Great Isekai Manhwa With Frustrating Protagonists

Key Takeaways

• Characters like Baek Juseol, Ed Rothaylor, and Nox intentionally frustrate readers in engaging ways.
• Stubborn and complex protagonists add depth and intrigue to Isekai Manhwa series.
• Despite annoying behaviors, protagonists like Park Suho and Ryu Hanbin offer compelling storylines.

Isekai Manhwa can sometimes be frustrating. More so if their protagonists give readers the feeling of doing things the wrong way on purpose – so readers being angry with some of the main characters of their favorite series is quite a common thing. In this overcrowded market filled to the brim with fantasy series, it takes quite some time to pick up the best of the best, even if one has to select the most frustrating protagonists.

8 Magic Academy’s Genius Blinker

Baek Juseol Is Obnoxious On Purpose

• Genre: Action, Isekai, Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, School Life, Shounen
• Author: Eunmilhi
• Artist: Seoyu

The whole series is based on the premise that the MC has reincarnated in the body of a “trash character,” who is not only the hardest one to control in the game, but also quite annoying at that. Baek Juseol does a good damn job at pissing off people, both his enemies and allies. To top it off, since he already knows the outcome of many of the things that will happen, he often stays one step ahead of other possible reincarnators (like Flame) and those corrupted by the darkness.

Readers might find his attitude quite obnoxious and frustrating, mostly because he has the vice of explaining things to himself. He often spends entire chapters talking to no one about what he is about to do instead of doing it. So, here we are, with a great series to read, with a lot of good twists and a fast-paced story, but with one of the most frustrating MCs readers can stumble upon.

Ed Rothaylor Cannot Get A Clue

• Genre: Action, Isekai, Sword & Sorcery, School Life, Shounen, Drama
• Authors: Corita
• Artist: Girin Geurin

One after the other, they fall for his charms and “honest” hard-working personality. Ed Rothtaylor is seemingly one of the Isekai Manhwa protagonists who has gained more popularity among the female leads of his series. And even though the story is great, the pacing is tremendously well planned, and the hype for what’s about to happen is always eye candy for the readers, most of those who enjoy the series are thinking: Get a clue already!

It is not that Ed refuses the advances of the various girls of the academy because he doesn’t notice. As a matter of fact, he has recently manifested that he will not date anyone until he graduates, which has made Lortelle shine with excitement. But, here’s where things get really annoying: Ed knows that all of this is conditional to him managing to avoid any of the bad endings, most of which could end with the death of one of the female leads. Perhaps, he doesn’t want to be emotionally bound to those he wants to protect at all costs.

6 Time-Limited Genius Dark Knight

Nox Can Be Quite Maddening

• Genre: Adventure, Drama, Dark Fantasy, Reincarnation, Isekai
• Author: Jung seonyul
• Artist: nagi

There’s nothing so frustrating as a Main Character who knows he is dying and does nothing really game-changing to avoid his demise. That sword of Damocles hanging over his head all the time might be ignored at many points during the plot, but the premise is still there, lurking and affecting readers. Most of them might think: Move faster! Do better! Don’t waste time with this! And they might be right in the money.

Nox can be maddening for readers who cannot figure out why he does that, but the truth is that he most definitely does it on purpose. Stalling for time, waiting for the right moment to act, even when playing with his own limited time. That’s what makes this series so good and exciting, and the reason why many readers might feel like dropping it.

5 Dark Fantasy Paladin

Eden Has Been Going In Circles For Years

• Genres: Grimdark, Dark Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Drama, Martial Arts, Isekai
• Authors: Jung Jongru, Neimdeu
• Artist: Sumsum

Right from the start, we are presented with the premise of a veteran soulslike player who knows exactly what he needs to do to overcome the worst possible ending in the game: prove that God doesn’t exist, move forward with his vengeance unhinged by the rules of the church. So, why is Eden delaying acting accordingly? Was this character written like this on purpose? That might be right on the money.

