“The tutorial is over, and Jaehwan's journey continues in the vast realm of Chaos! After years of solitude inside the Tower, he finds himself in the company of others once again. But something seems…off with these people. When the terrible truth about Chaos finally dawns on him, Jaehwan must find the answer to the question—what does it mean to be human?” (Ize Press)
Out of all the modern WebToon titles that have made their way to print, “The World After the Fall” sits in a peculiar place. While many series in the medium thrive on their stories while struggling slightly on the visual front due to publishing schedules and an over-dependency on digital techniques, the team behind “The World After the Fall” has the opposite issue.
Unable to compare the original story to its adaptation, it is difficult to say if the narrative behind “The World After the Fall” is as disjointed as the WebToon. The comic lacks a unique angle with its isekai-ish storyline that is needed to stir the reader into following the fantasy elements. Moreover, the characters are underdeveloped, and much of their story lies in convoluted exposition between action sequences. Consequently, it doesn't prove easy to follow along, when collecting the book in print, as opposed to reading in the original online format, as the time between releases further obfuscates the story.
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However, this ambiguity, lack of narrative, and solid drive become inconsequential when looking at just how sharp and cool the art is. Undead Gamja is on par with the most talented names in the comic space, and the joy of “The World After The Fall” comes from seeing his art. His creature and character designs, in particular, are very defined and memorable. Readers can scan several pages only making nominal notes of the story and still feel engrossed thanks to the visual direction.
For readers, there is no doubt that the ideal formula would be an engaging story to complement the sharp aesthetics. And while there is still potential in many of the themes built up over the first three volumes of “The World After the Fall” to deliver that needed boost to the writing, it feels unlikely with a relatively stagnant and expressionless protagonist in Jaehwan. While this review may gloss over several characters introduced and ones playing a part in pushing the narrative forward to that point where it may become more of a focal point, the various personas don't resonate beyond their visual presence.
Make no mistake, “The World After The Fall” is likely the nicest-looking action series currently in print, and that element should be enough for most readers to continue on the series happily. Personally, I may not be able to recall the entirety of the ongoing story when a new volume arrives, but that does not make me any less excited to dig in. Still, those who demand substance in their stories may be better off checking out other Ize/Yen Press manhwa releases like “Tomb Raider King” or “Solo Leveling,” which still have a pronounced visual style and a competent narrative.
