International Women’s Day has finally arrived!
This month and holiday marks a time when it’s all the more important to focus on and uplift the amazing women and women-centric stories out there in the world. So, if you’re looking for some entertainment for this month, why not try some female-focused webcomics? Created by API authors, these comics will have you laughing, crying and everything in between. Some media critics and readers may assume that “strong” women characters only act a certain way, but there is a spectrum of ways an author can uplift female stories.
Read on for a variety of stories that include everything from cheesy romances to chilling thrillers.
Starting high school is always difficult—especially for late bloomer Nari, who has always struggled with self-esteem and confidence when it comes to her appearance. She wants nothing more than just to blend in with the crowd, but her plans are thrown aside when three of the prettiest girls in her grade befriend her. “Odd Girl Out” is a refreshing coming-of-age story that focuses on the main character’s friendship with other girls her age, and her journey to self-acceptance. Nari slowly grows from an insecure teenager to a young woman who learns that her voice should not be ignored, all while learning beauty isn’t everything. Readers will find themselves rooting not just for Nari but also cheering on all the other students in her class, in a wholesome webcomic that isn’t afraid to show teenage girls as complex individuals.
2. “Magical 12th Graders,” story by seri, art by Biwan
Strong female characters are hardly sparse in the magical girl genre: think Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura and Madoka Magica. The 2017 webcomic “Magical 12th Graders” makes for another notable contender in this legacy. Yeorum Han is deeply traumatized by the death of her sister and struggles with keeping a focus on her education, even as her dreaded college entrance exams near. Her life is quickly turned upside-down when she finds herself in possession of a magical pin, allowing her to fight monsters that plague the world. The story becomes much more than a simple quest against evil, as the mystery behind her sister’s death begins to unravel and society twists her role as a magical girl. This webcomic features an array of different female characters, from mothers to grade school students, all of whom must face how magic affects their life and how something so whimsical can have dire consequences.
Political intrigue, scheming and war—“Your Throne” has it all. After losing the Crown Princess position to the saintly Psyche Callista, Medea Solon has found herself cast as the villainess of the kingdom. Not that the rest of the kingdom is wrong, as the crafty Medea has never avoided using immoral means to get what she wants. But on the day of Prince Eros Orna Vasilios and Psyche’s engagement party, Medea suddenly finds she has switched bodies with Psyche. The webcomic follows the twists and turns of the archnemeses as they must work together to uncover the story behind the switch, and find out how the real villain is hidden in plain sight.
4. “My Life as an Internet Novel,” story by Yoo Han-ryeo, art by A Hyeon
Sometimes, a story can be so good, you find yourself lost in the world of the novel. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately, depending on how you look at it), Hahm Dani has found herself transported into the world of a cliché romance web novel. But she’s not the main character—instead, Dani has become the plain best friend to the beautiful and intelligent Ban Yeoryung. Now, she must go through a life filled with tropes and the school’s “Four Kings,” the most popular and handsome boys in school. Dani turns out to be clever and quick-witted despite her circumstances as she navigates this ridiculous world, all while slowly becoming friends with these novel characters.
A mysterious elderly woman known as Madam Jeonghwa Song lives in a secluded mansion, with the stench of death wafting over the estate. Struggling artist Iho Yun has been commissioned to paint the woman but to his surprise, when he arrives at the property, a young woman is there to greet him. He comes to find the woman who fired him has more secrets than imagined, and his life and sanity are on the line the longer he stays at the mansion. Many similar horror/thriller stories may have focused on the outsider archetype, but “Delusion” centers on the enchanting, yet puzzling Madam Jeonghwa Song, whose intricate life will have readers on the edge of their seats in this hauntingly beautiful gothic tale.
6. “Who Made Me a Princess,” story by Plutus, art by Spoon
Being born a princess should be a dream come true, but Athanasia de Alger Obelia, a South Korean woman who has been reincarnated in her favorite fantasy novel, disagrees. Instead of a life of luxury, the new Princess Athanasia must avoid the tragic fate of the original novel. Using her wits and charm, she must survive living with her ruthless father and find a way to get the happy ending of her dreams. Her journey is hardly easy, as she learns that her favorite book isn’t as innocent as she had thought, and the characters she cheered for are not as one-dimensional as on paper. The webcomic’s beautiful character design and Athanasia’s humorous thoughts bring the story to life, incorporating an emotional storyline of second chances.
7. “The Weight of Our Sky,” story by Hanna Alkaf, art by Nisrina A.N.
Based on the young adult novel of the same name by Hanna Alkaf, “The Weight of Our Sky” centers around Melati Ahmad, who is a lot like other teens in 1969—she loves going to movies, listening to the Beatles and hanging out with friends. The difference is Melati struggles with O.C.D. and believes she’s hosting a djinn, one who threatens her with horrific images of her mother’s death that she can only keep at bay by counting to herself. But on the evening of May 13, 1969, Melati’s worst fears come to life, as her hometown of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia becomes the setting of a series of race riots and she’s separated from her mother. With the help of unlikely allies and her own bravery and intelligence, Melati must find a way to reunite with her mother and make it out alive.
