Villains Are Destiny To Die Volume 1 [Manhwa Review]

It’s no secret that the manga industry has been on a high lately of villain-centric titles, many of which we’ve covered in Honey’s anime itself.

As more Korean-produced manhwa make their way to the West, however, Japanese manga creators may soon be given a run for their money – as is the case with Villains Are Destined to Die.

The hugely popular Manhwa has now been adapted for the bind-up format by Is Press, Yen Press’s new human-centered sub-print. But how does this villain-reborn story measure up against its Japanese rivals?

Join us today on Honey’s Anime as we review Villains Are Destined to Die, Volume 1!

Right off the bat, the initial setup for Villains Are Destined to Die offers a unique twist on the “otome game’s villain reborn” trope.

The story of our hero is very similar to that of the villain – both were illegitimate, adopted children of wealthy families; The two have a pair of troublesome brothers; And both are struggling to free themselves from the hand that fate has dealt them. While desperately trying to clear the dating sim’s “hard” mode, our hero falls asleep and wakes up as Penelope Eckhart, the game’s villain.

Penelope has a strict deadline to maximize the romantic lead’s affection, or else the game’s heroine will arrive and permanently lock Penelope out of a happy ending. Because the original game was so difficult, our hero only has limited knowledge of certain routes – but that won’t stop him from doing everything he can to find a happy ending and survive this deadly game.

Due to the similarities between Penelope and our protagonist, frequent flashbacks to her real-world life provide more insight into her choices and decisions. Villains Destined to Die is surprisingly dark in its execution, and Penelope (and our hero) grapples with her own abusive upbringing to survive in a world where everyone treats them like unwanted annoyances. .

SUOL’s artwork is absolutely breathtaking, and though we read our copy digitally, we know from past experience with Yen Press’ manhwas that the glossy full-color bind-up will be worth the higher-than-usual price tag. SUOL perfectly captures the characters’ emotions while providing high-quality backgrounds and lighting effects that are truly mesmerizing.

As is the case with all adapted-to-book manhwa, a tremendous amount of effort has gone into fitting a vertical webcomic in traditional panels. Nothing seems odd or awkward; The editing is flawlessly done, and we think the team at Is Press have achieved some of their best work yet with Villains Are Destined To Die.

1. Changing the Game

The villains destined to die flip the script over the usual otome-game-reincarnations, forcibly railing our hero to fill the affection meter in order to avoid the game’s “bad ending”. This limitation ensures that Penelope can’t completely walk away from the game’s script, but challenges our protagonist to think about how to please the cruel men in her life, even if it means sacrificing her pride. Have to do

Coupled with the excellent dialogue and dark tone of the story, Penelope’s plight instills a sense of anxiety in the reader—in fact, you feel her despair and dread when stuck in the game’s “hard” mode, where death looms at every turn. waits for

2. Characterization—Perfected

Villains Are Destined To Die absolutely dazzles with its characterization – it’s no exaggeration to say that these are the best characters we’ve read about all year. Penelope’s brothers, Reynold and Derrick, are distant towards her, but as she begins to make her way into the game, their own remorse and desire to change become apparent.

Even minor characters like Penelope’s maid—who is, initially, abusive and cruel—undergo their own growth as Penelope begins to break out of the shell that the play’s script created for her. Coupled with sharp dialogue and thrilling drama, this story really grabs you and draws you into Penelope’s world.

We also appreciate some more adult language and themes—it’s nothing that warrants any sort of warning, but parts of the story appropriately match Penelope’s thoughts and her tragic upbringing.

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Villains Destined to Die is a visual and literary treat, and an absolute must-read for any fan of the shoujo villain genre. Whether you’re familiar with manhwa or not, Is Press’s adaptation is nearly perfect, and sitting at 265 pages, you’ll be getting great value for money.

The character illustrations are of the highest quality, and matched with Gwon Gyul’s captivating story, Villains Are Destined to Die shoots to the top of our recommendations for the villainous genre.

Are you going to check out Villains Are Destined to Die, Volume 1? Tell us in the comments below, and as always, thanks for reading!

Author: Bret Michael Orr

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

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