THE BREAKER OMNIBUS (VOL. 2), from Ablaze Publishing on January 11th, 2022, shoves Si-woon into the world of Murim as the clans converge on Mr. Han, and Ms. Lee facilitates the retrieval of a mysterious young girl.
The Details
- Written By: Jeon Geuk-jin
- Art By: Park Jin-Hwan
- Colors By: Park Jin-Hwan
- Letters By: Park Jin-Hwan
- Cover Art By: Park Jin-Hwan
- Cover Price: $19.99
- Release Date: January 11, 2022
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Was It Good?
THE BREAKER OMNIBUS (VOL. 2) proves this Manhwa (Korean Manga) is the one to beat in terms of pure nitro-fueled thrills, heart, danger, and a few laughs. Why? Because it has all the elements that make Manga the world-dominating monster it has become.
When last we left Si-woon, he was willing to go to extremes lengths to overcome his cowardice to defend himself and protect everyone he cares about by taking the Divine Pill. Volume 2 delves into the “fun and games” section of an epic arc with Si-woon training under Mr. Han and showing the hidden potential that’s been awakened. Beyond Si-woon’s small circle, the looming specter of a clan war grows inside the world of Murim, unseen to the general public, but now painfully visible to Si-woon and the new collection of adults entering his life. The arc gracefully integrates multiple plots and threads in a sweeping story that holds your attention like a vice grip on every page.
If you ask what makes Manga (and Manwha) so popular, it’s because the categories this title falls into (Shonen and Seinen) lean heavily into repeatable themes and structures that have worked since the dawn of storytelling. The main character is an underdog with a pure(ish) heart, willing to fight beyond all reason to achieve some noble goal. The main character is surrounded by a supporting cast that remains in his/her circle of friends by earning the character’s respect or admiration. And, the villains or obstacles surrounding the main character start as insurmountable but are eventually defeated by the main character’s growth and unflinching determination. These elements are almost constant within all the popular Shonen and Seinen titles, so THE BREAKER OMNIBUS (VOL. 2) works because it has all those elements plus a keen sense of wit, kinetic action, and a few moments of sweetness (particularly from Si-woon).
THE BREAKER OMNIBUS (VOL. 2) has all the pieces needed to tell a story about a kid who wants to be better, who wants to be more, and the universe unfolds to make it so as long as he continues to fight for it. You can’t say enough good things about this volume and Jeon Geuk-jin’s storytelling.
Jeon Geuk-jin’s phenomenal writing is complemented and enhanced by fantastic art by Park Jin-Hwan. The powerful action hits the reader like a truck (in a few scenes, literally). The character acting is first-rate. And, the little moments of exaggerated wit will have you laughing out loud. In the last Volume, Si-woon was plagued by a pack of bullies, if there wasn’t reason enough, this Volume shows how Si-woon is about to put the bullies in their place, and the buildup alone is worth the cover price.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
If you’re unfamiliar with Si-woon and how he found himself entering a world he never knew existed, first read our THE BREAKER OMNIBUS (VOL. 1) review.
We begin with Si-woon returning to school after his ordeal following his consumption of the Divine Pill. The bullies, led by Chang-Ho, are quick to start giving him a hard time but Si-woon’s body begins manifesting odd behavior. Before the bullying gets out of hand, the class is distracted by a loud (and flashy) lambo pulling up to the school. The driver is a longtime acquaintance of Ms. Lee (aka Si-Ho) named Alex, and he’s arrived to fill the recently-vacated school janitor position.
Later, the bullies corner Si-woon but he’s stopped from fighting by Mr. Han because Si-woon’s Qi is overflowing and any fights or over-exertion could cause his body to explode. Later still, Si-woon rests in the nurse’s office when armed thugs enter looking for Ms. Lee. Instinctively, Si-woon defends against the attack and takes out the thugs. Mr. Han is surprised by how much Qi Si-woon is generating and how quickly his body is healing from injury. He convinces Si-woon to skip school for the time being so he can begin his training in earnest.
Meanwhile, Ms. Lee sends Alex on an errand to retrieve a special “package”. Unfortunately, the “package” is highly wanted by the Sun-Wu family, and they’ll stop at nothing to get the “package” back. We conclude the Omnibus with a devastating car chase, a widening search for Mr. Han., and Si-woon’s bullies making a critical error by going after Sae-hee.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
THE BREAKER OMNIBUS (VOL. 2) is an action-packed, witty, hip, dramatic, and thoroughly entertaining ride from cover to cover (360+ pages in this volume). The character development is outstanding, the pacing keeps the story flowing at a hare’s pace, the genuine sense of danger from the clans raises the dramatic tension exponentially, and the art is pitch-perfect.
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