As May—and with it, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month—comes to a close, we’d like to take a moment to spotlight some outstanding creative works from the AAPI community. From webnovels to webcomics, these talented creators are making waves across genres and platforms. Be sure to check out their work… You might just discover your next favorite read!
Note: These titles are listed in no particular order.
1. The Beginning After the End by TurtleMe (Webnovel & webcomic) 🇰🇷
TurtleMe launched The Beginning After the End as a webnovel on Royalroad. Tapas editor Gabby Luu later discovered the series and brought it to the Tapas platform, where it quickly gained popularity. The story’s success led to both a webcomic adaptation and, more recently, an anime adaptation now streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Beginning After the End follows King Grey, who is reincarnated as Arthur Leywin. Retaining the memories of his previous life, Arthur sets out to master magic and forge a new path, determined to avoid the mistakes he once made.
2. As Per Usual by Dami Lee (Webcomic) 🇰🇷
As Per Usual is a charming slice-of-life webcomic by Dami Lee, filled with hilarious, often unbelievable moments that reflect the awkwardness and absurdity of everyday life. With over 500 episodes on WEBTOON, the series follows a character—presumably based on Lee herself—as she navigates adulthood and figures out “how to be a real lady person,” all with a healthy dose of humor and self-awareness.
3. Paper Wishes by Spencer Hoshino (Webnovel) 🇯🇵
Spencer Hoshino originally published Paper Wishes as a webnovel on Wattpad. Tapas editor Gabby Luu later picked up the story and brought it to the Tapas platform.
The novel follows Vilvian, a high school student struggling with the grief of losing her mother. One day, she makes a wish on a jar of origami stars—an act that sets in motion a life-changing journey.
4. Murrz by Murrz (Webcomic) 🇰🇷
Murrz is a popular slice-of-life webcomic created by Mary Park, who publishes under the name Murrz. With over 600 episodes, the comic is filled with laugh-out-loud moments as it chronicles the quirky, everyday adventures of the creator’s life. In early 2019, Park confirmed on her YouTube channel that the comic is based on real-life experiences, adding an extra layer of authenticity to its humor and relatability.
5. The Herder Witch by Skimlines (Webcomic) 🇰🇷
Skimlines brings The Herder Witch to life in this magical realism slice-of-life comic, available on both Tapas and WEBTOON. The story follows Morie the Witch and her half-beast helper, Yanna, as they embark on an adventure to meet witches scattered across the land.
6. Freaking Romance by Snailords (Webcomic) 🇻🇳
Snailords is a popular webcomic creator known for several works on Tapas and WEBTOON, including Freaking Romance, Nightmare Factory, and Snailed It. Among these, Freaking Romance is arguably one of his most well-known and beloved series. The comic was successful enough to receive a print edition through WEBTOON Unscrolled and is reportedly in development for a film adaptation.
Freaking Romance is a supernatural romance that follows Zylith, a young woman who moves into a new apartment—only to discover that it’s haunted by a mysterious (and handsome) stranger from another dimension. As their worlds begin to collide, Zylith must navigate the complexities of love, identity, and reality itself.
7. unOrdinary by Uru-chan (Webcomic) 🇨🇳
In unOrdinary, Uru-chan introduces John, a seemingly normal teenager at an elite high school where students wield incredible powers. But John hides a dangerous secret—one that could upend the school’s entire social hierarchy. As he steps into his destiny, he must confront the chaos it brings.
unOrdinary is currently on hiatus but will return in July. You can catch up now on WEBTOON. The series also has a physical graphic novel edition published by HarperAlley.
8. Natsukashii by MikieeArt (Webcomic) 🇯🇵
Natsukashii follows Mao and Akihiko as their family and friends receive a mysterious wedding invitation—leaving everyone wondering when, and how, this unexpected pairing came to be.
The series is currently on hiatus, but now’s the perfect time to catch up on WEBTOON.
9. Half of the Crown by Ro Higashi (Webcomic) 🇵🇭
Half of the Crown by Ro Higashi follows Penny Chiu, a girl haunted by an unseen world. When Penny starts at a new school, she is assigned a room with the standoffish Issei Devlin. Their growing bond may play a crucial role as an ancient conflict reaches its climax. The series is available on WEBTOON, with the latest update released on January 16, 2025.
10. Coconut Diaries by Coconut Comics (Webcomic) 🇵🇭
Coconut Comics has three series on WEBTOON: The Knitting Club, Coconut Diaries, and Split Screen. While they’ve discontinued Coconut Diaries for personal reasons—explained in more detail on their WEBTOON feed—the comic is still well worth reading. It follows the life of a Filipino American girl, with themes and experiences that many Asian Americans will find deeply relatable.
These 10 webcomics and novels showcase the incredible creativity and diversity within the AAPI community. Whether you’re new to these stories or already a fan, now is the perfect time to dive in and support these talented creators. Remember, this list is in no particular order—each title offers something unique and worth exploring. Happy reading!
