Manga Review: The Kingdom of the Gods
By Nolan P. Smith
The Walking Dead revitalized the zombie genre when it hit the comic book shops and television screens. Netflix launched a series called The Kingdom in 2019. Now the manga that inspired the show is set to release in May, let’s see how this story shapes up.
I have not dived into the Netflix series yet, so this is all new to me. From VIZ Media, the manga is based on the original concept by In-wan Youn, story by Eun-hee Kim and art by Kyung-il Yang. The story takes place where the land is thrown into chaos, and the young Yi Moon, the Crown Prince, is trying to find his way back home with the unlikely help of a skilled bandit, Jae-Ha. So the young prince hires the bandit to get him to Jiyulheon for 50 Ryo, and it’s a good thing: because the world turned a lot more dangerous. A mysterious group of warriors is after the prince, yet they seem to be the lesser of the two evils as the dead have come back to life.
We also get a bonus backstory featuring an island used to confine the worst of criminals. Japanese criminal Juu and the infamous Korean felon Han face off against each other, and we also meet a pirate with an extremely dark and evil secret. How does this tie to the main story? I cannot wait to see; hopefully, there is more in the works!
The drawback here is Jae-Ha goes blind in the darkness, making it harder to keep the young prince alive. But having the skilled swordsman at his side helps the young prince as Jae-Ha slices his way through ruthless killers and the undead. Jae-Ha is impressive, and the young prince has a noble cause in his journey. The story is a depressing one, and we see some terrifying moments and possibly how this whole thing started. But there are glimmers of hope, and by the end, you will want to see what’s next for our travelers.
The artwork is exceptionally well done and detailed. I love the character designs, the terror exuded from the living dead, and the outstanding action scenes. I don’t know if this is a one-off release or the first in a series- I hope we get more because I am hooked. The Kingdom of the Gods is a fantastic manga and shows why The Kingdom is so popular on Netflix.
Rating: 9.0 out of 10.
Nolan P. Smith is the Editor and Co-Founder of Pastrami Nation. Being a reporter for the past ten years, he has worked for a variety of media outlets, from newsprint to the ever-evolving internet platform. Residing in Victorville, CA, writing has always been a significant aspect of his life. You can usually find him at comic book conventions, looking for more amazing books to dive into, or at the gym at odd times of the night. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter @nolanpsmith, and Instagram @kakooee.