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The Kingdom of the Gods
Discover the comic that inspired the Netflix Original zombie series Kingdom!
Years of war and famine and have plunged Joseon into chaos. Young Prince Yi Moon, after losing all his bodyguards to an assassination attempt, has no choice but to turn to the mountain bandit Jae-ha for help. But as the unlikely pair race to find safety in a world gone mad, it becomes horrifyingly clear that humans aren’t the only thing they must fear!
In a bonus story, a secluded island becomes a private battlefield as the notorious Japanese criminal Juu and the infamous Korean felon Han face off against each other. But they aren’t the only ones on the island…
Years of war and famine and have plunged Joseon into chaos. Young Prince Yi Moon, after losing all his bodyguards to an assassination attempt, has no choice but to turn to the mountain bandit Jae-ha for help. But as the unlikely pair race to find safety in a world gone mad, it becomes horrifyingly clear that humans aren’t the only thing they must fear!
In a bonus story, a secluded island becomes a private battlefield as the notorious Japanese criminal Juu and the infamous Korean felon Han face off against each other. But they aren’t the only ones on the island…
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 19, 2020
53 people are currently reading
2593 people want to read
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April 1, 20201/4/2020
Having binged on the TV-series Kingdom, I had very high hopes for this comic. Unfortunately, those were not met. Where Kingedom is balanced, this had too man bells and whistles - and not enough plot for me to be amused by it. The story was far too short for the content it tried to fit in and so it felt very rushed.
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Having binged on the TV-series Kingdom, I had very high hopes for this comic. Unfortunately, those were not met. Where Kingedom is balanced, this had too man bells and whistles - and not enough plot for me to be amused by it. The story was far too short for the content it tried to fit in and so it felt very rushed.
You can find me on
Youtube | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Website
August 4, 2020
2.5
First story was great but I wanted more ... guess I have to check out the Netflix show.
Second (unrelated) story was dumb.
Arc provided by Netgalley
(sorry)
First story was great but I wanted more ... guess I have to check out the Netflix show.
Second (unrelated) story was dumb.
Arc provided by Netgalley
(sorry)
April 8, 2020
https://barharukiya.wordpress.com/202...
It seems a bit, well, off, to be discussing a zombie apocalypse story amongst the current COVID-19 pandemic, where over a third of the worlds population (at the time of writing) are in some kind of lockdown. But hey, thats where we’re at. The Kingdom of the Gods is the Manwha (Korean Manga) that the Netflix show Kingdom is based up. For clarities sake, I’ve not yet watched Kingdom, though it is on my watchlist, so I’ve gone into this totally blind.
The blurb for The Kingdom of the Gods tells us that Joseon has been plunged into a war, a young prince, Yi Moon, see’s all of his bodyguards slaughtered and has to rely on a hired mountain mercenary, Jae-Ha, to help him return home to Jiyulheon. The period feels like a feudal Japan era, but the mention of Joseon places that in a period of time prior to the formation of Korea, somewhere between the 14th and 19th Centuries, though bits all still in a fantasy setting.
The tale does some interesting things within the zombie genre, now these have all probably done elsewhere before, but In-Wan youn, Eun-hee Kim and Kyung-Il Yang have realised them exceptionally and made the whole thing highly coherent but to lay everything down here would spoil both the Manwha and (possibly) the TV show, but if you’re a fan of the genre, certainly give one or the other a chance.
It’s the artwork that really gives the setting life and led me down the path of trying to track down the history of this book, which seems to have been wrapped up in a webcomic (that’s also vanished so I’m not sure if this is the webcomic printed in a book) before the writer of that went on to write the Netflix show, even so, the artist Kyung-Il Yang has done some phenominal work here. Jae-Ha in particular is a stunninly realised character that looks and feels dangerous in the coolest way possible. Action sequences play out over several pages at times and it mixes the horror with gore and the pacing of something like the fights in the anime adaptation of Bleach absolutely perfectly.
What is unfortunate, however, is that it feels unfinished. The four chapters collected here absolutely fly by, especially with all the multi-page action sequences, and I’m not entirely sure if the story was ever continued after these four chapters were concluded but its left me wanting more and definetly now itching to watch the Netflix show. If it was indeed abandoned in favour of that I do hope that Viz can tempt the trio to return to it. Especially as, in order to flesh the book out, Viz have included an additional, slightly shorter story at the back of the book thats also pretty entertaining, but the main feature is worth picking this up for in itself.
It seems a bit, well, off, to be discussing a zombie apocalypse story amongst the current COVID-19 pandemic, where over a third of the worlds population (at the time of writing) are in some kind of lockdown. But hey, thats where we’re at. The Kingdom of the Gods is the Manwha (Korean Manga) that the Netflix show Kingdom is based up. For clarities sake, I’ve not yet watched Kingdom, though it is on my watchlist, so I’ve gone into this totally blind.
The blurb for The Kingdom of the Gods tells us that Joseon has been plunged into a war, a young prince, Yi Moon, see’s all of his bodyguards slaughtered and has to rely on a hired mountain mercenary, Jae-Ha, to help him return home to Jiyulheon. The period feels like a feudal Japan era, but the mention of Joseon places that in a period of time prior to the formation of Korea, somewhere between the 14th and 19th Centuries, though bits all still in a fantasy setting.
The tale does some interesting things within the zombie genre, now these have all probably done elsewhere before, but In-Wan youn, Eun-hee Kim and Kyung-Il Yang have realised them exceptionally and made the whole thing highly coherent but to lay everything down here would spoil both the Manwha and (possibly) the TV show, but if you’re a fan of the genre, certainly give one or the other a chance.
It’s the artwork that really gives the setting life and led me down the path of trying to track down the history of this book, which seems to have been wrapped up in a webcomic (that’s also vanished so I’m not sure if this is the webcomic printed in a book) before the writer of that went on to write the Netflix show, even so, the artist Kyung-Il Yang has done some phenominal work here. Jae-Ha in particular is a stunninly realised character that looks and feels dangerous in the coolest way possible. Action sequences play out over several pages at times and it mixes the horror with gore and the pacing of something like the fights in the anime adaptation of Bleach absolutely perfectly.
What is unfortunate, however, is that it feels unfinished. The four chapters collected here absolutely fly by, especially with all the multi-page action sequences, and I’m not entirely sure if the story was ever continued after these four chapters were concluded but its left me wanting more and definetly now itching to watch the Netflix show. If it was indeed abandoned in favour of that I do hope that Viz can tempt the trio to return to it. Especially as, in order to flesh the book out, Viz have included an additional, slightly shorter story at the back of the book thats also pretty entertaining, but the main feature is worth picking this up for in itself.
July 7, 2023
I’m glad I didn’t watch the show first. It seemed to have made people not really enjoy this, but I found it amazing. 2 short stories put together. Beautiful artwork and panels. Character designs were absolutely wild.
May 28, 2020
A nice little horror story about a prince on the run from killers while also trying to survive the apocalypse. Apparently this was the inspiration for the show "kingdom" on Netflix. Never seen it but this was pretty fun, exciting, and brutal. I'd say it ends a bit on a weird note, like it just ends. But I liked what I read and would have read more but it seems it was just a one and done.
April 23, 2020
The Netflix show Kingdom is one of those shows that gets recommended to me often. It’s been on my list but I’ve yet to actually watch it. I have been spending more time reading than watching to be honest. Still, I do know that there are zombies and that it was adapted from this manga.
I cannot give a comparison on manga vs show in this case. What I can talk about is what we’ve got here. This book contains two separate stories— The Kingdom of the Gods and Burning Hell. They’re unrelated tales so let me talk a little about them separately.
The Kingdom of the Gods is about the crown prince, Yi Moon. He’s trying to get to the town of Jiyulheon safely in order to find the royal physician. He hires a mercenary, Jae Ha, on the promise of payment once they reach the town safely. The country is in shambles; they’ve been suffering through 7 years of endless war.
