Pioneering Webtoon App 'comico' Announces Service Closure After 13 Years

It has been announced that “comico,” the manga app widely recognized as a pioneer of vertical-scrolling web comics (webtoons), will terminate its service at 11:59 PM on Wednesday, January 6, 2027. News of the impending closure of this veteran platform, which has enjoyed massive popularity since its launch in 2013, has prompted a wave of surprise and heartfelt nostalgia across social media.

According to the official announcement, preparations are underway to transfer content purchased on comico to the digital manga storefront “Mecha Comic,” allowing users to continue accessing their paid titles.

comico played a crucial role in popularizing full-color, vertically scrolling comics tailored specifically for smartphones. Over the years, the platform spawned numerous breakout hits, most notably ReLIFE—which received both an anime adaptation and a live-action film—as well as How to Keep a Mummy, Momokuri, Nanbaka, and Recovery of an MMO Junkie. Furthermore, it served as a major launchpad for aspiring creators through its user-submission features and open challenge sections.

Following the sudden announcement, social media was flooded with fond memories from longtime fans, with comments such as “comico was my youth,” “It was the first app that showed me how fun vertical-scrolling manga could be,” and “I always looked forward to the daily updates.” The closure has brought renewed recognition to comico’s historic role in driving the growth and evolution of modern webtoon and digital manga culture.

The Context

Launched in October 2013 by NHN PlayArt (now NHN JAPAN), comico was one of the earliest digital platforms in Japan to adopt the full-color, vertical-scroll format that originated primarily in South Korea. At a time when traditional page-turning digital manga dominated the market, comico capitalized on the rise of smartphones by offering free, easy-to-read daily releases aimed at a younger demographic.

Its runaway hit ReLIFE by Yayoiso became a cultural touchstone in the mid-2010s, proving that vertical webtoons could achieve mainstream commercial success, anime adaptations, and physical publication in Japan. While the global webtoon market has since become fiercely competitive with the growth of giants like LINE Webtoon and Kakao Piccoma, comico remains an influential trailblazer that helped reshape how Japanese audiences consume digital comics.

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