This Gosu manhwa reading guide has a short answer: start at the prologue on WEBTOON and don't bother with the prequel. Gosu is a finished murim revenge story by Ryu Gi-un (story) and Mun Jeong-hu (art). It ran on Naver Webtoon from September 2015 to April 2021, and the English edition on WEBTOON is complete.
Reviewing
Gosu
Correction (October 21, 2026): Earlier versions of this guide said the Gosu anime was titled "Takate", was confirmed in late 2025, and that a Gosu sequel series exists. None of that has a source: no studio has announced an anime title, and Gosu is itself the sequel to Yongbi the Invincible. The real anime status is below.
Gosu, Korean volume 1. Image via AniList.
What Gosu is about
WEBTOON's blurb sets it up in three lines: "When his master dies, Gang Yong pledges to avenge his teacher at all costs." He trains in seclusion, sets off to hunt down the traitors, and reaches town to find "they're... already dead? Well, what's he supposed to do now?!" Wikipedia fills in the names: Gang Yong is the disciple of Dokgo Ryong, Supreme Overlord of the chaotic murim, and the traitors were the four Heavenly Kings who betrayed his master and tried to kill him.
That twist is the engine. With no one left to kill, Gang Yong has to work out what his revenge is for, and the blurb's own punchline tells you the opening plays it partly for laughs. You'll see his name written Gang Ryong in some fan sources, from the Korean 강룡; the official English edition uses Gang Yong.
Gosu manhwa reading guide: how the story is built
Naver splits Gosu into two parts, and that split is the map this Gosu manhwa reading guide follows:
| Part | Korean run | What's in it |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Prologue and chapters 1 to 86, September 2015 to April 2017 | The setup: Gang Yong leaves seclusion and finds his targets gone |
| Part 2 | Chapters 1 to 144, July 2017 to April 2021 | The longer second half, with a year-long break after chapter 75 (December 2018 to December 2019), then a final chapter and afterword |
That's why the chapter count changes depending on where you look. Naver lists 236 entries, because it also counts the prologue, a hiatus notice, the Part 1 afterword, a comeback preview, the final chapter and the closing afterword. AniList counts 233. Either way, it's done.
For the series' strengths and our verdict, read the Gosu manhwa review.
Do you need Yongbi the Invincible first?
Yongbi the Invincible, Korean collector's edition volume 1. Image via AniList.
Gosu is a sequel to Yongbi the Invincible, the 1990s manhwa by the same pair, and the connection is real: one r/manhwa reader pointed out that "Gosu is the sequel to Yongbi and the side story so check that out if you haven't already." But you don't need it. In a thread asking exactly that, another reader answered: "I read Gosu from start to finish and never knew it had a prequel. think you're good." AniList also lists no official English edition of Yongbi, so for most readers the question answers itself.
Where to read Gosu in English
Gosu on WEBTOON is the official English edition, marked completed. The website shows the early episodes; WEBTOON's own notice says to read more episodes in the app. The Korean original is on Naver Webtoon.
The Gosu anime
It exists on paper. On April 17, 2023, NAVER announced that Studio N had signed an agreement with Toei Animation to co-produce an animated Gosu. Studio Mir confirmed on September 24, 2024 that it is also producing it, as Anime News Network noted in an update to its story. In a May 2026 ScreenRant interview, Studio N's CEO said, "We're still early in this project, so it's too early to share much." AniList shows the anime as not yet released with no date, and we found no official title, trailer or premiere window.
If you like the comedy, try Return of the Blossoming Blade
WEBTOON itself lists Gosu under "You may also like" on Return of the Blossoming Blade's page, and the pairing makes sense: both are murim stories that get big laughs out of an overpowered lead before the stakes climb. The difference is that Blossoming Blade is still running, so it's the one to pick up when you finish Gosu and want more of the same mix.
Return of the Blossoming Blade on WEBTOON. Image via WEBTOON.
Return of the Blossoming Blade's official trailer, from WEBTOON's YouTube channel. Gosu has no official trailer yet.
For more series built on the same master's-revenge setup, see manhwa like Gosu.
Step-by-Step
Here's how to read Gosu manhwa, start to finish:
1. Start at the prologue on WEBTOON. No prequel needed. Gosu stands on its own.
2. Read Part 1 for the setup. This is where the twist lands and Gang Yong's new purpose takes shape.
3. Keep going into Part 2. It's the longer half, and it carries the story to its end.
4. Finish with the final chapter and the afterword. The story is complete; there's nothing ongoing to wait for.
5. Go back to Yongbi only if you want more. It's the prequel, but there's no official English edition listed.
Our Take
Gosu is one of the safest murim starts there is: finished, free of required homework, and built on a hook (the revenge targets are already dead) that does more than set up fights. Read it now rather than waiting for the anime. That adaptation has been "announced" since 2023 and still has no date.
How We Checked This
On October 21, 2026 we read Gosu's WEBTOON page (blurb, status and the app notice), pulled the full Korean episode list from Naver's API to map Part 1 and Part 2, checked AniList for dates, chapter count, the Yongbi link and the anime entry, and read NAVER's April 2023 press release, Anime News Network's story with its Studio Mir update, ScreenRant's 2026 interview and Wikipedia for the anime studios and plot names. Reader quotes come from linked r/manhwa threads. This pass removed an anime title and a production date we couldn't source, a reference link that pointed to an unrelated press release, a "sequel series" that doesn't exist (Gosu is itself the sequel), and the unsourced chapter-by-chapter phase map and reading-time estimate. We haven't claimed any reading of our own.
Last reviewed: October 21, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I read Gosu manhwa in English?
On WEBTOON, which lists the English edition as completed. Some of the newest episodes may only open in the WEBTOON app rather than the website. The Korean original ran on Naver Webtoon.
Do I need to read Yongbi the Invincible before Gosu?
No. Gosu is a sequel to Yongbi the Invincible, but it works on its own, and readers on r/manhwa say they read Gosu start to finish without knowing there was a prequel. Yongbi also has no official English edition listed.
Is there a Gosu anime?
Announced, not released. Studio N and Toei Animation signed an agreement in April 2023 to co-produce it, Studio Mir joined in September 2024, and no title, trailer or premiere date has been announced.
Related Reading
- Gosu Manhwa Review: our verdict on the series and its ending.
- Manhwa Like Gosu: four picks with the same master's-revenge setup.
- Return of the Blossoming Blade Reading Guide: seasons and where the ongoing murim comedy stands.
References
- Gosu on WEBTOON
- Gosu episode list on Naver Webtoon
- Gosu on AniList
- Gosu (manhwa) on Wikipedia
- NAVER: Studio N signs MOU with Toei Animation to co-produce GOSU
- Anime News Network: Gosu Webtoon Gets Japanese-S. Korean Animated Adaptation (Updated)
- ScreenRant: Studio N on the Gosu anime
- Yongbi the Invincible on AniList
