In a bustling marketplace somewhere in China, a bound 17-year-old boy is led by government soldiers. “You wouldn’t believe the number of people he’s killed with just a scythe! They call him the bloodthirsty Scythe Demon.” This boy, Jeong—whose name, meaning “justice,” was given by his grandfather, who took him in as an orphan hoping he’d lead an honorable life—proved to be anything but righteous. When an unknown assailant killed his grandfather, Jeong snapped, descending into madness and committing a random massacre of innocent villagers nearby. This chilling figure, a serial killer protagonist, marks the beginning of the popular martial arts comic Myst, Might, Mayhem, adapted from the novel of the same name by HANJUNG WOLYA.
Martial arts narratives featuring villainous protagonists are gaining traction. Unlike traditional heroes who gradually fall into darkness, Myst, Might, Mayhem captivates readers by introducing a character who is sinister from the very start. This bold approach stands in sharp contrast to classic martial arts epics, where virtuous protagonists uphold justice and fulfill their duties.
Since debuting on Naver Webtoon in March, Myst, Might, Mayhem follows Jeong as he kills a nobleman’s son, Mok Gyeong-woon—a young man with an uncanny resemblance to him. Taking on Mok’s identity, Jeong embarks on a ruthless rise as the founder of a cult devoted to demonic forces. With superhuman strength, he revels in violence, controlling spirits and taking lives without hesitation. Despite his romantic hero appearance, his cold brutality has earned him the title “Murder Demon.” Every Tuesday, new episodes draw comments like “Trust the Murder Demon!” and “Evil will now punish the good!” Seven months into serialization, the comic ranks third among Tuesday webtoons and leads the martial arts genre. According to Naver Webtoon, 63% of its readers are in their 20s and 30s.
The author’s previous series, Nano Machine, also centers on a complex villain, Cheon Yeo-woon, who ruthlessly eliminates rivals in his quest to become the next leader of the cult founded by Mok Gyeong-woon. While Mok’s signature move was snapping necks, Cheon’s preferred method is severing arms. Since its debut in 2020, the series entered its second season last April, ranking second among Thursday webtoons and holding the top spot in the martial arts genre, with 64% of readers in their 20s and 30s. Another notable series, Return of the Mad Demon, written by Yu Jin-sung and launched in 2021, features a “mad” protagonist infamous for silencing those who provoke him by sealing their mouths.
Other platforms, such as Kakao Page and Naver Web Novel, are also spotlighting martial arts series with morally ambiguous protagonists. Notable titles include Kakao Page’s The Grand Mudang Saga (2020) and Monochrome Sovereign (2021), Naver Web Novel’s Sword Force of the Heavenly Demon (2023), and Novelpia’s I Am This Murim’s Crazy Bitch (2023). These characters go beyond mere violence, subverting traditional ideas of good and evil and reveling in schemes and cruelty.
The rise of “dark protagonist” narratives in martial arts webtoons and novels reflects shifting reader preferences. Experts suggest that readers in their 20s and 30s—a core demographic for these genres—are drawn to these fresh, unconventional storylines. The traditional martial arts archetype, which upholds abstract virtues like “good” through personal sacrifice, no longer resonates as strongly with younger audiences. Ha Jae-geun, a popular culture commentator, notes, “Unlike conventional martial arts stories rooted in retributive justice, protagonists who consciously embrace evil as a survival tactic resonate more with readers in their 20s and 30s. Through webtoons and web novels, which allow for greater creative freedom than films or dramas, audiences can explore themes and emotions they might find difficult to confront in real life.”