Yi Moon is being pursued by the Il-wol Squadron who are out to kill him. But that isn’t the only danger out there. When the sun sets, all the dead come back to feed. Zombies—unrelenting and ravenous. The art in this is unapologetically brutal. The living dead don’t discriminate. Any meat is fair game.
I thought this was great. I’d love to read more of their story. Their journey is clearly far from over.
Now to tackle Burning Hell. This one is about a rivalry between two of the worst criminals from Korea and Japan. There is an island that both countries send their worst of the worst. When Juu is dumped there for his exile, he spends the next year trying to kill Kim Han who had previously killed everyone else who has come there before (by flaying their skin off). A crew of pirates come to what they think is a deserted island. It very much isn’t and an intense amount of slaughter ensues.
This one was okay. In some cases you can root for a villain, but in this story I did not like either of them more and this just felt more like gratuitous violence just because. Really not my cup of tea.
Of the two stories in this book, the first was vastly superior to the second for me.
I cannot give a comparison on manga vs show in this case. What I can talk about is what we’ve got here. This book contains two separate stories— The Kingdom of the Gods and Burning Hell. They’re unrelated tales so let me talk a little about them separately.
The Kingdom of the Gods is about the crown prince, Yi Moon. He’s trying to get to the town of Jiyulheon safely in order to find the royal physician. He hires a mercenary, Jae Ha, on the promise of payment once they reach the town safely. The country is in shambles; they’ve been suffering through 7 years of endless war.
Yi Moon is being pursued by the Il-wol Squadron who are out to kill him. But that isn’t the only danger out there. When the sun sets, all the dead come back to feed. Zombies—unrelenting and ravenous. The art in this is unapologetically brutal. The living dead don’t discriminate. Any meat is fair game.
I thought this was great. I’d love to read more of their story. Their journey is clearly far from over.
Now to tackle Burning Hell. This one is about a rivalry between two of the worst criminals from Korea and Japan. There is an island that both countries send their worst of the worst. When Juu is dumped there for his exile, he spends the next year trying to kill Kim Han who had previously killed everyone else who has come there before (by flaying their skin off). A crew of pirates come to what they think is a deserted island. It very much isn’t and an intense amount of slaughter ensues.
This one was okay. In some cases you can root for a villain, but in this story I did not like either of them more and this just felt more like gratuitous violence just because. Really not my cup of tea.
Of the two stories in this book, the first was vastly superior to the second for me.
April 14, 2020
I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
This graphic novel is the inspiration behind the Netflix show the Kingdom. I enjoyed the advance reader copy I was sent but would have much preferred it to have been in colour. The script is very basic and not much of a plot is present at this stage. I'm going to give the show a watch next.
This graphic novel is the inspiration behind the Netflix show the Kingdom. I enjoyed the advance reader copy I was sent but would have much preferred it to have been in colour. The script is very basic and not much of a plot is present at this stage. I'm going to give the show a watch next.
April 14, 2023
This book is actually two short stories. And in my opinion, it’s the second one that makes it!
The first is kind of like walking dead theme, great art work. But the second one, titled, Burning Hell…..well….. pure genius.
Burning Hell pulls you in from the moment you turn the first page. I’m not writing any spoilers for this one. You’ll have to read on your own.
Kingdom of the Gods 4/5
Burning Hell 5/5
F. D. Gross
The first is kind of like walking dead theme, great art work. But the second one, titled, Burning Hell…..well….. pure genius.
Burning Hell pulls you in from the moment you turn the first page. I’m not writing any spoilers for this one. You’ll have to read on your own.
Kingdom of the Gods 4/5
Burning Hell 5/5
F. D. Gross
March 18, 2020
I enjoyed reading the inspiration for the Netflix show and now I plan to binge the show.
January 15, 2021
A king doesn't abandon his people
I've been a fan of the Netflix show 'Kingdom' since its release and desperately wanted to read the source material that inspired such a unique and terrifyingly addictive story. I was not left disappointed.
The characterisation of our protagonists achieved something I didn't think was possible in only around 167 pages - making me care about a set of characters. Especially as The Kingdom of the Gods was originally a web-comic and therefore is in manhwa format, meaning that there is very little text. But that didn't matter. So much was conveyed in the limited text that I came to care for and admire them in no time at all.
Prince Yi Moon is wonderful and I can really see the beginnings of a great man and even greater king (if he ever achieves the throne). I usually don't like child characters, especially when they are so young (we're never given an exact age but I'd guess Yi Moon is around ten years old) but I had none of my usual problems with kid protagonists. He still had all the true characteristics of a child - impulsive, emotional, lacking foresight, needs saving/protecting etc. but those characteristics were portrayed in such a realistic way that I didn't dislike him, I pitied him. He also had the immense burden of being the Crown Prince, having all the complexities of character that comes with the upbringing of a prince of Joseon, but in such a tiny body. Yi Moon doesn't just want to be king because its his right, its because its his responsibility and because, as we discover throughout the story, he deeply cares about the plight of his people. I also have a major soft spot for him because he is the basis for my favourite character in the TV show (Crown Prince Lee Chang) and I can see exactly where the (much older) prince's character comes from.
Jae-ha's role is one that many would say is almost cliché. He's the morally grey guy who starts out only helping the good guys for the money but slowly we see his heart start to change especially in regards to our protagonist. Is it a trope that has been done many times? Yes. Does that mean I enjoyed it any less? Nope. Jae-ha's relationship with Yi Moon was as compelling as the horror aspects of the story. I was just as interested in how their dynamic would develop as I was in the zombie outbreak and its sinister origins, and that is a massive feat of characterisation. Jae-ha's a rogue, he's snarky and irreverent, but he also has a depth of character that is revealed throughout the story that not only strengthens him as a character but also his relationship with Yi Moon. And I loved it.
Su-jeong was less developed than the other two characters but I still enjoyed her immensely as a character. She's strong, capable, and completely determined to help people no matter the personal risk or cost. She was a great addition to the male duo and played off the very different personalities of Yi Moon and Jae-ha extremely well. I also love her TV show equivalent Seo-bi (one of my favourite female protagonists in any Korean drama) who is played by the absolutely iconic Bae Doona.
The zombie elements were fantastically done. I've never been into zombies as a concept. I've never liked the films (though Shaun of the Dead is hilarious), I never liked the TV shows like The Walking Dead, and I've never been one for horror books either. I think they follow a very similar, boring plotline of Mr.SuperCoolFighterDude fighting zombies to protect his family/love/home etc. but the zombies are slow, unintelligent, and uninspiring. But these zombies are something else. They run, they're nocturnal (gods this is well developed in the show), they're in a historical setting which means Mr.SuperCoolFighterDude wouldn't have his Uzi to take out fifty zombies at once. The zombies get in close, too close sometimes and that builds a superb amount of tension. The zombies also show aptitude for learning which is both interesting and terrifying.
But I think the most important thing is that this take on zombies focuses on much broader themes than the typical (and very simple) desire of the protagonist to protect the people in their immediate vicinity (usually family). The Kingdom of the Gods includes many themes (divine right, leadership, etc.) but the most important is the impact of this sickness on the common people and what could be more poignant than exploring this theme through food? The land has been scarred by seven years of war and has left the common people poor and starving. This leads to cannibalism which seems to be the origin of the disease that turns people into zombies. The zombies are often described as 'starving' and it was tragic that the common people couldn't escape starvation in life or in death. People are driven to do terrible things in terrible times and the human aspect is the most engaging and moving feature of this zombie story.
Young prince, do you know what the people consider worthy of heaven's blessing? It's not the king or even the royal subjects. The people see food as the stuff of heaven.
*This bind up also includes a second bonus story!*
From the second story, I liked the fact the two protagonists are from different countries (One is Korean and one is Japanese) and can't understand each other at all at the beginning of their story because as we the reader can understand them both, it makes what both of them are saying to one another even funnier.
