What Is Zombie Dad Manga (Zombie Papa)?
A note on format before we go further: despite the word “manga” in most search results, Zombie Dad is actually a manhwa, which is simply the Korean term for a comic (the way “manga” is the Japanese term). It’s published as a webtoon — a type of digital comic designed to be read by scrolling down through full-color panels on your phone or computer, rather than flipping pages right-to-left like a traditional black-and-white Japanese manga. If you’ve never read one before, it takes about two minutes to get used to, and most people find the format very natural on a phone screen.
Here are the basics:
- Title: Zombie Papa (also known as Zombie Dad)
- Writer: Kim Dae Hun
- Artist: Jaeyi Park
- Platform: WEBTOON (free)
- Update Schedule: On hiatus between seasons (Season 1 ran Mondays)
- Status: Season 1 complete — 30 episodes plus an afterword on WEBTOON English (finale June 7, 2026; “Zombie Papa will return!”)
- Genre: Action (with heavy horror and emotional/family themes)
- Content Rating: Mature
- Format: Full-color, vertical scroll webtoon
The series is published under the Rokari Comics imprint and has been officially translated into English on WEBTOON. As of now, it has over 1.5 million views and more than 80,000 subscribers on the platform (as of July 2026) — solid numbers that show it’s connecting with readers.
The Premise — 100 Lives to Save His Daughter
The story follows Ryu Minseok, a father trying to survive a zombie apocalypse with his young daughter Dami. But there’s a twist that sets this apart from every other zombie survival story out there.
Minseok has been given 100 chances — essentially 100 lives — to save Dami. Think of it like a brutal, high-stakes loop where the same nightmare scenario resets each time he fails, and he has to relive it from the beginning with memories of what went wrong.
He fails 99 times.
On his 100th and final attempt, he dies yet again. But instead of it being truly over, he wakes up — as a zombie.
Now undead, Minseok retains his consciousness and his overwhelming drive to protect his daughter. He’s rotting, he’s monstrous, and he’s surrounded by both zombies and hostile survivors. But he’s still a dad, and Dami still needs him.
This is the core of what makes Zombie Dad work. The zombie apocalypse is the setting, the action is intense, and the horror is real — but the engine driving the whole story is a father’s love that literally refuses to die. The 100-lives mechanic also introduces layers of mystery: Why was he given these chances? Who or what is behind them? What happens now that the rules have been broken?
It’s a premise that earns its emotional moments instead of just relying on gore and shock value (though there’s plenty of that too).
Why Zombie Dad Stands Out Among Zombie Manga and Manhwa
The zombie genre is crowded. Between manga, manhwa, webtoons, and Western comics, there’s no shortage of undead apocalypse stories. So what makes Zombie Dad worth your time?
The Father-Daughter Bond Is the Real Story
A lot of zombie stories center on lone survivors, groups of strangers, or romantic pairs. Zombie Dad puts a parent-child relationship front and center, and it commits to it. Minseok isn’t a cool action hero who happens to have a kid — he’s a dad first, and everything he does is filtered through that. The emotional stakes feel different when a small child is involved, and the series doesn’t shy away from making that painful.
The 100-Lives Mechanic Adds Real Depth
This isn’t just “survive the zombies.” The fact that Minseok has already failed 99 times means he carries the weight of those failures. He knows what can go wrong. He’s seen his daughter die. That gives the story a layer of psychological depth and strategic thinking that straight survival stories often lack. It also creates genuine mystery — the “why” behind the 100 lives is a thread that keeps you reading.
Full-Color Art That Hits Hard
Because this is a webtoon and not a traditional manga, every panel is in full color. For a horror/action series, this makes a huge difference. The zombie designs are grotesque and detailed, the action sequences land with more impact in color, and the contrast between quiet emotional moments and violent chaos is sharper. Jaeyi Park’s art does serious work here.
It Doesn’t Pull Punches
Zombie Dad carries a Mature content rating for good reason. The violence is graphic, the situations are desperate, and the story doesn’t protect its characters from real consequences. If you want a zombie story that feels genuinely dangerous — where you’re not sure everyone is going to be okay — this delivers.
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Where to Read Zombie Dad
Good news: this one is easy to access and free to read.
WEBTOON (Official, Free)
The primary and official way to read Zombie Dad is on WEBTOON. The series is listed under the title “Zombie Papa” on the platform. You can read it through the WEBTOON app (available on iOS and Android) or directly on the WEBTOON website.
