What is the No. 1 BL series? 10 Powerful Titles That Truly Dominate

There is no single verified global No. 1 across every platform, but by the strongest real-world dominance signals (official episode libraries, long-term ranking visibility, and sustained fandom demand), Painter of the Night is one of the clearest contenders, with a 129-episode main run.

Using the same criteria our editorial team applies when curating BL lists on discovery hubs like ComicK, this guide selects 10 powerhouse titles that consistently “dominate” in readership, discussion, and binge value. Keep reading for a fast, scan-friendly breakdown of each series, its tone and tropes, and which one is most likely to become your personal No. 1.

How “No. 1” is actually measured in BL. What is the No. 1 BL series?

Most readers want a single crown, but BL is a fragmented market. Different platforms track engagement differently (paid unlocks, subscriptions, likes, completion rates), licensing varies by region, and some titles trend weekly while others dominate through long term reread value. That is why asking for “No. 1” is less about mathematics and more about patterns.

Here are the most reliable signals that a BL series is operating at “No. 1” scale:

Platform visibility and longevity. Titles that remain high on mature webtoon storefronts for months or years usually have the strongest sustained readership. A short viral spike can create buzz, but longevity proves retention.

Binge architecture. Dominant BL series are engineered for the scroll format: strong hooks, frequent cliffhangers, season finales that reset stakes, and side stories that extend the reading life.

Fandom gravity. The biggest series generate memes, edits, shipping debates, trope discourse, and constant “recommend me something like this” requests. That conversation is a measurable form of dominance.

Accessibility. A series can be excellent and still not dominate if it is hard to find, poorly translated, or fragmented across multiple listings. Official availability, consistent updates, and clear content ratings matter.

This is also why many readers use discovery catalogs like ComicK to track what people are actively reading and discussing, then confirm episode counts and official versions on licensed platforms. With that context, the list below focuses on titles that repeatedly meet the dominance criteria, not just personal favorites.

Tier 1 blockbusters: Painter of the Night and Jinx

Painter of the Night (129 episodes, main run)

If you want the cleanest “No. 1” style recommendation in BL manhwa, Painter of the Night is a powerhouse for three reasons: scale, craft, and compulsion. The historical setting provides instant atmosphere, the artwork is highly polished, and the relationship tension is designed to keep you reading even when the plot slows down. It is a mature romance that leans into power dynamics, jealousy, emotional dependency, and long arc character development. That combination creates reread value, which is a quiet but critical dominance signal.

From a pacing standpoint, it is built for binge reading. Each arc ends on a meaningful shift, and the story moves through distinct emotional phases rather than looping in place. Readers who like slow burn, angst, and eventual payoff tend to rank it as a benchmark series. It also has strong “entry point” value: even newcomers to BL webtoon culture recognize the title, which keeps it circulating in recommendations year after year.

Jinx (89 episodes, ongoing)

Jinx dominates through a different mechanism: weekly engagement. Ongoing series often feel bigger than completed ones because the fandom experiences them in real time, with cliffhangers and discourse fueling constant visibility. Jinx is known for intense chemistry, a high stress dynamic, and a tone that is more confrontational than cozy. This is not a gentle slice of life romance. It is a mature drama built on control, desperation, and the slow grind of emotional consequences.

The reason it belongs in a “No. 1” discussion is simple: it triggers conversation. Readers argue about redemption arcs, boundaries, and whether the relationship is headed toward healing or escalation. That debate keeps the series at the center of BL communities, which is exactly how modern webtoons dominate: not only through reads, but through attention.

Crime and danger dominance: Shutline and Pearl Boy

Shutline (105 episodes, ongoing with breaks)

If you like BL with action thriller energy, Shutline is one of the most bingeable crime lane titles available. The romance is not a decorative subplot. It is embedded in risk, leverage, trust, and survival logic. That integration is what separates “popular for a month” from “dominant for years.” The series builds tension through a gritty urban atmosphere, morally gray choices, and characters who are never fully safe, emotionally or physically.

