Where to read the Solo Leveling manga
Seeking an astonishing and breath-taking story with incredible art? Then check out the Solo Leveling manga.
Solo Leveling has been an explosive anime from the beginning, but season 2 has had fans excited for each new episode releasing since it began in January this year.
Indeed, the anime adaptation of the Korean web novel has fans in its clutches – and it doesn't look like it'll be letting go anytime soon. Protagonist Sung Jinwoo's latest trials have him taking on the Demon King and acquiring what he needs to save his loved ones. It's pretty gripping stuff.
The reception of the anime adaptation has been overwhelmingly positive. Fans are enthusiastically praising Solo Leveling for its sleek animation style, exceptional character design, strong voice acting, and expertly crafted narrative pacing. The series consistently delivers both drama and action with every thrilling twist that fans never see coming.
The plot focuses on Sung Jinwoo, a fledgling hunter who is bestowed with magical abilities that empower him to battle and vanquish monsters. However, there's one problem: Jinwoo struggles in this perilous profession. He is, in fact, not the best hunter around and considering Hunters play a crucial role in safeguarding human civilization from the escalating threat of monsters? You're supposed to be good at your job.
It looks as though Jinwoo's career as a hunter is fated to be not worth mentioning, before his destiny changes for good. How? Because the System chooses to grant him an ability that no hunter has ever been allowed before: the power of leveling up, allowing him to gain new abilities and get stronger and stronger.
As the second season of the anime adaptation continues, Jinwoo is a much more powerful hero than he was previously, able to easily control his newfound abilities. But that doesn't stop danger from lurking on the horizon.
Intrigued by Jinwoo's story but unsure where you want to jump in? You've come to the right place. There's much more Solo Leveling out there outside of the anime adaptation – there’s even a live-action Solo Leveling on the way, though fan reactions towards that continue to vary greatly.
With that in mind, why wait for new episodes or a movie about Solo Leveling? Especially when you can read the entire manga right now?
Continue scrolling to discover how and where to find Solo Leveling manga, and read it yourself.
Can I read Solo Leveling manga for free?
Yes! You can legally read it for free in two places: Tapas and Tappytoon.
Tapas is a South Korean webtoon and prose website. You can read comics there, and if you’re a creator, you can even publish them yourself.
Many popular manhwa (the Korean term for manga) are available to read there, which, of course, includes Solo Leveling.
While you can read Solo Leveling for free there, it does come with a caveat. The first few chapters are free, but because of Tapas’s freemium model, other chapters must be purchased using Tapas currency, also known as Ink.
Ink can be purchased with real money, or earned through certain actions, such as watching advertisements.
The second place you can read Solo Leveling is Tappytoon. Much like Tapas, Tappytoon lets you read the first few chapters of Solo Leveling for free, no money required.
However, for the rest of the chapters, you will have to purchase with real money.
Again, like Tapas, there are alternative ways to get the chapters, and if you’re a member of Tappytoons you only have to wait 12 hours before you can read another chapter.
If you’re not a signed-in member, you have to wait 24 hours before you can read another chapter.
Where to buy the Solo Leveling manga
If you’d like to go one step further and purchase the Solo Leveling manga, you can do so via Tappytoon and Tapas.
However, if you’re looking for physical copies of the Solo Leveling manga as volumes, we advise looking to storefronts like Amazon or bookstore chains like Waterstones.
Is the Solo Leveling manga finished?
Yes! The Solo Leveling manga/manhwa ended in December 2021 after beginning its run in 2016.
The series is authored by Chugong, and was illustrated by Jang Sung-rak, who sadly died in 2022.
How many chapters are there in the Solo Leveling manga?
There are 179 chapters in the Solo Leveling manga.
Where can I get the Solo Leveling full manga set?
The Solo Leveling full manga set isn't available for purchase, as physical editions are still being released.
For Solo Leveling fans who want to know the story and can't wait for all of the manga to be released, you can purchase the complete Solo Leveling omnibus via Amazon. But be aware that this is not the Solo Leveling manga, only the novel.
How does the Solo Leveling manga differ from the anime?
At the time of writing, the differences between the Solo Leveling manga and anime are few and far between, but that could change as the web novel continues to be adapted. Most changes could easily be missed if you’re not paying attention.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s entirely the same. Some anime changes have focused on improving Jinwoo as a character by expanding on his backstory and actions, which doesn’t always happen in the manga.
The prologue in the anime's first episode also undergoes a major change. In this prologue, viewers can learn more about Korea’s Jeju Island, which is not available anywhere in the manga.
Ultimately, manga and anime have some key differences, but they are not enough to dampen your enjoyment of either.
Should I read the Solo Leveling manga before the anime?
Everyone who's been a fan of anything knows that with adaptations come changes you may not always agree with or even vehemently dislike. Alternatively, an adaptation can improve things and, depending on the medium, may prove easier to access for you.
As for whether you should read the Solo Leveling manga before or after, the anime is entirely subjective to your tastes. If you prefer anime's visual and audio format, feel free to watch Solo Leveling before you even touch the manga, and vice versa, if you prefer to read manga over watching anime. Either way, you'll be in for a treat.
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Authors
Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor for Radio Times, covering everything from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel to House of the Dragon and Good Omens. She previously worked at Metro as a Senior Entertainment Reporter and has a degree in English Literature.
