Kubera

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Time and time again I try to get my feelings and thoughts about Kubera across, but each and every time I feel I haven't done the manhwa justice. So here I go, once again.

You've most probably heard the proverb: "Don't judge a book by its cover." I didn't judge Kubera based on its cover, but I did on its art. I by chance heard about Kubera and decided to give it a shot one boring night. When I did, the first thing that bothered me was the art. The overall art was poor and just cheap-looking—the colors were too bright for my taste, I didn't ... like the "thick and pasty" coloring style, there was a lack of decent backgrounds, and both the characters and the backgrounds lacked detail. (Despite this, though, I gave the art a thumbs-up for its consistency—something I find very important.) As a result, I didn't take Kubera seriously because of its poor art.

My first impression of Kubera, after having read a couple of chapters, was "a funny, silly fantasy story"—far from being something I'd call good, but still fun to read. When I returned to Kubera several days later, and read many more chapters of it, that's when I started to realize there was more to this series than met the eye.

Currygom, the author of Kubera, is an exceptional writer. She is without a doubt my favorite author. Plot and characters aside, the world of Kubera is one of great intricacy and, because it is one, must have taken her a long time to create. The thing I like most about the intriguing world of Kubera is that it's logical. We see in so many fantasies that aspects of their world are simply blamed on the fact that the story is a fantasy, or on some other fantastical element of that story—most of the time, without a plausible explanation. This is one thing that is different about Kubera. Its world, despite being purely fantastical, makes sense. The magic system, the three major species, the universe—all of it makes sense.

Perhaps the thing I like the most about Kubera is its unique narrative. It combines flashbacks of the past with events happening in the present with "insights" of the future. Unlike many other series, flashbacks hold great importance in Kubera. In the beginning of Kubera, it was like I was thrown into the middle of the story—I didn't know what was going on. Slowly, as I read on, the mysteries of the past started to unravel and things started to make more sense. I started to understand why certain events took place and what roles the characters played in everything. However, it didn't stop there. Piecing together the information obtained from the flashbacks and insights is solely up to you. I have always viewed Kubera as a sort of puzzle. The middle of the puzzle has already been pieced together, but the beginning and end have not. I view the middle of the puzzle as the foundation of the story—the part you begin reading—and the missing puzzle pieces as the information you must obtain through the flashbacks, insights, and progression of the story, in order to see the bigger picture. I really enjoy piecing together the story.

Now that I've explained two important aspects of Kubera, let me tell you about another important aspect of this series: the plot. I won't give you a summary of the plot, since you can just read the synopsis (however bad it is), and also because the plot isn't something I can easily summarize, but I will tell you what to expect. This manhwa is incredibly plot-driven. If I had to describe the plot in one word, it would be "grand". The plot really is grand—it's by far not simple, and it involves so many different things. Though it's seemingly simple and straightforward in the beginning, things change—sometimes so quickly and sometimes so drastically—and the plot just seems to get more and more complicated the further you read. One thing is sure in Kubera: nothing is sure. This series is really unpredictable. When you think everything is starting to make sense and things are starting to calm down, Currygom will surprise you with a plot twist hiding right around the corner—leaving everything in a bigger mess than it originally was, and leaving you with more questions than you originally had. This story has so many plot twists and, on top of that, it has pretty unbearable cliffhangers to support them (which I actually really like).

Now for the fourth and final important aspect of this series: the characters, of course. If the manhwa didn't already shine, the characters definitely do the part. I've always been a fan of big casts, but it is true that a big cast can make the story lose its focus. However, this is not at all the case with Kubera. With a cast of about ten main characters (that may increase or decrease over time), it also has numerous supporting characters. There are two things I really like about the character department of Kubera: one, how every character is important to some degree and plays a notable part in the story (Main cast aside, the supporting cast, though obviously not as important as the main cast, does play a significant role in the story—sometimes a supporting character even plays a very major role in the overall plot); and, two, how every character is somehow related to each other—whether by circumstances, persons, or something else. (The complex relationship web is one very fascinating aspect of the characters. It always surprises me when I find out that a certain character is unexpectedly connected to another certain character.) Moreover, most of the characters (namely the important ones) are, of course, well written and developed.

Although art isn't a very big concern of mine (if the rest of the story is good), I have to say, although it started very weak, the art improves greatly over time. I really like how the art turned out. To name some changes, the toning and shading changed immensely, more detail was added to specific things, the backgrounds look better (though I still wouldn't call them good per se), and some things—such as the hands—are drawn much better. Even my brother, who read the first chapter in the past, remarked, "Wow. The art is pretty now." He couldn't, however, put his finger on what changed, because the characters still look very much the same—which, to me, is a good thing. (I just hate it when the characters change to look almost nothing like they did when the series started—even if they come to look a lot better.)

So far, I've probably described Kubera as an overly serious manhwa, haven't I? Well, it's true that Kubera's plot has dark undertones (Tragedy is one of its genres, after all), but it's also filled with comical moments that will have you laughing out loud—especially in the beginning (Another reason I didn't take Kubera very seriously at first). Though there aren't that many action scenes in this series, it has some pretty intense battles—and, to my liking, they don't span out for chapters and chapters. In addition, Kubera may not be flooded with romance, nor do I think it's lacking any (considering what the series is about), but the author did say its core is a love story, so that speaks for itself.

