Webtoon Spotlight

Spotlight#3:Noblesse

Note: the above video is an ova describing the first major arc of the series.

Have you guys ever wanted to watch a good version of Twilight? Then sit back and eat your Ramen while I review one of the longest-running and influential webcomics in history, Noblesse: the masterpiece made by Jeho Son and Kwangsu Lee.

Summary

Long story short, Noblesse takes place in the world where humans, werewolves, and a race of high-class vampires who protect the weak called Nobles all interacted with each other for centuries. The Nobles, in particular, however, had a title that governed overall all other races. 

The Noblesse: a being honor-bound to protect the innocent at any cost forced into an 820-year long slumber.  Cadis Etrama di Raizel resurfaced in the modern world and built a life for himself upon his reawakening. But in this new age, life is still very much threatened by evil forces known as the Union.

Characters

Cadis Etrama di Raizel: Rai is a man of very few words, and by that, I mean he barely ever friggin speaks! Though in all seriousness, Rai is one of the most charismatic characters in WEBTOON, even if he has none of the powers of an actual vamp. I mean, the guy walks around during the day eating Ramen noodles with garlic and uses his blood as a weapon. 

But back to the actual character, Rai is a quiet and stoic man willing to do whatever it takes to protect the peaceful life he adores. While he is socially awkward and has trouble with essential things(i.e., technology, opening bananas and doors), Rai is okay with spending his days doing the most boring activities and hanging out with his friends at school. All while eating Ramen and using his mystical blood powers to eviscerate his enemies.

Frankenstein: Frankenstein is a modified human who has pledged loyalty to his master Rai.  Frankie has amassed many resources throughout his great slumber to find and give his beloved master the life he craves.  

Frankie is almost bipolar in his personality as he is caring and fatherly to those he takes under his wing but unforgiving and borderline psychopathic with his enemies.  Frankie is also a stickler for his property, so much so that I pray to god his enemies commit suicide to escape his wrath.

M-21: A disposable agent made by the Union M-21 and his sole remaining partner M-24 attempt to carry out the will of their comrades and survive. Rai and Frankenstein save this very stoic and stubborn man and work under them as security for the school. He strives to defeat the Union, prove he wasn't a failure, and find the valid names of those he lost.

Overview

Noblesse's greatest strength is its characters, with almost all of them having some exceptional quality. The humor also hits hard and fast at just the right moments amid a battle. Noblesse also offers significant screen time and development to all of them as we also get a look into the very extensive yet unique members of the Union.  Noblesse's art style might change a lot, but it never disappoints on the fights, with many of them being distinctive and frenetic to binge and replay.

Noblesse also builds extensive lore between every race it introduces, and I honestly wish more time was spent on such concepts. On top of all that, it is easily one of the most popular manhwas in South Korea, considering its two separate ova and multiple side series like noblesse S and Rai's adventure.

Though Noblesse isn't perfect, I think the characters don't get used to their full effect despite their fantastic development. Noblesse, to me, especially later arcs, can come off a little repetitive in its story execution but never enough to make it awful.  

Epilogue

Noblesse is a legend in WEBTOON history, and even though it has reached a slightly rushed conclusion, I don't see why its popularity won't grow in the future. However, I wish it got more time to air out a lot of its concepts, with the pacing of an arc coming off rushed sometimes.  

The author Jeho has also gone on to better things with his new WEBTOON Eleceed taking off. I only hope more light gets shown his way in the future. Next video, my spotlight will shine on another random topic reflecting on all I've learned here on Wattpad, so stay tuned.