Romance Manhwa with good art – and I mean GODLIKE art

Romance Manhwa with good art

There are many comics with good art out there, but some are so impressive that you just want to print every panel and hang it on your wall. With this list, I want to showcase some romance manhwa with outstanding artwork. I believe some of the most important aspects are expressions (so the characters feel alive), anatomy, and shading. Without proper highlights and shading, a webtoon can look rather flat. Here is a short overview of what’s to come: the titles are ranked based on the art, not the story.

Romance Manhwa with godlike art Unholy Blood (alt. title White Blood)

© WEBTOON Entertainment Inc/ Lina Im / Jeonghyeon Kim

Official summary on Webtoons: „When vampires destroy her chance to have the normal life she’s always wanted, Hayan is forced to draw on her darkest secret to rid the world of the merciless hunters that took it over 10 years ago. With the support of a rising star in the local police force, Hayan steps up to protect her loved ones, face her past, and get her revenge.“

What makes the art stand out? E.V.E.R.Y god damn brush stroke. Just look at the picture. Or you know what? Don’t look at it. Just one picture can’t do this beautiful creation justice. Go look at the Webtoon and let your eyes be healed. Nothing more to say here.

© WEBTOON Entertainment Inc/ Lina Im / Jeonghyeon Kim

Review: I sacrificed some sleep to read this comic through in one go and I love it. BUT, there are some unanswered questions that I can’t discuss here because this should be a spoiler-free short „first look“ so to speak. Unholy Blood has a very Shounen-like feel to it. What I mean is: they meet one bad guy, deal with him, and then go on to the next bad guy. But I think that the moment it started getting repetitive, there was a little plot twist.

You should check it out if you:

  • don’t mind a very late start for their romance. They have their moments but the romance is still very subtle in Unholy Blood.
  • like reading a story with a badass female lead
  • love reading a story with angst and drama

Romance Manhwa with godlike art: Who Made Me a Princess

© 2021 Tappytoon/ Plutus, Spoon

Official summary on tappytoon: „The beautiful Athanasia was killed at the hands of her own biological father, Claude de Alger Obelia, the cold-blooded emperor! It’s just a silly bedtime story… until one woman wakes up to suddenly find she’s become that unfortunate princess! She needs a plan to survive her doomed fate, and time is running out. Will she go with Plan A, live as quietly as possible without being noticed by the infamous emperor? Plan B, collect enough money to escape the palace? Or will she be stuck with plan C, sweet-talking her way into her father’s good graces?!“

What makes the art stand out? First I thought: Wow, I have never seen eyes drawn like that. Then I thought: Wow the attention to detail is insane. Then I thought: what’s up with the beautiful shading and backgrounds? You get the gist. Everything about this comic is beautiful.

© 2021 Tappytoon/ Plutus, Spoon

Review: Who Made Me a Princess is one of my favorites. I love how the dynamic between Athanasia and Claude slowly changes, combined with the complex storytelling full of flashbacks and revelations. The only thing I regret is not being patient enough to wait until it was finished, so I could read it all in one go. Tappytoon didn’t update WMMAP weekly, and with the way the story unfolded, those breaks often pulled me out of the immersion. Thankfully, it’s now fully completed.

You should read if you:

  • like father-daughter stories with lots of feels
  • don’t mind when the comic has almost zero lovey-dovey scenes and blushing – so don’t read it for the romance
  • like feeling conflicted about characters: should I like her or should I pity her (Jeanette)? Should I be mad at his behavior (Claude)? Should I root for him (Ijekiel)?

Secret Lady

Historical Romance Manhwa with ghosts: secret lady
©BANANA・Anngato/CARROTOON

Summary: Lady Rosentine Arzen was born with the forbidden ability to see ghosts – a crime punishable by death. When she uncovers a plot to poison the imperial family, she disguises herself as a wandering sorcerer to save Prince Charteris Kartazen, who in return vows to protect her family. Amid palace intrigues, Rosentine’s secret is the greatest danger to her survival. The story shines with its unique premise and the chemistry between the leads, though the romance develops slowly.

Review: If you are looking for a quick, fluffy manhwa, Secret Lady isn’t the right pick for you. But if you want a heartfelt romance with political intrigue, it’s definitely worth reading. This manhwa follows more of a “show, don’t tell” approach, and in today’s quick, dopamine-driven world, you’ll need some patience to get into it. The creator takes their time to really emphasize the characters’ emotions. Just read chapter 74 if you want to see what I mean.