It was also interesting that both of them are awful people. Han is a Korean former doctor who did experiments on living people (skinning them alive and messing with their insides) and boasts he had done this too 1007 people. Juu is a Japanese murderer who cannibalises his victims. Both of their crimes is what gets them abandoned on the island of Kyokudo that lies between Korea and Japan.
The two are at odds immediately as they are quite evenly matched in terms of combat competency but also in their desire to best one another. Even when eventually others come to the island, both are more intent on their rivalry than escape or using the weapons these outside forces have brought to Kyokudo. I really enjoyed the dynamic between them and can imagine them battling for eternity, more invested in the enjoyment they derive from each other than actually winning.
The art throughout both stories is great. It's all in black and white (with one full colour piece of Han & Juu at the beginning of the book). The lack of colour doesn't take away from the setting or the gore at all. The violence isn't obscene or over the top at any point but it's honest. We see people being eaten alive. We see necks snapped. We see people being injured in fights. And it's awesome
This is a solid 4 stars - closer to 4.5 than 3.5. I can't recommend this enough for anyone interested in zombies, Joseon settings, well written stories, and manhwa. (Also, watch the Netflix show because it is fantastic).
I've been a fan of the Netflix show 'Kingdom' since its release and desperately wanted to read the source material that inspired such a unique and terrifyingly addictive story. I was not left disappointed.
The characterisation of our protagonists achieved something I didn't think was possible in only around 167 pages - making me care about a set of characters. Especially as The Kingdom of the Gods was originally a web-comic and therefore is in manhwa format, meaning that there is very little text. But that didn't matter. So much was conveyed in the limited text that I came to care for and admire them in no time at all.
Prince Yi Moon is wonderful and I can really see the beginnings of a great man and even greater king (if he ever achieves the throne). I usually don't like child characters, especially when they are so young (we're never given an exact age but I'd guess Yi Moon is around ten years old) but I had none of my usual problems with kid protagonists. He still had all the true characteristics of a child - impulsive, emotional, lacking foresight, needs saving/protecting etc. but those characteristics were portrayed in such a realistic way that I didn't dislike him, I pitied him. He also had the immense burden of being the Crown Prince, having all the complexities of character that comes with the upbringing of a prince of Joseon, but in such a tiny body. Yi Moon doesn't just want to be king because its his right, its because its his responsibility and because, as we discover throughout the story, he deeply cares about the plight of his people. I also have a major soft spot for him because he is the basis for my favourite character in the TV show (Crown Prince Lee Chang) and I can see exactly where the (much older) prince's character comes from.
Jae-ha's role is one that many would say is almost cliché. He's the morally grey guy who starts out only helping the good guys for the money but slowly we see his heart start to change especially in regards to our protagonist. Is it a trope that has been done many times? Yes. Does that mean I enjoyed it any less? Nope. Jae-ha's relationship with Yi Moon was as compelling as the horror aspects of the story. I was just as interested in how their dynamic would develop as I was in the zombie outbreak and its sinister origins, and that is a massive feat of characterisation. Jae-ha's a rogue, he's snarky and irreverent, but he also has a depth of character that is revealed throughout the story that not only strengthens him as a character but also his relationship with Yi Moon. And I loved it.
Su-jeong was less developed than the other two characters but I still enjoyed her immensely as a character. She's strong, capable, and completely determined to help people no matter the personal risk or cost. She was a great addition to the male duo and played off the very different personalities of Yi Moon and Jae-ha extremely well. I also love her TV show equivalent Seo-bi (one of my favourite female protagonists in any Korean drama) who is played by the absolutely iconic Bae Doona.
The zombie elements were fantastically done. I've never been into zombies as a concept. I've never liked the films (though Shaun of the Dead is hilarious), I never liked the TV shows like The Walking Dead, and I've never been one for horror books either. I think they follow a very similar, boring plotline of Mr.SuperCoolFighterDude fighting zombies to protect his family/love/home etc. but the zombies are slow, unintelligent, and uninspiring. But these zombies are something else. They run, they're nocturnal (gods this is well developed in the show), they're in a historical setting which means Mr.SuperCoolFighterDude wouldn't have his Uzi to take out fifty zombies at once. The zombies get in close, too close sometimes and that builds a superb amount of tension. The zombies also show aptitude for learning which is both interesting and terrifying.
But I think the most important thing is that this take on zombies focuses on much broader themes than the typical (and very simple) desire of the protagonist to protect the people in their immediate vicinity (usually family). The Kingdom of the Gods includes many themes (divine right, leadership, etc.) but the most important is the impact of this sickness on the common people and what could be more poignant than exploring this theme through food? The land has been scarred by seven years of war and has left the common people poor and starving. This leads to cannibalism which seems to be the origin of the disease that turns people into zombies. The zombies are often described as 'starving' and it was tragic that the common people couldn't escape starvation in life or in death. People are driven to do terrible things in terrible times and the human aspect is the most engaging and moving feature of this zombie story.
Young prince, do you know what the people consider worthy of heaven's blessing? It's not the king or even the royal subjects. The people see food as the stuff of heaven.
*This bind up also includes a second bonus story!*
From the second story, I liked the fact the two protagonists are from different countries (One is Korean and one is Japanese) and can't understand each other at all at the beginning of their story because as we the reader can understand them both, it makes what both of them are saying to one another even funnier.
It was also interesting that both of them are awful people. Han is a Korean former doctor who did experiments on living people (skinning them alive and messing with their insides) and boasts he had done this too 1007 people. Juu is a Japanese murderer who cannibalises his victims. Both of their crimes is what gets them abandoned on the island of Kyokudo that lies between Korea and Japan.
The two are at odds immediately as they are quite evenly matched in terms of combat competency but also in their desire to best one another. Even when eventually others come to the island, both are more intent on their rivalry than escape or using the weapons these outside forces have brought to Kyokudo. I really enjoyed the dynamic between them and can imagine them battling for eternity, more invested in the enjoyment they derive from each other than actually winning.
The art throughout both stories is great. It's all in black and white (with one full colour piece of Han & Juu at the beginning of the book). The lack of colour doesn't take away from the setting or the gore at all. The violence isn't obscene or over the top at any point but it's honest. We see people being eaten alive. We see necks snapped. We see people being injured in fights. And it's awesome
This is a solid 4 stars - closer to 4.5 than 3.5. I can't recommend this enough for anyone interested in zombies, Joseon settings, well written stories, and manhwa. (Also, watch the Netflix show because it is fantastic).
May 7, 2024
Not bad, pretty short, almost half the book is a “bonus story” that has nothing to do with Kingdom of the Gods
April 24, 2020
This manga opens with a child proclaiming to be a prince being transported to the city of Jiyulheon by Jae-ha, who appears to be nothing more than a simple street rat looking for an easy payday. The two unlikely travel companions stop in a small town and we quickly discover things are not what they seem in this world. The story goes on to feature shadow warriors, fast paced battles and even zombies.
The art style of this manga is creepy, goey and highly detailed. This story is not for the faint of heart! Netflix adapted this story into an anime series, which I sure is very well done. There is a major cliffhanger at the end of this manga, so I’m assuming a sequel will be announced in the near future.
—-----
There is a secondary story included in this volume entitled Burning Hell. This story takes place on an island between Japan and Korea, where murderers and other irredeemable criminals have been sentenced to live out the rest of their lives. We’re given an extremely violent introduced to this island and it’s inhabitants before fast forwarding a year into the future when pirates have arrived and believe the island to be deserted.
I initially thought this story would tie into The Kingdom of the Gods as a prequel, but that never happened. Instead, this story was mostly plotless with so much unnecessary, bloody body horror and violence. I hate to say that I’m desensitized to violence in media, but with its prevalence I believe that to unfortunately be true for the majority of us in today’s world. All that to say, I’m not opposed to violence in manga or books in general, but this was beyond what I was comfortable reading and seeing illustrated.
