7 Must-Read Action Manhwa A-1 Pictures Should Adapt After Solo Leveling!

by

Summary

  • A-1 Pictures excels at adapting action series like Solo Leveling, showcasing their expertise.
  • The potential Manhwa adaptations, like The Breaker and SSS-Class Revival Hunter, offer unique action-packed storylines.
  • Titles such as The Knight Only Lives Today and Pick Me Up bring fresh action concepts to the table for possible adaptation.

Over the years, I’ve witnessed A-1 Pictures creating more than a hundred anime titles spanning different genres, but it’s their exceptional prowess in the action genre that truly catches my eye. Titles such as Fairy Tail, Sword Art Online, and Solo Leveling are just a few examples of how skillfully they adapt thrilling action series.

When it comes to the action series “Solo Leveling,” A-1 Pictures has truly outdone themselves with this exceptional adaptation. Given their knack for adapting Manhwa like “Solo Leveling” effectively, it’s only fitting that they continue to adapt more action-packed Manhwa in the future. With that in mind, here are some fantastic action Manhwa that A-1 Pictures should consider adapting after “Solo Leveling.” It’s worth noting that this list concentrates on Manhwa series yet to receive an official anime adaptation, so popular series like “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint,” which is currently being produced by Aniplex, will not be included.

7. The Knight Only Lives Today

War, Die, and Repeat

  • Korean Title: Oneul-man Saneun Gisa
  • First Published: May 17, 2024
  • MyAnimeList Score: 8.13

We’ll dive right in with the most recent entry on our list – a 2024 Manhwa titled “The Knight Who Lives But Once Today“. This narrative follows Encrid, initially a humble soldier, who discovers himself trapped within a time loop, reliving the day he perished on the battlefield repeatedly. Instead of succumbing to despair, however, our protagonist, Encrid, employs this painful predicament to hone his swordsmanship skills.

The tale of “The Knight Only Lives Today” shares some resemblances with a 2004 Light Novel titled “All You Need Is Kill“. This novel was subsequently adapted into a manga named after it in 2004, and later transformed into the movie “Edge of Tomorrow“. Both stories are captivating, but what sets this graphic novel apart from “All You Need Is Kill” is the palpable sense of urgency experienced by the protagonist, which adds an extra layer of immersion to the narrative.

6. Pick Me Up

Transported to a Deadly Game World

  • Korean Title: Pick Me Up!
  • First Published: Dec 28, 2022
  • MyAnimeList Score: 8.26

In “Pick Me Up!”, an online action-adventure game, players navigate their character through a treacherous 100-level tower filled with hordes of monsters. While playing the latest major event, Han Seojin finds himself mysteriously transported into this digital world. As a new hero named Han Yslat, he must immediately adapt to the savage landscape and battle ferocious creatures just to stay alive.

In essence, Pick Me Up! shares a resemblance with the well-known Sword Art Online series, but it stands out due to its significantly grittier gameplay compared to Sword Art Online. This grittiness amplifies the intensity and fear factor of the action within Pick Me Up!.

5. SSS-Class Revival Hunter

Copying His Way to the Top

  • Korean Title: SSS-geup Jugeoya Saneun Hunter
  • First Published: Dec 31, 2020
  • MyAnimeList Score: 8.29

The narrative of “SSS-Class Revival Hunter” centers on Confucius Kim, a hunter who’s ranked at the bottom of F-Class due to his weakness and inability to progress beyond the first floor of the tower. Feeling defeated, he receives an extraordinary skill from the Tower that enables him to swap skills with his opponents, forfeiting his own life in the process.

Fortunately for Confucius, the initial ability he replicates grants him the power to rewind time whenever he meets his demise. With this new talent, Confucius can employ his exceptional skill repeatedly without fretting about death. This marks the start of his incredible climb towards becoming an SSS-Class Hunter.

4. The Breaker

An Old-School Martial Arts Story

  • Korean Title: The Breaker
  • First Published: Jun 1, 2007
  • MyAnimeList Score: 8.39

The Breaker tells the tale of a high school student named Siwoon who unwittingly steps into an astonishing realm of martial artists called the Murim. Soon, he’s running faster than cars and demolishing buildings with a solitary punch – and this naive youth is in for a crash course on everything there is to uncover about this captivating hidden world.

The Breaker, originally hails from the initial phase of Manhwa, when this format was primarily printed on black and white paperbacks, much like its Japanese counterpart. Before it morphed into the vibrant webtoons we know today, it was here. Filled with high-octane action scenes as well as poignant emotional moments, The Breaker truly encapsulates the essence of the medium. If any manhwa were worthy of an anime adaptation, it would undoubtedly be The Breaker.

3. Return of the Blossoming Blade

The Return of a Forgotten Hero

  • Korean Title: Hwasan Gwihwan
  • First Published: Mar 23, 2021
  • MyAnimeList Score: 8.50

Following a fierce clash that claimed the lives of all combatants from the top 20 Martial Arts Guilds across the land, the 13th Disciple of Mount Hua Sect, Cheongmyeong (one of Earth’s three most skilled sword-wielders and a master of the Blooming Blade) ultimately succeeded in slaying the Demon Cult’s leader. However, this triumph came at the price of his own life.

100 years following that decisive conflict, fate brings Cheongmyeong into the world once more, this time as a beggar in a society unaware of his past deeds and the venerable Mount Hua Sect. From these humble beginnings, Cheongmyeong embarks on an arduous journey to restore the prominence of Mount Hua Sect.

2. Eleceed

An Awakened Being and His Cat

  • Korean Title: Eleceed
  • First Published: Oct 2, 2018
  • MyAnimeList Score: 8.54

In the realm of Eleceed, individuals across the globe discover hidden abilities akin to superpowers. To preserve harmony, they conceal their identities and live among ordinary folk. Among the most potent of these empowered beings in South Korea is a youth named Kayden.

Over time, events unfolded and Kayden discovered himself as the target of other awakened individuals. To escape and recover, he transformed into a plump, orange cat. Fate led him to Jiwoo, a young man fond of cats, who unknowingly provided food and care for Kayden, not realizing that this ginger feline was actually a formidable person. This unexpected meeting significantly impacted both their lives, altering their destinies forever.

1. The Legend of the Northern Blade

The Story of Betrayal and Vengeance

  • Korean Title: Bukgeom Jeongi
  • First Published: Dec 31, 2019
  • MyAnimeList Score: 8.55

Following the shocking act of treachery and murder of his father, the esteemed 4th generation leader of the illustrious Northern Heavenly Sect, by their former allies, Jin Mu-Won finds himself under a cruel twist of fate: confined as a prisoner within the very walls he once called home. His enemies refrain from ending his life due to his unique status as the sole living heir of the Northern Heavenly Sect, but they strictly restrict him from leaving the vicinity of his house. They even station guards to prevent Mu-Won from escaping his predicament.

I may not be a martial artist like my father in their eyes, nor can I control and channel my Qi as they assume. But little do they know, I’m diligently learning the clandestine Martial Arts of the Northern Heavenly Sect day by day. I patiently endure their scorn and mockery, waiting for the perfect moment to unleash the power hidden within me – a power that will avenge my family’s wrongs and restore the grandeur of the Northern Heavenly Sect.

Each title on this list presents a distinct flavor of action. Some delve into intense themes such as death and revenge, while others blend humor and kingdom development. Regardless, every Manhwa in this collection has the possibility to achieve the same level of popularity as Solo Leveling. Fingers crossed that A-1 Pictures considers adapting one of them soon.

Read More

2025-04-08 14:15