The Definition
A webtoon is a comic specifically formatted for vertical scrolling on a phone or computer. The reader scrolls top-to-bottom through a single long column of panels, with generous white space (the gutter) between each panel. Unlike a traditional comic book or manga, there are no pages — the entire 'episode' is one continuous strip of art and dialogue. The word 'webtoon' is a portmanteau of 'web' + 'cartoon', coined by Korean publisher Naver in the early 2000s.
Why Vertical, Not Horizontal
Phones are taller than they are wide. Vertical scrolling fits the screen without zooming or scrolling horizontally — every panel renders at the screen's full width. The format was invented for the phone era and is the reason webtoons grew faster than digital comics from traditional publishers, who tried to shrink page-based comics onto small screens.
Episodic Cadence
Webtoons are serialized. Each 'episode' is typically 20–60 panels long, releasing weekly. Readers expect a regular drop. A finished webtoon series runs anywhere from 50 to 300+ episodes — comparable to a TV series, not a comic issue.
The History
Webtoons are a Korean innovation. Naver launched its webtoon platform in 2004; Kakao followed with Daum Webtoon a year later. The format was a response to the collapse of Korean print manhwa (comics) in the late 1990s — publishers needed a new business model and a new reader. Free-to-read serialized webcomics, monetized through ads and in-app purchases, was the answer. By 2013 the platforms had millions of monthly readers; by 2020 the global webtoon industry was estimated at $5 billion. The Netflix adaptation of *Sweet Home* in 2020 brought the format to Western mass audiences.
Webtoons vs Manga vs Comics
Webtoons share DNA with manga (both serialize chapters) and Western comics (both tell stories in panels) but differ structurally from both. We have a dedicated comparison piece linked at the end of this guide.
vs Manga
Manga is page-based, usually black-and-white, reads right-to-left, runs in volumes. Webtoons are scroll-based, in full color, read top-to-bottom, run in weekly episodes. Manga is a print-born format adapted to digital; webtoons were digital-native from day one.
vs Western Comic Book
Western comic books are page-based, in color, 22 pages per issue, read left-to-right. Webtoons are scrollable, longer episodes, mobile-first. Webtoons more often run as multi-year serials with a single creator team; Western comics rotate creators across runs.
vs Manhwa Generally
Manhwa is the broader Korean term for Korean comics, including print. All webtoons are manhwa; not all manhwa are webtoons. The terms are often used interchangeably in casual conversation but the distinction matters when you're describing the format.
Where to Read Webtoons
Three platforms dominate Western webtoon distribution.
Webtoon (formerly LINE Webtoon)
Owned by Naver. Largest English-language webtoon platform. Free with ads; many series have 'Fast Pass' early-access tiers. Mix of Korean originals translated, Japanese 'Webtoon Originals', and creator-uploaded series via Webtoon Canvas.
Tapas
Mid-size platform, US-based. Mix of webtoons and traditional comics. Used by indie creators because of its lower barrier to entry — anyone can publish.
Manta / Lezhin / Tappytoon
Mid-tier paid platforms catering to specific genres (especially BL, romance, and adult). Subscription models.
Popular Webtoons to Start With
If you've never read a webtoon and want to understand the format experientially, these widely-read series are good entry points. Each is currently available in English on at least one major platform.
Tower of God
Long-running Korean webtoon starting in 2010. Adventure fantasy set in a tower of trials. Adapted to an anime. A good example of long-form webtoon pacing.
Solo Leveling
Massive 2018–2023 Korean webtoon — game-system-style power fantasy. Adapted to a hit 2024 anime. Strong example of action-paced webtoon visuals.
Lore Olympus
Western-created webtoon retelling Greek mythology as a romance. One of the most popular original webtoons on Webtoon Canvas. Showcases the romance-genre conventions of the format.
Lookism
Korean webtoon about appearance, social dynamics, and identity. Animated by Studio Mir. A grounded contemporary example, less fantasy-driven than the above.
How to Make a Webtoon
The barrier to entry for webtoon creation is the lowest of any comic format. Webtoon Canvas (the indie tier of Webtoon) lets anyone upload; Tapas requires no approval. The hard part is the production — drawing 20–60 panels per episode every week is a marathon, and the format demands character consistency across hundreds of panels. Modern AI tools collapse the production time substantially. The [webtoon maker](/webtoon-maker) on Comicory generates a full vertical-scroll episode from a premise — paneled, dialogued, character-locked — in under ten minutes. We have a step-by-step production guide linked below.
The Future of Webtoons
The format is consolidating. Major platforms are buying smaller ones; adaptations are accelerating (Netflix, Crunchyroll, Apple TV all have webtoon-derived shows in development); AI tools are lowering the production cost; and the audience is broadening past the early 18–24 demographic to include older adults. Webtoons are no longer a Korean format; they are a global comic format that happens to have been invented in Korea.