The following contains spoilers for The UnCommons, available from WEBTOONS.
WEBTOONS is known for many series, the best-known at present being Lore Olympus and Wayne Family Adventures. Both of these are ultimately based upon other stories, whether a retelling of Hades and Persephone's romance or a tale of the less violent times in the lives of the extended Bat-family. As many artists begin their publishing career on WEBTOONs, several of the stories are not exactly new. Even Wayne Family Adventures and Lore Olympus, in spite of their unique and original content, are, by definition, derivative. However, this being the case is not necessarily a death knoll. In fact, many new stories find great success in remixing previously-established tales from across the world.
This is where The UnCommons, a new WEBTOON comic from Team Weird Enough (writer Tony Weaver, Jr., penciler and colorer Hannah Lee, colorer assistant Lia Harmon, penciler/liner Andy Robles-Valdez, liner Spencer Amundson, and letterer/editor Joamette Gil) excels brilliantly. By taking inspiration from the likes of manga (such as Kōhei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia) and comics (such as Marvel's Eternals), The UnCommons manages to blend together stories and genre to create a tale that is truly unique.
The UnCommons Features Manga Callbacks
The UnCommons doesn't just take some measure of inspiration from manga, as is often the case for WEBTOON publications. In fact, the comic fully embraces its inspirations being manga with super-powered beings. The most telling reference is the main character, Iris, appearing to imitate well-known All Might/Toshinori Yagi from My Hero Academia. The inspiration goes beyond visual references, though. The story of The UnCommons also takes liberally from Shōnen manga, with many people worldwide possessing powers to such an extent that it appears to be a part of people's everyday lives.
Additionally, the setting of The UnCommons is clearly inspired by manga set in the future, from the sentry and service androids. When a new hero or major character is introduced, their information is displayed on a card with their name and abilities, much like a number of Shōnen manga. However, the story uses these opportunities to take the tropes and run with them, both parodying and lovingly calling back to manga tropes. For example, the character cards have information scribbled out with a dark marker until it is relevant, at which point the information becomes visible. The outlines of hero powers are partially revealed, lied about or not shown until relevant or revealed by the story. It's a smart subversion of the trope that uses it in a new way that keeps the fourth wall slightly more intact.
The UnCommons Also Draws From American Comics
In spite of the many references to manga, The UnCommons doesn't stop with only Japanese media. A massive portion of The UnCommons appears to share elements with the likes of The Eternals, with the story taking place across millennia and similar powers being used by the principal characters in each story. Essentially, the setup of the characters acting across the ages is the same basic idea. However, the execution is entirely different because of the aforementioned manga inspirations. It's a fascinating mix with visuals from both the east and the west, and the blending of the two media makes for a gorgeous marriage.
It's always worth looking at a new comic, even if the contents aren't entirely apparent in their execution as being original. The UnCommons is a masterclass in being clearly inspired by other media while making the ideas presented within truly unique and fun. It's a careful balance that the comic strikes effortlessly, and creators would do well to learn from what it has to offer.