—-----
The titular story was a 3 star read for me, with the potential to get better as the story progresses in the next volumes. The secondary story was a 1.5 star that I would have DNFed if I wasn’t hoping for a correlation to the original story contained in this volume.
I received a PDF of this title from Netgalley for review
The art style of this manga is creepy, goey and highly detailed. This story is not for the faint of heart! Netflix adapted this story into an anime series, which I sure is very well done. There is a major cliffhanger at the end of this manga, so I’m assuming a sequel will be announced in the near future.
—-----
There is a secondary story included in this volume entitled Burning Hell. This story takes place on an island between Japan and Korea, where murderers and other irredeemable criminals have been sentenced to live out the rest of their lives. We’re given an extremely violent introduced to this island and it’s inhabitants before fast forwarding a year into the future when pirates have arrived and believe the island to be deserted.
I initially thought this story would tie into The Kingdom of the Gods as a prequel, but that never happened. Instead, this story was mostly plotless with so much unnecessary, bloody body horror and violence. I hate to say that I’m desensitized to violence in media, but with its prevalence I believe that to unfortunately be true for the majority of us in today’s world. All that to say, I’m not opposed to violence in manga or books in general, but this was beyond what I was comfortable reading and seeing illustrated.
—-----
The titular story was a 3 star read for me, with the potential to get better as the story progresses in the next volumes. The secondary story was a 1.5 star that I would have DNFed if I wasn’t hoping for a correlation to the original story contained in this volume.
I received a PDF of this title from Netgalley for review
September 4, 2020
This was a little confusing to me. It's in part a historical drama and zombie epidemic but halfway through it almost became a completely different story with different characters and completely unconnected plot. It felt like there should have been more volumes because a lot was missing and unexplained.
I expected it to be in some ways different from the Netflix Kingdom series which this book was inspiration for, but the complete turn around halfway through left both parts feeling unfinished for me unfortunately.
It's a fairly large size for a manga volume but even considering that very little is explained about the epidemic and because we lack information the reader is left wondering...well, was it an epidemic or some black magic ritual that caused the outbreak?
Hardly ever do I find myself enjoying the tv series/movie more than a book version but I have to admit I think that the historical and political aspects of the story were far superior in the Netflix series. They were properly explained whereas in the manga some of the political aspects were only really explained in an interview with the author included as bonus content. One panel to convey huge political manoeuvring without text really didn't cut it for me. It was almost like you would have had to watch the series before reading the book to have that necessary context to the plotline...which is kind of the opposite of what it should be. At least when the story concept for the book was the original material.
I expected it to be in some ways different from the Netflix Kingdom series which this book was inspiration for, but the complete turn around halfway through left both parts feeling unfinished for me unfortunately.
It's a fairly large size for a manga volume but even considering that very little is explained about the epidemic and because we lack information the reader is left wondering...well, was it an epidemic or some black magic ritual that caused the outbreak?
Hardly ever do I find myself enjoying the tv series/movie more than a book version but I have to admit I think that the historical and political aspects of the story were far superior in the Netflix series. They were properly explained whereas in the manga some of the political aspects were only really explained in an interview with the author included as bonus content. One panel to convey huge political manoeuvring without text really didn't cut it for me. It was almost like you would have had to watch the series before reading the book to have that necessary context to the plotline...which is kind of the opposite of what it should be. At least when the story concept for the book was the original material.
September 2, 2021
Without giving away too much. The book was kind of interesting but a bit slow paced and ended kind of abruptly. However, I did like some of the elements in the story but if you have the opportunity to do so - read the book first and then watch the show. The manga is a bit vague where the show kind of fills in the backstory a bit better.
January 5, 2022
Основна частина є таким собі тизером до серіалу від Netflix з доволі непоганою графікою та цікавою зав'язкою. Але без продовження про неї мало що можна сказати.
Друга історія в томі весела і самодостатня. Непогана і легка розвага на годинку вашого часу.
Друга історія в томі весела і самодостатня. Непогана і легка розвага на годинку вашого часу.
May 20, 2020
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.
The Kingdom of the Gods by In-Wan Youn is a book that I tried to write a review for about 3 times. I really struggled with what to say about this book. Because things happened but then not enough happened at the same time. This volume is only 4 chapters long, with the bonus story Burning Hell that is also 4 chapters long, so it just cracks the surface of the story by introducing the characters and the Living Dead Curse.
I thought this volume/book was a really good start and introduction to the story, characters and the world. But it also wasn’t the easiest to understand at times, the pacing felt a little off to me, possibly because some things got a little lost in translation from the original Korean to English making some of the dialogue and the flow of the story feel a little off.
I liked the characters, I especially like the dynamic between Doctor Su-Jeong, Jae-Ha and the Prince. I don’t remember his name or remember if his name is even mention honestly. It probably is but I just can’t remember it.
There was definitely some very creepy moments; abandoned villages, cannibalism, the zombies themselves. The art style definitely upped the creepiness factor to this story. I do think that it has some very good visual horror elements to it. But I didn’t feel much suspense while reading this story. Nor did I fear for the characters that much. By this I mean I wasn’t scared that they were going to die during this volume.
I enjoyed reading this book but I wasn’t 100% gripped by this story. For me, I found that it was just an easy, quick read that wasn’t that memorable. Definitely a good start with a decent amount of intrigue, and a different take on the whole zombie plague by setting this story in the Joseon period (1392–1897 Korea, the exact date isn’t stated when this is set) and calling it the Living Dead Curse. I liked that it wasn’t the typical way that such a virus spreads. Rather than it being air born and being bitten or scratched by a zombie this is spread in a pretty horrific way. I’m not going to say how exactly it’s spread because that would definitely spoil it.
Also, I liked that the zombies aren’t active the whole time. It’s only at night, when the sun is down, that the dead get up, walk or run (yeah these are fast zombies) and eat people. It’s not great for one of the characters that can’t see when the sun goes down. They can’t see at all and it’s hinted that has been caused by past trauma.
Overall, I found this book interesting. I liked the art style but sometimes thought that there was a little too much detail at times. More so during action scenes where there was just a lot visually to take it. I think that it’s a good start to a story but I don’t know if I found it enjoying or memorable enough for me to want to read the next one.
Bonus story: Burning Hell
Blurb: In ancient times, Japan and Korea would send its criminals to a penal colony called “Kyokudo”, situated in the channel between the two nations. There the cannibal Juu was sent for murdering over a thousand warriors while in Edo. Yet for an island meant for criminals, there was but one Korean medic, Han, exiled from Korea for killing and dissecting over a thousand people.
There is also a bonus story included in this volume, which I actually found more entertaining than The Kingdom of the Gods. I think this was probably because it had a slightly more lighthearted feel to it. There was humour there and it didn’t take itself too seriously.
It is a story about convicts that get sent to an island between Korea and Japan. They have no outside contact and are stuck there. Events lead to just two convicts, one from Korea and one from Japan, being the only living convicts on the island. And they want to kill each other.
I actually forgot that there was a bonus story included, so I was initially a little confused about why it was there.
I found the fights between Juu and Han to be pretty entertaining. And a little weird. Especially as they somehow seemed to communicate and talk to each other without either knowing the other’s language.
This isn’t a self-contained story, there’s a very open ending as if there should be more. From what I have managed to find about this story is that it was originally released in 2008 and hasn’t had any news or new releases since.
One thing is though is that if you get this volume of The Kingdom of the Gods you get a bonus story lifts the mood after you finish it.
The Kingdom of the Gods by In-Wan Youn is a book that I tried to write a review for about 3 times. I really struggled with what to say about this book. Because things happened but then not enough happened at the same time. This volume is only 4 chapters long, with the bonus story Burning Hell that is also 4 chapters long, so it just cracks the surface of the story by introducing the characters and the Living Dead Curse.
I thought this volume/book was a really good start and introduction to the story, characters and the world. But it also wasn’t the easiest to understand at times, the pacing felt a little off to me, possibly because some things got a little lost in translation from the original Korean to English making some of the dialogue and the flow of the story feel a little off.
