It is a weird feeling, honestly. You spend years grinding. You finally reach the top of the food chain, maybe as a literal demon king or a high-ranking dungeon lord, only to have some lucky "hero" with a legendary sword ruin your entire existence. This specific trope—where the big bad loses it all and has to start over as a puny level-one human—is exactly why I Used to Be a Boss and its spiritual cousins have exploded in popularity across platforms like Webtoon and Tapas.
People are tired of the generic hero's journey.
We have seen the "zero to hero" story a thousand times. But the "hero to zero" or "monster to man" pivot? That hits differently. It taps into a very specific kind of anxiety we all feel. It's the fear of losing your status and having to learn the rules of a world that suddenly hates you.
The Core Appeal of I Used to Be a Boss
When we talk about the series I Used to Be a Boss (written by LuckS and illustrated by v_v), we're looking at Baphomet. He wasn't just some grunt. He was the ruler of the Abyss. He was the final wall. Then, he gets reincarnated as a human named Han-bin.
The hook isn't just that he’s strong. It’s the culture shock.
Think about it. You go from being an entity that defines the rules of reality to a guy who has to worry about mana exhaustion and social etiquette. The series works because it leans into the absurdity of that transition. It’s not just about the fights; it’s about the internal monologue of someone who is fundamentally "other" trying to blend in.
Why the "Former Boss" Trope Is Dominating 2026 Trends
The shift in the manhwa and web-novel landscape over the last few years has been dramatic. We moved from Solo Leveling clones—where the protagonist just gets infinitely stronger—to stories about identity and regression.
Why? Because it’s relatable.
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In a weird way, Baphomet's struggle in I Used to Be a Boss mirrors the real-world experience of career pivoting or starting over after a massive failure. You have the knowledge. You have the "boss" mindset. But your "stats" (your bank account, your network, your physical health) aren't catching up yet. It creates this delicious friction where the character knows how to win but lacks the tools to do it easily.
It’s basically a workplace drama with fireballs.
If you look at other similar titles—like The Great Mage Returns After 4,000 Years or The Archmage Returns After 4000 Years—the formula is similar, but I Used to Be a Boss stays grounded by keeping the protagonist's monstrous origins at the forefront. He doesn't just "become" human. He's a monster wearing a human suit, trying to understand why humans value the things they do.
Technical Depth: How the Power Scaling Stays Interesting
One of the biggest risks in a story like this is making the lead too overpowered (OP). If Baphomet just stomps everyone, there is no stakes. Boring.
The writers of these "reincarnated boss" stories usually use a few specific narrative limiters:
- Mana Vessel Constraints: The mind is a Ferrari, but the body is a 1998 Honda Civic. If the character tries to use their "Boss" level skills, their human veins literally explode.
- Social Ostracization: In I Used to Be a Boss, the protagonist has to navigate a world where "monsters" are the enemy. If he reveals his true nature, the very people he’s trying to live among will hunt him down.
- The Learning Curve: Knowing how a spell works is different from having the muscle memory to execute it in a fragile body.
This creates a "Glass Cannon" dynamic. He can win any fight, but he might die in the process. That tension keeps readers coming back every week.
The Psychology of the "Boss" Perspective
There is a nuance here that often gets missed. Most protagonists want to save the world. A "Former Boss" protagonist usually just wants to understand it or regain their dignity.
Baphomet’s perspective is refreshing because he doesn't have the typical "heroic" baggage. He isn't motivated by pure altruism at first. He’s motivated by a sense of self. He was a Tower Boss. He has a standard of excellence. When he sees humans being incompetent or corrupt, his reaction isn't "I must save them," it's more like, "This is an insult to the hierarchy I used to run."
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It’s that arrogance—slowly tempered by human empathy—that creates a compelling character arc. You aren't just watching a guy level up; you're watching a soul evolve.
Where to Read and What to Look For
If you are diving into I Used to Be a Boss for the first time, pay attention to the art transitions. The way the illustrator handles the "shadow" of the former boss looming over the human form is a masterclass in visual storytelling.
Currently, the series is a staple on Tappytoon and Webtoon (depending on your region). It’s often grouped with "System" or "Level Up" manhwa, but that’s a bit of a surface-level classification. It belongs more to the "Rebirth of the Antagonist" subgenre, which includes gems like The Ember Knight or Lout of Count’s Family.
The "Hunter" Setting Fatigue
Let’s be real. The "Gates appearing in Seoul" setting is exhausted. We’ve seen it a million times.
However, I Used to Be a Boss manages to make it feel slightly less stale by shifting the camera angle. Instead of looking at the gates as a source of terror, the protagonist looks at them as "home" or "the office." That shift in perspective changes the tone of every dungeon crawl. It turns a survival horror situation into a nostalgic, albeit dangerous, trip down memory lane.
Misconceptions About the Genre
A lot of people think these stories are just power fantasies for people who hate their bosses. Kinda. But it's deeper.
It's actually about the burden of leadership.
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When you were the boss, everything was your fault. When you’re a "nobody" again, you have a strange kind of freedom. The protagonist of I Used to Be a Boss has to reconcile his desire for that former power with the newfound freedom of being "just a guy."
It’s also not just about being "evil." Most of these "Monster Bosses" weren't evil in their previous lives; they were just fulfilling a role in a system. They were the obstacle. Now that they are the ones overcoming obstacles, they realize how rigged the game actually was.
Real-World Takeaways from Baphomet’s Journey
While we aren't literal demon lords (usually), the themes in I Used to Be a Boss apply to anyone who has had to reinvent themselves.
- Your past expertise is a double-edged sword. It gives you an edge, but it can also make you rigid. Baphomet has to unlearn "monster logic" to survive in "human logic."
- Humility is a tactical advantage. By being underestimated, the former boss can observe the playing field without being a target.
- The "System" is always flawed. Whether it's a magical leveling system or a corporate ladder, there are always exploits. The former boss knows where the bodies are buried because he’s the one who buried them.
Actionable Insights for Manhwa Fans
If you’re caught up on the latest chapters and looking for more, don't just search for "leveling" stories. Look for "Transmigration" or "Villainous Protagonist" tags.
- Check out The Rebirth of the 8th Class Magician: If you like the "starting over with max knowledge" aspect.
- Read Survival Story of a Sword King in a Fantasy World: If you want to see a protagonist struggle with a broken system that doesn't recognize their actual power level.
- Focus on the "Abyss" lore: The world-building in I Used to Be a Boss gets much richer once you realize the dungeons aren't just random spawns; they have a history.
The series is still ongoing, and the power ceiling is constantly shifting. Don't expect a quick resolution. This is a slow-burn exploration of what it means to be powerful in a world that wants to keep you small.
To get the most out of the reading experience, start from the beginning and track how Han-bin’s facial expressions change. In the early chapters, he looks like a hollow shell. As the series progresses, his "humanity" starts to manifest in his eyes, even when he's doing something absolutely monstrous. That's the real story. The stats are just noise.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Audit your "Boss" habits: If you're transitioning roles in life, identify one "Monster" habit you need to drop to fit into your new "Human" environment.
- Support the creators: Read on official platforms like Tappytoon to ensure the artists and writers can keep the serialization going.
- Look for the "Shadow" art: In combat scenes, look for the faint outlines of Baphomet's original form; it usually signals a turning point in the fight where he's tapping into his old-world instincts.
The genre isn't just about winning fights. It’s about the messy, complicated process of losing your crown and realizing you might be better off without it—even if you still have the urge to crush everyone in the room.