London, UK – In a significant move poised to reshape the landscape of digital-to-print comics, Webtoon Entertainment has announced an expanded partnership with Random House imprints Ink Pop and Inklore to bring 14 of its popular webcomics to print over the next five years. This collaboration, unveiled at Anime Expo, signals a robust commitment to bridging the gap between digital readership and physical book sales, encompassing a diverse range of genres including manga, manhwa, manhua, and webcomics.
A Strategic Publishing Alliance
The partnership solidifies the growing trend of successful webcomics making the leap to traditional print formats, catering to an eager fanbase that desires physical editions of their beloved digital stories. This strategic alliance aims to leverage the established digital presence of Webtoon’s titles and convert that into tangible sales within the book market.
Ink Pop, launched by Random House Graphic, specifically targets kids and teens with its offerings, while Inklore, an imprint of Random House Worlds, focuses on popular, fan-driven tropes in visual storytelling, particularly in romance, fantasy, science-fiction, horror, and slice-of-life genres.
Featured Titles and Release Schedule
Among the initial titles slated for print release through this partnership are highly anticipated series with substantial global followings:
- ELECEED by Jeho Son and ZHENA: This battle-action webtoon, which has garnered over 1.42 billion views globally and is serialized in more than 10 languages, is set to be released in print by Inklore in Fall 2026. The series follows Jiwoo, a young man with cat-like reflexes, and Kayden, a secret agent trapped in a cat’s body, as they fight evil. An anime adaptation of ELECEED is also planned for 2026.
- I LOVE YOO by Quimchee: Launched on Webtoon in April 2017, this drama will see its print debut in 2027 via Inklore.
- Midnight Poppy Land by Lilydusk: This series, which debuted in English on Webtoon in November 2019, will also be released in print by Inklore in 2027. The story intertwines the life of a small-town book editor with a Mafia lord after a grisly discovery.
It’s important to note that Rachel Smythe’s Lore Olympus, already a successful print title published by Inklore, is not included in these 14 newly announced titles, indicating a continued expansion beyond existing print successes.
The Expanding Print Horizon for Webcomics
This collaboration is part of a broader industry movement seeing digital-first comics find significant success in print. Webtoon has been actively expanding its print initiatives, including the launch of Webtoon Unscrolled in 2021, a graphic novel imprint dedicated to bringing popular webtoons to bookshelves. Other publishers like Yen Press and Dark Horse have also entered the arena, demonstrating the burgeoning demand for physical editions of popular webcomics.
The partnership between Webtoon, Ink Pop, and Inklore represents a concerted effort to capitalize on this demand, offering established fanbases the opportunity to collect their favorite series while simultaneously introducing these popular stories to new readers through traditional bookstore channels. Further titles within this extensive five-year partnership are expected to be revealed at a later date.
