Season 2 of the Solo Leveling adaptation has been out for a few weeks. The manhwa phenomenon saw the adaptation of the Jeju Island arc, which resulted in Sung Jin-Woo adopting Beju's shadow, the death of the Japanese hunters, and, above all, the teasing of upcoming events with the introduction of two mysterious monsters. And while anime fans eagerly await the sequel, let's focus on the sequel to Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, which is already proving to be better than the original manhwa in this specific respect.
Solo Leveling, victim of a lack of depth for Sung Jin-Woo
Solo Leveling: Ragnarok is already establishing itself as a promising sequel, surpassing the original work in one crucial respect: its protagonist.Even if Ragnarok remains young, with just over 40 chapters, the manhwa has made its mark thanks to Suho, a hero much deeper and more nuanced than Jin-Woo. And that's good, it's his son. Because where Jin-Woo was primarily defined by his rise to power, Suho stands out with a real narrative arc, a strong personality, and clear goals. One of the major criticisms that can be made of Jin-Woo is the lack of consistency in his psychological development.
From the beginning of Solo Leveling, it's difficult to understand his motivations. It's only with the introduction of the elixir of life that we understand where the manhwa wants to take us. Besides that, his emotional development is limited. One of the few times Jin-Woo expresses his feelings is after his mother awakens. Even his most morally ambiguous actions, such as transforming humans into shadow soldiers or killing humans, are treated too superficially to generate any real questioning. Jinwoo acts more as an empty figure, a projection medium for the reader, rather than a character in his own right. Granted, this lack of depth on the part of the main character could be blamed on the system, due to the fact that Jin-Woo has become a "player." But it's hard to get attached to an empty, almost soulless shell.
Solo Leveling: Ragnarok shines thanks to its treatment of Suho
Conversely, Ragnarok manages not to simply recycle Jin-Woo. Suho, even though he inherits his powers, has his own trajectory. Even though he starts out following in his father's footsteps, he quickly realizes that this path doesn't entirely suit him. This is where Ragnarok stands out and does better, bringing true depth and humanity to its main character. Suho doesn't just want to become powerful, but he's trying to understand why he pursues this strength. Suho also differs from his father in the use of his abilities. Where Jin-Woo relies almost exclusively on Shadow powers, Suho alternates between different sources, including Capture or Ruler Authority, a form of telekinesis specific to Rulers and humans who have received their powers. Powers that allow him to opt for a more creative and strategic approach. But the great strength of Ragnarok is the personality given to Suho. Arrogant, mocking, curious, he remains endearing. And we enjoy following the epic journey of this young hunter, heir to a power beyond him, in his primary quest: to find his mother and defeat Itarim.
While in Solo Leveling, we have to wait for the demonic fortress and the elixir of life to obtain an emotional dimension, Ragnarok immediately jumps into the heart of the matter. His motivations are clear, and we know where the manhwa wants to take us, fleshing out the lore of Solo Leveling and its captivating universe, while revealing the motivations and powers of those who pull the strings in the shadows. While Ragnarok doesn't reinvent the wheel, this sequel does better than the original. And given the popularity of Solo Leveling, that's saying something.
0 Comments