This happens to be one of the larger trending comics on Webtoons right now, and for good reason. The art is fantastic, managing to capture both emotional scenes and action-packed moments very well. It kind of reminds me a bit of Spy x Family if the story was a little more modern and more serious. Davina is a kick-butt heroine who has secrets from her past that haunt her, and Gabriel, the mafia dad, is a grumpy but charming who’s also a loving father under all that violence and muscle. I love the dichotomy of a violent mafia boss trying to care for his son who just so happens to be a handful.
There’s currently 21 free episodes on Webtoons, and the story is really picking up. The whole concept of an elite nanny school is really interesting, and I’d love to see that expanded on. I also think we’ll get a chance to see deeper into the pasts of both Davina and Gabriel, and I really think there’s more to Gabriel than just a mafia underboss working for the family.
****
The Age of Arrogance
Creator: Hansol, Soy Media
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Tropes: Arranged Marriage, Royals
Updates on: Fridays
Overview: After winning a long war, Asha Pervaz is expecting compensation from the Emperor. However, the Emperor offers her a husband of her choice from among the nobles instead. Asha chooses Duke Carlisle Haven, the Emperor’s eldest son and former crown prince, expecting the Emperor to object and pay an alimony instead. Carlisle has other plans though, he accepts her proposal and promises to help Asha rebuild Pervaz. But what does the Prince really want out of their arrangement?
I feel like there are a lot of arranged marriage comics out right now that are fairly popular, and this one was another interesting read. What I think makes this one stand out is the characters themselves. Asha in particular is a woman who has grown up knowing only war and hardship. She doesn’t quite understand the lavish lifestyle of nobles and royals or the ins-and-outs of the back-handed comments found in noble conversations. She’s straightforward, lives for her people, and knows nothing of fashion. She’s a great foil character for the prince, who is practically her opposite. I think we’ll see her draw out some different personality traits from him.
Hansol has a really great art style, and the first chapter was really well put together. I love the character designs and am looking forward to more action scenes. Currently, there are 25 free episodes on Webtoon, but I’m really interested in seeing more of them. I think the story has some potential to be slightly different from every other royalty, arranged marriage story.
****
Let me know if you have read any of these comics and what you thought in the comments below! I’d also love to hear your recommendations!
~~Thanks for Reading!~~
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