“Youngwoo Shin is a deadbeat in real life, working odd jobs to barely pay off his loans. Even his family has written him off as a hopeless video game addict. But when he logs in to the massively popular VR game Satisfy, Youngwoo becomes Grid the Warrior…who is also painfully mediocre. Everything changes when he stumbles across a tome containing the lost knowledge of a legendary blacksmith. The catch is, using it resets all his levels! In order to survive after being forced back to square one, Grid will need to hone his skills and gather reliable allies…or not! Who needs all that when you're decked out in god-tier items?!” (Ize Press)
As Ize Press increases its catalog, there is bound to be some give and take with quality, or more specifically, perception of quality when building a base library. With a few titles already focused on the fantasy/action genre going back to “Solo Leveling,” to the more recent runs of “Tomb Raider King” and “The World After The Fall,” the genre is already starting to feel slightly crowded (especially if you are a K-Pop fan and looking forward to collecting the HYBE releases).
This is a crucial backdrop when approaching “Overgeared.” While the series does have an intriguing angle of taking place in a VR world and blending elements of real-life drama with fantasy, the work still utilizes common RPG elements like leveling systems and equipment with inherent stats. It is not an original approach but a slight spin on a familiar formula. Unfortunately, this pushes “Overgeared” into the less remarkable when comparing previous titles and trying to balance time and money to read/collect as much as possible.
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For an introductory volume, there is nothing particularly remarkable about protagonist Youngwoo Shin, a dull and uninspired gamer with a negative view of life and plenty of complaints about lack of money and game addiction. There is no desire to see him succeed; dumb luck and a s**tty attitude don't make for engaging or admirable heroes. However, since this is an inaugural volume, there is room to develop his character past the insufferable persona first presented in volume one.
Still, there are additional reasons to be hesitant about the series, with the comedy falling flat and, in certain instances, insulting. Notably, Youngwoo Shin meets a blacksmith who becomes fond of him. The humor here boils down to the man being clingy and predatory, and Shin being grossed out by the fact. This instance does not come across as offensive or spiteful but is undeniably in poor taste and outdated. Humor like that has not worked for some time, and it is a bit baffling to see it utilized in a modern comic in such a blunt and unnecessary manner.
Visually, there is a lot of style to be found in the series, particularly regarding character design and armor. The latter is vital in a series that makes equipment a key focus. The action in the inaugural volume is minimal, making it hard to gauge how well that element will play out in later books. Still, given Redice Studio's track record with titles like “Solo Leveling,” there is reason to have confidence that as the series focuses on action, it will deliver quality visuals. The only notable shortcoming is the lack of defined backgrounds to draw the reader deeper into the fantasy of a VR-created fantasy world.
If “Overgeared” was released closer to the first batch of Ize Press publications, it could have garnered a lot of excitement for what was to come, as the series does provide a moderate amount of entertainment and flexes elements that have become significant draws in other series. Unfortunately, the book feels clunky and awkward comparatively, especially when looking at the dull humor and obnoxious protagonist. A lot hinges on whether the reader will connect with or tolerate Youngwoo Shin. Ultimately, if you are looking for the highest quality content in print to introduce yourself to manhwa, consider trying “Tomb Raider King,” which nails the ‘unlikable protagonist' with more skill and intrigue. Or you can try any one of these titles.
