Solo Leveling. The name itself is becoming synonymous with ‘satisfying power fantasy’ every passing day. And for many, the anime has delivered that in spades.
However, within Sung Jinwoo’s exhilarating climb to power, there is one arc that stands out – the Jeju Island Arc.
If you are not new to the world of anime and manga, the premise of the Jeju Island Arc might sound very familiar… to Hunter x Hunter’s infamous Chimera Ant Arc.
I mean, the parallels are obvious from the get go. An ant washing up on the shore? Gaining flight? The Queen giving birth to the strongest ant in history? The biggest threat to humanity? It is no surprise that the upcoming arc from the anime’s second season is dubbed by fans as Solo Leveling‘s very own Chimera Ant Arc.
However, that’s where the similarities end. In the end, the Jeju Island arc and Chimera Ant arc will never be on the same footing ever and comparing which is better is almost a crime.
Chimera Ant arc trumps in thematic depth:
Now, both Jeju Island and Chimera Ant arcs arrive at crucial junctures in their respective stories, and both of them end up redefining the series for good! They also represent a significant power escalation, as the monstrous flying ants turn out to be literal forces of nature.
However, the Chimera Ant arc has a thematic depth which is there for everyone to see.
Beyond the high-stake battles, it presents us with a morally gray situation, where survival instincts, societal structures, and individual motivations drive the narrative. Our preconceived notions of good and evil are thrown right out of the window as the arc progresses.
As the ants evolve and grapple with humane feelings, the hunters find themselves doing more morally questionable things to thwart their opponents.
Meruem and Gon are at the two ends of this evolutionary spectrum. One goes from seeing humans as nothing more than food to developing compassion and love thanks to his interaction with Komugi, while the other slowly loses his humanity as he is consumed by his need to exact revenge and reach his goal.
These two characters perfectly encompass the broader narrative of the arc.
In contrast, the Jeju Island arc is pure and simple hype. The narrative lacks the thematic and philosophical depth that Hunter x Hunter has. Instead it is visual showcase of action, along with orgasmic levels of Sung Jinwoo’s aura farming.
Let Jeju Island arc be what it is
By the time Jinwoo sets foot on Jeju Island, he’s no longer the E-Rank fodder he once was. He’s ascended to incredible heights, and the stage is finally set for him to showoff his powers, not just to his allies but also to the masses.
Unlike the Chimera Ant arc, there is clearly a distinction between the humans and monsters here. The ants? They are just obstacles that are being setup for Sung Jinwoo to steamroll through. The scenario is curated for hero worshipping and wish fulfillment. You will basically be begging Jinwoo to swoop in and save the day.
There won’t be questions raised about the human nature and what influences it, nor will anyone feel the urge to write lengthy elitist essays on what makes it great. The Jeju Island arc will simply be a montage of Sung Jinwoo fighting and winning, without breaking a sweat.
However, that is exactly what Solo Leveling aims to do. After all, the focus of the story is Jinwoo and his rise to power. The Jeju Island arc merely serves as a stage for him to solidify his hero status.
Solo Leveling is not a layered shonen epic. The anime plays to its strength of being a power fantasy, running the overpowered main character trope in full throttle, and it does it to perfection.
The Jeju Island arc will never hold up a mirror to humanity’s imperfections like the Chimera Ant arc did. But it will no doubt be enjoyable in its own right. And, comparing these two is like comparing a gourmet meal to a perfectly crafted fast-food burger.
