tomb raider king volume 1 [Manhwa Review]

Western readers are spoiled by the number of manhwa coming out in physical print these days, all lovingly edited to fit our shelves. Yen Press’s new print line Is Press has taken over in 2022 with some fabulous manhwa to introduce to new readers.

One such release is Tomb Raider King, a manhwa based on the Korean web novel of the same name—a story about vengeance, time-travel, and the race of governments to control powerful relics from the gods. Unfortunately, Tomb Raider King can’t escape the shadow of the more popular manhwa, and disappoints us with an angry and cocky main character who’s hard to connect with.

Join us today on Honey’s Anime as we review Tomb Raider King, Volume 1!

In the year 2025, mysterious “tombs” begin appearing around the world, each containing a powerful relic from history or myth. As governments and corporations race to harness these powers, “Tomb Raider” Juhon Suh (no, not played by Angelina Jolie) finds a unique artifact that details all available tombs and remains.

Juhoon’s remains attract the attention of Chairman Kwon, CEO of TKBM – a corporation that specializes in relic hunting. When Kwon no longer trusts his attackers, he sets a deadly trap for Juhon… but through the intervention of a relic, Juhon avoids this fate and is instead transported 15 years into the past. .

Returning to his younger body with the knowledge of the future, Juhon finds that his unnamed benefactor has given him an RPG-style stat window that only he can see. Determined to get the jump on Chairman Kwon, Juhon sets out to seize the best relics as the tombstones begin to appear for the first time.

This time, Juhon knows exactly what to look for – but he’s not the only one checking out the newly-appearing tombstones. Agents of both the American CIA and the Japanese JSDF are in pursuit of the remains, while TKBM makes its first steps from the shadows. The JSDF is also helped by a prophetic relic that predicts Juhon’s movements – so now he will need to top his opponents and his future!

Artistically, Tomb Raider King looks great, and Is Press has once again done a great job of adapting a vertical webcomic to a traditional paneled format. The action is easy to follow, and the special effects feel like they stepped out of an anime and straight off the pages.

1. Action-packed Shonen Goodness

If you’re not too fussy about your main character, Tomb Raider King is a really enjoyable read, with fast-paced action and great world-building about the relics and their abilities. The frantic competition between governments and corporations could have come from an espionage thriller, and the series doesn’t shy away from blood and gore when it needs to make an impact.

Why you should skip Tomb Raider King [Manhwa]section 1

1. An intolerable main character

While we totally understand Johan’s need for revenge, that doesn’t stop him from being a completely unlikeable main character. His apparent sarcasm and arrogance in every line of dialogue make one feel as though he is mocking both the reader and his enemies at the same time.

Tomb Raider King feels like it’s trying too hard to create a “badass” main character, but doesn’t give Juhon any redeeming qualities, resulting in a one-dimensional protagonist who’s nearly impossible to like.

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If you like action-packed adventures, you might really love Tomb Raider King, but it’s a little hard to realize that the series is poor man’s solo leveling. The best parts of Tomb Raider King are weighed down by an obnoxious character who is too brash and cocky for his own good.

Are you going to see Tomb Raider King, Vol 1? Tell us in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading!

Author: Bret Michael Orr

I’m a writer, gamer, and reviewer of manga and light novels from Melbourne, Australia. When I’m not building a new world, I’ll be engrossed in a good JRPG, watching some anime, or reading up a storm!

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