Who Created The Solo Leveling Manwha And Who Illustrated It?

I've binged 'Solo Leveling' more times than I can count, and if you just want the straight number: the manhwa (the webcomic adaptation) has 179 main chapters. Those 179 chapters cover the full visual retelling of Sung Jinwoo's rise from weak hunter to world-shaking power, and the story wraps up within that span. Beyond the raw chapter count, there are a few little things worth noting that often confuse newcomers. The original web novel runs much longer — roughly 270 chapters — and some scenes or side details in the novel either got condensed or reworked for the manhwa. There were also extra illustrations, colored pages, and occasional special uploads that fans sometimes count as bonus material, but the canonical manhwa storyline is contained in those 179 numbered chapters. I still get a rush rereading scenes from the final arc, even knowing how it ends.

You know, I was just re-reading 'Solo Leveling' the other day and marveling at how crisp the art style is! The manhwa's illustrations are handled by Jang Sung-Rak, who goes by the pen name Dubu. He was the CEO of Redice Studio, which produced the adaptation. Tragically, Dubu passed away in 2022 due to health complications, which hit the fandom really hard—his work on the series was iconic, especially how he brought Chugong’s novel to life with those dynamic fight scenes and detailed character designs. It’s wild to think how much impact Dubu had; his art became synonymous with the series’ identity. Even now, when I flip through the chapters, I pause at those double-page spreads of Jinwoo staring down some monstrous beast. The shading, the motion lines—everything feels cinematic. Redice Studio continues his legacy, but there’s no denying Dubu’s vision was irreplaceable. The way he balanced gritty realism with almost supernatural vibrancy? Chef’s kiss.

I'm still buzzing from the hype that built up around 'Solo Leveling' — I followed the announcement like it was breaking personal news. A proper anime adaptation has been officially announced and the fact that a high-profile studio was attached made a lot of us breathe a little easier. From what I tracked, the studio named for the project has the budget and staff to treat the material with respect, which matters because the manhwa's kinetic action and slick art are the heart of its appeal. Fans are understandably desperate for a faithful adaptation rather than a rushed or over-cropped retelling. Production schedules in animation can be slippery beasts, though. Even after an announcement, there’s casting, key animation, music scoring, and final mixing — all the little cogs that add up to a great show — and any one can nudge the release window. There were whispers about a release window within the next year or two after the reveal, but studios sometimes stagger episodes with cour planning or delay for quality, so patience is part of the fandom ritual. Honestly, I’d rather wait for a solid adaptation than get a half-baked version early. In the meantime, I keep re-reading favorite arcs of 'Solo Leveling', listening to fan-made soundtracks, and watching other adaptations to see how they handle pacing and fights. If the anime nails the atmosphere — chilling stakes, Jinwoo’s quiet confidence, and the sense of escalation — it could be one of the defining shonen-ish thrillers of this era. I’m cautiously optimistic and already imagining the opening theme; can’t wait to see it land.

Brightly colored panels and those cinematic action spreads are what hooked me, and when people ask who draws the season 2 chapters of 'Solo Leveling' I get a little protective about giving credit where it's due. The original, iconic art that put this series on the map was the work of Jang Sung-rak, who worked under the name DUBU and was part of REDICE Studio. His style — those sharp character silhouettes, dramatic lighting, and kinetic fight choreography — is what most fans picture when they think of 'Solo Leveling.' After Jang Sung-rak passed away, the team at REDICE (often still credited as DUBU or REDICE Studio) continued producing the webtoon; season 2 chapters are produced under that studio umbrella. Practically, that means a group of artists and colorists are maintaining the visual continuity while honoring his aesthetic. If you flip through later season 2 chapters you can spot subtle shifts — different line weights in closeups, slightly altered background textures, or changes in panel rhythm — but the overall atmosphere and character designs remain faithful to what DUBU established. If you care about where to read official releases, the Korean originals are on KakaoPage and the international English releases have been available through licensed platforms like Tappytoon and other official partners, which carry the season 2 chapters credited to DUBU/REDICE Studio. There are also fan discussions comparing early-season pages to later ones and pointing out which scenes feel most influenced by individual team members, which is fascinating if you like art analysis. For me, knowing that the studio kept working to preserve the look while moving the story forward made it feel like a collective tribute; the visuals still give me that punch of excitement every new chapter, and I can't help grinning whenever a fight scene lands just right.

