Best Manhwa Set In America, Ranked

Summary

American settings in manhwa like Eunsoo offer urban gothic drama with surprising twists and rich storytelling.
From Hollywood scandals to Texas love affairs, US locations in manhwa create compelling narratives with diverse themes.
Manhwa like Kill the Lights and Coffin Jackson blend drama, comedy, and mature themes against American backdrops.

As an up-and-coming comic medium rooted in Korea, most manhwa are naturally set within the Korean Peninsula. In a bid to create novel narratives that stand out, manhwaga look towards foreign settings that not only serve as a passive backdrop but also enrich the premise, and America checks all the boxes for such compelling settings.

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By Mark Sammut

With over 50 states, each brimming with its own subculture, the US offers the perfect setting for all manner of storylines — be it a superstar scandal in Hollywood or a wholesome love affair in the great plains of Texas. Owing to the States’ cultural influence across the globe, nailing the all-American experience isn’t too studious, and these manhwa prove this notion with tales that draw on the richness of the vast American lands.

7 Eunsoo

Set in New York City

Release Date	Feb 6, 2016
No. Of Chapters	95
Creator	Studio Sibo
Serialization	Lezhin Comics Webtoon

With an all-Korean lineup of characters set across New York City, Eunsoo presents a dramatic tale laden with twists and turns. While the manhwa starts off with a premise suggesting a romantic account, the plot is soon marred with a ton of surprising revelations.

Despite having a promising career as a ballerina, Bae Eunsoo unknowingly walks down a dark path, though it's her own insecurities that drive her actions. The backdrop of New York’s skyscrapers, coupled with the dark art style, lends the manhwa an urban gothic theme, perfect for a narrative that revolves around a thrilling mystery.

6 Kill the Lights

Set in Hollywood, LA

Release Year	2021
No. Of Chapters	70
Creator	Mink
Serialization	Bomtoon

As a place of stardom and fame, Hollywood is the perfect setting for a scandalous affair between two celebrities, and Kill the Lights capitalizes on this very aspect. Haley Lusk’s life in the limelight was over after his botched confession to American sweetheart Noah, though things take an even graver turn after Haley’s body is taken over by a reincarnated mercenary.

Though the premise may seem bizarre, it certainly holds merit with its twists, as the reincarnated mercenary has a history with Noah that rekindles their forgotten affair. As a BL manhwa, Kill the Lights is laced with mature themes and some explicit scenes, though the story’s appeal lies in these very subtexts.

5 Coffin Jackson

Set in New Jersey

Release Year	2015
No. Of Chapters	40
Creator	Chongtak
Serialization	Comic Korea

Revolving around the misadventures of a mortician and his criminal partner, Coffin Jackson is all about action and drama, albeit with a tinge of comedy cutting through the heaviness of the plot. As a mortician and cadaver seller, Roman Piotroski is naturally level-headed, yet his partner Jacob balances out the sternness with his goofy antics.

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By Emedo Destiny

Since several scenes are set in Roman’s funeral parlor, the manhwa has plenty of graphic panels with dismembered human remains, meaning viewer discretion is advised. Apart from the gore, the art style is quite detailed, and the characters visually reflect their roles in the narrative.

4 Timing

Set in Lubbock, Texas

Release Date	2019
No. Of Chapters	40
Creator	Mary Calmes
Serialization	Kakao Page

Timing plays on the usual BL tropes that manhwa are known for, albeit with the backdrop of rural Texas. Drawing on the enemies-to-lovers trope, Stefan unknowingly finds love in the fields of Texas, and that too, with his best friend’s brother.

While the manhwa doesn’t exactly offer anything novel, its allure lies in its controversial affair, coupled with a bit of exploration about Rand coming to terms with his sexuality. The Texan setting further adds an American touch to the premise, even more so with Rand being a bonafide cowboy.

3 Max Mojave Case Files

Set in San Antonio, Texas

Release Year	2020
No. Of Chapters	81
Creator	Yeoreumsup
Serialization	Lezhin

Max Mojave Case Files initially seems a bit chaotic with all sorts of themes thrown into the narrative, from an undercover mafia boss and a self-proclaimed investigator to a budding enemies-to-lovers BL romance. However, the narrative soon starts falling into place, revealing an intricate storyline teeming with mystery, suspense, and most importantly, a tempestuous affair.

Enemies-to-lovers might be a common trope within BL manhwa, yet a budding romance between a murderer and his witness is surely a first. With an all-American character roster, the manhwa presents a reading experience that truly transports readers to its American setting.

2 Hell & High Water

Set in New York City

Release Year	2017
No. Of Chapters	28
Creator	Charlie Cochet
Serialization	Naver Webtoon

Despite being set in modern-day America, Hell & High Water presents a sort of dystopian world where mankind is forced to live with another species — therians. With such a concept embedded in the narrative, interspecies relationships are rather common, though some elements can trudge towards the controversial side of things.

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Dex and his therian partner might have started off on the wrong foot, yet the two Defense Agents slowly form a bond that goes a bit further than being mere professional partners. As a BL manhwa with supernatural themes, Hell & High Water throws in a bit of eccentricities, though the solid plot makes up for these oddities.

1 Jack: The American Ghost

Set in America (Unspecified)

Release Date	Jul 28, 2013
No. Of Chapters	64
Creator	Ji-Hye Han
Serialization	Daum Webtoon

While Jack: The American Ghost initially starts off in Korea with Go-Eun’s failing haunted house, her desperation leads her to a terror-filled mansion in America. With a prize awaiting those who survive 15 days in Jack’s haunted mansion, Go-Eun sets out on an ambitious horror-laden escapade to save her own haunted house.

Despite being a horror manhwa, romantic elements are dotted throughout the narrative, though the twisted nature of this affair can, at times, be rather appalling. Despite being limited to just above 60 chapters, the manhwa does an impressive job at presenting fleshed-out characters, especially for the two primary leads.