Ushered by WEBTOON’s successful expansion to the U.S., digital comics have grown increasingly popular over the past decade, slowly building one of the most engaged fanbases in modern entertainment. When WEBTOON officially started its expansion in 2014, the interest of comic book fans in the United States was piqued. What was this new sensation? What was the great appeal behind digital comics? Did anyone expect this seemingly brand-new platform to start an entire webcomics revolution in a mere ten years?
I, too, was perplexed and intrigued by the idea of reading “webtoons” from the convenient comfort of my iPhone. If memory serves, I was first introduced to WEBTOON in 2019. I uploaded the official WEBTOON app and began scrolling. The first comic I remember reading was the Fantasy Romance Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe. I read through the first few chapters, and I was hooked. I dedicated an hour each day to looking for new comics to read via WEBTOON. It was an exciting rabbit hole I happily jumped into. It has been five years since I uploaded WEBTOON for the first time, and it has been ten years since WEBTOON entered the United States, introducing American readers to a new, innovative type of entertainment. In response to this growing comic craze, I wrote my first TGON article, WEBTOON Explained, in December 2022. I highly recommend reading this article to learn more about the WEBTOON platform.
On July 27, WEBTOON fans gathered together for the Digital Comics and The Fandom Multiverse: 10 Years of WEBTOON U.S. panel hosted by the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con. Panelists included the Head of WEBTOON U.S. David Shinok Lee, Head of Wattpad WEBTOON Studios Aron Levitz, journalist and moderator Rob Salkowitz, WEBTOON Original creators uru-chan (unOrdinary), Meredith Moriarty (Third Shift Society), and Snailords (Freaking Romance). Since I was a fan of all three present creators, I arrived early to sit front row and center. I didn’t want to miss a single detail.
If you want to learn more about the creator uru-chan, I interviewed her last year in late 2023. Read TGON Meets uru-chan for a more detailed extent of uru-chan’s creative career as a comic creator, and keep an eye out for my latest spotlight article, featuring Snailords, who was kind enough to accept an interview during SDCC. I also hope to eventually spotlight Meredith Moriarty, so stay tuned!
Now, back to the panel! Panelists sat down and discussed the history behind WEBTOON U.S. and its success as a digital comics platform. Fans were also permitted to ask questions after the moderator. When asked questions, panelists again answered promptly.
According to David Lee, WEBTOON was originally believed to be a scam because it was a free app designed to be accessed by anyone and everyone in the United States. Prominent comic book creators, enthusiasts, and icons, like the late Stan Lee, were perplexed and intrigued, but many questions arose. How do you make money from a free-to-use app, accessible to everyone? What demographic was the app targeting? Who was this new app for? As of 2024, WEBTOON has a market value of two billion dollars and has 170 million monthly active users in 150 countries.
Next, the present WEBTOON creators were asked, “Where did you first encounter WEBTOON, and how did you use it as your primary platform?” Snailords answered first with, “WEBTOON hosted a contest for 30k, so I joined the contest. I didn’t win, but they did offer me something better. I got a full-time contract with WEBTOON and have been with them ever since.” Snailords also briefly discussed his journey with the WEBTOON platform and the film adaptation of his webcomic hit, Freaking Romance, which was officially announced to the public months ago. A release date was not specified, but it was clear from the crowd’s reactions, the movie is highly anticipated. If you’re interested in buying a physical copy of Freaking Romance before it hits theaters, you can find copies on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Mysterious Galaxy.
uru-chan answered next with, “I was originally trying to find platforms to post my work, but then I also noted WEBTOON’s contest for 30k. It was a superhero-themed contest, so I saw it as a good opportunity to showcase my work and applied. I didn’t win the contest, but I was offered a full-time paid role with WEBTOON.” I am sensing a pattern. Note to self, lose the contest! uru-chan also briefly discussed her webcomic hit unOrdinary, which came out in print in November 2023. The second volume of unOrdinary was released in early July this year, and fans can anticipate the third volume soon! Likewise, you can find copies on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Mysterious Galaxy!
Meredith Moriarty answered, “I came from the world of print comics, and I started Third Shift Society as a print-formatted webcomic I posted on my site in early 2016. I was pitching it to publishers, but they wanted me to make a lot of changes to the story that I felt didn’t fit. An editor then approached me with WEBTOON, who promised more creative freedoms, so I said yes.” I loved that she prioritized her creative freedoms as a comic creator. Like Snailords and uru-chan, Meredith Moriarty briefly discussed the physical release of her hit webcomic, Third Shift Society. Fans can anticipate the second volume of Third Shift Society in late October this year!
The creators commented on how the direct feedback via comments, likes, and reshares behind WEBTOON contributed to the progression of their stories, and Aron Levitz emphasized the impactful importance of the fanbase and expressed how much the fans mean to WEBTOON and its creators. As a longtime fan, it felt good to be appreciated and it made me want to stay loyal for years to come. It also encouraged me to leave more comments and theorize with other fans of my favorite series. “The first webcomic I read when I started at WEBTOON was Third Shift Society. I double-checked my search history, and I was delighted to learn that every time I read a new one, there is a new way to tell a story,” said Aron. I am inclined to agree with Aron. Based on the huge crowd that flocked to this particular panel, webcomics have established a new form of epic storytelling and unleashed a fanbase that will follow their favorite creators to the ends of the earth. Myself included.
Overall, it was an incredibly engaging panel that delved into the history of WEBTOON, its origins, and its wonderful creators. I learned so much from listening to the creators talk about how they came to WEBTOON and how their main comics came to fruition, and I loved learning about how my favorite comics platform grew from the ground up. As a five-year fan, I look forward to seeing what the future holds in store for WEBTOON. As an aspiring creator, I can’t wait to get started and find my audience!