Whenever a buddy brings up 'Solo Leveling', I light up—it's one of those series that hits different. The original creator of the story is Chugong, a South Korean writer who posted the web novel that kicked everything off. The manhwa adaptation that made the visuals iconic was illustrated by DUBU (Jang Sung-rak) of REDICE Studio and serialized on platforms like KakaoPage, which helped it find a huge readership. What hooked me — and so many others — is the blend of a simple, irresistible premise (weak guy levels up into absurd power) with cinematic art and tight pacing. The vertical-scroll webtoon format lets fights breathe: big panels, dramatic angles, and art that feels polished and modern. Add to that a clear progression system, memorable boss fights, and a protagonist whose growth feels earned despite the power fantasy trappings. Community hype amplified the effect: fan art, clips, theories, and translations made it feel global overnight. For me, it's the combination of satisfying escalation and gorgeous visuals that keeps me coming back; it’s like watching a perfect power-up montage play out chapter after chapter.

I'm totally hooked on 'Solo Leveling' and I love talking about who made it tick. The original webnovel was written by Chu-Gong (추공), and that story is the foundation everything else grew from. Chu-Gong serialized the novel online and built that irresistible power-fantasy core and world-building that got people talking in the first place. The manhwa you probably binged, with those slick, cinematic panels and jaw-dropping boss fights, is the webtoon adaptation of Chu-Gong's story. The art and adaptation work were handled by Jang Sung-rak (장성락), better known by his studio name DUBU at Redice Studio. In most credits you'll see Chu-Gong credited as the original author and Jang Sung-rak/DUBU listed for the illustrated adaptation. Knowing both names makes re-reading extra fun for me — I look for where the novel's beats were tightened and where the artist's visuals added new emotion. It feels like two creators riffing on the same fantastic idea, and that collaboration is what made 'Solo Leveling' such a blast to follow.

If you're hunting for legit places to read 'Solo Leveling', start with the official publishers — that's the best way to support the creators. The Korean original ran on KakaoPage (now part of Kakao Entertainment) and their web services, so the canonical source is the publisher's platform. For English readers, Tappytoon has been the main licensed digital home for the manhwa, offering translated chapters and collected volumes behind a pay-or-subscription model. That means you can read high-quality, official translations without dipping into scanlation sites. Beyond those two, keep an eye on major digital storefronts: sometimes licensed volumes show up for sale on Kindle, Google Play Books, or Comixology as print or digital omnibus editions, depending on regional agreements. There’s also an official English release of the novel that’s available via licensed publishers, which is a different format but a great complement if you want more worldbuilding beyond the comic panels. If you want physical copies, check local bookstores or online retailers for officially licensed paperback releases. I always prefer paying for the official drops — it’s a small price for keeping series alive and enabling more adaptations. Seeing 'Solo Leveling' on a legitimate app gives me way more satisfaction than a messy scan ever could.

I get a little giddy every time this topic comes up because 'Solo Leveling' scratched an itch for me that both novels and comics do in different ways. In the web novel, there's a ton more interior space — long stretches of Sung Jinwoo's private thoughts, the System's logs, and detailed explanations of mechanics like experience, skill trees, and stat allocation. That makes the pacing feel more methodical: you watch him level up, grind, and puzzle out strategy in a way that reads like a long RPG playthrough. Those bits tweak how you perceive his growth; he becomes a tactical, almost clinical figure in addition to being a badass. The extended worldbuilding in the novel also gives extra weight to geopolitical reactions to gates, hunter politics, and how different nations cope with the monster phenomenon. The manhwa, by contrast, trades a lot of internal exposition for kinetic visuals. Major fights are expanded and stylized, with panel-by-panel choreography and splash pages that turn a short paragraph from the novel into a full, cinematic set piece. That creates a faster narrative rhythm — some side-quests and smaller guild/character scenes are trimmed or skimmed, and emotional shifts are often conveyed through facial expressions, music cues in animations people share, and art direction rather than monologue. I loved both for different reasons: the novel fed my craving for systems and lore, while the manhwa delivered visceral moments that felt like being inside a boss battle. Personally, I alternate: reread the novel when I want depth, flip through the manhwa when I'm craving spectacle.