Although Kubera started slow and maybe even weak, it is now my number one favorite comic and is the first series I've given the score of 10 to. I believe it deserves it. Currygom has written and outstanding story and both Currygom and her series definitely deserve praise. Kubera is truly a hidden gem. If you're even a little interested in Kubera, I urge you to read it. It's not filled with (mindless) battles every chapter nor is it a very easy story to follow, but if you're interested in a good mystery with a great plot and cast of characters, then Kubera is definitely the thing for you. I'd recommend this series to anyone looking for a well-written story.

My favourite ongoing series. It's basically an epic mystery set in epic fantasy settings.


Summary:

The story begins as an apparently straightforward fantasy story, as Kubera Leez sets off on a journey of survival and revenge when her village is instantly destroyed. But it soon unfolds as a mystery that brings together a diverse cast of characters, each with their own backgrounds, motivations and values, yet all connected across generations and races through a complex web of friendship, family and deceit.

Through them the story slowly reveals the events that transpired over several centuries, across multiple planets and even realms. Whether it is to protect or reunite with ... one's loved ones, to seek revenge, to redeem oneself or to save one's declining race, each character, from humans to powerful Sura to the immortal Gods, is targeting the holder of the "Power of the Name." In a billion-year-old world where powerful races have existed since the beginning of the Universe, what is the truth behind the events that sent all the races into chaos?

Meanwhile, Kubera Leez tries to form new bonds, unaware that she's become the center chess piece in this "war with no villains, only victims."


Strengths:

[x] A diverse and endearing set of characters, where "each character is the protagonist of his own life." All the characters bring their own piece to the plot and evolve throughout the series, with surprising interactions with other characters. And yes, it has great female characters.

[x] A vast, interesting world, with complex dynamics between the races (8 Sura races, the Gods and the humans, each with their own alliances and enemies, and individuals with their own conflicting agendas). The truth about the cataclysmic events that occurred in the past is still slowly being revealed.

[x] Complex plot told through an unusual narrative model that mixes the present, past events and even glimpses of the future. With each new revelation however, more questions are raised than answered. You'll think you know the whole plot by Chapter 2, but by Chapter 100 you'll be struggling to guess the true motivations of the characters.

[x] Yet the cohesive writing never falls into retcon or plot holes: the story was originally planned as a novel, and the consistency of the trail of clues shows that the author knows where this is going. There will be dozens of instances where you'll want to go back dozens, or even over 100 chapters back to find back the clues relating to the ongoing events (I have the equivalent of a 25-page document just to keep track of what was revealed, and in which chapter, lol).

[x] It has a great sense of humor. By now you must think that this series is overly dark, but the author's masterful use of comedy keeps the journey fresh and entertaining.

[x] The art starts out weak, but improves greatly over time. The characters have great visual designs, and the diverse facial expressions are hilarious.


Weaknesses:

[x] Slow pacing, especially at the beginning. The story is about 80% plot and characters, and 20% action, moreso since it takes the time to gradually reveal the past of the characters. This is made worse by...

[x] Weekly cliffhangers. They burn. I'm not even joking...

[x] You may be disappointed with how little the main character does in Part I, as the story introduces the other characters. According to the author, this story is apparently quite long, so the first 100 chapters serve as a sort of introduction. A lot happens in those 100 chapters, but it's easy to miss most of the story if you're not paying attention. (if you don't believe me, re-read it.)

[x] Story can be confusing to read. If you just plan to spend a few minutes reading it every week, you'll likely get lost pretty soon. If you enjoy piecing together pieces of the puzzle together, however, this series is for you.

[x] Art-wise, background art is the author's weakness.


The story has amazing characters all around, and does an amazing job of including them into the plot, instead of using them once or twice then confining them to the fodder bin (I'm looking at you, Naruto).

The way the characters all interact with one another just brings out many more sides to them, giving them depth and making you like them even more. There must be half a dozen sides to Gandharva alone (as a friend, as a father, as a husband, as a King, as a mentor, now as a victim, but also someone with a conscience, etc.).

With that many likable characters, no matter who's the focus at the moment, one of them will nearly always be someone you like (if not initially, then eventually as they get more development). Thanks to that, you're not stuck in a situation where you're waiting dozens, or even hundreds of chapters waiting for the few characters you do like to do something or at least show up (again, I'm looking at you, Naruto). And when the characters you like do show up, they're doing something important to the plot, not participating in filler battles.

Overall, Kubera offers a blend of genres that I don't think I've ever seen in any other series. This was so novel that I initially didn't even know what it was about the series that I liked so much. Because its strengths are so different than typical manga stories, it can be easy to miss them: readers who approach it expecting to read a traditional journey of a hero's ascendancy will soon walk away confused and disappointed, not realizing that the meat of the true story lies (initially at least) in the mystery aspects that he's likely skimmed over. (Basically, it'd be like trying to read a crime novel like an action series.)

For readers that persist, however, they will be rewarded with an amazing reading experience, where each new re-reads yield new pieces of the puzzle, hinting at huge and incredible events leading up to the current story (this is a story where planets have blown up). I could tell you more about what makes the characters and world so interesting, but it'd be full of spoilers, lol. Too many series treat the non-main characters as add-ons, and I really, really love how this is not the case with Currygom.

