Getting Started
So yesterday I saw folks arguing online about this I’m Not That Talent series—novel fans shouting “BOOKS BETTER!” while manhwa readers screamed “PICTURES RULE!”. Figured I’d settle it myself since I read both versions last month. Grabbed my dog-eared novel copy and fired up the manhwa on my tablet. Made two columns in my notebook: left for novel stuff, right for manhwa changes.
Digging Into Details
Started binge-rereading from Chapter 1. Noticed the manhwa cuts all those internal monologues where the MC overthinks everything. Like when he debates stealing bread for 3 pages? Poof—gone! Just one panel showing him snatching it. Also the manhwa adds original fight scenes. Remember the bar brawl? Novel just says “they fought”, but manhwa goes full Kung Fu movie with spinning kicks. Sketchy backgrounds too—novel describes crowded markets smelling like rotten fish, manhwa just draws blurry street stalls.
- Character designs shifted: Novel calls the villain “gaunt with lizard eyes”, but manhwa makes him a hot dude with sharp cheekbones. Fanservice upgrade, I guess?
- Pacing went turbo: Took 20 novel chapters for the sword training arc. Manhwa crams it into 3 episodes. Felt like hitting fast-forward.
- That weird subplot? The orphan kid’s tuberculosis drama? Manhwa straight-up deleted it. No coughs, no sad graveside scene.
Putting It Together
Spent 4 hours highlighting differences until my markers dried up. Biggest shock? The endings don’t match. Novel’s finale has the MC opening a bakery (random, I know). Manhwa? He becomes king with a harem. Wild! Also counted 5 original characters only in the manhwa—mostly cute girls for reaction shots.
My Takeaway
Honestly? Novel feels meatier but drags like hell. Manhwa’s prettier and faster but skips the soul stuff. Ended my experiment craving both—novel for rainy days, manhwa for bathroom breaks. Still fighting my sister about it though. She says manhwa’s version of the love interest’s haircut is “artistic freedom”. I call it crime against the source material. Fight me.