“A single choice can completely alter one's future—a truth no one knows more than Saeroyi Park, whose decision to stop a school bully exposes him to the harsh reality of money and power. Things go from bad to worse when his dad, who stood by him through it all, gets killed by the very same bully…and Saeroyi vows to take a life for a life. After his rash, rage-fueled murder attempt ends in a prison stint, though, a new plan kindles within him: open a restaurant, recreate the joy his father showed him, and cook up some proper revenge. And there's no better place to do so than the neighborhood of freedom, diversity, and delicious food—Itaewon” (Ize Press)
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Having accumulated over 400 million views on Webtoon, leading to a Netflix adaptation, “Itaewon Class” gained popularity before being made available in print through Ize Press. However, having popularity does not always ensure quality, especially with the fast-paced and demanding schedule often put on creators in the format. Thankfully, Kwang Jin's “Itaewon Class” certainly measures up to its already-established acclaim, with the first volume being a perfect setup for a tale of revenge that will leave readers craving more.
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The release instantly succeeds in building up Saeroyi Park as a morally righteous teenager who adheres to a family code, setting his life on a difficult but admirable path. The most straightforward route with revenge tales is to make a detestable ‘villain' deserving of hatred, eliciting a quick emotional response. Thankfully, “Itaewon Class” blurs the line ‘good vs evil' enough that the focus becomes entirely on establishing Saeroyi. Notably, the story encompasses much of Saeroyi's youth before and after his father's death, yet it does so with a clear direction that hits key points with a strong emotional focus. In addition, the headstrong and upbeat Sooah Oh comes across as charming and sincere, making the potential romance between them as exciting a prospect as the potential revenge.
The only flaw in the story is uncertainty about what might come. Notably, the bulk of the story occurs several years before volume one concludes, giving the impression that the story of Saeroyi has only begun. Kwang Jin navigates this introduction with enough skill that most will be excited to see how the narrative progresses. However, those who are picky about how they invest their time and money may want to wait for subsequent volumes to drop (or read ahead in the Webtoon format).
The ideal way to collect “Itaewon Class” is in its physical release, with the artwork of Kwang Jin having a unique charm. While still suffering from many of the limitations of the digital format—uninspiring background work and simplistic character design—there is a sincerity that comes across in the characters' expressions and the way Kwang Jin allows the dialog to flow. Despite the rather grim subject matter, there is a wholesomeness to the visual direction that works quite well in its favor. “Itaewon Class” is undeniably a case where the art perfectly fits the narrative, making the release a joy to own physically. The action scenes also have a striking visual style (as above).
Ize Press's growing catalog has made it fascinating to explore the best of, as well as an array of, manhwa/webtoons; even with the quality varying, it is always exciting to see what a new title is bringing to their growing library. The inaugural volume of “Itaewon Class” is as near-perfect an introduction as possible, and while there is room to falter, the series is poised to become one of the finest Webtoon to make its way to print.
