10 Books/Manga Like Solo Leveling
Solo Leveling is a popular action and fantasy webtoon. It received much praise for its characters, well-detailed artwork, charming world, and intricate storytelling. It was written by Chugong and was illustrated by the late Jang Sung-Rak. The webtoon was serialized in Kakao’s digital comic platform KakaoPage in July 2016 but was published in full by D&C Media under their Papyrus label in November 2016.
If you’re in the mood for more action or fantasy books/manga that offers a similar vibe, fear not! We’ve gathered together 10 books/manga to check out when you’ve caught up with Solo Leveling. Of course, if you feel we’ve missed any of your favorites, do comment below and let us know!
One Punch Man – ONE
Similarities – Action, Characters, Themes
One Punch Man delivers an incredible parodic take on superheroes. From its gripping plot to its entertaining lead character, One Punch Man is a noteworthy manga that’ll appeal to Solo Leveling enthusiasts. In a world filled with crime, our protagonist, Saitama likes to show up unannounced to defeat villains in one punch due to his excessive training regime.
With great power comes immense disappointment, at least in Saitama’s case. Due to becoming incredibly strong, Saitama’s lost his desire to fight and save the day. When a cyborg hero named Genos inserts himself into Saitama’s life, things start looking up for the unknown hero. Readers will examine Saitama’s journey from zero to a noteworthy hero in One Punch Man.
Like Solo Leveling, One Punch Man offers well-drawn fights, amusing humor, and phenomenal character development for its roster of characters. Where Solo Leveling zones in on its characters’ fears, insecurities, and spiritual journeys, One Punch Man likes to center more toward absurd comedy with a hint of serious conflicts thrown in there to get fans pumped.
If you’re searching for another marvelous action-packed anime with an overpowered character, One Punch Man will please you.
Omniscient Reader – sing N song
Similarities – Action-Adventure & Fantasy
Omniscient Reader is another popular webtoon with a wonderful level and power system, a magical realm brimming with magical creatures, and a strong lead protagonist. Our story follows Kim Dokja, a boy who spends his life reading the web novel Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse (TWSA).
After reading a large chunk of the story, Kim receives a message from the story’s author as everything turns pitch black. Upon things returning to normal, Kim realizes that he’s now living through TWSA. Now living life as this tale’s protagonist, Kim must overcome the novel’s multiple scenarios that are set in place.
Both stories revolve around the protagonist exploring fantasy worlds filled with challenges and adventures. Omniscient Reader feels more character-driven than Solo Leveling since it highlights the relationship between Kim’s knowledge of the novel and the events that transpire in the world. Kim’s also more witty and whimsical than Solo Leveling’s Jin-Woo, Sung, and often makes meta references. For those searching for a similar tale that offers less action but a witty, meta protagonist, check out Omniscient Reader.
Tomb Raider King – Sanji Jiksong
Similarities – Action-Adventure, Characters, Fantasy
Another tale featuring an overpowered protagonist would be Tomb Raider King. This webtoon offers an action-driven narrative that takes place in a marvelously drawn fantastical world. It follows Kang Yoon-Jae, a man who gains the power to enter dungeons and search for a mythical treasure. It offers a similar story about weak individuals gaining power and exploring fantastical worlds.
Tomb Raider King takes on a more lighthearted and comedic approach to its storytelling, unlike Solo Leveling. Therefore, Solo Leveling has its beat in character development and depth. That’s not to say Tomb Raider King’s enormous cast doesn’t have charm. Sanji Jiksong makes sure every character has a decent personality and ability to help them stand out.
It’s their interactions and relationship dynamics that will aid readers in growing attached to Tomb Raider King’s cast or not. Furthermore, the way the cast explores dungeons and collects treasure feels slightly episodic in Tomb Raider King. If you’re okay with a webtoon that feels like a comedic and carefree version of Solo Leveling, check out Tomb Raider King.
Overlord – Kugane Maruyama
Similarities – Fantasy Worlds & Action
Overlord is a funny isekai light novel series that takes place in an RPG-like fantasy setting. It involves our protagonist Momonga getting trapped inside a fantasy game before it’s about to shut down forever. He seeks help from other players left in the game, but they’re no longer themselves as the avatars have developed minds of their own.
Left with little choice, Momonga accepts his fate and plans to take over the fantasy world of Yggdrasil. This light novel features incredible action, grand world-building, and stellar characters. Due to its format, readers should go into this one expecting only a few drawn panels that coincide with the story’s plot. The characters are as overpowered as Jin-Woo, Sung, too.
While things tend to get serious in Overlord, fans should go into this one expecting more comedic scenes. Despite being avatars of former players, Momonga’s subordinates have excellent personalities and will do everything in their power to adhere to his demands. If you’re looking for another fantasy-themed story with a comedic and RPG-like approach, check out Overlord.
Hunter X Hunter – Yoshihiro Togashi
Similarities – Action & Themes
Hunter X Hunter is an incredible shonen with a complex power system, well-written characters, and a stunning fantasy setting. Togashi’s artwork isn’t as stylish as Jang Sung-Rak’s at first, but it eventually gets better over time. Our story highlights the journey of a young boy named Gon Freecss. He leaves his home of Whale Island to become a fabulous hunter like his dad.
Gon wants to reunite with his father badly, and this is what drives him to persevere through multiple fights, obstacles, and heartbreaking scenarios. Gon won’t be alone in his endeavor. He’ll befriend three colorful individuals named Kurapika, Leorio, and Killua and each of them has a different personality and goal that audiences can get behind.
