Best One-Shot Manhwa, Ranked

Summary

• Manhwas vary in length, but offer unique emotional expression through different art styles and themes.

• One-shots provide a quick but compelling reading experience and effectively deliver entire stories.

• Art in manhwa, whether rough or simplistic, adds emotional depth and message to the story.

Manhwa is a beautiful medium that allows individual artists to express their emotions and feelings in ways that are not quite possible through other mediums. The colorful panels and long strip format allow artists to create unique compositions, and the web browser allows artists to try interesting things with their comics.

The length of manhwa varies greatly, but they generally tend to be quite long and take several weeks to read if completed. However, a one-shot manhwa only consists of a single chapter that can be read in a single setting, and delivers the twist of an entire story without all the time you'd normally expect.

7

Samsara Hotline

Imperfections in yourself

• Genre: Psychological, tragedy
• Topic: Death, Reincarnation, Re-do
• Author: catadioptric

Samsara Hotline is a very crudely drawn manhwa that explores the Buddhist concept of reincarnation where everyone can choose where to be reincarnated through an office. The one-shot follows a famous musician who is given this option and his thought process as he chooses what he wants to happen to him in the afterlife.

The rough art of this manhwa is in no way a reflection; in fact, it's one of its strengths. It creates a uniquely chaotic mood that fits perfectly with the message of the comic and portrays the protagonist's emotions much better than a more traditional art style would. The story is interesting and makes the reader think.

6

Happy birthday

Losses And Moving On

• Genre: Slice of Life, psychological
• Topic: Loss, illness, moving on
• Author: geumdae

Losing a loved one can leave a deep mark on a person, and moving on from the loss is something that many people struggle with. Happy birthday is a manhwa that explores the process of moving on. There isn't much to the story since it's a one chapter manhwa, but the emotion behind the art is raw and real and pulls the reader into the image they create.

The manga's art style is simplistic in a way that isn't distracting. It feels like a raw expression of emotion that comes from the author's heart and delivers a punch to the reader that leaves them breathless despite the short length of the story it portrays.

5

Will we live happily ever after?

A heartwarming romance

• Genre: Romance, Historical
• Topic: Girl Love, Cute Hijinks
• Author: Jep Park

There are no barriers to romance, and there doesn't need to be a sprawling 20-volume manga devoted to romantic pursuits; a one-shot starring an adorable princess and an even more adorable infamous thief works just as well.

We will live happily ever after follows a rebellious and competent princess who gets into some comedic shenanigans to avoid marriage for political reasons and eventually ends up on the throne. The story is lighthearted and fun, the art is simple but beautiful, and the romance is fantastic. What's not to love?

4

Grandma was abducted by aliens

• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Supernatural
• Topic: Aliens, abduction
• Author: Eunbyeol

A whimsical story with a sad undertone, Grandma was abducted by aliens follows the story of a young boy who believes his grandmother was, as the title suggests, abducted by aliens because of a call he received as a child. As a youngster in high school, he seeks out these aliens in hopes of fixing his beloved grandmother.

A metaphor for loss or a cute supernatural adventure, the exact nature of the story isn't set in stone, it's up to the reader's interpretation. How they choose to understand the message is up to them.

3

RETURN

It is only your choice

• Genre: Tragedy, Drama, Time Travel
• Topic: Death, regret, loss
• Author: Joo Minsu

Another manhwa that deals with loss, RETURN focuses on the regret one feels. Everyone has a few regrets, but this manhwa emphasizes that dwelling on the past won't change anything. Processing the loss and moving forward and forgiving to create a better future is what is important.

While it's pretty bleak at the beginning, by the end the comic has an undertone of positivity – just as a story about death can have positivity. The message of the manhwa is quite beautiful and is delivered quite well through the unique premise and gritty art.

2

Last question

Be the Light

• Genre: Science fiction
• Topic: Existential horror, hope, artificial intelligence
• Author: Isaac Asimov, Ryul

An adaptation of the classic short story by prolific science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, Last question is a story of science and questions. It's a story about the ancient mysteries of the universe, and it's a story about finding the truth behind everything that ever was, is, or ever will be.

The constant and inevitable increase in the entropy of the universe is a fact that will have no meaningful meaning on the cosmic level for an unimaginably long time. The laws of physics do not bend to anyone, but perhaps it is not the laws of physics that bend, but the understanding of humanity.

1

Welcome to the Island of Cats

Heaven for the lost

• Genre: Drama, Tragedy
• Topic: Animals, cats
• Author: Park Soomin

Pets have a special place in the hearts of people all over the world and cats are one of the most popular pets next to dogs. These beautiful creatures occupy a good portion of the world's attention due to their cute behavior and adorable antics. However, stray animals suffer despite the great love showered on their domesticated counterparts.

Welcome to the Island of Cats is a short but heart-wrenching glimpse into the life of a stray cat, largely abandoned by society, as she searches for her kittens on an island completely occupied by other stray cats.