On Thursday, October 3, WEBTOON is launching a new original sports webcomics series with a twist — Overtime Elite is their first collaboration with “next generation sports” brand Overtime. Written by Brandon Chen, creator of Just a Goblin, with art from webtoon studio Laurel Pursuit, Overtime Elite’s first three episodes will be available exclusively on WEBTOON, starting at 12 pm ET / 9 am PT.
The promised 50+ episode series follows Omari, a basketball player whose hoop dreams have been put on hold, as he supports his family. But an encounter with a scout from Overtime puts him back on the court, and maybe puts him on the path to greatness. Here’s the story synopsis provided by WEBTOON:
“Overtime Elite” reveals a hidden world where basketball isn’t just a game—it’s a battleground for the next “king of basketball.” The series follows Omari, a young man who puts his hoop dreams aside to support his family. But when an Overtime scout notices him dominating the local courts, Omari gets the opportunity of a lifetime: an invitation to Overtime, an underground society for basketball’s most elite players. As Omari rises through the ranks, he learns that Overtime isn’t just training players—it’s shaping future legends.
WEBTOON is no stranger to publishing webcomic collaborations with N. American publishers (Archie Comics, Marvel, and DC to name a few), entertainment companies (including K-pop star-makers HYBE), and even technology companies (like Sara, I’m Sorry, a promo webcomic featuring Samsung Galaxy phones). Overtime Elite is their first collab with a sports team / league, which is interesting, since sports-themed webtoon stories are far outnumbered on their platform compared to their lineup of romance and fantasy/action series.
“Overtime Elite is all about passion, for sports and the stories that push people to new levels, and that’s what makes this collaboration and series so exciting,” said David S. Lee, Head of US WEBTOON. “Overtime and WEBTOON are brands that inspire a new generation, and whether it’s in sports or comics, we’re creating a story that captures the intensity of elite competition and love of the game that drives every athlete and sports fan. We can’t wait for sports fans and webcomic enthusiasts to experience this series.”
Through webcomic storytelling, Overtime Elite aims to raise awareness of the Overtime brand, and its “disruptive new sports leagues” that bring basketball, football and boxing via “digital-first” broadcasts to its community of “over 100 million fans and followers.”
“We’re always searching for new ways to celebrate basketball culture with audiences around the globe,” said Dan Porter, CEO of Overtime. “As the leading anime platform, WEBTOON was the ideal partner to help us tell stories and create an additional pathway for fans to explore the world of Overtime.”
Check out Overtime Elite on WEBTOON, and follow WEBTOON US on X/Twitter @webtoonofficial along with creator Brandon Chen on Instagram at @inspired.author for more updates on this new series.
