Highlights

• Female characters in manhwa face adversity and fight for their rights using unfeminine means.
• The lack of Asian, Middle Eastern, and South Asian representation in manhwa is a constant complaint.
• Manhwa antagonists can be just as memorable for their intriguing methods as the protagonists.

Some of the greatest manhwas have female characters who speak volumes only through their actions and attitudes. These are the women who face adversity and fight for their rights using means that are considered “unladylike” in society’s eyes. Most of them are flagging red flags and that’s what makes them so enjoyable.

However, the term 'darker' can be interpreted in a number of ways, beyond the character's personality, but also through their mental state and race. It has been a constant complaint from many Manhwa fans around the world regarding the lack of proper representation of Asian, Middle Eastern, and South Asian people in such stories. Unfortunately, there are only a handful of manhwa out there that fit the criteria for such representation without it coming across as a gross misinterpretation of the culture.

10 Hero killer

A user and killer of natural gifts

In a world where the line between good and evil is constantly blurred, there are humans with special abilities. Known for their strength and power, these people are divided into the Hero Clan and the Villain Clan. Ihwa does not fit into either of the two, as she classifies herself as a Hero killer. This is simply because the heroes are corrupt and were the perpetrators of their sister's death.

However, Ihwa herself has also done some questionable things to satisfy her need for revenge, but she has always been mindful of the innocent lives caught in the crossfire. She is cold and calculating, leaving no room for error in her missions and always seeking to come out on top. Her conviction and mindset are quite twisted, but at the end of the day, readers still hope to see her win despite knowing that she is just like any other morally grey character out there.

9 Medea Solon (her throne)

She will destroy everything to reach the throne

Medea Solon’s very existence should be nothing but the best. Treated like a tool and trained since childhood, Medea has known no affection or love from her parents. Her only way to rise above them is to secure her position on the throne as Crown Princess. Unfortunately, her plans fall apart when Psyche Callista gains the position and her father kills the only person who has shown her love – her nursemaid. It is here that readers will begin to see and understand Medea’s fragile state of mind, fueled by her thirst for revenge and the throne.

Your throneThe twist is that Medea and Psyche end up switching bodies, causing the two to live very separate but similar lives. They are both trapped, but where Psyche chooses to keep her head down and move on, Medea fights and kills for what she wants. Compared to Psyche, she is as callous as they come, only using people for her own benefit or killing them for fun. She can best be described as a ticking time bomb of chaos, silently waiting in the wings for the right opportunity to hit where it hurts.

8 Jaina Belcheter (Angel or Villain)

The House of the Biggest Smiles The Darkest Eyes

Witnessing the fall of her house, the death of her father, and the loss of her fiancé is enough to make Jaina Belcheter realize that there is an enemy right where she sleeps. When she discovers it is her best friend/adoptive sister, Angela, she is stabbed to death before she can even call the authorities. Luckily for Jaina, she uses an ancient magic passed down through her family and decides to travel back in time to before she met Angela. Now living in the new timeline, she notices every snide comment, every mockery, and every evil deed Angela plans to commit to make Jaina look like the villain.

As a character with a shifting morality, Jaina knows exactly when to use her charms and tricks to achieve her goals. She has the perfect face of an angel, but acts like a demon when she needs to, especially when it comes to the safety of her family and putting Angela in her place. It's incredibly refreshing to see Jaina's switch flip when she realizes that her kindness will only lead to her death. She's cruel, ruthless, and a master manipulator—going so far as to kill Angela's closest confidants to keep her isolated and alone. Ironically, she's not even a Angel or Villainbut just a woman who enjoys seeing her enemy fall into despair.

7 Mielle Roscente (The villain inverts the hourglass)

Behind every pretty face is an even uglier soul

Everyone loves a female main character who can dish out the most she can in the worst way possible, but sometimes we get some antagonists in manhwa who are equally memorable for their scheming ways. Most antagonists tend to be sloppy, easily angered, and frustrating to follow, but Mielle Roscente, Aria's half-sister in The villain inverts the hourglass, knows exactly how to irritate anyone.

In the original timeline of the manhwa, Mielle is extremely sadistic, elitist, and frustratingly selfish, especially towards Aria. She puts on the mask of an innocent and childish girl, when in reality she would rather see people fall apart and humiliate themselves. Although Aria eventually tricks her in the revised timeline, Mielle's skills in manipulation, acting, and false empathy make her a character worth remembering. Readers will come to realize that her actions are devoid of morality and are purely for her own selfish needs. She only wants to be number one wherever she goes, and if she doesn't get what she wants, she'll destroy everyone else in her path.

6 Blanche Margueritte (Hail Lady Blanche!)

He enjoys inflicting the cruelty he suffered on others.

Since birth, Lady Blanche Margueritte has been the laughingstock of her family. Unloved and ridiculed for her disability, they take pride in abusing her and using her for their own gain. When the opportunity arises, her family decides to sell her without thinking twice. Blanche, who is only competing for their affection, then realizes that no matter what she does, she will never be accepted into the family. She then tries to kill herself, but when she wakes up, Blanche is back in her room with memories of her past life. She is currently in a video game that can only be played with the help of the villain.

