Warning: Contains Spoilers For The End Of The Solo Leveling Manhwa
While fans are, understandably, excited about the upcoming second season of Solo Leveling, they shouldn’t overlook Solo Leveling: Ragnarök. This sequel has successfully filled the Sung Jinwoo-shaped void left by the hiatus of the anime series. More importantly, Ragnarök’s content makes it a direct challenger of Solo Leveling’s glory, as many supporters of the series contend that its narrative and overall quality outshine even that of the parent series.
Dangdo and JIN’s Solo Leveling: Ragnarök expands on — but doesn’t directly continue — the story of Solo Leveling. The focus now shifts to Sung Suho, the son of Solo Leveling heroes Sung Jinwoo and Cha Hae-In. Rather than being a direct sequel, it’s a fresh start. This is because Jinwoo locked away Suho’s memories to protect him from the evil forces that would inevitably target him if the world knew he was the son of the Shadow Monarch.
Ragnarök Combines The Old Solo Leveling Vibe With A Whole New Story
However, Jinwoo’s efforts to protect his son from danger begin to falter as the barrier he created to suppress Suho’s supernatural abilities weakens. As a result, not only does Suho start to realize he’s different from others, but powerful and malevolent forces also become aware of who he is. According to CBR.com, in the first few hours after the first episode of Ragnarök dropped, the webtoon garnered a 9.9/10 rating, nearly three million views, and secured a top ranking on Kakao, its online publisher. In other words, Ragnarök has been just as popular, if not more so, than its predecessor, Solo Leveling.
What makes Ragnarök revolutionary and worthy of fan attention is that — like any good sequel — it builds on the foundational concepts established in Solo Leveling, quickly setting up the story’s framework and background. However, instead of simply rehashing the past, it ventures into new, unexplored territory for Solo Leveling fans. Aside from the Shadow Monarch himself, few main characters from the original series have made appearances. So far, the most significant connection to the previous series is the fact that Suho is Jinwoo’s son.
The brilliance of this approach is that the story appeals to both long-time Solo Leveling fans and new Ragnarök readers. Solo Leveling fans will be eager to explore the aftermath of the events that crowned Jinwoo as the Shadow Monarch. Meanwhile, those unfamiliar with the Solo Leveling universe will be drawn into a captivating coming-of-age story about a hero who has inherited extraordinary powers but must learn on his own how to wield them effectively.
Ragnarök offers a more grounded take on the action, adventure, world-building, lore, and characterization found in Solo Leveling. Unlike Solo Leveling, where Jinwoo’s meteoric rise from obscurity to ultimate hero was often criticized for being implausible, Ragnarök introduces Suho as an exceptional individual from the start. As the son of two elite Hunters from a previous life, Suho possesses inherent abilities that enable him to master the system and surpass even his parents’ impressive achievements at their peak.
With A New Story, Ragnarök Imaginatively Expands The Solo Leveling Universe
Solo Leveling fans might be hesitant to follow another story about an overpowered Hunter effortlessly slaying monsters, but Ragnarök changes the formula. Suho has a subtle awareness of his immense power, yet, due to his father locking away his memories and abilities, he struggles to fully access, understand, and wield his strength. As a result, while Jinwoo was surprised by how quickly and consistently, he could “level up,” Suho is frustrated by the barriers to his progress and confused as to why he can’t level up faster — especially given his powerful lineage.
Suho’s bloodline is a fascinating aspect of the story and his character development. Unlike his parents, Suho has a unique heritage that sets him apart. Although he’s informed about his parents’ identities and achievements early on, his memories of them are virtually non-existent. This creates an intriguing dynamic: as he hears second-hand accounts of their adventures, he’s essentially continuing their legacy without fully understanding it. Suho strives to forge his own path but struggles with living up to a legacy he doesn’t truly comprehend or connect with on a deeper level.
Suho’s character development isn’t the only aspect that Ragnarök refines. It also expands on the lore and mythology of the original series. For example, in the early chapters, a new type of threat is introduced: monsters now have the ability not only to kill Hunters but also to infect and transform them into monsters. This makes dungeons even more dangerous, as a single scratch from a monster can turn a Hunter into — depending on their class — a superpowered minion, weaponized to serve the monsters without putting them at risk.
It’s Shaping Up To Be Quite A Year For Solo Leveling Fans
With Ragnarök And A New Anime On The Way – There Will Be Planty Of Great Solo Leveleing Content
There’s also a growing divide between the “Awakened”—those with powers to fight monsters—and the unawakened, the majority of humans without special abilities. While Solo Leveling largely depicts the Awakened as heroes dedicated to protecting humanity, Ragnarök introduces Awakened individuals who have become corrupted by their status. Instead of solely using their powers to fight monsters, some are now using them to rob, steal, and oppress weaker humans. In this way, certain Hunters are becoming as much of a threat to society as the monsters themselves.
What this all means is that it’s a great time to be a Solo Leveling fan. On the one hand, there’s the highly anticipated second season of the Solo Leveling anime, which will continue Jinwoo’s journey as he advances toward becoming the Shadow Monarch. On the other hand, there’s Ragnarök – the story of his son, Suho.
Unlike his father, Suho was born with immense power and potential to be the greatest Hunter ever, but he must learn to unlock these abilities with little guidance while facing even more powerful threats. Together, the upcoming anime and manga offer an exciting double feature that will keep Solo Leveling and Ragnarök fans engaged for months.
