If you’ve ever scrolled through the feed and wondered why all brands are suddenly trying to become your best friend, bad influence may be a little too close to your home.
The new webtoon comic (from author Orson James and Roman Curry and artist Joarros) introduces the city of Weishorn, a pastel-colored nightmare world where delight is produced. In the story, he chases Nell (along with the group of opposition) as he tries to defeat the system, but only faces “glitches, ghosts, and truths that no one wants to reveal.”
Robust sci-fi, chewing satire, powerful storytelling blends, and bad influences are clearly a very interesting spin on modern issues. But behind the surrealism and the enormous gorgeous characters is a very human story about identity, media and acts of rebellion. But before we enter the city limits, let James and Curry work us in a world of bad influence.
Courtesy of Webtoon.
Engineering Happiness (and Dystopia)
James and Curry worked in advertising, designed experiences, sold meanings, and found themselves “distorting their brains” in their own words. That experience fueled the central question of bad influence: what happens when pleasure itself is weaponized?
“We spent a lot of time helping brands design happiness,” James said. “So when we started building Weishorn, it was like taking that logic to extremes.”
The world they created is the “Disneyland dictatorship,” a place where non-stop parades and smiling mascots veil deeper, more mysterious forms of control. However, the satire of the story is not far from the real world.
“Everything is flat on the content,” Curry said. “News, politics, identity, protest, it’s all junk food.”
Its cultural commentary permeates every corner of the manga. Weishorn is more than just a setting. It reflects our current media diet, wearing bright colours and unrelenting positivity.
Courtesy of Webtoon.
Courtesy of Webtoon.
A passive rebel
At the heart of this chaos is a young woman whom the creators portray as “a passive rebel.” Her fights aren’t just against the system. It’s also yourself.
“There are really two quests,” Curry said. “One is Nell vs. System. The other is internal, and in some ways even more difficult, a battle in her own head.”
James said, “She’s messy, reactive, and often wrong. But she says that voice in her head, “I’m just not buying this.”
Style meets matter
Despite its heavy theme, bad influence does not sacrifice momentum or visual talent. The series is careered between action sets and introspective moments, and is always character-based.
“The actions are sometimes merciless,” James said. “But we break it down with emotionally recharged, often quiet moments. Then we turn it over.”
Curry celebrates the long-term plan to help balance the sound changes, saying, “We’ve written the story to the future, so we can track how everything fits perfectly: action, mystery, emotions. We’ll be patient with big reveals.”
Courtesy of Webtoon.
Created for scrolls
The vertical format of Webtoon was more than just an afterthought for the team. It helped shape how the story was told.
“I think people need more momentum in web comics,” James said. “But in a way, the opposite may be true. If there’s nothing that makes the audience feel something every few minutes, why?”
James said rather than lamenting the short scope of attention, the team saw it as a creative challenge.
“The audience is evolving,” James said. “So it’s our job to respect that and use it cleverly.”
Gorgeous mascot and psychological horror
Visually, bad influence brings life. Ros’s Fine Art Background and Love for the Animation negatively affect the tension of the signature between cute and creepy.
“Our characters might look like a gorgeous mascot,” James said. “But in Yeol’s style you can’t completely relax. There’s always something a little bit farther away. There’s a kind of ugliness underneath.”
“He treats every panel like a gallery. But he also brings this gentle, analytical energy. He dismantles the problem and comes back with something you’ve never come.”
Courtesy of Webtoon.
Courtesy of Webtoon.
Courtesy of Webtoon.
Courtesy of Webtoon.
Buildings on the other side of the page
The negative impact is firmly rooted in the web comic format for now, but James and Curry have great ambitions. With fake brands and surreal mascots, the Weisshorn world is ripe for long-term expansion.
“There’s something in every form that teaches all other forms,” James said video games have a big impact on how you think about structure and escalation.
But first and foremost, their focus is telling stories that tell one frame, one scroll, one emotional gut punch that resonates at once.
Living in Weishorn?
I was asked what role I played if I lived in Weishorn (as a gag of course).
“I’m going to make a long change with good old mystery meat,” James said, referring to the comic’s location. “Smile, play together, quietly hatch the plans and take no one seriously.”
Curry, on the other hand, has completely other plans.
“I wear a Beat Up Benji suit and entertain tourists for tips,” Curry said. “I still dream of becoming a mascot star.”
In other words, it’s just two Nobodies with dreams. But with a negative impact, that’s exactly where the revolution begins.