I liked the characters, I especially like the dynamic between Doctor Su-Jeong, Jae-Ha and the Prince. I don’t remember his name or remember if his name is even mention honestly. It probably is but I just can’t remember it.
There was definitely some very creepy moments; abandoned villages, cannibalism, the zombies themselves. The art style definitely upped the creepiness factor to this story. I do think that it has some very good visual horror elements to it. But I didn’t feel much suspense while reading this story. Nor did I fear for the characters that much. By this I mean I wasn’t scared that they were going to die during this volume.
I enjoyed reading this book but I wasn’t 100% gripped by this story. For me, I found that it was just an easy, quick read that wasn’t that memorable. Definitely a good start with a decent amount of intrigue, and a different take on the whole zombie plague by setting this story in the Joseon period (1392–1897 Korea, the exact date isn’t stated when this is set) and calling it the Living Dead Curse. I liked that it wasn’t the typical way that such a virus spreads. Rather than it being air born and being bitten or scratched by a zombie this is spread in a pretty horrific way. I’m not going to say how exactly it’s spread because that would definitely spoil it.
Also, I liked that the zombies aren’t active the whole time. It’s only at night, when the sun is down, that the dead get up, walk or run (yeah these are fast zombies) and eat people. It’s not great for one of the characters that can’t see when the sun goes down. They can’t see at all and it’s hinted that has been caused by past trauma.
Overall, I found this book interesting. I liked the art style but sometimes thought that there was a little too much detail at times. More so during action scenes where there was just a lot visually to take it. I think that it’s a good start to a story but I don’t know if I found it enjoying or memorable enough for me to want to read the next one.
Bonus story: Burning Hell
Blurb: In ancient times, Japan and Korea would send its criminals to a penal colony called “Kyokudo”, situated in the channel between the two nations. There the cannibal Juu was sent for murdering over a thousand warriors while in Edo. Yet for an island meant for criminals, there was but one Korean medic, Han, exiled from Korea for killing and dissecting over a thousand people.
There is also a bonus story included in this volume, which I actually found more entertaining than The Kingdom of the Gods. I think this was probably because it had a slightly more lighthearted feel to it. There was humour there and it didn’t take itself too seriously.
It is a story about convicts that get sent to an island between Korea and Japan. They have no outside contact and are stuck there. Events lead to just two convicts, one from Korea and one from Japan, being the only living convicts on the island. And they want to kill each other.
I actually forgot that there was a bonus story included, so I was initially a little confused about why it was there.
I found the fights between Juu and Han to be pretty entertaining. And a little weird. Especially as they somehow seemed to communicate and talk to each other without either knowing the other’s language.
This isn’t a self-contained story, there’s a very open ending as if there should be more. From what I have managed to find about this story is that it was originally released in 2008 and hasn’t had any news or new releases since.
One thing is though is that if you get this volume of The Kingdom of the Gods you get a bonus story lifts the mood after you finish it.
April 2, 2020
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
What we have with Kingdom is a pair of stand-alone horror stories set in historical Korea (Joseon). The first story is a standard zombie fest that, while it has an arc, doesn't really have much in the way of resolution. The second story is just torture porn and failed to keep my interest past the first few pages. The art is a bit rough, the characters a bit cliche'd, and the plots just enough to give some structure to the horror but not enough to be a satisfying read.Story 1: The country's prince's bodyguard has been killed while they were on the run. The prince turns to a bandit to help him get back to the capitol, promising a hefty reward. But along the way, they discover that the people are starving and now coming back from the dead as well. When they chance upon a young doctor, they will attempt to discover how this zombie disease started.
Story 2: A Japanese cannibal mass murderer brute is sentenced to the same deserted island between Japan and Korea as an elegant Korean doctor sentenced there for his vivisections and killing people for science. With only the two left on the island, who will win and get the joys of eating his victim?
The first story was fairly interesting though there was nothing new there in terms of plot. Idealistic young female doctor, young brave prince who wants to be a good ruler, and a bandit who used to be a general in the army and was disillusioned when the king fled the battlefield and left his company for dead. In the midst of that, there is the outbreak of the zombies and an elite ninja group attempting to assassinate the prince once and for all.
The second story is just torture porn as the two men cut each other up while crowing about how they will eat what's left. Not really my kind of story, to be honest.
In all, there wasn't enough here to really recommend this book. I do enjoy K-movies and will likely start watching Kingdom to see if there is something interesting there. But as for how this was the inspiration, it would have to be a pretty thin thread because there wasn't that much story here. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
March 17, 2020
Seeing the original conception behind the hit Netflix tv series show does give us an insight of the Living Zombie Curse.
I loved the Bandit, and how he was a former general as of such. And he had to go on a quest to save Yi Woon, the Prince.
Some parts of the ARC were blurred.
I also felt that the Doctor was a great character, and her personality and her viewpoint was more than enough to complement the reader. I would have wanted a more colourful art style.
Kudos to adding the Loa! So does that mean we'll get to see more of the spirits of evil working together? This had a Nioh Vibe to this so much.
I really enjoyed this story, and good luck to Yi Woon for cleansing the country of evil.
It is after all, true that the evil spirits do not exist today. And why? Because our ancestors got rid of it so we could live in peace.
I loved the Bandit, and how he was a former general as of such. And he had to go on a quest to save Yi Woon, the Prince.
Some parts of the ARC were blurred.
I also felt that the Doctor was a great character, and her personality and her viewpoint was more than enough to complement the reader. I would have wanted a more colourful art style.
Kudos to adding the Loa! So does that mean we'll get to see more of the spirits of evil working together? This had a Nioh Vibe to this so much.
I really enjoyed this story, and good luck to Yi Woon for cleansing the country of evil.
It is after all, true that the evil spirits do not exist today. And why? Because our ancestors got rid of it so we could live in peace.
January 19, 2025
I bought this book after I watched the Netflix show. I really enjoyed the tv show so had high hopes, but this was not the case... I found this book quite dull and totally not what I was expecting.
The first story is interesting but feels very "incomplete"... almost like we should have read a previous book to understand this one.
I liked the second story a bit more. Although an entire mess, this second plotline is all about magic ans supernatural things and was a lot more captivating.
Not my favorite book!
The artwork is amazing!
The first story is interesting but feels very "incomplete"... almost like we should have read a previous book to understand this one.
I liked the second story a bit more. Although an entire mess, this second plotline is all about magic ans supernatural things and was a lot more captivating.
Not my favorite book!
The artwork is amazing!
July 5, 2020
Overstuffed and too short, just watch the Netflix show instead.
September 22, 2020
The Netflix original is based off this graphic novel and I loved them both so much. They're both very dark and violent but overall a great and unique story.
June 4, 2020
An Advance Reader Copy was provided to me by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Kingdom of the Gods is a four-chapter manga based off of a Korean webcomic that's finally getting a translation into English. This version also includes a bonus story called Burning Hell, also grouped into four chapters. Both stories are by the same authors, and they play with somewhat related themes. Kingdom of the Gods takes up about the first 165 pages, and Burning Hell fills up the last hundred or so.
Kingdom of the Gods is a story of a young prince, who was thought to be dead, doing his best to get back to his home. He's paired up with a bandit named Jeha. We quickly learn Joseon (Korea) has suffered an extended famine and has recently been suffering due to wars, as well. Imun, the prince, and Jeha face multiple obstacles, including assassins sent from a group attempting to take the throne and the main attraction, zombies.
The story is fairly straightforward, and it's a nice little horror story. It doesn't feel finished, though, which is a large part of the issue I have with the first story.
The art is quite wonderful, although some of the multi-page action scenes get a little too hectic to follow along, but it also feels at home in a horror manga where the danger takes place in the dark.
Essentially, if you're looking for a well-done zombie short story in manga form, this isn't the worst you could do. I can see a lot of potential here, but as it stands, the manga doesn't realize its full potential.
