The best Isekai Manhwa featuring a reluctant hero

Key conclusions

• Isekai manhwa often feature characters who reluctantly rebel against the typical standards in the fantasy world.
• Stories like FFF-Class Trash Hero and Magic Academy's Genius Blinker showcase rebellious heroes.
• Unique manhwa stories like My Civil Servant Life Reborn offer different approaches to heroism.

Fantasy manhwa, especially the isekai series, is filled with stories about heroes summoned to another world to achieve a specific goal. These goals range from preventing an unknown threat prophesied to occur in the future to stopping the evil deeds of the Demon King/Lord from spreading his dark influence. But not every hero summoned to the fantasy world is ready to cooperate, and many decide either to live by their own rules or to rebel against the “system” that summoned them.

Here is a list of isekai manhwa series featuring a reluctant hero who chooses to go against the norm, break the mold, or even directly confront those who uprooted him from his ordinary life.

1 FFF class Trash Hero

He didn't want to be called a hero – now they would pay the price

• Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Shonen, Isekai
• The author: Farnar
• Artist: Farnar

FFF class Trash Hero is a great example of a reluctant hero in an isekai manhwa, with a protagonist who never seems to give up, great character development, and a story filled with conspiracies, dark creatures, capricious gods, and twists of fate. With good art design and decent world building.

It's a must-read if fans prefer a darker approach to the typical revenge story, with a touch of humor to cut the sourness of the plot. As the story goes on, it becomes more and more obvious that this Hero is far from perfect, and in order not to spoil the reader's enjoyment, let's say that those who summoned him by force will pay a heavy price for their crime.

2 Academy of Magic Genius Blinker

A decent story with a main character who wants to avoid the worst possible outcome

• genre: Action, Isekai, Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, School Life, Shonen
• Author: Eunmilhi
• Artists: Seoyu

Not the flashiest and not the strongest, but definitely the best for hand-to-hand combat. The main character is a trash character no one needs, a reincarnated gamer who accidentally turned into a Hero, forced to prevent the worst ending in the game, living in the flesh of a weak and difficult to control wizard.

This story might have the right mix of action, adventure and a reluctant hero with a heavy dose of drama. It's like stories like this Kind of omniscient readers, with similar pacing and good character development. Although some of the decisions they make may seem silly, they all make sense as the story progresses and they reveal their cards and the main character discovers that not everything is as it seems. A good read for those who like convoluted plots.

3 My life as a civil servant reborn in a strange world

He does not want to be a hero of history, just a civil servant

• Genres: action, adventure, comedy, fantasy, isekai
• The author: JD
• Artist: Il.K

A Korean bureaucrat who knew nothing but his job as a civil servant is reincarnated into a fantasy world, into a noble house that prioritizes power and authority above all else. Gifted with unique and powerful skills, he decides instead to not become a Hero and live as a civil servant.

A unique story with a different approach to the usual “reincarnation into a destined hero” where MC dodges a bullet and becomes the chosen one and instead goes for the comfortable life of a military officer. But, surprisingly, he will have to earn his position: painfully and by achieving a lot. And this is where the plot becomes really interesting, filled with conspiracies, coup attempts and many other twists and turns. One of the best stories of this genre.

4 A pro in his past life sucks sweet honey

Reincarnated as Izeka dozens of times, he no longer wants to be a hero

• Genres: action, adventure, fantasy, historical, shounen, isekai
• The author: Sooha song
• Artist: Ebipo

The cool and collected reincarnator is sent to another world after dozens of successful past lives as an isekai “messenger of the gods”. This time he decides to live a lazy and casual life, abandoning the role of a hero and becoming something of a merchant prince charming. But the world has other plans for him, and many conspirators will try to interfere with his plans for a happy life.

Decent story with a funny take on the typical “reincarnation as an OP hero”. Lots of memorable characters, lots of rewarding moments, and a story that wraps up and doesn't end with the typical eternal hiatus like so many others. This is one of the best reads fans can expect in the genre.

5 A scumbag from a count family

He just wants to be lazy, but he ends up being a hero

• genre: Isekai, Drama, Comedy, Fantasy
• Author: Elegant (Yoo Rae Han)
• Artist: Elegant (Yoo Rae Han)

Cool story about an atypical random hero who doesn't want to be the main hero of the world he was killed into. A scumbag from a count family has many strengths, but mainly the pace, which moves slowly but steadily forward. With great character development, touching moments, and strong connections to magical creatures, the MC proves that being a Hero isn't always about finding yourself in the worst place at the right time.

The art in this series is fantastic, neat, polished, and the world-building is extremely good. It has its bad moments and some events may disappoint the readers, but it does not fall in quality in any way, and this makes it one of the best stories of reluctant heroes.

6 Dark Fantasy Paladin

Trapped in a soul-like world, he just wants to get out

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

The combination of dark, dark fantasy, gore, and isekai makes this story one of the best reluctant hero stories in the manhwa format. With a dark and heartless vision of how a gamer survives in a soul-like world where there are no respawns and no secret cheat abilities. Armed with the knowledge of the gaming world, this faithless Paladin will prove to the world that gods do not exist, but in doing so, he will unleash a series of events that no one could have predicted.

A powerful statement that breaks the mold of the typical chosen hero and is more like a reluctant dark hero/avenger willing to force others to swallow justice if it can prevent a world-wide crisis. This story combines great storytelling with world-building and detailed lore that is deep yet easy to follow.

One of the best Isekai Manhwa right now

• genre: Action, Isekai, Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, School Life, Shonen
• Author: Trough
• Artists: Gyrin Gyrin

If fans are looking for a great manhwa that combines the best of the isekai genre, fantastic art, and great character and story development, then Academy Survival Guide Extra is required reading for them. With an ever-evolving plot, characters that are rewarding and deep, and a protagonist who has no choice but to be the Hero, even if he has to be the villain of the story.

Ed Rotailor reluctantly takes on the mantle of protagonist, or more like the one pulling the strings from the shadows. Any possible bad ending must be avoided and the story becomes more and more complicated with a butterfly effect due to the changes the MC makes in the “routes”. It's a really good story that will trap readers for hours and keep them begging for more with each completed chapter.