The weird and wonderful world of manhwa

Manhwa is doing quite well right now. Tower of God was not as big a hit as some expected, but the show is still going strong.

The God of High School adaptation fell far below expectations, and I wish they had not bothered because they cut many corners. However, the Solo Leveling anime was a rousing success. I’m very critical of the manhwa.

I think it requires thorough editing. I could not get past the first 20 chapters. But the anime made dramatic improvements. I enjoyed what I saw, and clearly, I’m not alone. Many Solo Leveling viewers have switched to the manhwa because they don’t want to wait for a second season.

I commend that attitude because Korean comics have gorgeous art. You can get as much enjoyment from a Manhwa as you would from an anime adaptation. And if you are tempted to experiment with other Manhwa, I will recommend a few decent titles for newbies.

Noblesse is a great starting point because the story is simplistic. The comic follows Cadis Estrama Di Raizel, an ancient vampire who wakes from his long slumber to find that the world has changed significantly.

The comic’s primary appeal is the epic battles between Rai and the secretive forces working behind the scenes to control the world. I know Noblesse does not sound like it is worth your attention, but you will spend every arc clapping and cheering. The action is genuinely engrossing.

Tower of God deserves a mention because of its addictive nature. Like Noblesse, the plot is simplistic. A boy named 25th Bam is traversing a mysterious tower, unraveling its secrets and making new friends along the way. But as it progresses, Tower of God takes darker and more complex turns.

I don’t know if I agree with people who compare it to One Piece, but it deserves the praise. I was tempted to highlight The Breaker and The God of High School because they consumed my life in the early 2010s. But you know what? Tower of God and Noblesse will give you all the action you need.

Although, you can dip into The Breaker later on if Shonen is your only interest. The Breaker may have the most exquisite depiction of action in the medium, second only to The God of High School. Think of the greatest live-action Kung Fu films you have ever seen; The Breaker and GOH are the comic equivalent.

The latter leans heavily into the tournament structure. With The Breaker, various organizations are using martial hearts to control the nation.

But if you want variety, Family Man is not only heartwarming but also short. Gang-ho, the protagonist, loses his job after sustaining burns at a factory. Because he feels worthless, Gang-ho tries to prove himself to his daughter by donning a mask, becoming a superhero, and doing what he can to help his local community.

Family Man is the sort of Manhwa you read at the end of an exhausting day. But if you prefer high-energy content, The Legend of the Northern Blade is a relatively popular Murim martial arts comic in which Moowon flees to the mountains, trains arduously, and returns to seek revenge on his father’s killers.

Then there is Wind Breaker, in which Jay is tired of serving as student council president. The only activity that gives him joy is biking. When a classmate notices Jay’s unorthodox biking techniques, he encourages the boy to join the biking club. If you watch sports anime, you can guess what happens next.

If you have an affinity for horror, Tales of the Unusual is a collection of creepy short stories and a fitting introduction to horror manhwa. Then, you can transition to Hive, where a middle-level manager tries to survive an apocalyptic event in which killer bees threaten to wipe out humanity. That should do for now.

mbjjnr8@gmail.com