Shutline also demonstrates a key dominance trait: even during breaks, the audience stays engaged. Fans keep discussing character motivations, relationship pivots, and future plot turns. That persistence matters because it signals that the hook is structural, not just novelty. If your preferred tropes include enemies to lovers, dangerous attraction, betrayal anxiety, and high stakes intimacy, Shutline tends to deliver consistent momentum.

Pearl Boy (90 episodes, main story, plus additional content)

Pearl Boy is often cited as a “you will not forget this” series, and that memorability is a major driver of dominance. It blends crime flavored drama with emotional intensity, creating a reading experience that feels cinematic and heavy. The relationship arc is shaped by trauma, devotion, and the question of whether love can exist without safety. Readers who enjoy darker themes, high drama, and catharsis often binge it quickly because the plot does not stall.

What makes Pearl Boy dominant is its escalation discipline. It moves through clear phases, keeps the stakes rising, and delivers major turning points that feel irreversible. That structure supports both binge reading and long term conversation. Even readers who do not call it their favorite often admit it is a reference point. In BL communities, that “reference point” status is one of the clearest signs a title belongs in the No. 1 tier conversation.

Comfort megahits: The Dangerous Convenience Store and Sign

The Dangerous Convenience Store (88 episodes, main story, plus side stories)

Not all dominance is dark. Some BL series dominate because they are easy to recommend and emotionally satisfying for a wide audience. The Dangerous Convenience Store sits in that lane: approachable premise, strong character chemistry, comedic beats, and enough tension to keep the story from going flat. It is often described as a comfort read with mature seasoning rather than pure shock value.

Its popularity also comes from balance. It offers warmth and humor, but it does not avoid conflict. The relationship progression feels earned, the pacing supports binge reading, and the series remains accessible to readers who want romance first. Side story content extends the reading life, which is a major advantage in webtoon ecosystems where continued updates keep a title visible.

Sign (115 episodes, completed)

Sign is a long run comfort classic that dominates through craft and consistency. It is a romance forward BL series with a steady relationship trajectory, strong emotional clarity, and a tone that rarely becomes exhausting. For readers who want a slower, more domestic progression, Sign is a frequent top recommendation because it delivers growth without relying on constant crisis.

What makes Sign “No. 1” adjacent is reread value. Readers return to it when they want a satisfying romance rhythm: bonding, misunderstandings that resolve, genuine character development, and a feeling of stability by the end. In a market where many BL webtoons chase extreme tension, a well paced, emotionally coherent series can dominate simply because it is dependable.

Modern workplace and celebrity dominance: The New Recruit and Limited Run

The New Recruit (40 episodes, main story, plus side stories)

Office romance is one of the most reliable BL manhwa engines because it combines everyday familiarity with secrecy, hierarchy, and friction. The New Recruit is a standout entry point for newer readers because it is bingeable without requiring a 100 episode commitment. The tone is modern and readable: workplace tension, awkward attraction, gradual honesty, and a romance arc that resolves cleanly.

Its dominance is recommendation based. Shorter series often become widely read because they are easy to finish and easy to endorse. When readers ask for a beginner friendly BL webtoon that still feels addictive, The New Recruit is frequently named because it is accessible, paced well, and satisfying.

Limited Run (81 episodes, completed)

Limited Run dominates in the glossy drama lane. Its appeal comes from high intensity romance beats, manipulation themes, and a setting tied to performance and public image. That combination fuels fandom debate because it raises questions about sincerity, ambition, and emotional leverage. It is romance heavy, but not simplistic.

From a binge perspective, it works because it maintains tension and keeps turning points coming. The story does not rely on one gimmick. It uses character psychology, reputation risk, and escalating intimacy to keep readers engaged. If you like celebrity drama, messy relationship dynamics, love triangle energy, and a polished webtoon aesthetic, Limited Run tends to feel like a “premium binge.”

Trope engines and cultural shockwaves: Love is an Illusion! and Killing Stalking

Love is an Illusion! (116 episodes including extensive side stories)

If you want a BL series that demonstrates how tropes can create massive readership, Love is an Illusion! is a flagship. It is deeply tied to omegaverse expectations (ABO dynamics, identity tension, social pressure), and it uses that framework to generate constant conflict and fast emotional pivots. The result is extremely bingeable for readers who enjoy trope clarity and high drama.

