Manhwa is bigger than ever, and while the medium has produced some truly incredible stories, few are as revolutionary or as hard-hitting as Choi Gyu-Seok’s The AWL. Fans of manhwa looking for a series. Far from the high fantasy or dark horror that many associate with manhwa, The AWL is a fully-grounded story tackling the very real issues of labor rights in a world often all too happy to crush all over workers. The result is easily among the best manhwa of all time.
Originally aired in South Korea from 2013 to 2017, The AWL is now published in English for the first time by manhwa publisher Ablaze. The first volume of the series was just released on September 24, and it seems that Ablaze is planning to stagger the release of the other five volumes of the series. Interested fans can purchase the first volume from various booksellers for $14.99.
The AWL’s realism and tackling of important issues makes it a truly revolutionary series
Gyu-Seok’s masterpiece knows how to hook readers
The AWL Follows a grocery store manager named Si-un who is asked to let go of the vast majority of his staff. Trying to fight to keep his employees, Si-won’s innate sense of right and wrong leads him to cross paths with labor activist Gu Go-sin. Through these two characters and many more, Gyu-Seok exposes the ways employers try to exploit their employees and also explores the difficulties faced by the labor rights movement.
Which is equally remarkable about Gyu-Seok’s work on The AWL is just how compelling the plot is. The opening scene where Gu Go-sin helps a young man recover lost wages from a bullying boss carries an energy that is absolutely electrifying. In the hand of the talented artist and writer, a tense meeting between worker activists and their corporate bosses drips with all the tension of the most impressive fight, which is offered in the best fight manhwa.
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The key to The AWL is all in Gyu-Seok’s masterful character writing. Si-un and Gu Go-sin are wonderfully realized characters who feel at once larger-than-life and painfully small against the titans they face. No matter how high they hold themselves, they are still regular people going up against structures of power so insulated from resistance that they don’t bat an eye at people like Si-on and Gu Gu-son. That’s the point though. No single force of personality can fight back against labor abuse alone. Real change in The AWL It comes from people coming together to stand up for what’s beautiful.
The AWL shows just how deep manhwa can be
Manhwa is a truly incredible medium with so many stories to tell. Series II Solo leveling And Why Raeliana ended up in the Duke’s mansion May have helped the popularity of the medium outside of Korea, and although they deserve all the praise and acclaim they receive, they are not all there is to manhwa.
Series II The AWL Can legitimately change how readers see the medium
Series II The AWL Can legitimately change how readers see the medium by telling grounded stories that resonate with real issues people face. While it may not be the best series to introduce someone to manhwa, The AWL Stands tall with a gripping story that explores important issues with a firm hand.