7 Best Manhwa Featuring Reluctant Heroes

7 Best Manhwa Featuring Reluctant Heroes

Highlights

  • Reluctant heroes in manhwa stand out by refusing their roles, unlike typical arrogant or weak protagonists.
  • Unique themes in manhwa like ‘My Dad Is Too Strong’ blend a mix of elements for an eclectic story experience.
  • ‘The Carefree Life Of An SSS-Class Knight’ showcases a regular man forced into a hero role in a fantasy world.

As a huge fan of manhwa and someone who’s always on the lookout for strong female leads, I was immediately drawn to Another Typical Fantasy Romance. The story follows Lithera, a powerful queen from her previous life who’s reincarnated in the same world but this time, she’s had enough of the politics and backstabbing. She’s determined to live a peaceful life, far away from the chaos that once consumed her.


The reluctant hero is a character type where individuals with significant power or abilities shy away from taking on the role of a hero. It may seem counterintuitive that those who possess such strengths would resist their heroic calling, but it’s precisely this reluctance that sets them apart from typical hero stories found in anime, manga, and manhwa.

These heroes stand out from typical protagonists in media due to their reluctance. Unlike the “arrogant and powerful” or the “weak but determined,” they don’t conform to these common character archetypes. They’re not anti-heroes either. Instead, they are ordinary people with everyday lives who find themselves unexpectedly chosen for a larger purpose, a burden they have a hard time accepting given its magnitude compared to their own lives.

7 My Dad Is Too Strong

Lee Doojin — Murim Hero

7 Best Manhwa Featuring Reluctant Heroes

Writer(s)

Gaebyeoks, Modain

Released

2020

Genre(s)

Action, Comedy

In a captivating manhwa titled “My Dad is Too Strong,” the author masterfully combines the themes of world-rift, murim, and multiple reincarnations. What sets this manhwa apart is its innovative blending of various trending storylines. Ranging from lighthearted slice-of-life and amusing moments to intense action sequences and character development through scaling, “My Dad is Too Strong” delivers an extraordinary and intriguing narrative that truly embodies its title.

In an unexpected turn of events, the tale centers around Lee Doojin, a new city hall employee who is unfortunately run over by a truck on his inaugural day. Unbeknownst to him, his mundane existence harbors deep fissures in the fabric of time and space, leading to the emergence of menacing, bloodthirsty beings. After being transported against his will into the murim realm, Doojin acquires near-eternal abilities. Despite a lifetime of fighting and suffering injuries, he continues to resurrect. Reaching the pinnacle of power in the murim world, Lee decides to return to his ordinary life. However, his plans are disrupted when a young girl implores him to assume the role of her father and protect her.

6 The Stormy Inn

Zhang Qilin — War General

7 Best Manhwa Featuring Reluctant Heroes

Writer(s)

Juvi, Miyul

Released

2021

Genre(s)

Action, Historical, Slice-of-life

A 2021 manhwa titled The Stormy Inn tells the story of a weary army commander, tired of his war-mongering reputation and lack of compassion. Longing for peace, he decides it’s time to leave the military behind and embrace retirement, ready to spend the rest of his life in tranquility.

He decides to purchase a run-down inn with the goal of restoring it and turning it into a profitable venture. He also recruits a team of employees for the business. However, the routine of managing an inn poses a greater challenge for him than anything he encountered during his military career.

5 Lout Of Count’s Family

Kim Roksu/ Cale — Nobleman

7 Best Manhwa Featuring Reluctant Heroes

Writer(s)

Yu Ryeo Han, Pan4

Released

2020

Genre(s)

Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy

The manhwa “Lout of the Count’s Family,” alternatively called “Trash of the Counter’s Family,” tells a unique story about an ordinary individual who is reborn into the life of a marginal, soon-to-be-victimized character in the noble Count’s family. Essentially, this manhwa explores the journey of an unwilling villain turning into the hero to alter history’s course.

I, an ordinary fan like you, adore reading web novels. Among all the stories I’ve come across, there’s one particular title that captivated me with its unique plot – Kim Roksu’s favorite. In this novel, a character named Cale makes an appearance. Initially, he seems insignificant and is portrayed as a mere villain with poorly written dialogue and a tragic end.

