Guide to Solo Leveling: An Epic Saga of Determination and Triumph
Solo Leveling, also known as Only I Level Up in English, is a South Korean web novel penned by Chugong. This thrilling tale debuted on KakaoPage's digital platform on July 25, 2016, before being published by D&C Media under their Papyrus label starting November 4, 2016. The novel's English edition has been licensed by Yen Press.
Fans were treated to a captivating webtoon adaptation, beautifully illustrated by Jang Sung-rak (Dubu), which premiered on KakaoPage on March 4, 2018. Its first season concluded on March 19, 2020, followed by a second season spanning from August 2020 to December 2021. D&C Media has compiled these chapters into nine volumes as of August 2023, with Yen Press also securing the English license for the webtoon.
Excitement reached new heights with the release of an anime television series adaptation by A-1 Pictures, which aired from January to March 2024. And the saga continues, with a second season titled "Arise from the Shadow" already in the works.
But the adventure doesn't end there! Brace yourselves for a Korean drama adaptation currently in development, alongside the highly anticipated spin-off webtoon, Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, set to debut in 2024.
And for those eager to dive even deeper into the world of Solo Leveling, get ready for the forthcoming role-playing video game titled Solo Leveling: Arise, currently under development by Netmarble. The journey is far from over in this thrilling universe where power, intrigue, and adventure await at every turn.
Story
In a realm where hunters, imbued with supernatural prowess, clash against monstrous threats to safeguard humanity from oblivion, Sung Jinwoo, an infamously feeble hunter, finds himself entrenched in an unyielding battle for survival. Following a harrowing encounter with a formidable double dungeon that decimates his comrades, Jinwoo emerges as the chosen champion of an enigmatic entity known as the System. Bestowing upon him the extraordinary ability to level up his strength, a feat previously unheard of among hunters whose powers are typically fixed upon awakening, Jinwoo embarks on a quest shrouded in mystery and peril. As he confronts adversaries ranging from savage beasts to treacherous adversaries, Jinwoo's journey unfolds, unveiling the secrets concealed within the dungeons and unravelling the true origins of his newfound powers.
Characters:
Sung Jin-woo
Voiced by: Taito Ban (Japanese); Aleks Le (English)
Japanese name: Shun Mizushino (水篠 旬, Mizushino Shun)
Originally an infamously weak E-Rank hunter, Sung Jin-woo gets the chance of a lifetime when selected as the Player of a magical program called the System. With the unique ability to grow in strength without limit, he rises up to become humanity's greatest hunter and eventually inherits Ashborn's power, becoming the second Shadow Monarch.
Yoo Jin-ho
Voiced by: Genta Nakamura (Japanese); Justin Briner (English)
Japanese name: Kenta Morobishi (諸菱 賢太, Morobishi Kenta)
Jinwoo's best friend and a Korean D-Rank Hunter, Yoo Jin-ho impresses with his loyalty and commitment, eventually becoming the vice chairman of Jinwoo's guild.
Sung Jin-ah
Voiced by: Haruna Mikawa (Japanese); Rebecca Wang (English)
Japanese name: Aoi Mizushino (水篠 葵, Mizushino Aoi)
Jinwoo's younger sister, Sung Jinah, is not a hunter and is a high school student.
Park Kyung-hye
Japanese name: Satoko Mizushino (水篠 聡子, Mizushino Satoko)
Jinwoo and Jinah's mother, Park Kyung-hye, fell into a coma due to Eternal Slumber, but Jinwoo later cures her with a rare potion.
Lee Joo-hee
Voiced by: Rina Honnizumi (Japanese); Dani Chambers (English)
Japanese name: Eri Mizuki (観月 絵里, Mizuki Eri)
Lee Joohee, a B-Rank hunter specializing in healing magic, is one of Jinwoo's old friends but retires after a traumatic experience.
Cha Hae-in
Voiced by: Reina Ueda (Japanese); Michelle Rojas (English)
Japanese name: Shizuku Kousaka (向坂 雫, Kōsaka Shizuku)
Korean S-Rank Hunter Cha Hae-In develops romantic feelings for Jinwoo after witnessing his prowess in battle.
[... and so on]
Media
In the realm of web novels, Solo Leveling made its debut on Kakao's digital comic and fiction platform KakaoPage back in July 25, 2016. It later found a home under D&C Media's fantasy fiction label "Papyrus". Since then, this gripping tale has captivated a staggering 2.4 million readers on KakaoPage alone!
English-speaking audiences got their taste of the action when Webnovel picked up the novel's rights, titling it Only I Level Up and releasing it from December 21, 2018, to June 24, 2019. Yen Press joined the party by licensing and publishing collected volumes starting February 16, 2021.
But the excitement didn't stop there. Solo Leveling's story leapt onto the webtoon scene, launching on KakaoPage on March 4, 2018. Its first season wrapped up on March 19, 2020, with the second season kicking off on August 1, 2020, and wrapping up on December 29, 2021. Illustrated by the talented Jang Sung-rak, also known as Dubu, this adaptation garnered widespread acclaim.
Tragically, Dubu passed away on July 23, 2022, leaving behind a legacy of stunning artwork. Despite this loss, Solo Leveling continued to thrive, with its first collected volume hitting shelves in September 26, 2019. It even made waves across the ocean in Japan's Piccoma platform, racking up over 1 million readers and snagging the title of "Best of 2019".
English-speaking fans got their fix of the webtoon digitally through Webnovel, Tappytoon, and Tapas starting from May 7 and June 4, 2020. Yen Press also ensured that Solo Leveling's collected volumes reached North American shores from March 2, 2021.
And just when you thought the adventure was over, a side story emerged between January and May 2023, penned by none other than Chugong himself, with a fresh art team in tow after Dubu's untimely passing.