As for magic in Kubera, I admit I also really like the magic system here. It's based on math. Finally, a magic system that makes sense! BD [/biased ex-Maths student]

The plot development does Seem slow, but as I said, that's not the case at all if you read it like a mystery, not your typical fantasy story. If you read a crime novel like an action comic, then yeah, itwill seem like nothing is happening: there's just one guy walking around asking people stuff! But Kubera reveals one or several clues about the many interconnecting plot threads nearly every chapter. Because most Shounen series treat their flashbacks as fillers used for just dramatic effect, it's easy to dismiss their importance at first, but boy the flashbacks are essential components of the plot in Kubera.

Read it if you like a good mystery. Don't read it if you're looking for weekly action.

- Written by Mizura -

Story: 10/10
I won't bother giving a synopsis, as the story is too complex for a short paragraph to do it justice.
But what I will say is this:

Most manga authors do not plan out their stories from start to end. If you've every read bakuman, you can see how reviews and ratings often affect decisions the writer makes, causing them to change things on the fly. This often causes plot lines to be dropped, sometimes causing the story to be jerky and inconsistent.

However, currygom is different. Every week, you see readers whining about things, making requests, asking him to insert the main characters back into the ... plot. But currygom doesn't give a ****. He sticks to his plan, and writes out a beautifully complex, yet consistent story. Sure, readers aren't happy in the short run, but the build up, the foreshadowing, all make for a great story over time.

TL;DR
If a good, well planned fantasy book was written as a manga/ manhwa instead, this would be it. The foreshadowing, build up, and character development is stellar.

Ok I'm here to write a short, concise review as someone who is experienced in all sorts of manga, manhwa, manhua, etc.

(There will be a TL;DR at the end of the review if you aren't bothered to read it.)

I went into Kubera with minimal expectations, as I would go into any other series. And, honestly, after the first season, I believed that the series had potential. Having been introduced to some of the best characters in the series (Kubera, Gandharva, Shess, etc.), the story was starting to take shape... until Currygom decided to give them close to 0 screentime during the whole of season 2 ... and focus on the characters that I couldn't give less shits about.

Plot-wise, there are so many plot holes in this story that it gave me trypophobia. There is no consistent narrative and there are so many main characters that the story keeps on going on tangents, and, even now (360 chapters into the series), I am unaware of what the plot is. There is no clear indication of where the series is going.

The art is ok for a webtoon. Seen better, but also seen worse. Nothing too epic tho.

Character-wise, some characters I genuinely liked, as I mentioned before. Too bad Currygom doesn't give them any screen time. Had any of the characters I mentioned before got more screen time, the series would have improved drastically. Also, some characters have no character development. One certain character repeated the same thing eight times and still has had minimal development.

Oh yeah, some characters just change their personality out of nowhere. One chapter they'll be crying and saying they're sorry and the next chapter they're beheading people and dabbing on the haters like nothing happened.

Enjoyment: it's ok. There was one point in season 2 when I genuinely felt like the story was going great: a lot of the good characters were getting screen time; the main characters were developing nicely and the story was moving along at a decent pace. Too bad Currygom decided to mess that up to.

Overall, I think Kubera is a series that had a lot of potential but squandered it. To be fair to the author, season 3 is looking like a major improvement. Currygom seems to have addressed the lack of screen time for the good characters, the lack of character development and the jumbled story. If this carries on, I see myself bumping up the series to a 7, nothing more however. Despite the improvements, I don't think the series is worth investing time into. There are way better series out there that you can read instead.

TL;DR: Good characters not getting enough screen time, little character development, jumbled plot without end goal, but season 3 is a major improvement. Overall, not worth investing time into.

Currygom is an extraordinary writer,there's is no denying that.

The manhwa begins deceptively with a rpg like feel,but as you progress through the rich world of Kubera, you realize the author has planned every detail; from the characters date of birth ,to the array of creatures and races that populate the complex universe.

Characters:
Every character that appears has an importance, and an impact on the story,even those that disappear for multiple chapters(nearly 300 for one of them) .Each of them could be called a protagonist in their own right, and all of them have a depth that is ... lacking in most anime/mangas .The main cast act believably and,even issues that would be ignored by lesser writers (schooling,parents ,aging(Ash Ketchum I'm looking at you) etc.) influence, and shape their lives.

Story:
There are only a handful of series with a story as logical and well planned as Kubera. Threads from a 100 chapters before appear,and resolve naturally,and each arc connects fluidly.Even if the first few chapters appear shallow, they contain information that has repercussions further down the intricate plotline.(My only fear is that the plot might become too convoluted as the series progresses.)

Art:
The art starts of weak,but the improvements by season 3 are nothing short of impressive.The coloring and character design improve dramatically ,and Currygom should be applauded for her hard-work.

Magic:
Yeah a special section for this ;).There are no magical power-ups,all the spells have limits and rules that cannot be broken.You won't see humans soloing gods or suras, or random superpowers.There are consequences for breaking the natural order of things, and this issue is one of the major plot points of Kubera,

Overall:
Just read it.There are times when the story might move slowly ,and some scenes might seem like fan pandering(this happens only in the beginning and doesn't effect the plot),but the story,world and characters shine through.

note:
Remember to read the writers footnotes/afterthoughts they help explain the smaller details.