What makes the art stand out? Secret Lady is beautifully drawn right from chapter 1, and it only gets better as the story progresses. The linework becomes crisper, and the emotions conveyed by artist Banana are illustrated with striking beauty. See for yourself:

©BANANA・Anngato/CARROTOON

Check it out if you:

  • want to read a story with such impeccable art, that you could print out every panel and plaster your whole room with it.
  • love reading a story with a LOT of political intrigue that goes pretty in-depth. So the pacing can be pretty slow.
  • don’t mind many flashbacks in a story. Although they are relevant it can feel lengthy – but only if you are reading it weekly.

Isekai with good art: I shall master this family

© Kakao Entertainment / Ant Studio/ Mon

Summary: Florentia lived an unhappy life in Korea, until she was hit by a car and reincarnated as the illegitimate child of the Lombardis – the richest and most prestigious family in the empire. But that life didn’t turn out well either: after her father’s death, she was abandoned by her relatives, and her cousins drove the Lombardi family to ruin. Devastated by this outcome, she got drunk, was hit by a carriage, and suddenly found herself back in time, waking up as her seven-year-old self. Knowing what lies ahead, she resolves to become the new head of the Lombardi family. This is a really nice historical romance manhwa.

What makes the art stand out: I may be repeating myself, but the art is truly beautiful. The linework is clean, the anatomy is precise, and the backgrounds are stunning. What the artists excel at, too, is capturing expressions. There are almost no panels with chibi sequences or skipped details – everything feels carefully drawn and complete.

© Kakao Entertainment / Ant Studio/ Mon

Review: I almost forgot this was an isekai, since it’s only mentioned briefly in a small text panel – making it a plot point that feels completely unnecessary. I would treat this more as a time-travel manhwa, and it’s honestly one of the best I’ve ever stumbled upon. I love the characters, the storytelling, and the pacing (though less so in the later chapters), and I thoroughly enjoy hating the antagonist. Even if you’re not interested in the art, read this manhwa for the story alone – it’s truly top-tier. That said, the pacing is rather slow, and not just when it comes to the romance.

You should check it out if you:

  • like to read about the loveliest Dad in Manhwa history (talking about you Gallahan – of course)
  • love seeing the female lead being competent and wooing everyone around her – but don’t mind when she basically gets everything she wants even as the story goes on.
  • don’t mind when the romance is extremely slow. Read it for the political intrigue, not the romance.

Iseop’s Romance

ⓒ NAVER WEBTOON Ltd./248/ Anna Kim

Summary: Mingyeong Kang, with her remarkable business savvy, quickly rose to become a senior manager at Korea’s top conglomerate, TK Group. Now, after 10 years, she faces a new challenge as the secretary to Iseop Tae, the company’s heir. Their history goes back to their first days at the company, where Mingyeong outshone Iseop, sparking a rivalry. Despite her overshadowing him professionally and hurting his pride, Iseop finds himself inexplicably drawn to Mingyeong.

Why does the art stand out?

Definitely the expressions. Everything else is great too, but the expressions are unmatched. See for yourself:

ⓒ NAVER WEBTOON Ltd./248/ Anna Kim

Review: I was really hooked in the beginning, not only because the art is gorgeous but also because Iseop felt like such a refreshing character for a CEO. It’s also one of the few romance manhwa told from a male perspective. But once the story moved into the more intimate parts, it became less enjoyable. Iseop is just way too pushy.

Check it out if you:

  • like reading a Romance Manhwa from a male leads perspective – although the author switches to the FLs perspective sometimes.
  • like a secretary–boss relationship
  • love reading about an approachable CEO for a change – he is childish, pushy, and indecisive

Turning the Mad Dog into a genteel lord

ⓒ V_An, yepbee, zusiha, REDICE STUDIO / RIVERSE

Summary: Diarin, a priestess without any notable family ties or connections, frequently gets stuck with the most challenging tasks. When her superior assigns her to help Ceres, a war hero, readjust to civilian life, she decides to no longer be taken advantage of and to use this chance to earn a significant promotion. However, when she arrives at Ceres’ estate, she is greeted not by a man, but by a fierce hound. Confronted with the difficult task of turning this wild beast into a gentleman, Diarin dedicates herself completely to the mission.

What makes the art stand out?

Although the noses aren’t drawn as detailed as they could be, everything else is nearly perfect. The character design – especially the female lead – is outstanding. Scars, hands, and body proportions are all meticulously crafted. The artwork shines with its unique style, balancing beautifully detailed illustrations with occasional fun, simplified chibi panels. Here’s an example from Episode 3:

ⓒ V_An, yepbee, zusiha, REDICE STUDIO / RIVERSE

Check it out if you:

  • don’t mind when the male lead literally behaves like a wild beast: he doesn’t talk much, jumps out of windows, growls, kills people, and so on. It’s the typical “taming XYZ” trope but they take it quite literally
  • love to read a historical Romance Manhwa with interactions that feel real. They touch pretty frequently, which is rare in a royal setting and there is no forced distance.
  • don’t mind when the male lead has been treated extremely poorly and they make light of that – it is a RomCom after all and a pretty funny one at that.

