Jooheon Suh has been betrayed, but maybe he should have seen this coming. Once a poor orphan, Jooheon’s life changed when the tombs opened and relics—powerful items from legend and lore—were found within. Having discovered a powerful one, and built up his body, the skilled Jooheon is hired by Taejoon Kwon, the owner of a chaebol that finds powerful relics while keeping others away. It’s Kwon who leads Jooheon to a trap, but the arrival of something powerful—a crow relic? A voice? A god?—gives the dying man a chance at rebirth to a time before the tombs have erupted, and perhaps, a new opportunity to live a better life…or one bent on revenge.
Solo Leveling for archeologists has arrived! Facetious, maybe, but that’s going to describe what a lot of new viewers, I think, will think of when they watch episode one. Jooheon looks like Jin Woo (and has a somewhat similar bad attitude), and is also given a new chance at life by a powerful, violent force. The “webtoon” look, both in the character designs and in the electric colors (blues, yellows, and oranges especially) is also there. The series even premiered with only a Korean dub (though a Japanese one is now available, though I would suggest sticking with the native tongue because of how fitting Jooheon sounds speaking in its harsh tones). However, I’m not nearly as keen on this series as I am on Solo Leveling. The latter starts with a humble protagonist who becomes a powerful character with an attitude bordering on arrogance, but Jooheon starts with a vengeful, selfish attitude; while that leaves room for growth—and episode one foreshadows that he will become a better man—I barely saw any of that in the three volumes of the manhwa I read. The vengeance he seeks is the primary characteristic I remember, and it’s very plain in episode one as well. However, if you’re a big fan of the Solo Leveling manhwa or anime, this could tide you over until the movie arrives or the Overgeared anime premieres; just don’t expect it to be in the same class.
Tomb Raider King can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
Meh, I’ll take it or leave it