Kubera is the story you've always wanted to read, without ever knowing about its existence. It may be the best work of fiction you'll ever read.

The best love story, the most complex time travel plot, the best revenge story, the best good-versus-bad-fight, the best self-made high fantasy world, the best character study -- Kubera may be all of these, as it tells the story of an entire fictional universe, from start to finish, in intricate detail.

Kubera starts deceptively simple, then builds up into dozens of subplots, all of which have implications for the greater picture. The village of unassuming heroine Kubera Leez, partly named after ... earth god Kubera (names are *extremely* important to the plot), is eradicated by two overwhelmingly powerful demons. Mysterious magician Asha saves her - and only her - just in time and becomes her guide into the world of magic, kickstarting what seems to be a typical story of revenge.

But, boy, does it all get *very* complicated in the best possible fashion, very fast. As not a single one of the seemingly basic ingredients - the heroine, her teacher, the antagonistic demons, the benevolent gods - of a seemingly straightforward revenge story are remotely what they appear to be at first glance.

The two demons main characters themselves, are on a journey which drives the entire larger-scale plot: genocide every human with the name "Kubera", so the mysterious earth god Kubera (arguably, another protagonist of the series) regains enough power to resurrect the sura Ananta: a powerful being crucial for the state of all things in various, gradually unveilled ways. Leez and Asha are ultimately pawns in the ambitions of gods and sura to reshape the fate of a masterfully constructed, ambiguous universe.

To even catch a glimpse of the bigger picture, you need to read past the entire first two seasons, which establishes the world filled with magicians, gods and demons. It introduces various intriguing side characters, but mostly deals with the smaller scale of heroine Kubera and her mentor Asha. The main plot builds up towards the arguably most shocking villain reveal I ever read, as a figure deemed very sympathetic is unveilled to be an unsalvageable monster, responsible for every single grievance faced by the heroine. I'm at loss for words for how well-executed and brutal said reveal is.

Kubera would be great if it ended here, yet decides to be fantastic instead: season three then dissolves into the larger narrative, a handful of interwoven plotlines with almost hundred characters. Many of said plotlines would suffice to fill a webtoon spin-off of their own.

The writing is unbelieavably complex and positively labyrinthian, including godly foreshadowing. Remember that item referenced in two panels 400 chapters ago? Yeah, that's of critical importance and will become the topic of its own mini-arc. Every single glance, utterance and relation has a meaning that'll gradually be unveiled. Kubera can spend several drawn-out chapters highlighting relationsships between secondary characters and not feel boring for a second.

It's difficult to find a single flaw in this webtoon.
The wordbuilding, loosely based on Indian mythology? Original and stellar.
The art? Starts out far from impressive, but increasingly improves into a colorful, detailed, mystyfying experience.
The characters, be it humans or fantasy beings? Both profound and nuanced at once.
The plot? Encompasses everything that happened in a fictional universe from its very creation.

I realize I am fawning at this point, but that's really been my impression from the beginning. Kubera is the story you've always wanted to read, if you're truly into high fantasy fiction. It's just *that* outstanding, tasteful and rewarding for attentive readers, bordering on unsurpassable once it gets going.

It is by no small consideration that I compare this work to classic greats like Lord of the Rings or his Dark Materials. The author is a writer on that level that, if this story was more popular, I really think it could be used to teach classes in world-building and character writing. It should at least be held as a golden standard for writing. Her art is amateur in the beginning, but becomes very beautiful later on as she gets more experience and drawing assistants.

If you can read Korean, then I suggest just reading the raw Korean comic. The art and slow pacing ... doesn't last forever and every chapter is addicting. If you are reading from English "official" translated version, the first 1/3 of the story or so suffers from a poor translation. This is why Kubera is much more popular among Korean readers than English. I have been reading the story since 2012 do I know the pain well

You won't be disappointed if you invest your time in the story the payoff is incredible.

Read more below for on the story setting.

(The author has spoken about how Hinduism and Indian culture influenced which you'll see in the magic system and character names)

The story is set in a fantasy universe where the three major races are Astikas (also called 'gods'), Nastika (also called 'sura'), and Humans. More than half of the main cast are Humans but The Astikas and Nastikas play a huge part in the story as both characters and universe elements.

Each living being in the universe is formed by three concepts: their name, their soul, and their body. These three things make up the uniqueness of an individual.

The Astikas have a certain corporate hierarchy with the top being 'Primeval' gods who are the literal creators of the universe the story is set in. They are the four who gave the original names and forms to all beings. Though they are technically of the 'god' race, they are said to be impartial in treatment to either gods or suras. They are among the most mysterious characters into the story.

Directly below them serves the 5th-Zen gods who generally have a jurisdiction that cover the universe (e.g. darkness, death, light, earth). Most of these gods have been in the universe from the beginning except for gods like Yama who presides over death. This is because death is not a concept that exists at the beginning of the universe. They are led by the God of Sky, Indra. Below them, are 4th-Zen, 3rd-Zen and so on. In the lower ranks are gods who have the potential to climb up into 5th-Zen with further time but other gods are simply as they are because their domain isn't very large. For example, many 'planetary' gods who watch over certain planets and not the entire universe, fall into this category.