The second half, Burning Hell, is also pretty exciting. We start with a brief overview of a shared prison island, and then we move into a prisoner dropoff. This man is one of the most feared Japanese criminals, one who has killed hundreds and hundreds of people.
He shortly realizes he's not alone, as one of the more feared Korean criminals is also on the island. They, uh, don't get along.
We skip some time until a pirate ship lands on the island, and then our two characters must decide how they will handle the new threat... or if they'll even stop fighting each other long enough to care.
The art here is very similar, which makes sense considering it's the same pair behind this story as well. The action here is a little harder to follow, though, due to the art, but it has some downright stunning scenes.
This story also feels unfinished. The ending here is much more palatable, in my opinion, but there's so much room for more. Enough room, in fact, that a second phase was announced back in 2008.
Between the two stories, you've got a fun zombie horror story and an action-packed manga that's more-or-less mostly combat. Is either the best at what they do? No. Is it worth the relatively low cost of admission? I'd say so. It's a quick read, though, coming in at under 300 pages, with most of those taken up by action sequences.
The Kingdom of the Gods is a four-chapter manga based off of a Korean webcomic that's finally getting a translation into English. This version also includes a bonus story called Burning Hell, also grouped into four chapters. Both stories are by the same authors, and they play with somewhat related themes. Kingdom of the Gods takes up about the first 165 pages, and Burning Hell fills up the last hundred or so.
Kingdom of the Gods is a story of a young prince, who was thought to be dead, doing his best to get back to his home. He's paired up with a bandit named Jeha. We quickly learn Joseon (Korea) has suffered an extended famine and has recently been suffering due to wars, as well. Imun, the prince, and Jeha face multiple obstacles, including assassins sent from a group attempting to take the throne and the main attraction, zombies.
The story is fairly straightforward, and it's a nice little horror story. It doesn't feel finished, though, which is a large part of the issue I have with the first story.
The art is quite wonderful, although some of the multi-page action scenes get a little too hectic to follow along, but it also feels at home in a horror manga where the danger takes place in the dark.
Essentially, if you're looking for a well-done zombie short story in manga form, this isn't the worst you could do. I can see a lot of potential here, but as it stands, the manga doesn't realize its full potential.
The second half, Burning Hell, is also pretty exciting. We start with a brief overview of a shared prison island, and then we move into a prisoner dropoff. This man is one of the most feared Japanese criminals, one who has killed hundreds and hundreds of people.
He shortly realizes he's not alone, as one of the more feared Korean criminals is also on the island. They, uh, don't get along.
We skip some time until a pirate ship lands on the island, and then our two characters must decide how they will handle the new threat... or if they'll even stop fighting each other long enough to care.
The art here is very similar, which makes sense considering it's the same pair behind this story as well. The action here is a little harder to follow, though, due to the art, but it has some downright stunning scenes.
This story also feels unfinished. The ending here is much more palatable, in my opinion, but there's so much room for more. Enough room, in fact, that a second phase was announced back in 2008.
Between the two stories, you've got a fun zombie horror story and an action-packed manga that's more-or-less mostly combat. Is either the best at what they do? No. Is it worth the relatively low cost of admission? I'd say so. It's a quick read, though, coming in at under 300 pages, with most of those taken up by action sequences.
September 24, 2020
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 2.0 of 5
I requested this book because it looked interesting. I do occasionally enjoy a graphic novel, and lately I've wanted graphic novels that are not the 'norm.' I had no idea that this was a Netflix series.
This book is two stories. They don't really seem to be related - not the same characters, not the same setting. It's really confused me.
In the first story, a country's prince turns to a common thug (who used to be much more than that) for help in getting back to his castle. All of his bodyguards have been killed. The prince really wants to be a good ruler. They come across a town where all the dead citizens are coming back to life. A local doctor (an attractive woman) is trying to understand what is happening to them. It's a classic zombie story that doesn't really go anywhere.
This is a Netflix show?
In the second story, a mass murderer/cannibal is exiled to an island between Japan and Korea. He doesn't seem too torn up about it, instead reveling in his being able to rule over the deserted land.
Then a doctor from another country is also exiled to the island. He because of the killing and dissecting of his patients (all in the name of science, of course). He also doesn't seem too upset with his banishment.
The two men discover each other (it's not a very big island) and while neither understands the other's language, they do both see each other as a threat ... as well as an opportunity to cut, dissect, and feed. They fight. And fight. And fight. Both masters with a blade and evenly matched.
Another ships' crew happens on the island, and the two men agree to take a break from trying to kill each other in order to attack the newcomers.
Yeah ... that's pretty much it.
Neither story is particularly well developed and the art is fair at best. In fact, for most of the second story, I really believed that one of the characters (the doctor) was a woman. This made it somewhat interesting (a female murdering doctor who can fight intensely well). When she was finally addressed as 'he' I realized my error. Not that it made any difference (other than to be less interesting).
This book did nothing for me, and I definitely have no interest in seeing a television program based on what I read here.
Looking for a good book? The Kingdom of the Gods is a graphic novel that is quite unremarkable.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I requested this book because it looked interesting. I do occasionally enjoy a graphic novel, and lately I've wanted graphic novels that are not the 'norm.' I had no idea that this was a Netflix series.
This book is two stories. They don't really seem to be related - not the same characters, not the same setting. It's really confused me.
In the first story, a country's prince turns to a common thug (who used to be much more than that) for help in getting back to his castle. All of his bodyguards have been killed. The prince really wants to be a good ruler. They come across a town where all the dead citizens are coming back to life. A local doctor (an attractive woman) is trying to understand what is happening to them. It's a classic zombie story that doesn't really go anywhere.
This is a Netflix show?
In the second story, a mass murderer/cannibal is exiled to an island between Japan and Korea. He doesn't seem too torn up about it, instead reveling in his being able to rule over the deserted land.
Then a doctor from another country is also exiled to the island. He because of the killing and dissecting of his patients (all in the name of science, of course). He also doesn't seem too upset with his banishment.
The two men discover each other (it's not a very big island) and while neither understands the other's language, they do both see each other as a threat ... as well as an opportunity to cut, dissect, and feed. They fight. And fight. And fight. Both masters with a blade and evenly matched.
Another ships' crew happens on the island, and the two men agree to take a break from trying to kill each other in order to attack the newcomers.
Yeah ... that's pretty much it.
Neither story is particularly well developed and the art is fair at best. In fact, for most of the second story, I really believed that one of the characters (the doctor) was a woman. This made it somewhat interesting (a female murdering doctor who can fight intensely well). When she was finally addressed as 'he' I realized my error. Not that it made any difference (other than to be less interesting).
This book did nothing for me, and I definitely have no interest in seeing a television program based on what I read here.
Looking for a good book? The Kingdom of the Gods is a graphic novel that is quite unremarkable.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
July 20, 2020
I had not heard of the K-drama Kingdom being shown on Netflix, but this is the manwha it's based on. We have a young prince- in this he's a child, in the show he's a young man- who is left for dead after his bodyguards (and presumably him) are slaughtered. The prince escapes, enlists the help of a mountain bandit, and sets out for the (I'm guessing) capital city. Apparently, there's been a famine across the land, and some people have resorted to cannibalism. You want zombies? "Cause that's how you get zombies. As the prince and the bandit are traversing the countryside, super secret shadow assassins attack, looking to kill the prince. Bandit guy is fighting them, but oh no! he becomes blind when the sun goes down, and sunset is upon them. S.S.S.A.s think they'll get him now, muahaha, but look! zombies from the nearby village! All hell breaks loose, and a mysterious woman rescues the prince and the bandit just in time, getting them away from bitey-stabby fight club. Turns out she's a doctor (well, almost) also headed for the capital city, so they decide to travel together. Once in the city, they sense something's not right, more S.S.S.A.s show up, bandit fights them while doc and prince get into the archives to find out what's going on. Hell starts breaking loose again, biting and stabbing all over the place, blood spurting, all that jazz. A bit of wrap-up, and we're done for now. I guess this is all that's been translated so far? Not sure if or when there will be more of this story, but it's not a finished feel, it's a cliff-hanger ending. Not a super harsh one, but cliff-hanger none the less. I'd like to see more of this story, with more backstory to fill in the characters and the setting.