Its dominance comes from breadth. It attracts readers who want comedy, readers who want romance escalation, and readers who want a long tail of side story content after the main arc. In webtoon ecosystems, that long tail matters because it keeps a title discoverable and continuously discussed.

Killing Stalking (67 episodes, completed)

Killing Stalking is not a comfort romance. It is a psychological thriller with heavy themes, and it requires content warnings. So why does it appear in a No. 1 discussion? Because it is a cultural shockwave title. Even people who have not read it know it, and many readers cite it as a turning point in their awareness of darker BL adjacent storytelling.

Its dominance is conversation based. It sparks debates about genre boundaries (BL vs thriller), trauma portrayal, and reader responsibility. That discourse keeps it visible for years. If your goal is to understand what “dominant” means in BL communities, Killing Stalking is a clear example: it stays relevant because it is unforgettable, polarizing, and constantly referenced.

What is the No. 1 BL series? How to choose the right “No. 1” for you

What is the No. 1 BL series? The most useful answer is: it depends on what you want the series to do to you. Are you looking for comfort, obsession, adrenaline, or catharsis? Your “No. 1” should match your preferred emotional outcome.

Use this practical selection framework:

1) Choose by tone.
Comfort romance: Sign, The Dangerous Convenience Store, The New Recruit.
High intensity drama: Painter of the Night, Jinx, Limited Run.
Crime and danger: Shutline, Pearl Boy.
Dark psychological: Killing Stalking (only if you are comfortable with heavy themes).

2) Choose by completion status.
Completed series are better for closure and binge planning. Ongoing series are better for weekly hype and community discussion.

3) Choose by tropes.
Slow burn, enemies to lovers, office romance, omegaverse, historical drama, gangster romance, love triangle, redemption arc. Trope alignment is often the difference between “I dropped it” and “I binged it in two days.”

4) Check maturity and content warnings.
R 19 and explicit tags tell you about sexual content, but you should also look for warnings about violence, coercion, stalking, trauma, or psychological abuse.

Finally, use discovery tools intelligently. Many readers use ComicK to spot trending titles and community tags, then confirm official versions and episode structure before committing. That workflow helps you avoid mismatched expectations and keeps your reading list aligned with your preferences.

FAQ

1) Is there one verified No. 1 BL series worldwide?
No. Platforms do not share a single global, audited readership metric, so “No. 1” is usually a consensus based on visibility and fandom demand.

2) How many episodes does Painter of the Night have?
The main run has 129 episodes.

3) What is the biggest ongoing BL manhwa right now?
Jinx is one of the most talked about ongoing titles due to consistent fandom discussion and cliffhanger pacing.

4) Which series is best if I want crime and action vibes?
Shutline and Pearl Boy are strong picks for danger, grit, and high stakes romance.

5) Which series is best for comfort romance?
Sign, The Dangerous Convenience Store, and The New Recruit are frequent comfort recommendations.

6) Is Love is an Illusion! omegaverse?
Yes. It is a well known omegaverse style BL series with a long episode library and extensive side content.

7) Is Killing Stalking a typical BL romance?
No. It is primarily a psychological thriller with heavy content. Read content warnings carefully.

8) What makes a BL series “dominant” besides episode count?
Longevity, consistent platform visibility, high completion rates, reread value, and sustained fandom conversation.

9) Should I start with a completed or ongoing series?
Start with completed if you want closure and a clean binge. Start with ongoing if you want weekly updates and community hype.

10) Where do readers usually discover new BL titles quickly?
Many use catalog and tag based discovery hubs like ComicK, then move to official platforms to read licensed versions.

Final takeaway: What is the No. 1 BL series? You cannot crown a single universal winner with public data, but Painter of the Night is one of the strongest real world “No. 1” contenders thanks to its 129 episode scale, binge architecture, and long term fandom gravity. If you want dominance in different flavors, the other nine titles here represent the major lanes that consistently pull the largest audiences: comfort office romance, historical drama, crime thrillers, omegaverse staples, and cultural phenomenon thrillers.

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