The Nastikas aka suras are at odds with the gods on average but they have exceptions any individuals who don't seek constant conflict. Nastikas are defined by their ability to take on monstrous forms (called "sura forms") with varying degrees of appearance and size. They have similar powers as gods in that they can also use powerful abilities from domains such as fire, water, death, darkness etc. The suras form 8 clans (with one being a secret to the public) that can be fairly easily distinguished by certain herditary traits in their Sura form appearance. For example, the Garuda clan is marked by their bird like forms, and Anantas for their serpent like-ones. They also have a more tribe like mentality and have both warring and peaceful relationships between the clans. Each clan is led by a 'King' (gender-neutral), which normally designates the most powerful individual. The King holds enormous influence over their clan to the extent that the Kings moods and health will also affect their entire clan. Each clan started with one King since the beginning of the universe but as King died, they were replaced by the next powerful.

Nastikas and Astikas are characteristically similar in their long lives and ability to change gender and appearance, and in the way that they mostly just see humans as a lower race. Nastikas in equal circumstances are also a few degrees more powerful than Astikas in direct battle but with the trade off that Astikas can resurrect after death but Nastikas cannot. Nastikas also often produce children with each other that have overall weaker abilities than their parents. The children are called 'Rakshaka' and, unlike their parents who were born with their power, must go through several stages of development to reach their full potential. Astikas have no ability to reproduce with each other and are born from the concept, element or domain itself. Both races can reproduce with humans for mixed offspring but by and large, Sura do this much more often. Half or quarter blood humans have a longer longevity and higher physical stats on average than pure-blood humans. They both have a chance on inheriting their parent's sura parts in some form. Halfs with sura parts currently face a large amount of discrimination and violence in certain human cities.

Now finally to humans. Humans are by and large weaker than Astikas and Nastikas. They have standard lifespans unless they are able to live longer due to being a half or quarter blood. Humans have a magic system based off of the month, day and hour you were born. They have a 12 month, 12 day, 24 hour (2 x 12 hours) calendar. The number 12 represents the 12 major domains in the universe that define "attributes" (these would be the main God domains, fire, death, destruction, resurrection etc. - all suras and gods also have attributes btw). So if you were born in the month representing fire, the day representing wind and hour representing light, you would be born with fire-wind-light attributes (so called "Agni-Surya-Vayu" for the gods that control the domain). All humans have the potential to use this magic system but not all are capable. Only some humans have strong enough affinity for magic to become magicians. The option to become a 'fighter' also exists who relies more on physical abilities. Most halfs and quarters with no magic affinity can become fighters due to their high physical stats. Magicians must study at official universities and schools to learn how to properly use magic. In human society, magicians have a lot of leverage and influence in both politics and warfare. They are often the key decision makers. By default, because the human magic system is somewhat reliant on the domain of gods, magicians are also overall religious or at least reverent of gods. Many human societies seeks counsel and protection from the gods and worship them. It is to the extent that the main leader of each city, who acts essentially as the mayor and defender, is called a "Priest" or "Priestess" and they reside in a "temple". Because of this, human society does not have a good relationship with suras though both gods and suras use humans for their goals and often drag them into conflicts.

There are 8 main characters who are all amazing in their own right (and honestly all the side characters are as well), but in this review I'll just introduce the actual lead main character, Kubera Leez. Kubera is a girl who has just turned 16 and was born in a small village. She has been told by her father is presumed dead and she is raised by her mother and the friendly villagers. She lives mostly in seclusion but her mother says that she may begin exploring the world at the age of 16 but that she must forever hide her name, as the name Kubera is the name of a God and that fact must remain a secret for Kubera Leez's safety for reasons explained later. She decides later to go by simply 'Leez'. While off to gather food for her birthday dinner, her village is completely destroyed by a powerful sura attack. When Leez goes to investigate, she finds the Sura responsible and is saved by the famous female magician Asha. They must flee as they cannot defeat this sura and Leez is now with Asha. When Leez accidentally reveals her true name, Asha orders her to keep it a secret and reveals that she now must protect Leez since she has the name 'Kubera'.

Leez sets her heart on revenge on the red sura and must travel with the mysterious and powerful magician Asha to gain the strength to do so while trying to unravel the mystery behind the attack on her village and the danger behind her true name. Along the way, our other main characters join the story and form the complex network of relationships and struggles that span the billions of years of the universe.

No one I have recommended this story has ever regretted picking it up and I am so excited for the coming end chapters.

You will never be able to guess what characters you end up loving or hating. But regardless, you will want to see more of them. The universe the author has built is that interesting. And the heart and soul that she put into writing the characters is so clear - there will be more than a few times where you will be surprised at how invested you have become and how complex and real a moral situation between two fantasy characters can feel. Don't let some of the silliness and humor especially early on fool you. You'll miss it when the story forces you to ponder the character you like being a bystander to genocide among other things.

