Solo Leveling is the WORST Manhwa to Start for Beginners and Its Overarching Issues is the Least of Its Problems

SUMMARY

• Solo Leveling is a typical MC-centric series where Sung Jinwoo carries the plot with no other development.
• Newcomers who start their manhwa experience with Solo Leveling will be left trying to compare everything with it.
• Even those who read the Solo Leveling manhwa will find it hard to accept other anime adaptations of different manhwa.

Solo Leveling is one of the few manhwa that has achieved such massive worldwide fame. After a popular webtoon adaptation, it was also greenlit for an anime that aired from January to March 2024. In fact, it is so popular that a Korean drama adaptation is also under development.

There are several fans who began their journey into the world of manhwa with Solo Leveling. However, it might not be the best starting point for newbies for various reasons.

Solo Leveling is a Typical MC-Centric Manhwa

Sung Jinwoo and Beru in Solo Leveling manhwa | Credits: Tapas

Sung Jinwoo is an awesome protagonist who has stolen the hearts of almost every reader. However, there are some issues regarding his motivation in the series. At first, his motive to get stronger was to cure his sick mom, but he kept fighting even after she was cured. No other motivation is shown throughout the series, and readers also don’t receive a proper reason from the character.

The manhwa completely revolves around Sung Jinwoo, which is typical in many series, but in Solo Leveling, the side characters and their developments are completely ignored. They are discarded as soon as their purpose is served, and very few of them receive actual development.

Solo Leveling anime | Credits: A-1 Pictures

Another problem is the portrayal of villains in Solo Leveling. Most of them are evil just for the sake of it, and there is little to no motive behind their actions. The poorly written antagonists make the story even weaker, and the load of the whole plot falls on Jinwoo again. Fans have also pointed out issues with pacing, as the pacing in the second half is too fast and things often went ill-explained.

Solo Leveling Simultaneously Set the Expectations Too High

Sung Jinwoo of Solo Leveling | Credits: A-1 Pictures

Solo Leveling might have a ton of issues, but the one thing it did well was to create a huge persona for the main character. Sung Jinwoo is an overpowered protagonist who excels in battles. Readers often fall in love with the brutal way in which Jinwoo wrecks his opponents. Seeing his struggle and growth is satisfying for many. But most readers would try to look for similar stories after finishing Solo Leveling.

The artstyle is also extremely detailed, and you will find page after page of art spreads. The artwork is quick to catch the eye of readers, and one might sorely miss it when interacting with another series. Often, those who first get into manhwa with overhyped series like Solo Leveling have a preconceived notion that every manhwa will be the same. If they don’t find another battle-focused, artwork-centric series, they will get disappointed and think Solo Leveling is the ultimate manhwa.

Of course, there are also the expectations from the anime. Newcomers might think that the Solo Leveling anime is the standard for all manhwa to anime adaptations. This will deprive other off-the-beat and unique series from getting enough traction.

Solo Leveling manhwa is available to read on Tapas, and the anime is currently airing on Crunchyroll.

Written by Aaheli Pradhan

Articles Published: 535

Aaheli is an anime content writer at FandomeWire. With four years of experience under her belt, she is a living, breathing encyclopedia for anime and manga. She believes in living a slow life, surrounded by incomplete art projects and her beloved cat.