Webtoon 'Hellbound' nominated for best Asian comic at 2023 Eisner Awards

Webtoon “Hellbound,” which was adapted into a popular Netflix series, was nominated for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, also known as the Eisner Awards, one of the most prestigious awards given to comics, on Friday. “Hellbound” was named...

Volume One cover for the English edition of the webtoon ″Hellbound″ [DARK HORSE BOOKS]

Webtoon “Hellbound,” which was adapted into a popular Netflix series, was nominated for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, also known as the Eisner Awards, one of the most prestigious awards given to comics, on Friday.

“Hellbound” was named in the Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia category, according to the San Diego Comic-Con website Friday.

“Hellbound” depicts the story of people sentenced to hell by a supernatural phenomenon. Director Yeon Sang-ho, who directed “Train to Busan” (2016), and webtoonist Choi Gyu-seok co-wrote the story. The series ran on Naver Webtoon from 2019 to 2020 and was adapted into a Netflix series that ranked first in non-English programs worldwide when released in 2021.

Other nominations in the same category include “Black Paradox” by Japanese master Junji Ito, and “Talk to My Back” by Murasaki Yamada.

The Eisner Awards, named after Will Eisner, a pioneer in the American comic industry, was established in 1988 and is the most prestigious comic book awards in the United States. It is often referred to as the Oscars of the comics industry.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]