Local Webtoon CBZ Reader

A high-performance, lightweight, and local web-based Webtoon Archive (CBZ) reader. Built with Python (Flask) on the backend and plain HTML/CSS/JS on the frontend.

Features

• In-Memory Reading: Zero extraction to disk. Reads images directly from the ZIP structure into RAM, keeping your drive clean and fast.
• Natural Sorting: Files and pages are sorted alphanumerically (Page 2 comes before Page 10).
• Gapless Vertical Scroll: Images are loaded lazily and stacked with strict zero-margin rules to avoid any visual breaks between pages.
• Dynamic Page Counter: Uses JavaScript's IntersectionObserver to track reading progress in real-time.
• Global Drag & Drop: Drop any .cbz file directly into your browser window to instantly load and read it (files are stored securely in system temp folders).
• Inter-Archive Navigation: Seamlessly jump to the "Next" or "Previous" volume stored in the same parent directory.

Prerequisites

• Python 3.7+
• A modern web browser.

Installation

1. Clone or download this repository.
2. (Optional but recommended) Create a virtual environment:

   python -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate

3. Install the dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

Usage

You can launch the app by targeting either a specific CBZ file or a directory containing multiple CBZ files.

Option 1: Target a Directory

python app.py /path/to/your/manga/folder

This opens an index page listing all CBZ archives in the folder. Click on one to start reading.

Option 2: Target a File directly

python app.py "C:\Comics\Batman_Vol_1.cbz"

This bypasses the index and jumps directly into the web reader.

Once the script is running, open http://127.0.0.1:5000 in your web browser.

Note: Drag and drop is supported anywhere on the site at any time.