To Not Die

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So as you might guess, this manga contains quite a lot of fighting and thus may not be suitable for all readers, and can result in mixed feelings if not to the reader's taste. But if you're old enough and don't mind the blood or other gore, I definitely recommend this series for you. For good mention thats not all this series contains.

The series deals a lot with the concept of family and what it really consists of. Many of the characters go through major changes relating to their lives, and or because unfortunately, living on the street is not as easy as one would ... hope. About the storyline i really love that it has some realism in it. Not everything is so easy or you just can't become a hero overnight cause you wanted to be stonger, thats just not possible.

For my warning be ready to get your heart broken if you are at all sensitive. I broke mine

I find the the character development especially really well made, and I am excited about the opportunity to follow their development even in the future, and see how everything is going to workout.
- And props to the author for the wonderful and nicely developing art style, I really like it. <33

And so i genuenly recommend this for people who are not scared to discover a new adventure for themself! <3
ps, if you don't know where to find it, go look it up on webtoon. :D

*my first review, so please let me know if I could have done something better. :)*

"To Not Die" introduces readers to a diverse cast of characters, each contributing to the narrative with their unique traits and backgrounds. The protagonist, perhaps, is the enigmatic survivor thrust into a perilous game where the stakes are life and death. Their journey is marked by resilience and resourcefulness, as they navigate the challenges presented by the mysterious world around them.

Supporting characters add depth to the story; some bring camaraderie, others add tension with hidden agendas. Each character is intricately designed, both visually and in terms of personality, creating a compelling ensemble that keeps readers invested in their fates.

The antagonist, shrouded in intrigue, adds a ... layer of mystery to the plot, driving the narrative forward with their sinister presence. The character dynamics are woven seamlessly into the storyline, contributing to the overall suspense and unpredictability of the manhwa.

Accompanying the well-crafted characters is the dynamic art style that captures the intensity of survival challenges and conveys the emotional nuances of the characters' experiences. "To Not Die" thrives not only on its gripping plot but also on the strength of its character development, making it a must-read for fans of action-packed and emotionally resonant storytelling.

This manhwa is the kortrash degeneration of the classic yanki delinquent troupe. Where legendary mangas like Crows, Worst, Good-for-Nothing Blues and even Young GTO (which this manhwa pays homage to!) plus many, many others, became classics representing 80s style delinquents, their friendships, fights and gangs, this manhwa walks the same path just to jerk itself off into an over-the-top, bland and overplayed korean shounen.

Up until the end of the first season, this manhwa was keeping itself together well, the main character becoming entangled with gang life, starting as a loser who lost it all and slowly becoming a hard-working loser who's starting to earn his ... life, making friends, training, protecting who he holds dearly and earning his pay.

Unlike most Japanese mangas, this manhwa established itself focusing more on the youth gangs, rather than the school, comparable to either the Tong/Blood Rain series or Bakuon Rettou, however, unlike, for example, the aforementioned Tong, which is also korean, To Not Die completely blundered it's switch to the more serious aspects of gang-life in the second season.

Instead of actually establishing the gang as an entity, it became just the background character for the main-characters and their hero friends. Their gang, even if more of a "companionship of homeless kids" (what small local gang isn't) than a part of the mafia, is the front line of goodness, always protecting their kids and their community against the comically evil villain gangs, which, if you hadn't notice how evil they are, love kidnapping old ladies, promoting prostitution, redistributing drugs and being sadistic for the sake of it. The main character, the lovable hardworking loser, suddenly becomes a jacked calculating monster, as if all the korean cultivation, cheat code, OP character manhwas slowly poisoned this work, becoming no different from all the kortrash you've ever read. The fights are boring, the villains are awfully written, the friendships bland, and the setting is uncreative.

Finishing up, as you can see, I do not like this manhwa, especially as a lover of the delinquent troupe, and To Not Die started very well, which made all the more sad, not to say that koreans can't do delinquent works, the whole Dokgo/Tong/Blood Rain series are one of my favorite manhwas ever, and Bal Jak is a classic of the genre, however, this one, just ain't it.