Ever since the series started Eden has been going around in circles, chasing ghosts and old myths, all to prove that his “divine power,” is not as godly as the church thinks. But he also needs to keep this a secret to avoid being declared a heretic. So what’s the point of doing it, then? Isn’t it just a roundabout way to create unnecessary conflict with the organization that can help him create a better world? Or is there something else the omniscient narrator doesn’t tell us? We might never know, but we are most certain it will turn out into a great reveal.

4 The Warrior Returns

Minsu Kim Is Stubborn As Hell And Does It On Purpose

• Genres: Dark Fantasy, Drama, Isekai, Action, Adventure, Reverse Isekai, Psychological
• Author: NARACK
• Artist: FUNGBACK

Ever seen a fictional character get so much rejection and scorn that it hurts readers on a deep and personal level? Well, our main character here is an expert at “hugging the cactus” as we say. No matter how much the world he has fought to protect treated him poorly, he still stood righteous. Until his final reward, returning to his homeworld, didn’t go as expected. Stubborn to the point of confusing readers, Minsu Kim keeps repeating the same mistakes, until his decisions come back to bite him in the rear.

Even when received with insults, aggression, and misfortune, he somehow stood up to those principles. Little did we know he was about to do something drastic: turn into a complete and villainous psycho. The thing is, this Manwha is not about second chances, not about healing, or revenge: it’s about leveling the odds, and the author knows it. The Hero he once was, overwhelmed by grief, turned into the villain the world needed to set things right. That might be frustrating, but necessary for the plot and the character development.

3 Seoul Station Druid

Park Suho Loves To Toy With His Enemies… And With Readers As Well

• Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Reverse Isekai
• Author: Jin Sol U
• Artists: Mun Sung-Ho, liveBear

Selfish, arrogant, obnoxiously infuriating to the point of wanting to smack him in the face: Suho Park is one of the most powerful Isekai Manhwa characters, and he knows it. It is not just the plot armor protecting him from committing an irreversible mistake, but his stubbornness, and his diminishing attitude that drives his enemies mad. Like a predator, he loves to toy with his prey, be it enemies, allies, or simple monsters who had the bad luck to cross in his path.

Then again, why is this series so addictive? Perhaps is its combination of action, humor, and mystery that got us hooked from the first read. There’s simply no way to know where this is going, but it is most definitely going places. The story of Park Suho and the Guardian Guild is about trying to create a paradise on an Earth overwhelmed by dimensional attacks from mysterious creatures. And though readers might have a hard time accepting the protagonist’s frustrating behavior, it is a good fit for that kind of world where only the strongest survive.

2 Latna Saga

Ryu Hanbin Could Use Some Common Sense

• Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Comedy, Isekai
• Author: YKB
• Artists: SOON Q – Studio Khit

Latna Saga is an unlikely Isekai Manhwa, where the whole world has turned against Otherworlders (those Isekai’d into this fantasy realm) and sees them as mortal enemies that need to be destroyed at all costs. The mystery of why this happened is slowly revealed, at an excruciating pace, but when it finally does, it makes total sense. The overall worldbuilding behind this series is quite impressive, and though the main character, Ryu Hanbin is obnoxiously frustrating, he gets where he needs to in the story.

Readers might question his methods, but the results are in plain sight. Though some of the characters in the series showcase an endearing and wholesome friendship that transcends worlds, species, and even creeds, Ryu Hanbin remains stubborn as a rock. But don’t mistake his stubbornness for detachment: he cares for his friends, and he is willing to do anything to protect them. Perhaps, that’s what makes him a great character.

1 The Lout Of The Count’s Family

His Lazy Attitude Is Definitely Frustrating

• Genre: Isekai, Drama, Comedy, Fantasy
• Author: Elegant (Yoo Ryeo Han)
• Artist: Elegant (Yoo Ryeo Han)

There are some times when seeing a character just laze around and do nothing can be infuriating, mostly for readers who pick up an Isekai series to see monsters, action, adventure, drama, and magic. Cain Henituse might be the most disappointing main character for those looking for a thrill since his chill attitude might be frustrating to the point where one might think of dropping the series.

But continue reading it, and Manhwa fans might notice something really powerful and compelling behind the narrative of this story. This series is so good because of the worldbuilding from where the plot was constructed and the colorful world displayed around it. Worth a read, even if the main character is a lout.