Summary
The manhwa landscape is teeming with mystery thrillers that can engage readers right from the get-go, yet only a few narratives feature an actual detective leading the charge. Inspired by detective fiction dating back to Victorian times, these manhwa detectives take on the very same archetypes, albeit with a modern-day backdrop.
Detectives are often portrayed as intuitive geniuses, yet they also harbor several eccentricities, making their characters both dynamic and intriguing. Detective narratives are known for their dark, gothic settings and eerie storylines, and these manhwa emulate the very same elements throughtheir grim tonalityand murky art style.
236
Serialization
Naver Webtoon
Instead of taking on an old-school approach,City of Dead Sorcererspresents a murder mystery narrative set in a futuristic sci-fi world. With the discovery of magic, people are capable of using sorcery through an app on their phones. While this power is heavily restricted, one powerful mage emerges intending to rid the world of criminals and convicts.
The premise is akin to the hit shonen animeDeath Note, but instead of presenting the narrative from the anti-hero’s perspective,City of Dead Sorcerersfollows Detective Kim and his efforts todemystify the vigilante. The moral ambiguity of the premise forces readers to reflect on the actions of the characters, making the manhwa all the more engaging.
44
Kakao Page
Court of Puppetsis set in a time when machines and humans coexist, meaning the task of prosecuting criminals and solving cases is also shared between the two. Detective Woojin is suspended from the police force over his anger issues, and his only hope for joining the force once more is by serving as a navigator for Magnum, an android cop.
As asci-fi detective manhwaset in the future,Court of Puppetsis unlike any of its detective counterparts, especially with its android-human duo. The vivid yet eerie art style presents a more urban gothic aesthetic, one that perfectly complements the manhwa’s detective theme.
2022
25
Ridibooks
Gunsoo Ko’s detective days come to an end after she accidentally runs someone over in a drunk driving incident. Instead of reporting it to the authorities, she tries to hide the body, though a mysterious person knows about the murder, blackmailing Gunsoo to expose her crime.
However, a much deeper plot unfolds, and Gunsoo finds herself at the center of it all.A Hard Dayis laden with plenty ofaction and drama, though the manhwa’s detective theme shines through as Gunsoo desperately tries to make sense of the mystery that envelops her.
22
Lezhin
Despite featuring a detective at the forefront,Vengeancerevolves around thepremise of revenge, meaning Hyeon Seola doubles as a vigilante. Finding the mutilated body of her lover, Seola resorts to finding the murderer through any means possible.
With Seola’s lover being a queer rights advocate, the manhwa underlines themes such as homophobia and hate crimes, even shedding light on the everyday struggles of the LGBTQ+ community.Vengeancestays true to its theme of exacting revenge on the perpetrator, and Seola’s status as a detective adds another layer to her character.
2021
95+
The Contractors of Pandorais set in a fictional world, one where a looming apocalypse threatens to wipe out humanity. To evade such a grisly fate, detective Hector teams up with a vampire priest to save Pandora from the oncoming doomsday.
The Contractors of Pandoraisn’t a regular crime-solving manhwa, as it treads more into the supernatural side of things with Hector and Eustino ridding the world of demonic spirits. Despite being marketed asa BL manhwa, the storyline focuses mostly on Hector’s detective escapades, sidelining any semblance of romance.
2020
50
KTOON
Stakeoutis primarily a detective manhwa, yet it trends more into BL themes, especially with its heavy focus on Detectives Han Jeong-Yu and Seo Haeso’s budding love affair. Even with their passionate romance in play,the crime-solving elementsof the manhwa still shine through.
As members of the Korean Police Department’s violent crimes unit, the detective duo has its hands full with grisly crime scenes and undercover missions. However, they certainly do a stellar job of balancing out the detective work with their amorous antics.
2017
28
Hell & High Watertakes place in a fictional world where humanity coexists with animal-like humans called Therians. Former homicide detective Dexter Daley finds himself in a human-therian intelligence force called THIRDS, and while his hands are already full of crime-solving, his therian partner becomes another thorn for him.
As Dex and Sloane make amends and forge a bond of trust, a lot more goes on between the two than mere detective work.As a BL manhwa,Hell & High Wateris laced with raunchy scenes, though the steamy panels only supplement the characters’ growth.