"This is a war with no villains and only victims. You save those who drove you towards certain death. You forgive the enemies who destroyed your life. But ultimately, after all that, what else remains? In the end, you will not be the one praised. The honor and recognition will go to someone else. Your entire existence, All of it will be lost, and just like that, you will disappear from the world".

Kubera: One Last God is a Korean Webtoon that has been going on for more than 9 years. It comes under fantasy, mystery, tragedy, drama, adventure, action, romance, comedy, etc. So you may like it.

It's has an absolutely amazing story and plot structure, as well as very well developed characters and extremely well thought out world building. Be warned though, it will take a lot of patience to appreciate. Foreshadowing is very important in this comic and seemingly trivial details will become extremely important and vital to the story later on.

It does take a while to pick up steam, as most of the first ... season is mainly world building and basic setting, in fact, early readers maybe frustrated by how seemingly very little happens in the first season. However, even the most trivial of details in the first season will become very important in the 2nd and 3rd Seasons. The second season will really give you a very different impression of the story than which was given at the beginning. It gets incredibly good in the 3rd season. The world the author Currygom creates is complex and the main characters are well-developed.

But there are a lot of hidden hints about the story and it's future that are so well camouflaged in the first season that you wouldn't realize that they were hints until you read the second season. The story is a mystery and although we have a basic idea of what's going on, there's still a lot of stuff that we don't know, a lot of mysteries haven't been resolved. Also, for each question answered and each mystery resolved, many more questions and mysteries pop up, which makes the story very exciting. It's one of those stories that have only gotten better with time and chapters and it's gotten better with each rereading.

Forgive the art in the first season though, it improves greatly in the second season and I guess a lot of improvement had happened even by the end of the first season. Also, pace has been sacrificed for depth.It really requires a lot of patience to appreciate, which many average readers don't have. It's excellent for those who tend to over think things and like to create theories and attempt to predict what's going to happen.

Remember that Kubera is a mystery series. The author doesn't reveal the story in a linear manner, it's like a jigsaw puzzle. She is constantly withholding information from the readers.

The jumbled or jigsaw puzzle plot structure of the story is not a flaw, it is one of the story's greatest assets and specialties. It can be disorienting for someone who is used to the usual linear narrative methods and plot structure of other works, and if they can't adapt to it, it's not the story's problem.

The characters have come a long way and there's a reason for everything they do. Their personalities stay consistent throughout except in cases where they gradually change and develop.

So overall, the plot, world building and character development is absolutely amazing. This is a masterpiece and a must read for anyone who loves great fantasy. I'd absolutely recommend to anyone and everyone who loves great stories.

GREATNESS. Currygom is the best among webtoon writers
(No Spoilers)
Within a span of two weeks, which is the time it took me to binge it, this series has become one of the best manga/manhwa I have ever read.
For folks who may need a reference series, let me point you to Tower of God and One Piece. The aforementioned series are rich in lore, so is Kubera with the difference being that the characters in Kubera are just as great, which is typically an impossibility. Authors who lean heavily on the overall plot and world building tend to string along their characters to where the plot ... requires them to be, lending a sense of artificiality to the world. Kubera finds a way to achieve progression in plot while coinciding with character agency, which is extremely difficult to do.
Currygom, the author, has all my respect and it is a travesty that this series doesn’t get the love like a lot of other webtoons do which are not nearly in the same league in terms of writing. Let me get into some detail without spoiling

STORY
A young village girl encounters a tragedy on her 16th birthday and is rescued by a mysterious magician, which kickstarts the narrative of this fantasy epic. Unlike a lot of other manhwa out there, the MC is put through the ringer at ever turn, which is something you wouldn’t expect given the rather light tone early in the series. There are three broad classes of living beings- Gods, Suras(kinda like demons) and humans and its the interplay between these parties that makes the narrative so rich in its intricacy. The Universe itself is at stake depending on who wins out

CHARACTERS
The MC was absent for 36 chapters in a stretch at one point in the story and it felt as natural as it can be given the wealth of great characters that this series has at its disposal and how the author manages to make the readers invested in them. Of course, there were folks every week crying in the comments section because they couldn’t see the characters they were so used to seeing but the author didn’t budge for the sake of the masses and stuck to her flow of story, something which most manga/manhwa writers wouldn’t be able to do. This wouldn’t be possible without character agency at its finest

ART
Not that good initially when the author was still figuring stuff out but come the third season, the art looks really gorgeous

Potential Turnoffs
Some people have a stroke the moment they realise that their story might have time traveling. If you are one of them, let me warn you because Kubera has a lot of time related theme. We are dealing with literal Universes, for Gods’ sake. Time, gravity, dimensions, hell, paradise are all a natural consequence of the story we are dealing with
If you wanna follow the main character 24/7, you might be frustrated but you will realise that it is for the sake of the story
Kubera hasn’t ended yet and too often, long running shows meet a tragic end. Can Kubera evade the curse? I certainly hope so because the author has not shown any signs of slacking off even when we are 480 chapters deep
There a lotta references to Hindu mythology, so certain terms might be tough for Westerners to remember, but come on

Final Take
If you have the patience to read a long running series, drop everything and read Kubera right now. If you are a fan of HxH, One Piece, Fullmetal Alchemist, Berserk, etc., you will find a bunch of things you are gonna enjoy in this narrative

I've spent more than 10 years reading manga/manhwa but this is the first review I've written for anything here, only because Kubera deserves so much praise.

