Hey there Read Harder friends! I’m Rachel, comic and SFF lover. Usually I’m traipsing into your inbox to talk historical fiction in Book Riot’s Past Tense newsletter, but today I’m here to talk completed webcomics. Whether you’re a seasoned comic veteran who knows their Marvel from their Image or a newbie just looking to expand their reading horizons, webcomics are a great place to explore new stories from up-and-coming (and sometimes even established) creators.
My first ever foray into webcomics came in the form of ND Stevenson’s Nimona, a hit webcomic about a shapeshifting antihero and an evil mad scientist who’s not particularly evil or mad when it comes right down to it. Nimona showed me just how incredible a webcomic could be, and how the unique format (in that case, the community and comments) can enhance the reading experience in a way that other forms will never be able to full replicate. More recently, I’ve gotten hooked on series like Cosmonknights and Marvel Meow Infinity on Marvel Unlimited, but whatever the comic or platform, webcomics will always have a special place in my heart.
Today, we’re not just talking any webcomics, we’re talking completed webcomics. Because readers know all too well the heartbreak of finishing a book only to discover the sequel doesn’t come out for years or discovering a beloved new fanfic only to realize it’s incomplete. Yes, there’s something magical about being able to follow along with a story as it’s being written, but sometimes it’s nice to know you won’t have to wait to find out what happens next. You won’t have to worry about that with these titles, because all nine are completed works that you can read in their entirety.
So what are you waiting for? This is one task you can check off your Read Harder list in a day or maybe two. Dive on in, there’s no excuse!
Circuits and Veins by Jem Yoshioka
In this story about falling for the girl next door, the girl next door isn’t so much a girl as an android (cue Janet “not a girl” reference). Androids have won their independence, but what is it like to date one? Buckle in and find out in this cute, queer sci-fi webcomic.
Digger by Ursula Vernon
The author of A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking and Nettle and Bone (under the pen name T. Kingfisher) pens a tale of a no-nonsense wombat who finds herself stuck on the wrong end of a one way tunnel straight to a nonsensical land. Along with the help of a shadow being, a hyena, a talking god statue, and an oracle slug, she must figure out some way to return home. Sadly this one is no longer available to read for free online, but you can still get the first volume or the entire omnibus in print.
Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu
What happens when a Hard of Hearing witch is reunited with her former best friend turned werewolf only to discover that some terrible demon is stalking them? Mooncakes, that’s what! This sweet, magical romance follows two best friends navigating a whole lot of supernatural shenanigans and they burgeoning feelings for one and other. You can read the first issue online for free.
Check Please by Ngozi Ukazu
Beloved webcomic — and one of my personal favorites — Check Please follows an ice-skater turned hockey player trying to win over his new teammates at Samwell University one baked good at a time. Bitty is a baker, hockey player, and part-time vlogger who will absolutely win over your heart with his Southern charm and never-ending positivity. Even if you know nothing about hockey (like me) you’ll absolutely love this webcomic.
Earth in a Pocket by Helen Greetham
Anthropologist Halisi Mwangi longs to bring the past to other planets, but when her spaceship malfunctions, suddenly her carefully packed shuttle of antiquities is destroyed, and she’s stranded on an alien planet with only the contents of her pockets to teach the aliens of this world about Earth. It’s a sci-fi adventure story like no other!
My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Kabi Nagata
This autobiographical manga has become an internet sensation over the last few years, but did you know it was originally published on the art website Pixiv? That’s right, My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness was a webcomic before it was the hit coming of age (and coming out) manga it is today.
Fangs by Sarah Anderson
I’m a big fan of Sarah Anderson’s comics on Instagram, so you better believe I was falling all over myself to read her new webcomic turned graphic novel about a vampire and a werewolf falling in love. Is their love story complicated? Oh, yes, wonderfully so. And this slice-of-life supernatural romance is full of macabre jokes and monstrous fondness that will leave you longing for more.
Always Human by Ari North
Originally published on the popular webcomic app WebToon, Always Human explores a near future where augmented reality allows humans to present themselves with all sorts of body modifications without ever going under the knife. But not everyone can enjoy this future. Some, like Austen, live with a syndrome that doesn’t allow them to utilize these mods. It’s a story of tech, love, and what it means to be human.
Stand Still, Stay Silent by Minna Sundberg
This Nordic-inspired post apocalyptic webcomic features four volumes of intricate worldbuilding full of trolls, beasts, and giants. It is a story of horror, monsters, magic, and Norse mythology that follows a group of explorers setting out on a research mission to explore the forgotten world. But even more than that, it is a story of friendship and coming together even in the toughest of times.
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Got a hankering for even more webcomics now? Good news, we love webcomics here at Book Riot! Here are a few more recommendations to check out:
11 Books That Started as Webcomics
10 of the Best Fantasy Webcomics
12 Queer Webcomics You Can Read for Free
Click here for the full Read Harder 2023 task list, and for previous recommendations, click here.