Bastard Webtoon Review: Is It Worth Reading?

I love a good psychological thriller, but maintaining its tension all the way through is difficult. A frightening opening has to keep me curious and emotionally involved after the initial shock.

That’s why Bastard impressed me. Written by Carnby Kim and illustrated by Youngchan Hwang, this Korean webtoon follows Jin, a physically vulnerable teenager whose father is a serial killer.

The premise alone is horrifying, but I wasn’t prepared for how completely it would pull me in. I recently binge-read it, constantly wanting to know what happened next. The suspense barely loosened its grip, and I cared about the characters more deeply than I expected.

Its emotional side was just as memorable to me as its horror.

This review covers the original Korean webtoon, not a prose novel or another work with a similar English title.

Spoiler level: Low. I’ll discuss the officially disclosed premise, Jin’s relationship with his father, his connection with Kyun, and the general style of the suspense. I won’t reveal major twists or the ending.

Content note: The series contains serial murder, family abuse and coercion, bullying, violence, disturbing psychological situations, and threatening imagery.

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My Short Verdict: Almost Impossible to Put Down

Relentless, frightening, and completely absorbing is how I’d describe my experience.

The danger doesn’t seem to disappear when someone returns home or steps away from an immediate confrontation. That uncertainty kept me reading, but the emotional connection mattered just as much: I was desperately rooting for the people inside the story.

Jin’s Desperate Struggle Made Me Root for Him

Jin is physically vulnerable, isolated, and living under the control of a father who should be protecting him. Instead, that father is the person he has the most reason to fear.

Watching him struggle was painful. I felt sorry for him, worried about him, and wanted him to live without constantly looking over his shoulder.

What affected me was that fear couldn’t simply be switched off. His father’s influence shapes his everyday life, so breaking away isn’t as straightforward as avoiding a dangerous stranger. Jin keeps trying even when he isn’t equipped to overpower the threat.

His efforts to protect someone he cares about were especially moving. I wanted to cheer for every step toward having some control over his own life.

Sometimes I felt like an overly worried older sister watching him.

Please, just let this boy be safe for once.

Dongsoo Seon Is Terrifying Without Needing to Be a Monster

Jin’s father, Dongsoo Seon, frightened me in a cold, deeply unsettling way. His presence didn’t have the slightly silly distance an exaggerated horror villain can sometimes provide.

His eyes were especially memorable. Youngchan Hwang gives his gaze an eerie quality that made certain moments difficult to look away from, even when I wanted the scene to end. I remember thinking that I really didn’t want this man appearing in my dreams.

He’s human, and he’s Jin’s father. That relationship gives the threat its particular weight. A parent is supposed to be part of a child’s safety; Dongsoo’s authority instead makes the danger personal and difficult to escape.

I found the distance between an outwardly ordinary family and the danger hidden inside it uncomfortably small.

Jin and Kyun Give the Story Its Emotional Heart

Jin and Kyun’s connection was unexpectedly tender amid all that fear. Its warmth gave the story something emotionally precious to protect.

When so much of Jin’s life is defined by control, the possibility of being understood and cared for feels meaningful. I became invested in that glimpse of a different kind of life.

I rooted for them with an almost unreasonable amount of determination. Whenever the danger intensified, I wanted to reach into the story and tell them to be careful.

And please, just be happy.

That was the feeling I kept returning to. Caring about them made the suspense more intense, and their emotional storyline stayed with me after I finished. I loved that the webtoon could make me feel frightened and protective at the same time.

The Artwork Makes the Psychological Horror Unforgettable

Youngchan Hwang’s illustrations communicate tension through a look, a character’s presence, and the way a moment is presented. That visual control impressed me as much as the frightening expressions.

The atmosphere stays uncomfortable without needing constant spectacular action. Sometimes anticipating danger felt as powerful as seeing it.

That works particularly well in a scrolling webtoon. Moving to the next image becomes a small decision: I wanted to know what was coming, but I wasn’t always sure I wanted to see it.

I loved that feeling, even when it was exhausting. The visual direction and the story’s pressure worked together so well that I rarely felt able to relax. Impressive for a thriller; perhaps a little less comfortable for my nerves.

The Scariest Place Is the One That’s Supposed to Be Safe

The central threat already lives in Jin’s home. That inversion of a place associated with safety stayed with me.

In Korean, I might describe the feeling as 등골이 서늘하다 — the kind of chill that seems to run down your spine. It’s an ordinary expression for something deeply unsettling, and it fits my reaction here.

The fear comes partly from watching someone with very little power try to resist a person who has controlled him for years. I wanted Jin to survive, protect the people he cared about, and find a way forward.

My Biggest Criticism: The Suspense Can Be Exhausting

Finding something to criticize was difficult because I enjoyed the storytelling, characters, and atmosphere so much. Still, the persistent suspense can be emotionally exhausting.

I sometimes wanted more breathing room or a short break from worrying about what might happen next. Even then, I wanted to continue reading.

The opening is dark and heavy. Its psychological pressure begins before there’s much opportunity to settle in, which may be difficult if you’re expecting a more conventional action thriller.

Readers sensitive to violence, family abuse, or threatening situations should consider the content note carefully. Taking a break or deciding not to continue makes sense if the material is upsetting. A brilliant thriller can still be the wrong choice for a particular day.

Why the Tension Works All the Way Through

The suspense kept working for me as the plot progressed. The changing situations kept me curious, while my concern for Jin made that curiosity urgent.

I wanted to know whether he could protect what mattered to him. That gave the frightening developments an emotional stake beyond the next shock.

I finished feeling that the story had maintained its intensity while keeping the human relationships meaningful. That balance was one of its biggest achievements for me.

Who Would I Recommend Bastard To?

I’d especially recommend it to readers who enjoy:

• Psychological thrillers with sustained suspense
• Frightening family secrets and vulnerable protagonists
• Disturbing, expressive artwork
• Emotional relationships that make the danger matter
• Dark, character-driven horror without supernatural monsters

If you want a finished thriller to become absorbed in over a weekend, Bastard would be high on my list.

I’d be cautious if you strongly dislike:

• Serial-killer stories and violence
• Family abuse and psychological coercion
• Threatening imagery and oppressive settings
• Prolonged tension with few comfortable breaks

If you’re easily frightened, perhaps choose a sunny afternoon rather than a dark room late at night, with someone nearby. I’m only half joking.

I loved the experience, but knowing what kind of thriller you’re choosing matters.

My Final Verdict: A Thriller I Wish I Could Experience Again for the First Time

Bastard stayed with me through Dongsoo’s gaze and my concern for Jin and Kyun. Its intensity could be exhausting, but the warmth gave me something to hold onto inside the horror.

For readers who enjoy dark, tightly paced psychological thrillers, my answer is absolutely yes.

If I could forget what was coming and experience that first reading again, I probably would.

Where to Read Bastard Officially

Bastard (후레자식) was written by Carnby Kim (김칸비) and illustrated by Youngchan Hwang (황영찬).

The official English WEBTOON edition is marked completed.

The original Korean webtoon is also listed as completed in Naver WEBTOON’s official creator catalog.

For readers who prefer physical books, Penguin Random House’s Bastard series catalog lists the licensed English print volumes published by Seven Seas Entertainment.

The printed editions are comics, not a separate prose novel.

Check official platforms and retailers for current availability, episode access, pricing, and regional restrictions.

For an introduction to the story, its Korean title, and the creators, visit the Bastard hub.

And if you’ve already read Sweet Home and are curious about another thriller by the same creative team, the Bastard vs. Sweet Home comparison explains what makes the two stories different.