Is ‘Omniscient Reader’ Considered a Graphic Novel?

If you’ve stumbled upon the term “Omniscient Reader” during your online explorations, you may be wondering – Is Omniscient Reader a graphic novel? Well, let’s delve into the details to clarify this topic.

Understanding “Omniscient Reader”

The “Omniscient Reader” is actually a South Korean web novel written by Sing Shong. It was first published on the digital platform Munpia, and it marked its completion in February 2020. This piece of literature largely gained fame for its unique incorporation of fantasy and reality.

reading manga

Connection with Graphic Novels

While it started as a web novel, “Omniscient Reader” did make its way into the world of graphic content. Naver Webtoon picked it up in 2020 and published an ongoing webtoon adaptation. So, in one way, it could be said that the Omniscient Reader has indeed emerged as a graphic novel, considering the format and visual narrative style of webtoons.

Exploring Omniscient Reader’s Journey

  • The main protagonist, Kim Dokja, is an office worker who devours a novel titled “Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World.”
  • The story takes an exciting turn when the events in the novel start turning into reality, turning Dokja into the sole entity who knows how everything will unravel.
  • What makes it interesting is the transformation of the novel into a webtoon, a colored webcomic series that you can read online, giving it a graphic novel-like feel.
girl reading comic book

Physical Availability and Further Adaptations

While its webcomic version is popular, a physical copy or a ‘traditional’ graphic novel isn’t broadly mentioned. However, the Omniscient Reader hasn’t restricted itself to just the realms of literature and webtoons. In fact, not only has a series of movies been announced, but an anime television series adaptation is also on the cards.

Impact and Reach

Omniscient Reader’s conversion from a web novel to a digital comic (webtoon) significantly boosted its global popularity. Many people appreciate the webtoon version for its illustrative storytelling and intuitive graphics. The English adaptation by Line Webtoon has also been much applauded, making the series quite a rage worldwide.

comic book panels

Conclusion

So, answering the question – Is Omniscient Reader a graphic novel? It’s not a graphic novel in the traditional sense. It remains at its core a web novel that has been effectively transformed into a webtoon. Its digitally graphic representation fits the common understanding of a graphic novel even though a physical copy might not extensively exist. The Omniscient Reader with its engaging narrative and versatile formats indeed has a far-reaching impact and much to offer to its global audience.

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