The second story is called Burning Hell, about a remote island between Korea and Japan that houses two serial killers, one from each country. It's basically an excuse to have a lot of fight scenes, with a voodoo loa thing thrown in for fun. Honestly not much story going on here, but interesting anyway.
The art in both stories is gorgeous, just a treat for the eyes. There's lots of action, a bit of gore, not excessively used (I'm gore-shy, and I was fine), and there is a lot of beauty going on too. Horror comics aren't really my jam normally, but this was pretty good!
#TheKingdomoftheGods #NetGalley
The second story is called Burning Hell, about a remote island between Korea and Japan that houses two serial killers, one from each country. It's basically an excuse to have a lot of fight scenes, with a voodoo loa thing thrown in for fun. Honestly not much story going on here, but interesting anyway.
The art in both stories is gorgeous, just a treat for the eyes. There's lots of action, a bit of gore, not excessively used (I'm gore-shy, and I was fine), and there is a lot of beauty going on too. Horror comics aren't really my jam normally, but this was pretty good!
#TheKingdomoftheGods #NetGalley
April 2, 2020
Warnings: body horror and gore; graphic violence; cannibalism
The Kingdom of the Gods has two horror stories in a historical setting - one with zombies invasion in Joseon, and the other with a cannibal and a serial killer stuck on a deserted island. The first one is about a young prince, who escapes from the palace and is on the run from assassins, and asks a bandit to deliver him to a city where the physicians train. Said bandit is a former general or something, and through flashbacks we see the erosion of his loyalty from serving a cowardly king; he doesn't put much stock in the aristocracy and agrees for 60 gold coins. The prince and he, in their journey there, have to pass through a village where death is in the air, and the living who are left have turned to cannibalism to survive. At night, though, the zombies rise, and they also have to fight off the assassins tracking them. Then they encounter a physician who saves them, and mends the bandit; she reluctantly agrees to take them to the city, where an even bigger secret holds it.
The second story is about a cannibal from Japan and a doctor with a penchant for dissecting bodies, from Korea, both being abandoned on a prison island where both countries dump their most fearsome prisoners. The cannibal arrives thinking he has a whole island of prisoners to fight off, but apparently the doctor has taken care of everyone else. While they can't understand each other due to language barriers, they do understand the violence in the other, and they are then locked in a battle for killing the other off, until a year later when a pirate docks on the island, carrying a precious living cargo. These two then have to team up to defeat the pirate who has dabbled in occult practices making him and his cronies difficult to kill.
Okay, so both the stories have the problem with not having a satisfactory enough ending - both are left open-ended, and we don't have much information about the 'start' of the first story to begin with, so the stories have to read like 'oh so this is happening I guess'. The artwork has a lot of gore, and violence, obviously, but the second one goes a bit over-the-top with the depiction of it, practically gratuitous in the way it portrays the fight scenes between them.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Viz Media LLC, via Edelweiss.
The Kingdom of the Gods has two horror stories in a historical setting - one with zombies invasion in Joseon, and the other with a cannibal and a serial killer stuck on a deserted island. The first one is about a young prince, who escapes from the palace and is on the run from assassins, and asks a bandit to deliver him to a city where the physicians train. Said bandit is a former general or something, and through flashbacks we see the erosion of his loyalty from serving a cowardly king; he doesn't put much stock in the aristocracy and agrees for 60 gold coins. The prince and he, in their journey there, have to pass through a village where death is in the air, and the living who are left have turned to cannibalism to survive. At night, though, the zombies rise, and they also have to fight off the assassins tracking them. Then they encounter a physician who saves them, and mends the bandit; she reluctantly agrees to take them to the city, where an even bigger secret holds it.
The second story is about a cannibal from Japan and a doctor with a penchant for dissecting bodies, from Korea, both being abandoned on a prison island where both countries dump their most fearsome prisoners. The cannibal arrives thinking he has a whole island of prisoners to fight off, but apparently the doctor has taken care of everyone else. While they can't understand each other due to language barriers, they do understand the violence in the other, and they are then locked in a battle for killing the other off, until a year later when a pirate docks on the island, carrying a precious living cargo. These two then have to team up to defeat the pirate who has dabbled in occult practices making him and his cronies difficult to kill.
Okay, so both the stories have the problem with not having a satisfactory enough ending - both are left open-ended, and we don't have much information about the 'start' of the first story to begin with, so the stories have to read like 'oh so this is happening I guess'. The artwork has a lot of gore, and violence, obviously, but the second one goes a bit over-the-top with the depiction of it, practically gratuitous in the way it portrays the fight scenes between them.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Viz Media LLC, via Edelweiss.
July 16, 2020
“The only crime they are guilty of is trying to stay alive.”
The Kingdom Of The Gods by In-wan Youn, Eun-hee Kim and Kyung-il Yang is the manga which inspired the Netflix tv series called Kingdom. After I watched the first season of the show I was hooked and needed more. A few months back we got a second season and it was mind-blowing. I am desperately hoping for a third season. Once I found out it was based on a manga series and was due to be published I knew I had to get this.
There are obvious differences between the show and the two stories in this book. The first is called The Kingdom Of The Gods and centres around the young prince trying to reach Jiyulheon with the help of the mountain bandit Jae-ha. The unlikely due fight to reach to safety from more than just humans. The second story is a bonus one called Burning Hell about an Island where the worst of the worst Japanese criminals are left to their own devices. A strange criminal that skins people face another infamous one who eats humans against something other than themselves.
Both stories have so many moments of pure humour and I loved those parts. It felt unexpected and fit so well within the events unfolding. In The Kingdom Of The Gods I was a little thrown by an obvious difference but it worked, however, I can see why it was changed for the show. Burning Hell was an awesome concept which delivered a macabre and action-packed story. The artwork is amazing and intense, each attack is felt through more than just the words.
Whether you’re a fan of the show or not this collection was a fun read and it gave me that wee bit more I was craving for.
The Kingdom Of The Gods by In-wan Youn, Eun-hee Kim and Kyung-il Yang is the manga which inspired the Netflix tv series called Kingdom. After I watched the first season of the show I was hooked and needed more. A few months back we got a second season and it was mind-blowing. I am desperately hoping for a third season. Once I found out it was based on a manga series and was due to be published I knew I had to get this.
There are obvious differences between the show and the two stories in this book. The first is called The Kingdom Of The Gods and centres around the young prince trying to reach Jiyulheon with the help of the mountain bandit Jae-ha. The unlikely due fight to reach to safety from more than just humans. The second story is a bonus one called Burning Hell about an Island where the worst of the worst Japanese criminals are left to their own devices. A strange criminal that skins people face another infamous one who eats humans against something other than themselves.
Both stories have so many moments of pure humour and I loved those parts. It felt unexpected and fit so well within the events unfolding. In The Kingdom Of The Gods I was a little thrown by an obvious difference but it worked, however, I can see why it was changed for the show. Burning Hell was an awesome concept which delivered a macabre and action-packed story. The artwork is amazing and intense, each attack is felt through more than just the words.
Whether you’re a fan of the show or not this collection was a fun read and it gave me that wee bit more I was craving for.
May 4, 2020
This is my honest review of The Kingdom of the Gods graphic novel. I was able to be able to read an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher via an ebook through NetGalley.
This graphic novel is said to be the inspiration behind the Netflix TV show the Kingdom. I was intrigued to read it to see if I found something new out or if the story was the same.
This graphic novel contains two different stories, one which inspired the kingdom, and one that is another thing entirely. The artwork is amazing, and I enjoyed looking at it while reading. The first story is focused on zombies, a young prince, and his hired bodyguard. I enjoyed this story- although short. I will as I expected more after it ended, I was a little disappointed by that. However, perhaps I should not have expected a long drama like the show. I would be interested in reading the story should it continue.
