Solo Leveling: Ragnarok is the sequel to Solo Leveling, following Sung Suho, the son of Jinwoo. However, unlike sequels of many other famous manga, the sequel of Solo Leveling offers a more compelling narrative and, due to several reasons, is much simpler.
Solo Leveling: Ragnarok can be considered a significant leap forward in the realm of webtoons, particularly in terms of character development. Although the current manhwa has only over 40 chapters released so far, the series has already made a considerable impression, especially in the brief time since its debut.
This is largely because Solo Leveling: Ragnarok not only adheres to the high standards of a sequel but also features a more intriguing main character compared to many other webtoons, with Suho being more detailed and well-crafted than Jinwoo. Additionally, there are more compelling character arcs and stronger abilities that stand out significantly.
Sung Jinwoo is not the best-developed character in Solo Leveling
Although Solo Leveling may have been outstanding, it can be said that the character development of Jinwoo lacks depth, especially as a main character. This becomes even more apparent as the story progresses, despite Jinwoo’s notable strengths being established early on.
To put it simply, Jinwoo does not have any strong belief systems that would allow him to become more powerful in the initial stages of the story. Long before he became a strong figure, the narrative had already introduced this aspect.
Besides focusing on his immediate surroundings, such as family, Jinho, and Hae-in, there are not many other elements that can be discussed regarding this character, apart from his distinctive traits, character quirks, and personality development. In reality, the only time the character Jinwoo seems to exhibit any significant emotions is during his initial confrontation after the “Demon’s Awakening” event. Alongside having to face severe injuries, Jinwoo appears to lack a character arc outside of his stat growth.
Furthermore, even in scenarios where he takes on the personas of others and transforms someone else into his own shadow army, he still has to deal with issues that arise during the narrative, quickly adjusting to situations. As a result, Jinwoo does not hold any significant presence in the plot to draw the reader in, rendering him more of a passive character than an active protagonist that audiences can truly connect with throughout the series.
Solo Leveling: Suho of Ragnarok is a better main character than Jinwoo
Although Solo Leveling: Ragnarok distinctly serves as a new narrative that utilizes the expansive popularity of the original series, instead of providing the audience with a less compelling version of Jinwoo, Ragnarok introduces a fully-fledged main character in its own right, transforming the story into a refreshing breeze. This aligns with almost every aspect of Solo Leveling: Ragnarok, which opens vast narratives and rules of the original work in a natural manner, while still addressing lingering questions from the original series while maintaining a coherent storyline that has made Solo Leveling so popular from the beginning.
While Suho’s journey begins quite similarly to Jinwoo’s with numerous callbacks and references, Solo Leveling: Ragnarok ensures that, in the end, he will carve his own path, distinct from Jinwoo. Indeed, this uniqueness is a major part of Suho’s character development in the first part of the manhwa. Suho initially struggles to follow in Jinwoo’s footsteps, ultimately emerging as the next Shadow Monarch without fully understanding the reasons behind it. Thus, Suho’s character arc stands out significantly.
Moreover, while Suho possesses numerous skills and abilities similar to Jinwoo, he utilizes them in profoundly different ways, relying less on brute strength like Jinwoo and more on the powers of the Overlord. Alongside a unique combat style, Suho creatively employs his powers in ways that are far more innovative than Jinwoo. Furthermore, Ragnarok grants Suho the totality of his abilities, making him far superior to many other characters, bringing him exceptional transformations.
That said, what ultimately makes Suho a better main character is his personal journey. Suho embarks on his own journey with a clear objective to become stronger, which is to find his own place in the world and establish himself as the leader of the Itarim Clan to support his family.
In addition to having a clear sense of purpose, Suho’s character also displays many traits that Jinwoo lacks, with particular characteristics such as being overly ambitious, sometimes excessively confident, and prone to hiding his vulnerabilities. He often exhibits great enthusiasm and tends to become engrossed when discussing training, never skipping a session, even when faced with physical challenges that could injure him.
Suho’s journey is just beginning, and Solo Leveling: Ragnarok is sure to deliver many more thrilling developments in the upcoming seasons of the manhwa.
According to Comicbook
