Super busy at work but I’ve been reading a lot of Korean Web Novel/Web Comics lately and I want to get some sketches out.
Trash/Lout of the Count’s Family just recently got a web comic (around 40~chapters I think) but the Web Novel is 653 chapters long and ongoing so far. Very fun read and emotional too. I enjoy reading how Cale/Kim Rok Soo constantly gets himself into bigger situations for the end goal of early retirement so he can be a couch potato but not realizing he wants world peace. His habit of adopting children and others adopting him seems to be an ongoing joke.
Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint also just got a webcomic but the webnovel is finished at 13 volumes. I just read it recently last month but this novel is already very dear to me as someone who really loves reading the same way the main character does and how he constantly sacrifices himself for everyone’s happiness (making his companions borderline yandere w/o realizing it; very much found family theme). This novel really reminds me of Clamp’s Tsubasa Chronicles w/ all the time loop/parallel dimensions/meta self-awareness. Anyway, Kim Dokja’s birthday is on Feb 15 so congrats to him depending on the timezone!
Study Group doesn’t have a Web Novel but the Web Comic is already close to 100 chapters and it’s either getting close to the ending based on the Raws or perhaps its first season. The main character Gamin Yoon is technically physically the strongest character of the three (w/o powers/magic stuff influencing), but his depression/sensitivity over his grades and family/friends issues really make him stand out from the usual OP characters and shows his age compared to the other 2. His little panic/crying scenes over his grades and determination to get people to join his study group really makes me adore his character.
All three are pretty refreshing for me to read bc the main characters are kinda loveable assholes (Gamin’s more innocent though) and they all respect their friends and especially the women in their lives (most of the women in TotCF & ORV are stronger than the MCs; Study Group is does have strong female cast but MC is still OP physically, just not mentally). The plot and characterization is pretty strong so there’s no obvious romance of the physical kind (Cale has a very intense bro-ship with Alberu & Choi but is already like a father to the children; Kim Dokja and his Protagonist are practically soul-mates but both are emotionally stunted; Gamin has little to no experiences w/ girls so he’s nervous around them but that’s not his interest right now, more interested in his smart first friend) so it makes me feel like they’re AroAce.
Anyway, these are just some of the really interesting reads that I hope more people will pick up on. TotCF & ORV already has really good fanfic/fanart out there but Study Group is still pretty unknown so I hope this helps brings some awareness.
