Highlights
- Manhwa now embraces evil protagonists, offering readers characters with no moral boundaries or codes, making them enigmatic and intriguing.
- Stories like “Return of The Mad Demon” and “Reverse Villain” showcase villains determined to fulfill their personal goals, no matter the cost.
- Characters like Jinho Kang in “Descent of The Demonic Master” embody a desire for revenge and power, facing unexpected twists in their quest.
The typical manhwa is overrun with hero protagonists, absorbed by the idea of good, being good, and being the one who saves the day. The good versus evil trope is also as old as forms of entertainment, so much so that the idea of a genuinely evil protagonist is interesting.
Manhwa, in recent times, has embraced the concept of evil protagonists. These characters present readers with an accurate representation of evil without boundaries or moral lines. Characters who are without moral codes and are only concerned about fulfilling their personal interest. These characters are often intriguing as they are evil, which makes them even more enigmatic to their readers. So, for readers interested in manhwa with these specific protagonists, below are some of the best.
10 A Useless Villain (Dongjim Kim )
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.2 / 5
- Authors: Huinyeoul, Lee Chang-Jun
- Release Years: 2021-2022
- Genre: Action, Mystery
A Useless Villain focuses on the life of the seemingly always moody Dongjim Kim, a typical high school teenager, or so it seems. Unknown to all around him, Dongjim is a very powerful psychic ‘wanna be villain’ who wants nothing more than to see the world destroyed. However powerful he is, his powers have a drawback, which is the fact that he goes back in time every time he uses his powers to kill.
As a result of this, Dongjim is trapped in a time loop with no means of escape. Determined to catch whoever is responsible for tapping him, he does what he does best: kill all those around him. However, whether he will achieve his ultimate goal remains to be seen.
9 The Devil’s Boy (Jungho)
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.6 / 5
- Authors: Kwon Kirin, Yun Jihyun
- Release Years: 2018-2020
- Genre: Action, Fantasy
The Devil’s Boy immaculately meshes the supernatural and the daily high-school life together in this series. The story follows Jungho, a high schooler who has been experiencing bullying so severe to the point of self-harm. However, Jungho does not know that his prayers are about to be answered, albeit not by God.
One day, Jungho encounters Mephistopheles, the archdevil. Mephistopheles offers him magical powers that would allow Jungho to take revenge on his bullies at school, but at the cost of his soul. It is an easy choice from Jungho’s perspective as he has had to deal with constant bullying all his life. However, unknown to Jungho, there are much greater forces in a twisted plot between angels, demons, and exorcists.
8 Return Of The Mad Demon (Jaha Lee)
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.3 / 5
- Authors: Yu Jinsung, Ihy
- Release Years: Ongoing
- Genre: Action
The Return of The Mad Demon is a murim manhwa focused on the battle-centered life of Jaha Lee, The Mad Demon, who only dreams of conquering the murim world and becoming the God of martial arts.
The realization of his dreams, however, is cut short when he falls to his death after being pursued by the Demonic Cult for the theft of the Jade of Heaven, a pill that supposedly grants immortality. The end has, however, not yet come for Jaha Lee as he awakens and discovers himself in the body of his younger days. Armed with the knowledge of the future and the optimal chance at revenge, it remains to be seen if Jaha can achieve his life-long wish of martial domination.
7 Master of Gu (Fang Yuan)
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.1 / 5
- Authors: Gu Zhen Ren
- Release Years: 2018-2020
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Master of Gu is set in a fantasy where humans are the wisest of all creatures, and the essence of all creations are the venomous bugs called Gu. The series presents the tale of an immortal villain reborn five hundred years into the past. The central character, Fang Yuan, is reborn into the past with the Spring Autumn Cicada, a type of Gu he took precious time to refine for hundreds of years.
Armed with profound wisdom, battle, and life experiences, Fang Yuan overwhelms his opponents with skill and wit. To ceaselessly pursue his ultimate goal in a world without forgiveness or kindness, Fang Yuan has no use for morality and embodies cruelty, and by his power, he will rise above all who stand in his path.
