Although romance is an important aspect of BL manhwa, the following stories deliver more than that.
Boys’ Love is often seen in a range of themes and genres, ranging from classic romance to high fantasy to thriller and horror. In manhwa, many BL stories focus purely on the relationship between the main characters, which may seem obvious for a genre like this. However, these character-based narratives often have very little world-building or extra details other than what’s needed for the romance.
Not all Boys’ Love manhwa are like that. Some authors and artists have done a great job balancing an overarching plot with a well-paced romance, creating an entertaining story that is more than meet-cutes, angst, and miscommunication. The added plot complexity often enhances the relationships between characters because of the added context and information.1 Traces Of The Sun
MyAnimeList Score: N/A
Published: 2021 to 2024
Chapters: 95
Genres/Themes: Fantasy, Boys Love, Superpowers, Psychological
Author: Hae-neul Do
Illustrator: Merin
Though there are many manhwa featuring hunters and dungeons, it’s only recently that LGBT characters have been featured in them. Traces of the Sun follows Jeong Yiseon, an S-class restorer who can completely rebuild cities in a matter of minutes. Despite his amazing power, Yiseon doesn’t appear in public due to a huge secret he keeps: he committed a taboo.
However, when his secret is found out by the strongest hunter, Sa Hyeon, he has no choice but to cooperate, joining Hyeon’s team to beat the hardest dungeons in the world. While this may seem like a generic hunter story, it’s a great dive into survivor’s guilt and trauma. The romance aspect only happens toward the end of the manhwa, which is okay, since the psychological aspect of the story is more important.2 Angel Buddy
MyAnimeList Score: 7.47
Published: 2019 to 2021
Chapters: 82
Genres/Themes: Boys Love, Supernatural, Romance
Author: MasterGin
Illustrator: Chungnyun
There are many Boys Love manhwa that use supernatural elements in their storytelling, and Angel Buddy is one of the most popular. In this story, Kim Sooho has lived his entire life capable of seeing ghosts, and while this made him a bit of a black sheep, it was mostly an annoying part of life. However, it gets more complicated once the angel Taker appears in his life.
Because of Sooho’s abnormally strong soul, he’s being targeted by all kinds of supernatural forces. Taker is the only one who can protect him, and as they live together, their feelings towards each other grow. It’s an intriguing story that has many cute and fluffy moments. The ending does feel a bit rushed, but overall it’s a good story.3 At The End Of The Road
MyAnimeList Score: 7.73
Published: 2016 to 2018
Chapters: 26
Genres/Themes: Boys Love, Drama, Suspense, Psychological, Reincarnation, School
Author: Haribo
Illustrator: Haribo
Reincarnation is one of the most popular themes in manhwa, and in this story, Yoon Taemin wakes up as Han Siwon after being hit by a car.