Maybe meant to be

ⓒ NAVER WEBTOON Ltd./honeyskein/damcho

Summary: Our protagonists Jia and Mincheol are a match made in heaven – only they don’t know about it in the beginning. They are childhood friends and decide to get married to solve both their problems: no more nagging from their parents. The story revolves around their unexpected romance and the challenges they face, while being complete dorks sometimes.

What makes the art stand out?

Damcho the artist of Maybe meant to be is very good at drawing unique perspectives while still getting the proportions just right. The expressions are great too. See for yourself:

(c) honeyskein/damcho

You should read if you:

  • Don’t mind when the female lead is not being honest and constantly challenges or “plays” with the male lead. I don’t know how else to describe it without spoilers.
  • Love reading a Romance Manhwa with a different vibe: the protagonists are very unusual (Jia is unemployed and tomboyish and Mincheol seems like a pretty straightforward fitness guy)
  • Love the fake marriage trope

Webtoon with godlike art: The Witch and The Bull

© WEBTOON Entertainment Inc/ Moonsia

Official summary on Webtoons: „Tan’s job as the King’s royal advisor has nothing to do with his hatred for witches, but it does make him a prime target for a curse that turns him into a BULL! The only way to undo this hex is to rely on the beautiful witch, Aro. Can her kindness turn his feelings around, and break this spell?“

What makes the art stand out? Everything in this comic is drawn beautifully, otherwise, it wouldn’t be on the list but what really stands out is the color palette. I can’t really describe it, you have to go look at it yourself. The colors Moonsia chooses are more in the pastel range and that gives the Webtoon a very unique feeling. Other than that the transitions are just stunning and don’t get me started on the constellations…this comic just glows.

© WEBTOON Entertainment Inc/ Moonsia

Review: The Witch and The Bull is a story about the aftermath of a war between humans and witches. It talks about very serious topics like exclusion, trauma and prejudices but delivers it in a way, so it doesn’t get too heavy – and I love that. First and foremost this is a fantasy story about love and friendship.

You should check it out if you:

  • like reading a story with lots of character development
  • love it when the main characters hate each other at first
  • like seeing love develop from a genuine friendship (although we are not quite there yet)

Romance Manhwa with good art: Beware the villainess

ⓒ GLLIMTOON

Official summary tapas: „Sit back and take in this romantic tale of an angelic heroine and her devoted suitors as they vie for the depths of her love… or not. This story’s about to go through some edits! After an accident, a modern-day college student awakens as the story’s villainess, Melissa Foddebrat. She’s far from anyone’s favorite, but she IS the daughter of the duke. Determined to live it up, this new Melissa is doing things her way — antiquated society, be damned! All idiots, prepare to step aside or perish!“

What makes the art stand out? Beware the villainess has just really really clean art in general. The lineart is great and the anatomy is on point – even during the fighting scenes. But what makes the art stand out are the expressions. The faces Melissa makes are hilarious and drawn well.

ⓒ GLLIMTOON

Review: This Manhwa is mainly a comedy. Sometimes using too many Memes in a comic can hinder the immersion into the story but I think with Beware the villainess it’s still not too much (maybe sometimes). There are many serious moments and it is an entertaining read. The way Melissa disposes of every male lead in her own way is hilarious.

Check it out if you:

  • don’t mind a very late start for the Romance (Melissa is pretty dense on that topic)
  • like it when a story implements various Memes
  • love seeing the female lead torturing the male protagonists of the original novel

Romance Manhwa with good art: Revolutionary Princess Eve

© Copin / Irinbi

Summary: Evenrose is the main protagonist of this story and the seventh princess of the imperial family. She lives in a world where homunculi are treated as slaves, and Michael, the male lead, is one of them. In his attempt to change the system, Michael rebelled and killed half of the imperial family – sparing only Rosenite and Evenrose.

At the beginning of the story, Rosenite grows jealous and wants to keep Michael to herself, so she poisons Evenrose. Believing Evenrose has been killed, Michael falls into despair and reverses time. Now, with Evenrose as the only one who remembers the first timeline, she tries to change their fate.

What makes the art stand out? Actually, there is nothing that really stands out it is just overall beautiful and executed well.

Review: From the very first panels, you can tell this is going to be a great ride. It’s probably the first romance manhwa I’ve read that dedicates its opening chapters to the first timeline, explaining in detail how and why time is reversed – and I absolutely love that. On top of that, the pacing is excellent, the dynamic between the main characters works really well, and the story feels both refreshing and engaging.

