Summary
Supernatural narratives are commonplace within themanhwalandscape, and while these storylines are engaging on their own, an exorcist at the helm certainly ups the ante. As specialists in ridding the world of spirits and demons,exorcists serve as a mediumbetween mortals and the metaphysical, a role that allows these characters to double as dynamic protagonists.
Be itaction-packed ghostbustingor occult indoctrination,manhwa about exorcistscan trend towards all manner of grim themes. With their roots in Korea, these manhwa draw on the peninsula’s cultural traditions pertaining to spirits and the hereafter, adding a novel touch to these eerie, supernatural storylines.
54
Serialization
Lezhin Comics Webtoon
Sin Flowerteeters on the controversial side of things with its scandalous rendition of the Catholic Church. The manhwa features two Christian exorcists at the forefront, fighting demons and cleansing evil spirits on a regular basis. For Dojin, however, spirits aren’t the only thing he has to suppress, as his unholy desire ofwanting Haesoo for himselfis another “evil” he has to fight.
The Church isn’t as holy as it seems either, as a lot more goes on between the Fathers behind the Church’s closed doors. With such an audacious take,Sin Floweris shrouded in controversy, though these elements certainly lend the manhwa plenty of intrigue. The manhwa is alsoheavy on mature themes, with emotional abuse and other explicit scenes running rampant.
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Naver Webtoon
Despite being a supernatural manhwa with an exorcist actively fighting demons,Shingi: The Spirit’s Playbookpresents a lightweight, comedic take on the paranormal theme. When an exorcist accidentally turns Junbeom into a mystical monster, the two are forced to band together to revert him back to his human form.
Whilecomedic elements are dottedthroughout the narrative,Shingi: The Spirit’s Playbookstill promises a ton of action. Jina, the exorcist, and Junbeom, present a dynamic relationship that evolves over time, even becoming one of the major selling points of this exorcist manhwa.
62
Lezhin
Cradle of Imaeis set in a world ravaged by demons and monsters, and one man named Ryujin has everything taken away from him by these creatures. To combat these demons, Ryujin heads toan Exorcism Academy, meeting all sorts of new people, though the most fated of these encounters is a mysterious figure known as Imae.
As a BL manhwa,Cradle of Imaefollows the burgeoning bond between Ryujin and Imae, even sidetracking the story’s supernatural elements to do so. The manhwa also delves into a few mature themes such as abuse and trauma, with the storyline being a bit heavy on sexual coercion at times. Apart from the raunchy elements, the manhwa nails the art side of things with its vividly drawn characters and settings.
131
The Soul Guardiansis a melting pot of different religious theologies, as the manhwa features three exorcists, all versed in their own form of religious spirit-cleansing. The series throws the ancient art of Chinese Tai Chi, Christian exorcism, and the lost Esoteric Buddhist traditions into the mix.
Themanhwa has a heavy focus on action, with the three exorcists working together to ward off evil spirits and slay demons. The mix of different faiths and unique ideologies all packed into one narrative is a refreshing twist, showcasing not just diversity, but acceptance and integration of differing beliefs. These cultural influences are accurately reflected throughout the manhwa, adding authenticity to the premise.
2014
132
Daum Webtoon
Hong Dois set in a world where ghosts and mythical creatures reign supreme, shaping much of the world. In the midst of such a setting are powerful exorcists, with one illegitimate child being discovered as the bearer of unmatched spiritual power, leading to his rise as an unrivaled exorcist.
While the manhwa begins with a supernatural murder-mystery that calls for the aid of an exorcist, the narrative soon jumps to an overarching plot that immediately hooks its readers.Hong Dois set in a time that seems akin to ancient Korea, and the art style does an impressive job atreflecting the historical setting.
2016
94
Naver Series
Truly embodying theessence of supernatural horror,The Black Juneis all about paranormal murder-mysteries. However, what makes this string of murders truly eerie and bizarre is the fact that the trail of evidence all leads to one demon-like entity: Lucifer. Carrying a deep-rooted history with the demon, an exorcist named Philip sets out to undo the evil spread by Lucifer.
As a manhwa revolving around exorcism and cleansing rituals,The Black Juneis laced with grotesque panels, coupled with a ton of eerie scenes. With religious horror at its core, the manhwa can, at times, be quite unsettling. Fans of supernatural horror are in for a treat, as this gore-laden manhwa features petrifying art that supplements the plot without overwhelming the narrative.
