The way fans read manga and comics is changing — and Webtoon is leading that shift.
For years, Webtoon was known mainly for original series made specifically for phones. Now, it’s becoming something bigger: a place where classic stories are being reborn in a new format. Instead of paper pages, these stories scroll smoothly on mobile screens. Instead of black-and-white panels, many are fully colored.
Two major releases show just how serious this change is: Avatar: The Last Airbender comics and Fullmetal Alchemist.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Shows the Format Works
When the Avatar: The Last Airbender comics arrived on Webtoon, they weren’t rewritten or reimagined. The story stayed the same. What changed was how readers experienced it.
Originally published by Dark Horse Comics, these stories continued Aang’s journey after the animated series ended. On Webtoon, those same comics were reformatted into a vertical scroll layout, making them easier to read on phones and tablets.
Panels were spaced out for dramatic moments. Action scenes flowed more smoothly. Emotional beats had room to breathe.
The response was immediate. The Avatar comics pulled in massive readership numbers and gained hundreds of thousands of subscribers in just days. For many fans, it felt like rediscovering a story they already loved.
Avatar proved something important:
popular stories don’t need to change to feel new — the format can do that on its own.
Fullmetal Alchemist Coming to Webtoon Is a Major Moment
If Avatar showed what was possible, Fullmetal Alchemist confirmed that this shift is real.
The legendary manga by Hiromu Arakawa is officially being released on Webtoon in a fully colored, vertical scroll format. This is not a small test run. It’s a full release of one of the most respected manga series of all time.
Fullmetal Alchemist follows brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric as they search for a way to restore their bodies after a failed alchemy ritual. The story is known for its emotional depth, strong themes, and unforgettable characters.
On Webtoon, the story is being optimized for modern readers:
- Designed for phones
- Reformatted for smooth scrolling
- Presented in full color
For longtime fans, it’s a new way to revisit a classic. For new readers, it removes the biggest barrier: knowing where to start.
Why Publishers Are Making This Move
This isn’t happening by accident.
More readers today consume stories on phones than ever before. Vertical scrolling is easier than flipping pages, especially on small screens. Webtoon already has a massive global audience, and publishers are taking notice.
There are clear benefits:
- Stories are easier to read anywhere
- Full color makes classic art feel fresh
- New readers can jump in without confusion
- Older series reach younger audiences
This doesn’t replace physical manga or printed comics. Instead, it adds a new way to experience them.
What This Means for Fans
For fans, this shift is mostly good news.
Beloved stories are becoming more accessible. New readers are discovering classics they may have skipped before. And longtime fans get to experience familiar worlds in a fresh way.
Avatar and Fullmetal Alchemist are likely just the beginning. As Webtoon continues to license major franchises, more manga and comics are expected to follow.
The Bottom Line
Manga isn’t leaving print behind — it’s expanding.
By bringing legendary stories like Avatar and Fullmetal Alchemist to Webtoon, publishers are meeting readers where they already are: on their phones.
For fans, that means one thing:
The stories you love aren’t going anywhere.
They’re just finding new ways to shine.