Even compared to books I've read like Game of Thrones, Currygom's ability to string together different storylines and create a massively intricate web tops all works of fiction I've consumed thus far. The world building is insane and it's impressive how so many things were foreshadowed early on to be revealed years down the road in the development of the manhwa. if you can grasp all the details, hints and foreshadowing, it truly is a remarkable ride through ... time and space. I recommended re-reading all the chapters again if a long time has passed since you've read it. It's the only way to fully appreciate the author's efforts and the world that is Kubera.

Aside from building the most intricate fictional world I've seen so far, Kubera is also exceptional because it touches on a lot of deep questions, like what the meaning of life is, the simplification of good VS bad, does the means justify the ends, and what it means to form bonds with others.

Although the art started off more simplistic and the story appeared shallow at the beginning stages, the art details significantly improves throughout the series (though the characters still look the same unless there's a reason like aging or "levelling up") and the story gets more and more immersive as you read.

If you put the work into understanding Kubera, through using the Kubera Wiki for example to keep track of characters, the pay off will be worth it.

Gonna keep this real quick... So Im just going to have two catagories, art and story (story will also encompass characters)

Art (10/10)
When I first started, I wasn't too enthusiastic about this webtoon, at least not until halfway through the first season. The main reason for this being the art. The story was fine at the beggining (it gets sooo much better tho), but the art wasn't the greatest. The artist did get their act together, as I did notice small but significant changes that continued to add to the overall quality of the webtoon all the way through to the end of the second seaon. ... HOWEVER, after the artist took a break to prepare for the third season, the art SKYROCKETED in quality. It became masterpiece level sh** guys, soo... my main point is... look foreward to the art in the third season, because it is really good.

Story (10/10)
The characters are all very interesting. One thing that I found frustrating (but was probably for the good of the comic), was that the narrative switched the spotlight to different characters a lot, aka. there is not just one main character. The plot is very good, it did a lot to tie all the fates and actions of all the characters together, and it was very enjoyable, despite a lack of action, and very slow pacing (which was a bold move by the author considering this is shounen). Also, im not sure but I think that this is based on hindu culture (agni, kubera, vishnu), which is not something you see in a lot stuff so yeah.

Overall, my favorite webtoon (10/10)

KuberA is one of the most underrated serie I've ever read. This is a manhwa based on Hinduism Gods, and tells the story of Astika(God), Human, and Sura/Nastika(Demon). It is extremely complex, probably the most complex manga/manhwa/manhua serie I've read so far. Definitely recommended if you are into complex and heart breaking stories.

The problem with this serie is it takes too long for things to happen. The world building is extremely good, and since it is very vast, it takes lots of time to do the buildups. To compensate for this, the author made some half assed comedy, hence it is categorized as action fantasy ... and comedy in the earlier seasons, and not taken seriously.

If you stay with the serie though, you will be completely rewarded. Unlike most serie, this serie keeps getting better and better, and stayed that way until the time I write this review. I would put this on par with Tower of God, despite the heavy differences in terms of art. That is just how good the storytelling and world building is. It gets even better when you re-read it.

Not only KuberA has good story on its own, it also explores the Hinduism lore very deeply. If you liked mythological literature, this one is definitely a must read.

Story (9/10): Story is very complex. You need to pay attention at every part of the story. It is planned since the beginning, and executed well. Every action has a reason, and every action has its own consequences. You need to re-read the serie to fully experience the story.

Art (7/10): Art is kinda messy at the beginning, but becomes better later on in S2 and S3. Not extremely bad, not superb either, just decent. The detailing is fine though, it is on point.

Character Development (10/10): One of my favourite thing in the serie. People makes mistakes, some learns and have their own redemption, some fall even deeper in the darkness, some got stucked and can't move on. It felt really fleshed out, and you can gave sympathy for the characters.

World Building (10/10): The world is extremely vast. It has 3 different worlds (God realm, Human realm, Sura realm), and you got the chance to experience it all, and even more with the backstory. Kinda reminds me of Magi and One Piece.

Enjoyment (9/10): This is the most satisfying mythological serie I've ever read. The earlier chapters aren't really fun though. The enjoyment rises as you got deeper into the serie.

Here are some character names you might know, just for reference:

Gods/Astika(Hindi: The Enlightened One):
-Vishnu (God of Preservation)
-Brahma (God of Creation)
-Shiva (God of Destruction)
-Agni/Ignis (God of Fire)
-Indra (God of Lightning)
-Surya (God of Sun/Light)
-Chandra (God of Noon/Night)
-Yama (God of Death)

Sura/Demons/Nastika(Hindi: The Unenlightened One/ The One Who Defies Enlightenment):
-Asura
-Gandharva
-Garuda
-Yaksha

Pros:
-Very complex story, lots of foreshadowing and buildups.
-Very good world building, characters development, redemption stories.
-Balanced powers. There are rules that decides how the powers works, and the characters actually followed the world rules and not breaking them. No nakama power bullshit.
-Side characters actually matters, some even worth more than the mc
-Mythology

Cons:
-You need more than your last 2 braincells to process all the contents.
-Re-reading the series is a must, if you want to experience this manwha fully.
-MC went missing from time to time, because of how vast and complex the world is.
-Veery slow starter. Probably around 2nd season(+-100 chapters) where things started to change, and 3rd season(+-300 chapters) for things started to unravel.
-Kinda cheesy at times.