- The English translation is available for free
- During Season 1, new episodes dropped every Monday; the series is currently on hiatus between seasons
- Season 1 wrapped in June 2026 at 30 story episodes plus a short afterword — a perfect window to catch up before Season 2
If you search for “Zombie Dad” on WEBTOON, you might not find it immediately — try searching for “Zombie Papa” instead, which is the title used on the platform.
A Note on Unofficial Websites
You may find Zombie Dad hosted on various unofficial websites that collect manga and manhwa chapters from different sources. MangaDex — a free, fan-run website where users upload comic chapters — also lists it under the title “Zombie Papa.” However, if you want to support the creators and read the official English translation, WEBTOON is the way to go — especially since it’s free.
Is There a Physical Release?
As of now, Zombie Dad does not have an official physical English-language release (no printed volumes available). It’s a digital-only webtoon. If that changes in the future, WEBTOON’s official page for the series would be the first place to announce it. For now, digital is your only option.
Is Zombie Dad Worth Reading?
Short answer: yes, especially if you’re into zombie stories and want one with more heart than usual.
Here’s who will get the most out of it:
- Zombie fans looking for emotional depth. If you love the survival horror genre but sometimes wish the characters felt more real and the stakes more personal, this is a great pick. The father-daughter dynamic elevates every encounter.
- Readers who enjoyed Sweet Home or Shotgun Boy. If you’ve read other Korean horror webtoons like Sweet Home (a series about a recluse surviving as people around him transform into monsters — later adapted into a Netflix show) or Shotgun Boy (a tense story about a bullied teenager surviving a monster outbreak at school, written by Carnby Kim — who also wrote Sweet Home), Zombie Dad hits a similar sweet spot of horror, action, and characters you actually care about. If you haven’t read those, they’re also worth checking out — more on them below.
- People who “don’t usually like zombie stories.” This comes up a lot in reader discussions — people who are burned out on zombies picking up Zombie Dad and getting hooked because it’s not just about the zombies. The 100-lives mechanic and the family core give it a different flavor.
- Webtoon readers who want strong action art. The full-color action sequences are genuinely impressive. If you appreciate dynamic, well-drawn fight scenes, Zombie Dad delivers.
The main caveat: this is a Mature-rated series. It earns that rating. If you’re looking for something lighter or less graphic, this isn’t it.
If You Like Zombie Dad, Try These Too
If Zombie Dad has you hungry for more undead stories (or stories where love drives people through impossible situations), here are a few recommendations.
Sankarea: Undying Love
Sankarea: Undying Love takes a completely different approach to the “zombie loved one” concept. It’s a Japanese manga (11 volumes, complete) about a boy obsessed with zombies who accidentally turns a girl he likes into one. It’s part romance, part comedy, part genuine horror — much lighter and more playful than Zombie Dad’s grim tone, but it explores similar themes of caring for someone who’s undead. If you want to see the zombie-love concept from a totally different angle, it’s a fun read.
More Korean Horror Webtoons on WEBTOON
These are on the same platform as Zombie Dad and pair well with it — not all of them zombie stories, but all in the same survival-horror spirit:
- Sweet Home — A recluse must survive as the people around him transform into monsters. One of the most popular Korean horror webtoons ever made, and now a Netflix series. A great starting point if you’re new to horror webtoons.
- Shotgun Boy — By Sweet Home’s writer, Carnby Kim. A bullied teenager must survive a monster outbreak at school. Incredibly tense.
- The Last Human — A man is sent back in time to the start of the zombie apocalypse, armed with knowledge of the future. If you like Zombie Dad’s retry element — the idea of someone getting another chance and using past knowledge to survive — you’ll find a similar hook here.
Quick Reference
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Title | Zombie Papa (Zombie Dad) |
| Writer | Kim Dae Hun |
| Artist | Jaeyi Park |
| Format | Full-color webtoon (vertical scroll) |
| Platform | WEBTOON (free) |
| Updates | On hiatus — Season 2 not yet scheduled |
| Status | Season 1 complete (30 episodes + afterword) |
| Rating | Mature |
| Views | 1.5M+ on WEBTOON (July 2026) |
| Subscribers | 80,000+ on WEBTOON (July 2026) |
| Physical release | None (digital only) |
Final Thoughts
Zombie Dad isn’t trying to reinvent the zombie genre. What it does is take a well-worn setting and ground it in something deeply human — a father who has already lost his daughter 99 times and will keep fighting for her even after losing his own life and humanity.
The 100-lives mechanic keeps you guessing, the art is gorgeous and brutal in equal measure, and the emotional core hits harder than you’d expect from a zombie action series. The fact that it’s free and easily accessible on WEBTOON means there’s really no barrier to trying it.
Pull up the first few chapters and see how you feel. If the premise hooks you, you’re in for a ride.