“Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse is Dokja's favorite novel, or it was…until it became reality. Thanks to his knowledge of the story, he managed to survive the first chaotic moments of the new world. But the relentless scenario waits for no one, and Dokja finds himself in yet another life-or-death struggle. Isolated from his group and surrounded by horrific creatures, his story seems all but doomed to a premature ending…That's when an unmistakable presence makes an entrance. It's time for Dokja, the only reader of TWSA, to meet its main character—the Regressor Junghyeok Yu!” (Ize Press)
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The inaugural volume of “Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint” presented itself as a love letter to the medium, using the world of manhwa and its fans as the jumping-off point for a fast-paced action series. The second volume continues this process, but with the background/set-up for Dokja out of the way, the manhwa can be even more indulgent and focused on entertaining fans of the genre. This does leave uncertainty in appealing to an audience that has not already embraced the Webtoon format, but it is still exemplary of the best that the genre has to offer.
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With the introductions out of the way, the second volume sees the team behind the project allowed to play with the characters and the world created by singNsong. There is a push to deepen the lore, but at the same time, values such as good and evil are clearly defined, and the overuse of familiar tropes gives the title a guaranteed level of predictability. However, this familiarity favors the story, as the series is ideal for tuning out and approaching as an indulgent treat. At the same time, protagonist Dokja is slowly falling into the role of the OP hero, gaining confidence and skills rapidly. While one could comfortably call “Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint” mindless fun, this also undermines the finer storytelling points that continue to propel Dokja forward.
While pushing the series forward in exciting directions, the second volume has some limitations. The title still expects the reader to keep up, which could challenge those who don't regularly read fantasy manhwa. In addition, the volume poses challenges to Dokja, including climbing out of the belly of a giant serpent. However, these trials still fall short of a definitive conflict defining the series and Dokja as a protagonist. This should excite rather than deter, as the potential to reach that point seems inevitable.
That art by Sleepy-C is still impeccable, pushing the digital art of Webtoon to its most flashy and expressive; the attention to backgrounds is appreciated, and the characters' eccentricities come across in how they are depicted. The more creatures, threats, and powers are introduced, the more it becomes apparent that Sleepy-C is one of the more refined and stylized artists in the medium.
For fans of manhwa, particularly fantasy/action titles, “Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint” should be essential reading. However, if you are looking for an entry point into the genre, titles like “Tomb Raider King” and “Jungle Juice,” also by Ize Press, will provide a perfect balance of story and visual flair. This is not to say that either of those titles is superior, but “Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint” at this juncture celebrates Webtoons rather than a series that stands on its own.
