Solo Leveling Manhwa Series

When many people think about graphic novels, they usually think of comics or mangas. The latter is the Japanese version of the former, but there are more iterations. In fact, there are webtoons. They are a type of digital comics that originated in South Korea. Today, I’ll be reviewing my first webtoon series, Solo Leveling by Chugong. Its visuals are to die for.

Translated by Hye-Young Im, Solo Leveling is about a hunter who is labeled “The Weakest Hunter of All Mankind” and how he proves his peers wrong. Sung Jinwoo is an E-rank hunter – the lowest of all ranks. While participating in raids, all that he is able to do is not to be killed. Then, he experiences a reawakening – a rare occurrence which allows him to level up. But in order to do so, Jinwoo has to go through daily quests and to keep mum about his rapid evolution. Word eventually gets out about his ever-evolving abilities, and many guilds come knocking on his door. Will his need to protect himself come in the way of keeping his friends and family safe?

Before I get started with this review, I understand that Solo Leveling started off as a webtoon before being turned into a manhwa (Korean version of a manga). This is something that I’ve never come across until now. With that being said, I’ve only finished the first six volumes, yet I hope to get my hands on the 7th and 8th ones because I’m a completionist. In addition, there are apparently some changes between the two mediums. I hope to dissect this once I read the original webtoon series. For now, I’m reviewing the novel.

Each of the volumes covers about two or three arcs in the webtoon. The first one tackles the D-Rank Dungeon and Reawakening Arcs, and the second one goes over with the Instant Dungeon and Dungeon & Lizards Arcs. The third volume has the Dungeon & Prisoners, Yoo Jin-Ho Raid Party, and Job Change Arcs, while the fourth one contains the Red Gate and Demon Castle Arcs. Finally, the fifth one consists of the Resting Rank and Hunters Guild Gate Arcs, and the sixth covers the Return to Demon Castle Arc and a bit of the Jeju Island one. Some of these spill into one another, so one might read a bit of say, the Return to Demon Castle Arc in the fifth volume.

I can definitely see why this series has struck a chord with the manga/manhwa/anime/webtoon community. Jinwoo is like a video game player. He completes various quests and purchases items that could aid him in leveling up. In fact, there’s a game menu that informs Jinwoo of his progress and that only he can see. Also, true to the life of a gamer, he unintentionally alienates the people he cherishes all while developing his hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and perspective skills as well as intelligence and strength. However, he still strives to be the best person possible. Jinwoo waking his mom up from a sleep disease with a potion he bought while leveling up is emotionally devastating.

The series is mainly focused on Jinwoo, so the rest of the cast feels incredibly minor in comparison. But, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t memorable. For instance, Yoo JinHo is a young man who is desperate to head the guild his father (who is the head of a construction company) created. He sees Jinwoo as a bridge to that goal while comically clinging to him. The first time readers see JinHo is in armor even though he is a D-rank hunter (one higher than E-rank). A gamer can easily identify a JinHo in real or virtual life.

Of course, I had to mention the strongest element of this story (no pun intended). The visuals are amazing! The colors and how they blend into each other to reflect the tone of the story are highly effective and memorable. They are at their most unforgettable during the fight sequences. They include the one in the temple with its blues and blacks in the first volume and the battles in the Demon Castle with its intense yellows and oranges in the fourth and sixth ones. In addition, the ways that the fight scenes are depicted need to be put into motion, for the stills and the onomatopoeia can only do so much. 

With all of its praise, there are two main issues with the series. For starters, some of the facial expressions the character makes don’t always match what they are saying. This is most apparent in the earlier volumes, especially during the first arc. I don’t know if it was Chugong’s intention, but some of the characters reacted stronger than what their lines suggest. It gets better as the series goes on. The other problem is the pacing. The battle sequences move by pretty quickly, but once the non-fight scenes start, it slows down considerably, but not to a grinding halt. These bits require a little more patience from the reader.

Overall, the Solo Leveling manhwa series by Chugong is delightful. It portrays the life of a video gamer without even saying it with great accuracy, and the graphics are stunning. I would recommend this series for those who like fantasy/action anime and stories as well as to those who’ve consumed the webtoon. Like I said earlier, I plan on reading the 7th and 8th volumes once they become available because I can’t wait to read what happens with Jinwoo as he levels up.

Before I go, I want to let you all know that I’m going to post the latest episode of the Adapt Me Podcast later this week. It discusses how guest Ali Wishah from the Awkward Silence Podcast and I would adapt Solo Leveling as an anime, so keep an ear out!

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