The rise of Korean manhwa as a globally dominant force in comics didn't happen in isolation. It was built, in large part, on two series: Solo Leveling and Tower of God. Between them, they established the two dominant modes of manhwa storytelling that have shaped everything that followed — and together they represent the clearest argument for why manhwa deserves a place in any serious reader's diet alongside the best Japanese manga. But if you're new to manhwa, the question of where to start isn't trivial. Solo Leveling and Tower of God are radically different experiences. Here's how to choose.
Solo Leveling: The Power Fantasy Done Right
Solo Leveling by Chugong (art by DUBU, known as Jang Sung-rak) is the most purely satisfying power-fantasy manhwa ever written. The premise: in a world where mysterious Gates have opened, revealing dungeons full of dangerous monsters, Sung Jinwoo is ranked as the weakest Hunter alive. After a near-death experience in a double dungeon, he receives a unique ability that allows him to level up like a video game character — indefinitely, with no apparent ceiling.
What follows is 179 chapters of Sung Jinwoo becoming, gradually and then all at once, the most powerful being in existence. The story's appeal is immediate and consistent: each arc delivers escalating power reveals, satisfying opponent matchups, and enough narrative momentum to make stopping feel physically difficult. Solo Leveling is the manhwa equivalent of a perfectly calibrated action film — it does exactly what it sets out to do, and it does it better than almost anything else in the genre.
Finished or Ongoing: Finished. 179 chapters + epilogue. Complete story, clean ending.
Available on: Yen Press (English print), the Webtoon app, and Kakaopage.
Tower of God: The Epic You Can't Put Down (or Fully Explain)
Tower of God by SIU (Slave in Utero, real name Lee Jong-hui) is something else entirely. It begins deceptively simply: a boy named Bam has spent his entire life alone in a cave below a mysterious Tower, with only a girl named Rachel as his only connection to the world above. When Rachel enters the Tower — which grants wishes to those who reach its top — Bam follows, entering a world of tests, politics, ancient conspiracies, and powers that operate by rules SIU has been slowly revealing across 700+ chapters.
Tower of God is the largest manhwa narrative currently running. It encompasses multiple arcs, a cast of hundreds of distinct characters, a magic system of extraordinary depth, and a central mystery — what is the Tower, really? — that the story has been building toward for over a decade. It is not a quick read. Some arcs are deliberately paced; some chapters are exposition-heavy; the story requires patience and investment that Solo Leveling never asks of its readers.
The reward for that investment is a reading experience unlike almost anything else in manhwa. Tower of God has the scope and ambition of a fantasy novel series, the character density of a prestige TV drama, and a thematic depth — about destiny, identity, truth, and what we sacrifice for the people we love — that only becomes apparent once you're deep enough in to see the full shape of what SIU is building.
Finished or Ongoing: Ongoing. Currently in Season 3 (Outer Tower arc). 700+ chapters published.
Available on: LINE Webtoon (English, free). English print releases from Yen Press through Season 1.
The Key Differences
The most important question is what you want from a manhwa. Solo Leveling delivers an extremely high ratio of satisfaction-per-chapter. You will never feel like a chapter was slow or that your time was wasted. The story has a clear trajectory and a satisfying endpoint. It is, in the best sense, a complete, well-constructed entertainment product.
Tower of God asks more of you. There are chapters in Season 2 where nothing seems to happen and yet everything is moving. There are characters you'll spend 50 chapters learning to understand. There are plot threads SIU planted in Season 1 that only pay off in Season 3. The experience of reading Tower of God is the experience of being inside a very large, very carefully considered world — and like all such experiences, it has moments of frustration alongside moments of revelation.
Which Should You Read First?
Read Solo Leveling first. It is shorter, complete, and immediately rewarding. It will give you a reference point for what manhwa action looks like at its best and will leave you wanting more. Then start Tower of God — Season 1 specifically — and give it 50 chapters before making any judgement. The first season is tighter and more immediately gripping than the reputation of the series sometimes suggests. By the time you've finished Season 1, you will understand why Tower of God has a fanbase that measures engagement in years, not weeks.
If you are specifically interested in ongoing stories that you can follow week-to-week: Tower of God updates on LINE Webtoon every Sunday. If you want something you can binge in a long weekend: Solo Leveling is your answer.
Honourable Mentions: Other Manhwa to Read in 2026
If you finish both and want more: Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint (meta-narrative, extremely ambitious, recently completed), Nano Machine (cultivation fantasy, addictive pacing), and The Beginning After the End (isekai with more emotional depth than the genre typically offers) are all worth your time.
FAQ
Is Solo Leveling manga or manhwa?
Solo Leveling is Korean manhwa, not Japanese manga. It was originally published as a web novel on KakaoPage before being adapted into a manhwa (illustrated web comic). The anime adaptation — by A-1 Pictures — aired in 2024.
How long does it take to read Solo Leveling?
Solo Leveling is 179 chapters plus an epilogue. At a comfortable reading pace of about 10–15 minutes per chapter, the full series takes approximately 30–45 hours to read. Most readers report finishing it in 2–4 days of active reading.
Is Tower of God worth starting if it's not finished?
Yes, with the caveat that you are committing to a long-form story that is still being written. Tower of God Season 1 alone is a complete and satisfying narrative arc. You can read Season 1, assess your interest, and decide whether to continue into Season 2. Many readers treat the seasons as semi-separate reading experiences rather than committing to the full run upfront.
Which has a better anime adaptation — Solo Leveling or Tower of God?
Both have anime adaptations. The Solo Leveling anime (A-1 Pictures, 2024) has been widely praised for its production quality, particularly its action sequences. The Tower of God anime adaptation (Crunchyroll Originals, 2020) was a condensed adaptation of Season 1 that received strong critical reception but covers only a fraction of the source material. Season 2 of the Tower of God anime has been announced.