You should read even if nothing on this list appeals to you. Nevertheless, check it out if you:

  • like it when the main couple has a servant and master relationship (although Evenrose doesn’t really want that)
  • love reading about a female lead that is really kind and has a huge goal: abandoning slavery
  • like it when there is a competition for the throne and the female lead has to prove herself

Unique eyes and nice transitions: Roxana

ⓒ Juniljus, Kin / Yeondam

Summary: Our protagonist reincarnated as Roxana, a side character in a 19+ reverse harem novel. She isn’t the main villainess of the story, but rather part of a psychotic family of assassins: the Agriches. Roxana tries to prevent the death of Cassis Pedelian, who is the brother of the heroin Sylvia. Because in the original novel after learning about the death of her brother, Sylvia goes on a rampage and Roxana will end up getting killed. When her family kidnaps Cassis she tries to keep up the act of torturing him so her father doesn’t get suspicious, while also trying to free him.

What makes the art stand out? First of all the eyes and the lips are drawn very uniquely. The highlights in this Manhwa are great as well but what really stands out are the transitions.

Review: In the beginning, the plot can be a little hard to follow because of the many jumps, but it gets easier over time. I find this manhwa especially interesting because it’s a villainess story that finally lives up to the genre’s name. The emotions are portrayed beautifully, and the premise feels genuinely refreshing. However, Roxana has been on a long hiatus, and nobody knows when – or if – it will return. So keep that in mind before you dive in.

Webtoon with good art: To love your enemy

© WEBTOON Entertainment Inc. / Jungyoon/Taegeon

Official summary on Webtoons: „Having mastered the art of lying her way through life, Yeonhee Bae has vowed to leave her past behind and make a fresh start for herself by going to college at 24. But when she runs into someone who knows a secret from her past that could completely ruin her reputation, her hopes for a perfect life suddenly start to crumble. Amidst college gossip, crushes, and jealousy, can the two set aside their differences and embrace each other for who they really are?“

What makes the art stand out? I really appreciate the perspectives in this comic. The expressions and hands are well-drawn, the anatomy is accurate, and even the crowded panels are dynamic. The art is simply clean and beautiful.

Review: The dynamic between Yikyung and Yeonhee is pretty funny because they bicker a lot. I really love that the male lead is the bashful one in this relationship and the female lead is way more straightforward – although she can be shy too. In the recent chapters, there are some miscommunication issues but it gets resolved rather quickly – thankfully. Although the ending was not as satisfying as I wished for, it’s still a fun read. Check out my other Completed Romance Manwha recommendations.

You should read if you:

  • like to see love develop from a very rough start
  • love it when the male lead is the shy one
  • like reading Manhwa about college life

 My Gently Raised Beast is another Romance Manhwa with good art

© WEBTOON Entertainment Inc. /Yeoseulki/Early Flower/Teava

Official summary on Webtoons: „Blondina is living a real-life Cinderella story. After growing up poor and enduring a difficult childhood, she discovers that she is a princess of the Ates empire. However, her estranged father and half-siblings give her the cold shoulder when she moves into the palace, and Blondina must keep a low profile. That all changes when she befriends Amon, a cat-like creature with mysterious intentions. For years, creatures like Amon and humans have struggled to live in harmony. Can Blondina and Amon’s friendship bring peace, or will it deepen the rift between their people?“

What makes the art stand out? Although the linework in this webtoon isn’t highly detailed, the art is still incredibly beautiful. What stands out most is the way the cats – I’m sorry, the mighty Leopard Clan – are drawn, especially Amon. In many webtoons, animals end up looking unintentionally funny, but in My Gently Raised Beast the movements and behavior of a cat are captured beautifully.

© WEBTOON Entertainment Inc. /Yeoseulki/Early Flower/Teava

Review: The dynamic between Amon and Blondina is great. At first, Amon is pretty cold and hesitant but he warms up to her very quickly and they become friends. I like how protective he is of Blondina but at the same time, Blondina isn’t dependent on him. She is a really strong character and stands her ground.

You should check it out if you:

  • like reading about a very confident and demanding but really caring male lead
  • love seeing the female lead dealing with annoying relatives and standing up for herself
  • just like seeing beautifully drawn cats getting pet and cuddled
Picture of Elly
I have read more than 1000 Romance Manhwa, Webtoons and Manga - TV-Series and books not included. So I hope to bring a deep and nuanced understanding of the genre to every review and recommendation. As a journalist with seven years of experience, I've dedicated my free time to exploring and writing about the intricacies of romance in various forms.

Find out more about me.

Follow me for (sporadic) updates:

One Response

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *