Post-apocalyptic stories have seen their golden era come and go. In books, movies, games, and TV adaptations, there is no shortage of compelling tales set after the world has ended.

As a seasoned fan of the genre, I have consumed many well-known works from all across the media landscape. The Last of Us, The Hunger Games, Girls’ Last Tour, Akira, Dr. Stone, Fallout, The Road, Children of Men, amongst others. Despite this extensive experience, Ji-Hoon Jeong AKA JK’s “The Horizon” reminded me how profoundly a story can impact both heart and mind.

“The Horizon” is a brisk 21-chapter read, available as a WEBTOON, making it an easy series to dive into. However, given the weighty subject matter and its delicate handling, I recommend taking your time with it. Though I devoured it in one sitting, it took me hours to process its depth. To fully appreciate this nightmarish world, savor each panel of void, expanse, sorrow, and cruelty.

The story unfolds shortly after mass-scale destruction. Civilians litter the streets, running, crying, screaming, or silent from shell shock or expiration. Names lose their significance in this hellscape. Here, we meet The Boy, whose mother lies on the ground before him, her head a mangled mass of tissue and gray matter. In a heartbreaking moment, he tries to piece her back together, facing the futility of his efforts.

Long moments pass as he processes this harsh reality. Though he moves away from her body, the scars remain indelible. For reasons unknown, he decides to walk, and keep walking. The quiet wilderness, save for his footsteps on the pavement, becomes his companion. He eventually comes across a school bus veered off to the side of the road, where he rests his head, perhaps for the first time in a long while. Upon waking, he discovers he isn’t alone.

From here, the story shifts focus from The Boy to The Boy and The Girl. Their journey through this ravaged wasteland becomes a tale of resilience and companionship. They resolve to keep walking, believing that if the Earth is truly round as their parents taught them, there is no end to the road.

Along the way, they encounter others, not all of whom are kind. The cruelty they face raises questions: is it the influence of this world that has corrupted people, or has it merely revealed their true nature?

I’ve been careful to avoid spoilers because this story is best approached with minimal foreknowledge. Just prepare yourself to keep moving forward, no matter what you read. Steel your heart, take breaks if needed, but keep going. In my many years reading manga/manhwa, it takes a special story to move my heart. I have no shame in saying that I was sobbing through multiple parts of this one. I cannot recommend it enough.

The Horizon is collected in 3 volumes and published by Yen Press.