6 Above All Gods (Sirius)
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.6 / 5
- Authors: Zhiyin Manke, iQiyi
- Release Years: Ongoing
- Genre: Action, Fantasy
The series revolves around the infamous former emperor and ruler of the Underworld, Gu TianLang, who ruled over demons and immortals with a fist of Iron. His reign is cut short after he angers the Heavenly Dao, an ancient ruler who has obtained immortality and a demonic higher power.
Turned on by his subjects, TianLang is ruthlessly stripped of his office and powers and is eventually killed. However, due to a mysterious jade, death is not the end for the former emperor. He awakens after five hundred years with only one mission: to exact his revenge and reclaim his kingdom. This task, however, may not be as straightforward.
5 Magic Emperor (Zhuo Yifan)
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.2 / 5
- Authors: Ye Xiao, Bao Kei
- Release Years: Ongoing
- Genre: Action Fantasy, Adventure
Magic Emperor presents a tale of one who once stood atop the pinnacle of power as the Demon King, Zhuo Yifan. Collecting knowledge and power over a millennium, Zhuo Yifan ruthlessly uproots any obstacle in his way and ultimately strikes down his enemies. This remains so until he is betrayed, ultimately resulting in his death. However, with his last breath, Yifan reincarnates into a servant’s body.
To his shock, Yifan finds that this servant shares a spirit bond with his mistress. Now known as Fan, Yifan finds himself inexplicably drawn to his mistress, Lady Luo, despite his desire for revenge. Finally, Yifan links his fate to that of his mistress, and with her by his side, Yifan will look to reclaim his throne as the Demon King.
4 How To Live As A Villain (Seonghoon)
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0 / 5
- Authors: Rundgreen, Lee Masik
- Release Years: Ongoing
- Genre: Action, Fantasy, Drama
How To Live As A Villain is an isekai series set in a fantasy game-like world. The series follows the central character, Seonghoon, a seemingly ordinary person whose life takes a complete turn when he is suddenly transported to another world to participate in a game to select a god’s successor.
In an unfamiliar game world where players can survive and win by any means necessary, Seonghoon, like others, must survive. Summoned without an ounce of talent, Seonghoon will use every underhanded means to become an all-powerful player.
3 The Live (Yoonjae)
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0 / 5
- Authors: Heuk Ain, Heo Seongmoo
- Release Years: 2020-2023
- Genre: Action, Fantasy
The Live revolves around the protagonist, Yoonjae, who, after his family is brutally murdered, has been living an empty and shelled life in despair. His life takes a mysterious turn when, one day, his journal suddenly reveals that he can see his family again.
Ready to do anything, Yoonjae is pulled into a parallel world where everyone is a player of a brutal game, and only the final survivor will have any of their wishes granted. Overwhelmed by the thought of being reunited with his family, Yoonjae is released from the shackles of his moral conscience and will do anything to survive this game to have his wish granted.
2 Reverse Villain (Jung-Woo)
Anime-Planet Rating: 3.8 / 5
- Authors: Geondeurigogo, Hamok
- Release Years: 2020-2022
- Genre: Action, Supernatural
The protagonist, Jung-Woo, is stuck in a cycle of reincarnation along with his nemesis and arch-rival, Shin Ryong. With only a wish to conquer the murim, Jung-woo’s wish has never been fulfilled due to the constant presence of Shin Ryong, who has defeated him on every occasion in every life.
Now reborn again, but this time in the modern world, it seems Jung-Woo’s wish has changed as there is no murim in the modern world. It remains to be seen whether his goal of conquest will stay the same or he will give up on his goal of domination.
1 Descent of The Demonic Master (Kang Jinho)
Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0 / 5
- Authors: Wolbaek, Mayorang
- Release Years: Ongoing
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Descent Of The Demonic Master presents the story of Jinho Kang, an ordinary teenager whose life takes a drastic turn when he loses his family to an accident and also loses his ability to walk in the process. Crippled and orphaned, Jinho undergoes another drastic change when he is suddenly reincarnated into medieval China.
After his reincarnation, Jinho quickly becomes the demon master, also known as the Crimson Emperor. However, Jinho’s life isn’t finished with unexpected twists just yet. He is tragically killed and so reawakens in his previous life before the accident that kills his family, and this time, he retains all the martial skills and prowess of his life as the Crimson Emperor. Jinho only wants to live a peaceful life with his family, but he soon realizes that monsters and evil exist in every life.
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