TL;DR: KuberA is a manhwa about Hinduism mythology, is very good in terms of storytelling and world build, but is a very slow starter. Definitely must read if you are into mythology and complex stories.

Note:
-If you want to read this serie, I would recommend to read this on the official Naver Line Webtoon App, since they got comment section for each episode, and there are people connecting things here and there, just incase you miss some details.

I will not spoil but this is a manhwa where I am shedding tears. My heart wrecked and my mind blown so much when Season 3 came.

I'm having so much fangasm. Screaming screaming screaming.

Easily my topmost webtoon gem. A puzzle meant to be read and reread.

Magic.Calculations. Gods. Humans. Suras. Soul. Lovers. Families. Name. Fame.

I suggest you listen to Nier Automata OST, as in the album and the unreleased when reading this Manhwa. You can also start as Season 2 if you may. TT

... So I am required to make my review longer

This is a webtoon where people would judge it as confusing, bland and stuff. Every lines seems empty but that is where it goes masterpiece-level. Only when you reread it, that everything makes it wonderful. Something like a code that will have its meaning in the future.



Tower of God taught me not to judge a webtoon by its artstyle at the beginning. Mind you. I've read tower of god not in the webtoon site at first.

Kubera. The story of Kubera is very intense. The author is an amazing writer, and Kubera is one of the best mangas I have ever read. It has been ongoing for 11 years after all. The art itself improves overtime, bordering on a 9 and 10. Character development is in it's own world, and I'm not cut out to summarize it. Each character has a backstory of it's own, and has very important parts in the story. No character is left out, forgotten or useless. The enjoyment I got from this manga was and is huge, I look forward to a new episode every week, ... and enjoy it the moment I am able to read it.

Overall the manga itself is a masterpiece, although slow at the start, it quickly picks up and sheds it's shell to become a butterfly. It is amazing.

Best webtoon I've read. I've decided to reread it to see if theres anything I missed and its fun to see all the forshadowing. Love the law, love the characters. What I especially love is how much focus their is on other characters. I think the author says she tries to treat the supporting characters like their own main characters and they all are important to the plot in someway.

What was getting frustrating to me in other fantasy anime and manwha's where a lot of the supporting characers, even the main supporting character became or felt from the begining useless to the overall plot ... but Kubera feels like the opposite to that.

For example I won't spoil however we're introcuded to a certain character in the story and I think his like an extra but then he becomes a very important main supporting character the story is able to change my interest in his character from 0 to 100 perfect and became one of my favs, the characters just merge so well with the story.

If your ever thinking of Kubera a go, don't think, just do it, I can say with full confidence, you won't regret it.

Overall, I disliked Kubera, I have read up to 503 chapters and have come close to dropping the webtoon multiple times. I had to end up forcing myself to finish the rest of it since I had already come so far which was by the end of season 2. The story got even worse in season 3 due to time travel, if you do not like time travel, I highly suggest not reading this because it becomes a heavy part of the story later on and has actually always been a part of the story. Even though I hate time travel, I will say that ... I think it was done very well in Kubera. I feel that you will either love Kubera or hate it and there is very little in between because this story only entertains certain people.

The story has a very slow start but is definitely worth it, but only if you enjoy what comes later on. If I could choose to never have been able to read the later parts of season 2 and season 3, I would have done so. Unfortunately, the only way you will be able to fully enjoy the beginning is if you read the later part of the story. The art gets better and I think it is very fair throughout the story. The characters are arguably above average. It is important to know there are actually 10 main characters and due to this, it is hard to enjoy the story for some.

Overall, I would rate this a 5/10, and it was very hard to think about due to the nature of people either REALLY loving it or REALLY hating it. I think the popularity speaks for itself and that it's not underrated as many people say it is. As someone who took the time to keep reading until the "end", I think I have the right to say that the story isn't that great. I believe most people say it's a great story only because they happened to be the ones that the story stuck to. I would not say that it is worth the time to read for people like myself and is part of the reason the webtoon doesn't have that much popularity. It definitely gets better as you reread the story and I suggest reading the webtoon with good translations, because the LINE translations were pretty poor.

Okey let's be clear, at beginning art is just annoying and i couldnt follow plot at all.
i dropped it and set 6 score.
next day i continiued reading it. there 3 volumes. and if you don't wanna experience beginning you should skip beginnig and start at the middle of 1st volume chapter called Night of Fire Rain (or smth).

Also there sometimes extra annoying staff like school plot at first volume and bunch of new characters at third (i couldn't even differ Kas and Ren wtf)

So how to read this? if there no translation enough maybe you better end on second volume. its not completed and i ... saw comments people reading it whole life so it is a honor to actually read enough plot for once.

characters & story
should i explain the universe? i think you will get it.

Do you ever experienced story that you accept and you don't care much about decisions characters make? You can actually enjoy believing story. Actions and motivations may be unclear but it is not like dissapointment.

This story is loyal, faithful. Let it guide you.