Webtoon’s New Series Subverts so Many Cliches and Tropes That It’s Genuinely Impressive

Webtoon‘s newest isekai romance series may just be the subversive masterpiece fans of the genre have been looking for and now could be the best time to catch up. I Am the Villain by Sejji, is the newest addition to Webtoon’s Originals catalog, and it is perfect for fans looking for a break from tired old tropes with the potential to grow into one of the best manhwa on Webtoon.

At first glance, I Am the Villain doesn’t seem much different from a plethora of similar titles, following the same cliché premise of being born as the villainess who is destined to be abandoned and eventually killed brutally and thus vows to do anything to avoid her gruesome fate and return to the real world at all costs. As such, the first chapter of I Am the Villain is unassuming and easily comparable to popular titles like Villains Are Destined to Die and Father I Don’t Want This Marriage.

However, as the story progresses, it quickly becomes apparent that there is much more to I Am the Villain‘s story than meets the eye, as one plot twist after the other gradually reveals itself, subverting nearly every trope the series appears to initially make use of. Only a few chapters in the series establishes just how unique it truly is, defying expectations at every turn while drawing readers in with its compelling characters and enticing, almost magical art style.

I Am the Villain Puts a Fresh Spin on the Isekai Trope

Written and illustrated by Sejji

When it comes to manhwa, particularly isekai romance stories, the genre is saturated with clichés and overused tropes, so much so that it is often difficult to distinguish one series from another. One such example of an overused trope is the villainess trope, where more often than not, a female protagonist reincarnates into the body of the female antagonist of the story as opposed to the protagonist. As the title suggests, I Am the Villain is also clearly centered around the popular villainess trope but puts a refreshing spin on it.

I Am the Villain follows Lucy, a regular 21st-century young woman who is seemingly transported into the world of a novel as Lucia Aurelius, the villainess to whom she happens to bear a strong resemblance. Much like many other villainess manhwa, Lucy arrives before the beginning of the story and begins planning how to avoid her tragic fate. Unfortunately, Lucy doesn’t have the common advantage of being thoroughly acquainted with the world of the novel she’s been transported to, having read only the spoilers online.

Though these plot elements are far from unique among isekai manhwa, a shocking twist reveals I Am the Villain is far from a straightforward reincarnation story. Lucy’s plans for survival begin to fall apart when a letter arrives from the real Lucia reassuring her family that she is doing well despite her disappearance several weeks prior. Thus, readers find out Lucy hadn’t been reincarnated into Lucia’s body as the story had led them to believe. Instead, Lucy was transported into the novel body and soul and has taken Lucia’s place entirely due to their similar appearance.

Moreover, the novel in question isn’t any random novel but one written by Lucy’s best friend who happens to resemble the protagonist of the story, suggesting that Lucy’s resemblance to Lucia may not be a coincidence either. To add to the intrigue, Lucy isn’t the only one from the real world who has entered the world of the novel, which is another rare concept in the isekai genre. The secret that Lucy is from another world also does not remain hidden for very long, which is again unusual among such manhwa, where the revelation is usually saved until the very end or not revealed at all.

I Am the Villain Subverts the Cliché “Evil Fiancé” Trope

One common trope that accompanies nearly every other series centered around the villainess trope is that of the evil, cheating fiance who is destined to leave the villainess for the protagonist. At first, I Am the Villain also appears to follow suit as Lucy decides to break off her engagement with Prince Arthur to avoid trouble in the future once the protagonist, Claire, arrives.

Prince Arthur initially seems to be every part the uncaring, uninterested fiancé and even agrees to end the engagement with a smile at Lucy’s behest. However, the series gradually begins to redeem the fiancé’s character despite him not being the primary love interest. Lucy realizes the Prince has done her no wrong just yet and, as she witnesses his vulnerabilities, both she and readers find it hard not to sympathize with his character. The Prince is quite simply burdened by his duties, and though he refuses to end the engagement for selfish reasons, the series never quite turns him into the antagonizing figure typically seen in other popular stories.

I Am the Villain is the Complete Package

Besides subverting popular tropes, the series boasts many other strengths, including compelling characters, attractive potential love interests, a fun, refreshing protagonist, and a good sprinkling of modern humor. Every character is well-written, fleshed out, and multi-dimensional and the series isn’t afraid to give its protagonist an impactful, detailed backstory. Lucy is by no means a unique protagonist, but her reactions to entering the unfamiliar, historically-inspired world of the novel and the other characters’ actions are realistic and relatable, making her character easy to like.

Additionally, the series has beautiful, captivating art that makes every panel feel whimsical like the pages of a novel come to life. The soft color palette also lends the characters, backgrounds, and costumes an ethereal feel. Meanwhile, the exceptional paneling highlights even the smallest of exchanges and actions, making them more impactful than ever. An excellent example is this scene of Prince Leo bidding Lucy farewell and gradually letting go of her hand as the sunlight peeks through from behind which turns a simple goodbye into a truly magical moment.

Overall, I Am the Villain is a criminally underrated series that will surely appeal to fans of historical romance manhwa and isekai stories. The series is also in the midst of its first season finale, making this the prime time to pick up and binge the series as the story approaches a critical juncture. Despite its generic appearance, I Am the Villain is far from predictable or cliché and will surely only get even more impressive from here on out.

I Am the Villain is available from Webtoon.

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