All hail Lady Blanche! is set in a world where the mafia reigns supreme, and along with its cast of characters who not only break gender norms, readers also get a glimpse into the complexity of each of their relationships and childhood traumas. Blanche is what readers might call a green flag stained red—and yes, the red comes from the blood of her allies, enemies, and family. She is nothing short of a loose screw, and that is completely justifiable given the life she has had to endure. Interestingly, she becomes the villain in everyone else’s story and the savior in her own.

5 Cosette Weinburg (I'm the real one)

She uses her kindness to manipulate people.

Everyone loves a good revenge story where the villain gets all the hate. But what if the villain's actions were justified and readers could finally understand the other side? In I am the real one, Kiera Parvis is brutally executed after being manipulated by her half-sister Cosette Weinburg. It's a typical reincarnation story where Kiera goes back in time and changes her destiny. The interesting thing is that in most of these time regression manhwas, the antagonist has an immature plan to take everything from the protagonist without any justification.

However, the more readers learn about Cosette’s story, the struggles, and the abuse her mother and uncle had to endure, is when things finally start to come into perspective. Readers end up seeing the antagonist in a new light and, in a way, rooting for her. All Cosette is doing is avenging her mother’s death, an unjust accusation, while also trying to get her life back on track. This manhwa not only has likable characters but also a villain that is relatable enough. Furthermore, the plot is full of twists and turns, keeping the reader guessing who will emerge victorious.

4 Princess Ludis Amaryllis (sacrificed)

Your freedom is only possible through destruction

As an illegitimate child of the Empire, Princess Ludis has spent her entire life being mistreated and abused. Now, with the Empire on the brink of destruction, her father decides to use Ludis as a sacrifice to summon an Old God. However, when she is thrown into the room, all she finds are the golden eyes and warmth of a mysterious man. Despite the potential horrors, Ludis emerges unharmed and discovers that Ravian, the Old God, is now solely at her command and will.

As a victim of abuse, Sacrificed portrays the fragility and helplessness that one can constantly feel in everyday life. Ludis suffers from a trauma that cannot be easily healed due to the mistreatment, manipulation, and hostility of her own family. When she finally receives the power and conviction to stand up for herself, her actions towards them do not bring empathy or forgiveness. For her, if her end resulted in the fall of the empire, she would gladly make the same choice a million times over.

3 Estelle Emerald / Jewel Garnet (Archvillain of House Garnet)

Killing is the only thing that brings you joy in this life

There is a big difference between a character who plays a villainess and a villain. Villainesses are usually characters who have been reborn into terrible roles and choose to change the plot to ensure their survival. Villains, on the other hand, are driven by greed, misfortune, and hatred. They come from tragic situations and when all hope is lost, they are awakened as beings of darkness and apathy. This is what happened to Estelle Emerald, an abused daughter of the duchy who was sacrificed to the devil by her family. For 600 years, she endured unimaginable pain in all forms, be it physical, mental, or emotional. When the demon of hell grows bored with her, it gives him the chance to return. Estelle takes the plunge and begins committing all sorts of atrocities.

Now living her life as Juvelle Garnet, Estelle takes pleasure in secretly killing all six ducal families involved in her death. Archvillain of House Garnet can bring out a range of emotions in readers, as many would feel that Estelle's actions are justified despite her gruesome ways of murder. She enjoys watching her prey writhe, begging for their lives, and making them think they have a chance to survive. She could potentially be one of the most psychotic protagonists in manhwa, as her morality teeters on the edge of her sanity.

2 Princess Larcy (I Will Fall With The Emperor)

The enemy of your enemy will be your husband

Set in a world of monsters and chaos, Larcy, the Princess of the Empire, is sent to the battlefield as the last hope. Known for her exceptionally destructive power, she follows the will of her family and ends up killing countless innocents in the pursuit of victory. Only then does she discover that her naive loyalty to her family was in vain. They used her as a pawn to ensure their survival in the war and hope for her death on the battlefield. When the day destined for her death arrives, Larcy, however, finds herself 10 years in the past, long before any word of war reached the empire.

She has her memories and extensive knowledge of her past life, so when the opportunity arises to distance herself from her family, she manipulates her way to do so. Larcy decides to marry the Emperor of the neighboring kingdom, the very one she fought against in her previous life, as she knows that her family fears him. She seizes the opportunity to get revenge on them using her husband's military might and influence. I will fall with the emperor takes the typical revenge-driven character and adds a touch of extremity to it. Larcy can take care of herself, and despite her violent outbursts, they are certainly justifiable due to the years of abuse and manipulation she has faced from her family.

1 Azela Salvatore (adopted daughter of the monstrous duke)

Representative of dark-skinned women and protective mothers

Despite the rise in popularity of manhwa around the world, unfortunately, many of them feature characters that are heavily influenced by Western culture. Some of the stories that do exist do include characters from other cultures, but they are poorly portrayed and always assume the role of the classless aggressor. One manhwa that does it justice is Adopted daughter of the monstrous duke and has characters like Azela Salvatore, a dark-skinned 'monster' duke who fought against all social limitations and made a name for herself.

She is the adoptive mother of the main character, Leslie, and despite all the rumors surrounding her, she may be one of the warmest characters in the story. In addition to being the only POC (Person of Color) in the story, she is also the most fearsome woman in the empire, revered for her military might and fighting strength. Azela has led a difficult life, trying to overcome the challenges of being a woman in the army and dark-skinned in society. Her temper can indeed be “monstrous”, especially when her family or allies are threatened, leaving no enemy alive in her destruction.