Summary
In the last fifteen years, superheroes have taken over all forms of media, with their popularity and engagement rising with each release. This is due to the success ofMarvel’s line of connected movies, which all culminated in theAvengersmovies. Of course, superheroes were well-loved before, but the audience consuming that medium certainly grew after Marvel’s work in the genre.
All around the world, superheroes took many shapes and forms and were portrayed in different types of media. Comics are a huge part of superhero culture, with new movies and TV shows using them as source material for newer projects. Creators have taken to using manhwa as a means of telling different superhero stories.
Updated July 17, 2025, by Garrett Huon:Although there are many manhwa featuring people with superpowers, not many of them have people actively acting as heroes or working to protect the public. This update will add a newly released manhwa about superheroes and a much older manhwa about people with mutated abilities. Each has a unique take on superheroes and how they interact with society.
1The Executioner
MyAnimeList Score: 7.17
Although this manhwa is new, the plot and the ideas behind it are interesting enough to put it on this list. The story follows Seo Gangyu, one of the world’s leading heroes, and what happens after the villains he arrested break free from prison. He seeks revenge for his friends and family after their deaths but is stopped by the law. However, when the warden of the high-security prison offers him a deal, Gangyu takes it without hesitation.
When it comes to superheroes and villains, many people wonder why they don’t just get rid of the villains after they’re caught. This manhwa explores the idea of giving heroes permission to kill, which adds more to this story than just cool fight scenes and special abilities. Hopefully, as it continues, it will prove to be an even more intriguing manhwa.
2Samadhi
MyAnimeList Score: 6.55
Kim Yibak is a normal guy just trying to get by. Having no special traits or qualities, he’s resigned to living the same way forever. That all changes when his friend helps him awaken his superpower. Now Yibak is incredibly strong, and bullets bounce off his skin. He doesn’t need to use his powers until someone from his past appears and begins threatening him daily.
Rather than immediately becoming a hero, Yibak continues his daily life as if nothing happened, treating his powers as a cool trick rather than something life-changing. It’s his nonchalance and hesitation to take action that creates conflict for him in the story. However,this manhwa is shortand doesn’t fully explore its themes in full.
3The Superheroes Of Class F
MyAnimeList Score: N/A
In a world where powers are granted through a person’s deep wishes, there are bound to be a variety of abilities that appear, and not all of them would be equal. Na Sangil can determine the birthday of someone he can see. It’s not exactly useful, so it lands him in F-class with the others who don’t have good powers. Treated like the butt of society, F-class kids face abuse and humiliation each day, but that changes when anew teacher wants them to kidnap the president.
A school for superheroes is a popular concept, as seen byMy Hero Academia, but rather than a story about the best, this tale of the worst powers is actually very fun. Seeing niche powers being used to their full potential is hilarious, especially because most of them are just small gags. The story is quite short so far, but there’s more to look forward to.
4Hero The Maximum
Han Gangchi has nothing he’s good at. His grades are terrible, and he has no skills to speak of except his ability to punch really hard. With nowhere else to go, he signs up to be a hero at the First Branch of Heroes. Although it doesn’t seem like he’ll do well, Gangchi can stun everyone with his abilities.
This may initially appear as a gag comic, a hero who can only punch, but it’s an intense read. The enemies are deadly and gruesome, and the author isn’t afraid to kill characters. Although the violence is typical of this genre, there is more blood than most superhero stories.
5Trace
MyAnimeList Score: 7.86
Traceis a manhwa from 2007 that takes place in a seemingly normal world, except monsters called “Troubles” appear and wreak havoc. The only ones who can stop them are unique individuals called “Traces,” humans who have mutated with special abilities. While many work for the government, Traces are treated as monsters and are often vilified by the people they save.
This manhwa actually has two protagonists, Sah Gang-kwon, who was born as a trace, and Kim Yun-Seong, who mutated as a trace in adulthood. Although their journeys are different, they are inevitably intertwined, crossing paths as they complete their goals. It’s a well-written story and only held back by lacking visuals.
6Rental Hero
MyAnimeList Score: 6.74
Juwon Lee has the power to shapeshift into someone else, and he sells his services to heroes who need to be in two places at once. One day, he gets an offer from thenumber one hero, Justice, but on the day of their meeting, Juwon finds Justice dead. Now he must pretend to be Justice and find out what is really going on. The world of heroes is much more complex than he thought.
This story has a unique premise, and it’s carried out pretty well. Although the protagonist doesn’t seem that capable, his growth is displayed very well, so reading does feel more rewarding. That being said, there isn’t anything that makes this manhwa stand out. It’s very well-rounded.
7Villain To Kill
MyAnimeList Score: 7.29
People with powers are divided into two groups depending on how they use their abilities. Villains are motivated by their desire and use their powers to do what they want. Psykers use their powers to fight villains and maintain peace. Cassian Lee was one of the best psykers, but he died after he was conspired against and betrayed. He reincarnates into the body of a high school student who suddenly becomes a villain.
This manhwa attempts to explore the moral ambiguity of heroes and villains. Cassian continues to help people when the moment arises but prioritizes his own goals above everything else. There are great fight scenes and interesting story beats, but for the most part, it’s a normal superpower manhwa.
8Hand Jumper
Sayeon Lee hates aberrants, people with powers that are prone to violence and aggression. To keep them in control, they are government-mandated to work in an aberrant police force, risking their lives to fight off other aberrants. Unfortunately for Sayeon Lee, she’s an aberrant too. Now undergoing training to become an official officer, she must work with her team to rise in the ranks.
This manhwa shows the unique journey of a protagonist becoming a dark hero in her story. Sayeon Lee seems like a morally upright character with just a few family problems, but as the world she knows continues to change, she does too, making for an interesting path toward her goals.
9I Don’t Want This Kind Of Hero
MyAnimeList Score: 7.47
Overpowered protagonists have been popular for a while now and for good reason. It’s incredibly satisfying to see bad guys get what they deserve along with all the great visuals. However, some strong characters prefer to stay out of the spotlight. Naga is a normal student on the outside, but he’s capable of amazing things. He has x-ray vision, telekinesis, and teleportation. He only works for SPOON because it’s a government job with a guaranteed future.
This manhwaleans heavily toward the comedy side, but there are some great lessons to learn and understand through the story. It’s a great parody of all the clichés that are present in all superhero media, and with superheroes being so popular for so long, it’s a breath of fresh air.
10Hero Killer
MyAnimeList Score: 7.53
In this story, Ihwa is out for revenge. Her sister had been killed by Heroes, and now she is looking for the reason and the perpetrator behind it all. Underneath the grand facade, hero society has a dark underbelly, andIhwa plans to expose it. However, she can’t do it alone. The villains in the world are the perfect partners for her since she’s ready to kill anyone who gets in her way.
Hero Killer contains a vast and complex world of superpowers, and the author does a great job showing the world and the status quo. Each aspect of this manhwa has depth, making it easy to be immersed in the story. There’s also a great balance between the dark moments and the lighthearted, comedic scenes.