The second story is in no way related to the first. It focuses on serial killers, pirates, and magic spirits. I did enjoy it for the short story it was, I would like to have had more character development for the female. I think it was drawn well and offered an interesting short read with potential for a story continuation.
I would recommend this graphic novel for anyone who enjoys manga style with action. I think this can offer readers a good 1-2 hour read. However, I would not recommend this book if you are looking for this book to be just like or if the Netflix show. It is a nice short story graphic novel to enjoy.
This graphic novel is said to be the inspiration behind the Netflix TV show the Kingdom. I was intrigued to read it to see if I found something new out or if the story was the same.
This graphic novel contains two different stories, one which inspired the kingdom, and one that is another thing entirely. The artwork is amazing, and I enjoyed looking at it while reading. The first story is focused on zombies, a young prince, and his hired bodyguard. I enjoyed this story- although short. I will as I expected more after it ended, I was a little disappointed by that. However, perhaps I should not have expected a long drama like the show. I would be interested in reading the story should it continue.
The second story is in no way related to the first. It focuses on serial killers, pirates, and magic spirits. I did enjoy it for the short story it was, I would like to have had more character development for the female. I think it was drawn well and offered an interesting short read with potential for a story continuation.
I would recommend this graphic novel for anyone who enjoys manga style with action. I think this can offer readers a good 1-2 hour read. However, I would not recommend this book if you are looking for this book to be just like or if the Netflix show. It is a nice short story graphic novel to enjoy.
May 16, 2020
Advance Reader Copy was provided to me by the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was intrigued by this manhwa as it was the story that the Netflix original series Kingdom is based on. I haven't watched Kingdom yet as I am afraid that the gore will trigger me, so I wanted to read the manhwa to get a sense on whether or not I could take watching the TV series. Unfortunately for me, I really enjoyed reading this book and now I want to watch the TV series and probably scare myself to death.
The plot of the book is focused on the young crown prince attempting to evade his assassin's after a failed plot has left him without bodyguards. He teams up with a bandit, and they are trying to get the prince to safety and survive not only the assassins but the zombies too. I really enjoyed the plot because it was constant action, but there was a lot of story world building as well. I also thought that the idea that the zombies would "go to sleep" during the day was also unique, but then I haven't read a lot of books or watched a lot of things with zombies in them. I'm really intrigued to see what will happen next because the end of this book was left on a cliffhanger. I also want to know how the zombies came to exist. There was some background given, but I am looking forward to seeing the full origin story of the zombies.
I also enjoyed looking at the artwork. I didn't find the gore depicted to be triggering as it is in black and white, which I consider it to be a blessing.
In regards to the characters, I did like the crown prince and the bandit, but I would say that I don't particularly have a strong emotional connection to them just yet. I think once I read more from these characters I will become more attached and invested in their storylines.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this manhwa and I can't wait to see what will happen next. I am also more likely to watch the Netflix series now because I want to see how things were adapted.
I was intrigued by this manhwa as it was the story that the Netflix original series Kingdom is based on. I haven't watched Kingdom yet as I am afraid that the gore will trigger me, so I wanted to read the manhwa to get a sense on whether or not I could take watching the TV series. Unfortunately for me, I really enjoyed reading this book and now I want to watch the TV series and probably scare myself to death.
The plot of the book is focused on the young crown prince attempting to evade his assassin's after a failed plot has left him without bodyguards. He teams up with a bandit, and they are trying to get the prince to safety and survive not only the assassins but the zombies too. I really enjoyed the plot because it was constant action, but there was a lot of story world building as well. I also thought that the idea that the zombies would "go to sleep" during the day was also unique, but then I haven't read a lot of books or watched a lot of things with zombies in them. I'm really intrigued to see what will happen next because the end of this book was left on a cliffhanger. I also want to know how the zombies came to exist. There was some background given, but I am looking forward to seeing the full origin story of the zombies.
I also enjoyed looking at the artwork. I didn't find the gore depicted to be triggering as it is in black and white, which I consider it to be a blessing.
In regards to the characters, I did like the crown prince and the bandit, but I would say that I don't particularly have a strong emotional connection to them just yet. I think once I read more from these characters I will become more attached and invested in their storylines.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this manhwa and I can't wait to see what will happen next. I am also more likely to watch the Netflix series now because I want to see how things were adapted.
August 17, 2020
This volume was both brilliantly executed and tremendously frustrating. The book consists of two stories, both horror set in a pre-modern period with lots of amazing swordplay. The title story is of the "warrior fights impossible odds for seemingly minor reward" type, but with seemingly supernatural ghouls, apparently risen from the dead after becoming cannibals during a time of starvation. The second story, "Burning Hell," is even weirder, featuring a long-standing fight between two of the least pleasant characters in modern fiction, a brilliant swordsman who happens to enjoy eating those he kills, and an even stranger character who excels at turning death into art forms.
Oddly, both of these stories feel like the start of series, rather than a complete story, although the title piece could be taken as complete...it just doesn't feel like it, with as many loose ends as it has left.
The artwork, by Kyung-il Yang, is weird and fascinating, as we watch impossible swordplay somehow seem possible, and plot twists involving European pirates and their clueless victim getting dragged into the insane battles between the two grotesquely evil swordsmen in the second story. The ghouls become figures of both fear and pity, also due to the artwork.
The stories have high body counts and gruesome deaths, but if you're used to that from other Japanese or Korean comics, you won't be too shocked. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for the art.
Oddly, both of these stories feel like the start of series, rather than a complete story, although the title piece could be taken as complete...it just doesn't feel like it, with as many loose ends as it has left.
The artwork, by Kyung-il Yang, is weird and fascinating, as we watch impossible swordplay somehow seem possible, and plot twists involving European pirates and their clueless victim getting dragged into the insane battles between the two grotesquely evil swordsmen in the second story. The ghouls become figures of both fear and pity, also due to the artwork.
The stories have high body counts and gruesome deaths, but if you're used to that from other Japanese or Korean comics, you won't be too shocked. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for the art.
April 5, 2020
*Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy of this manga in exchange for an honest review*
This book contains two unrelated horror stories set in historical Korea. The first is about a young price who hires a bandit to get him to a city, whilst the living dead come to life when it goes dark. The second is about two blood thirsty murderers exiled to an uninhabited island between Japan and Korea.
The first story was very enjoyable, I found myself invested in the character of the prince and wanting to know more about him whilst also enjoying the way that the zombie element of it had been written and created. The downside to this story was that there didn't seem to be a concrete ending so it felt odd to move to a completely different story. I would have loved this to be longer.
The second bonus story was fun, both of the characters are truly despicable people and watching them try to kill each other, whilst also attempting to put their own personal blood feud aside for a common goal was interesting. This was much more a slasher horror style story, as opposed to the zombie horror of the first.
Overall I enjoyed this book, it was fun to read, I read each story in one sitting, and has made me want to go and watch the Netflix series that was inspired by it.
This book contains two unrelated horror stories set in historical Korea. The first is about a young price who hires a bandit to get him to a city, whilst the living dead come to life when it goes dark. The second is about two blood thirsty murderers exiled to an uninhabited island between Japan and Korea.
The first story was very enjoyable, I found myself invested in the character of the prince and wanting to know more about him whilst also enjoying the way that the zombie element of it had been written and created. The downside to this story was that there didn't seem to be a concrete ending so it felt odd to move to a completely different story. I would have loved this to be longer.
The second bonus story was fun, both of the characters are truly despicable people and watching them try to kill each other, whilst also attempting to put their own personal blood feud aside for a common goal was interesting. This was much more a slasher horror style story, as opposed to the zombie horror of the first.
Overall I enjoyed this book, it was fun to read, I read each story in one sitting, and has made me want to go and watch the Netflix series that was inspired by it.
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