In a move that signals a major shift in the comic book industry, WEBTOON and BOOM! Studios have announced a landmark partnership that will bring some of the most acclaimed independent comics to a massive new global audience. This collaboration will see several of BOOM! Studios’ fan-favorite titles, including the Eisner Award-winning Something Is Killing the Children, adapted into the vertical-scroll webcomic format exclusively for the WEBTOON platform. The deal represents a significant step forward in the convergence of traditional print comics and the rapidly growing digital comics market, a space where WEBTOON has become a dominant force.
Caption: WEBTOON Entertainment announces partnership with BOOM! Studios to bring award-winning comics to vertical scroll format Credit: K-Comics Beat Source: https://kcomicsbeat.com
A New Era for Iconic Comics
The partnership will introduce a new generation of readers to a slate of critically acclaimed and commercially successful comics. The initial lineup of titles to be adapted for WEBTOON includes:
- Something Is Killing the Children: The phenomenal horror hit from writer James Tynion IV and artist Werther Dell’Edera has sold over five million copies and has become a modern classic. The series follows the terrifying mystery of a small town plagued by monsters that only a mysterious monster hunter named Erica Slaughter can see.
- Wynd: Another creation from the GLAAD Award-winning team of Tynion and artist Michael Dialynas, Wynd is a fantasy adventure set in a world where magical blood is a dangerous secret. The series follows a young boy named Wynd as he embarks on a perilous journey of self-discovery.
- Fence: This popular sports drama from writer C.S. Pacat and artist Johanna the Mad has been praised for its compelling characters and engaging story. The series follows the journey of a young fencer named Nicholas Cox as he navigates the competitive world of high school fencing.
- Lumberjanes: This beloved all-ages series, created by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Gus Allen, and ND Stevenson, is a two-time Eisner Award winner. The series follows a group of friends at a summer camp for “Hardcore Lady-Types” who encounter a variety of supernatural creatures and mysteries.
Caption: Something Is Killing the Children, BOOM! Studios’ top-selling horror comic with over 5 million copies sold Credit: BOOM! Studios Source: https://www.boom-studios.com
The Power of the Vertical Scroll
The decision to adapt these beloved comics into WEBTOON’s signature vertical-scroll format is a strategic one. The format, optimized for mobile devices, has been a key driver of WEBTOON’s explosive growth, attracting a massive global audience of young, digitally native readers. By presenting these stories in a new, dynamic way, the partnership aims to make them more accessible to a new generation of fans who are accustomed to consuming content on their phones and tablets.
In a statement, WEBTOON’s Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Global, Yongsoo Kim, expressed his excitement about the partnership, saying, “BOOM!’s catalog has earned recognition from fans and industry professionals alike for its inspired storytelling. We’re excited to partner with them to bring modern classics and genre-defining series like Something Is Killing the Children to new audiences on Webtoon.”
BOOM! Studios President, Jen Harned, echoed this sentiment, stating, “BOOM! Studios is always looking for more ways to reach new and current fans, and Webtoon’s unique platform provides a great opportunity to experience our content.”
A Growing Trend of Digital-Print Collaboration
This partnership is the latest in a series of high-profile collaborations between WEBTOON and traditional comic book publishers. In recent years, WEBTOON has partnered with major players like DC Comics, Marvel, and Archie Comics, as well as other independent publishers like IDW and Dark Horse. These collaborations highlight a growing trend in the industry, as publishers recognize the immense potential of the digital comics market and the importance of reaching readers on the platforms where they spend their time.
The global webcomics market was valued at USD 7.63 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 13.04 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.89%. This growth is driven by a number of factors, including the increasing popularity of smartphones and tablets, the growing demand for digital content, and the rise of new and innovative platforms like WEBTOON. For more on the business of comics, check out our article on the impact of streaming services on the comics industry.
Caption: Lumberjanes, the Eisner Award-winning series about supernatural summer camp adventures Credit: BOOM! Studios Source: BOOM! Studios official publication
The Technical Innovation Behind Vertical Scroll Comics
The transition from traditional page-based comics to vertical scroll format represents more than just a simple reformatting. It requires a fundamental reimagining of how stories are told and how readers experience them. The vertical scroll format, pioneered by WEBTOON, takes advantage of the natural scrolling behavior that smartphone users have developed over years of social media consumption.
Unlike traditional comics that rely on page turns to create suspense and reveal information, vertical scroll comics use the continuous downward motion to control pacing and timing. This format allows creators to hide information below the fold, creating natural cliffhangers and surprise reveals as readers scroll down. The infinite canvas approach also enables more dynamic panel layouts and creative storytelling techniques that simply aren’t possible in traditional print formats.
For BOOM! Studios’ titles, this adaptation process will likely involve more than just rearranging existing panels. The creative teams will need to consider how to maintain the original storytelling intent while optimizing for mobile consumption. This might include adjusting panel sizes, modifying dialogue placement, and potentially adding new transitional elements to enhance the scrolling experience.
WEBTOON’s Strategic Expansion and Market Dominance
WEBTOON’s partnership with BOOM! Studios is part of a broader strategic initiative to establish itself as the premier destination for digital comics content. The platform has been aggressively pursuing partnerships with established publishers, recognizing that while original content has been crucial to its growth, proven intellectual properties can help attract new demographics and retain existing users.