Like Jin-Woo, Sung, Gon and his friends aren’t powerful at the start. They’ll eventually become formidable hunters who can take on city-wide threats toward the current events taking place in the manga as I write this. Although some of Gon’s companions won’t be along for his whole journey, they’ll impact him in ways that’ll make readers satisfied and teary-eyed. The manga can get dialogue heavy at some point, so it’s best to keep that in mind if you’re planning on reading Hunter X Hunter after Solo Leveling.
SSS-Class Revival Hunter – Sinnoa
Similarities – Adventure, Themes, Characters
SSS-Class Revival Hunter is another webtoon set in a world with RPG elements and hunters. In it, we follow Kim, who receives the power to copy all his fellow hunters’ abilities at the cost of his life. Unfortunately, he gets killed by the #1 hunter, the Flame Emperor. However, Kim reincarnates and receives the power to travel through time.
We examine Kim’s new life as a time-altering hunter. Solo Leveling and Revival Hunter take place in worlds filled with monsters and magic. Kim and Jin-Woo, Sung receive great development throughout their narratives thanks to their authors implementing authentic challenges for them to conquer. This will allow our protagonists to hone in on their skills and improve upon them.
Both webtoons contain enough thrilling action sequences to whet your appetite. Furthermore, Solo Leveling and Revival Hunter deliver important life messages about determination, perseverance, and teamwork. With artwork that complements Revival Hunter’s storytelling and world-building aspects, you’re in for a treat with this one.
The Love Necromancer – Jijeomang
Similarities – Action & Fantasy
More fantasy-themed webtoons await you. This one offers a world brimming with magic, mythical creatures, and supernatural elements. It emphasizes character development and shows its protagonists growing and evolving through the course of the narrative. In it, we follow Seongwu, who gets presented with a strange prompt asking him to “select a role.”
Seongwu becomes a necromancer and receives the ability to wield powers aligned with the undead. Since his world is in jeopardy, Seongwu must utilize all his newfound strength to protect his fellow students and citizens from harm. Both stories center around characters who receive tremendous abilities that will allow them to defeat monsters and other fierce combatants.
The Love Necromancer has wonderful artwork that brings out its characters’ expressive emotions and body language. The action sequences vary in quality, but you’ll adore how well-detailed some of them look. If you’re looking for a webtoon with a great fantasy setting and fun fights, The Love Necromancer should please you.
My Hero Academia – Kohei Horikoshi
Similarities – Action, Characters, Themes
My Hero Academia is a superhero-themed manga that will get you pumped with its Western comic-like aesthetic. It has some fun characters, enjoyable story arcs, and great fights that will leave you speechless. At the center of this world filled with heroes and villains is Izuku, a boy born without a quirk (power). He often gets bullied because of this by his classmate Bakugo.
When Izuku saves Bakugo from a nearby villain, the world’s number one hero, All Might, watches and is amazed by Izuku’s bravery. He grants Izuku is quirk and trains him. Eventually, Izuku joins U.A. Academy, a school for upcoming heroes in hopes he’ll become a great hero like All Might. This story features the same premise as Solo Leveling as we follow a character who goes from zero to hero.
Izuku will tangle with multiple baddies who have ideals many people will find disgusting or justifiable. They all have rich personalities and backstories that help them appear more rounded. You’ll adore their interactions with Izuki and his friends. Furthermore, both stories tackle themes like personal growth, perseverance, and redemption.
Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic – Shinobu Ohtaka
Similarities – Fantasy, Adventure, Action
Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic is an adventure manga themed after Arabian Nights. It revolves around two boys named Aladdin and Alibaba. They spend their lives traveling to multiple kingdoms and entering dangerous dungeons to search for rare treasures. The manga offers great world-building and each kingdom has different civilizations, principles, and customs.
The battles can get as intense as Solo Leveling and often have our characters fighting in hand-to-hand combat or with magic. They look immaculate and unforgettable. Magi offers more comedic segments than Solo Leveling, though. This gives readers something to giggle at as they wait for Shinobu Ohtaka to drop intruiging lore and plot points to keep them guesstimating. If you crave a fantasy world with a unique setting, excellent cast, and grandiose world-building, check out Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic.
Seven Deadly Sins – Nakaba Suzuki
Similarities – Adventure, Fantasy, Action
Seven Deadly Sins got the short end of the stick regarding solid anime adaptations. Thankfully, the manga had enough stellar content to appeal to the series’s fans. It offers a great blend of action, fantasy, and comedy. The story offers some intruiging foreshadowing and twists to get you speculating on what will occur next. It takes place amidst a king losing control over his kingdom to a band of knights.
His daughter Elizabeth flees the kingdom to search for the Seven Deadly Sins. She meets the leader of the Sins, Meliodas. After learning about Elizabeth’s situation, Meliodas, his pig companion Hawk, and Elizabeth travel the world to search for the remaining Sins so they can defeat the knights and restore order to Elizabeth’s kingdom. This manga offers some grandiose fights and neat superpowers.
The characters receive adequate development throughout the narrative and have fun personalities. The humor can feel a bit hit or miss with audiences. While there are some witty jokes, Seven Deadly Sins contains some immature sexual comedy that many may find uncomfortable. If you’re okay with that, then give Seven Deadly Sins a shot.
So there we have it, our 10 books/manga to read after you’re caught up with Solo Leveling.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!