4 The Carefree Life Of An SSS-Class Knight

Yoo Sungwon — SSS-Class Knight

7 Best Manhwa Featuring Reluctant Heroes

Writer(s)

Akaru, Magic Box

Released

2022

Genre(s)

Action, Drama

In many action-fantasy comics, or manhwa, the stories revolve around cosmic upheavals that transform their universes into fantastical realms. Consequently, their main characters typically progress through comparable stages of development and power growth. The protagonist of The Unwilling Sovereign of an SSS-Ranked Knight, for instance, unfolds in this context.

In this captivating tale, I find myself living in a realm where Celestial beasts have taken over, wreaking havoc and terrorizing humanity. Unlike many others, I’m just an ordinary person who finds myself unexpectedly elevated to the position of the world’s strongest being. Becoming a hero never crossed my mind, but with potential perils lurking around every corner due to my newfound status, I must learn to harness my strength and grow stronger if I hope to survive.

3 The Rankers Guide To Live An Ordinary Life

Gyeon Jyo — S-Ranker/ Chosen One

7 Best Manhwa Featuring Reluctant Heroes

Writer(s)

Simsang, Zikmik

Released

2022

Genre(s)

Action, Adventure, Romance

In the world of Korean manhwa, it’s unfortunate that there are few women who hold significant power or rank equal to their male counterparts. However, The Rankers Guide to Live an Ordinary Life bucks this trend with its compelling storyline told from the perspective of a powerful and hardcore female lead.

As a devoted fan, I can rephrase the given text in an engaging first-person perspective: When monstrous beings invaded our world via dungeons and portals, the fate of Korea hung on the shoulders of its elite AAA-ranked heroes. Remarkably, Gyeon Jyo was the initial person in Korea to ascend to an S-rank status as a teenager. Today, as a grown woman, she’s not only the strongest being in the country but also the third mightiest on the global stage. However, there lies a predicament: Gyeon Jyo is merely an ordinary girl who cherishes her lazy days, indulges in video games, and immerses herself in web novels. Her preferred lifestyle stands in stark contrast to the immense duty she’s been entrusted with.

2 Another Typical Fantasy Romance

Lithera — Duchess (Previously Queen)

7 Best Manhwa Featuring Reluctant Heroes

Writer(s)

Wolhet

Released

2021

Genre(s)

Romance, Fantasy

In the theme of powerful female leads, “Another Typical Fantasy Romance” is a 2021 manhwa romance where the protagonist, Lithera, boasts an extraordinary ability to reincarnate. In her past life, Lithera held immense power as her country’s queen. She was strong-willed, influential, and possessed all the desirable qualities one could ask for. Yet, in a cruel twist of fate, her beloved and king, who were supposed to be by her side, ended up betraying her, taking her life through an assassination. Lithera is then reborn in the same world, several years prior to its imminent downfall.

Instead of striving tirelessly for recognition in an ingrate nation and an unsatisfying marriage, she now intends to seek tranquility by distancing herself as much as possible. Her escape route is the duke from the north, who has a reputation for rough behavior and poor manners.

1 Sweet Home

Cha Hyun — Ordinary Shut-In

7 Best Manhwa Featuring Reluctant Heroes

Writer(s)

Kim Carnby, Hwang Youngchan

Released

2017

Genre(s)

Action, Horror

As a fan of “Sweet Home,” I can tell you that the story may seem like a typical power-scaling or action-fantasy at first glance. But once you delve deeper into the manhwa, you’ll soon discover how uniquely terrifying and original this title truly is. Unlike other stories with a world-rift plotline, “Sweet Home” creates a much more imaginative and dark world in its own way. And what sets it apart from others on this list is the main character, who isn’t exceptional or powerful but is instead an ordinary person with no prospects and a complete washout.

I’ve been following Cha Hyun’s story as he grapples with the tragic loss of his family. Withdrawn and indifferent to those around him, I used to identify with his solitary gamer lifestyle. However, my complacency was shattered when a calamitous event hit – mutated humans with erratic behaviors and immense power. Faced with this nightmare, I’m at a crossroads: I could continue living as a recluse, accepting my fate, or join forces with an eclectic group of individuals who seem to harbor hidden agendas. The decision is mine to make.

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2024-07-19 06:34