The company’s approach has been methodical and comprehensive. Starting with partnerships with major publishers like Disney and Marvel, WEBTOON has demonstrated its ability to handle high-profile content while maintaining the quality and user experience that made it successful. The BOOM! Studios partnership represents a strategic move into the independent comics space, an area that has seen tremendous growth and critical acclaim in recent years.
This expansion strategy is particularly important as WEBTOON faces increasing competition from other digital platforms and traditional publishers launching their own digital initiatives. By securing exclusive content from respected publishers like BOOM! Studios, WEBTOON is building a content moat that will be difficult for competitors to replicate.
Caption: Wynd Book One: The Flight of the Prince by James Tynion IV and Michael Dialynas Credit: BOOM! Studios Source: BOOM! Studios official publication
The Creator Perspective: James Tynion IV’s Digital Evolution
James Tynion IV’s involvement in this partnership is particularly significant given his status as one of the most successful independent comic creators of the past decade. His enthusiasm for the vertical scroll format, as expressed in his statement about being “eager to see them in vertical scroll,” reflects a broader shift in creator attitudes toward digital platforms.
Tynion’s career trajectory mirrors the evolution of the comics industry itself. Having worked on major DC Comics titles like Batman and Justice League Dark, he made the strategic decision to focus on creator-owned properties at BOOM! Studios. This move has proven incredibly successful, with Something Is Killing the Children becoming one of the best-selling independent comics of recent years.
The creator’s willingness to embrace new formats and platforms demonstrates the pragmatic approach that many successful comic creators are taking in today’s market. Rather than viewing digital platforms as competition to traditional comics, creators like Tynion are recognizing them as complementary channels that can introduce their work to entirely new audiences.
Industry Impact and Competitive Response
The WEBTOON-BOOM! Studios partnership is likely to accelerate similar deals across the industry. Other independent publishers are undoubtedly watching this collaboration closely, evaluating whether similar partnerships might benefit their own properties. The success of this initiative could establish a new template for how traditional publishers approach digital distribution.
For competitors like ComiXology, Tapas, and other digital comics platforms, this partnership represents both a challenge and an opportunity. While WEBTOON’s exclusive content deals make it harder for competitors to access the same properties, they also validate the market demand for high-quality digital comics content. This validation could lead to increased investment in original content development and more aggressive pursuit of their own exclusive partnerships.
The traditional comic book retail market is also watching these developments with interest. While digital platforms like WEBTOON primarily serve different consumption patterns than traditional comic shops, there’s always concern about potential cannibalization of sales. However, early evidence suggests that digital and print comics can coexist successfully, with digital platforms often serving as discovery mechanisms that drive readers to seek out physical copies of their favorite series.
What This Means for the Future of Comics
The WEBTOON and BOOM! Studios partnership is a clear indication that the future of comics is both digital and global. By embracing new formats and platforms, publishers can reach a wider and more diverse audience than ever before. This collaboration is a win-win for both companies, as it allows BOOM! Studios to expand its reach and WEBTOON to add more high-quality content to its platform. Most importantly, it’s a win for comic book fans, who will now have a new way to experience some of their favorite stories.
The partnership also signals a maturation of the digital comics market. Rather than being seen as a secondary or experimental medium, digital comics are increasingly being recognized as a legitimate and potentially superior way to experience certain types of storytelling. The vertical scroll format’s ability to control pacing and create immersive reading experiences has proven particularly effective for horror and suspense stories like Something Is Killing the Children.
Fans eager to learn more about this exciting partnership can look forward to a joint panel at New York Comic Con 2025. The panel, titled “Legends Reborn: Iconic Comics, New Adventures on WEBTOON,” will take place on Saturday, October 11th, and will feature a discussion on the reformatting of these established print comics for the digital platform. As the lines between print and digital continue to blur, partnerships like this one are paving the way for a new and exciting era in the world of comics.
For readers interested in exploring more about the changing landscape of comics, check out our comprehensive guide on the best superhero team-ups in comics history and our analysis of the evolution of comic book art. The future of comics is bright, diverse, and increasingly digital, and partnerships like the one between WEBTOON and BOOM! Studios are leading the charge into this exciting new era.
References
- Anime News Network. (2025, September 28). WEBTOON Partners with Comics Publisher BOOM! Studios for Vertical-Scroll Editions. Retrieved from https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-09-28/webtoon-partners-with-comics-publisher-boom-studios-for-vertical-scroll-editions/.229305
- Comics Beat. (2025, September 24). WEBTOON partners with BOOM! Studios to bring award-winning comics to vertical scroll format. Retrieved from https://www.comicsbeat.com/webtoon-partners-with-boom-studios-to-bring-award-winning-comics-to-vertical-scroll-format/
- The Hollywood Reporter. (2025, September 24). Something Is Killing the Children, Lumberjanes Head to Webtoons. Retrieved from https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/something-is-killing-the-children-lumberjanes-webtoon-1236378232/
- Fortune Business Insights. (2025). Webcomics Market Size, Share, Growth & Trends [2025-2032]. Retrieved from https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/webcomics-market-105731
