Swallowed Star — the manhua
Swallowed Star was also adapted into a full-colour manhua drawn by Mo Wen (莫问) and serialized in Shen Man (神漫) magazine. A first collected volume came out in June 2020, a few months before the donghua launched.
Origins and publication
The manhua is part of the series of web novel adaptations launched by Shen Man, alongside Perfect World and Shrouding the Heavens. It tells Luo Feng's beginnings, from his training on a ravaged Earth to his first successes as a warrior. Chapters are also published online on Chinese comic platforms.
How it differs from the donghua
The manhua came shortly before the donghua and offers a younger-looking Luo Feng, in a style close to classic action manhua. The mutant monsters, armour and energy weapons are drawn with care, more colourful than Sparkly Key's 3D animation. But the manhua moves more slowly through the story and stays centred on the Earth period.
Reception and success
The manhua has a smaller audience than the donghua, which quickly captured fans' attention. It remains appreciated for the clarity of its fights and for its covers, which showcase the combat suits and the novel's technological world.
Trivia
- The first collected volume was published by Zhejiang People's Fine Arts in June 2020.
- Shen Man magazine adapted several flagship Qidian novels, including Perfect World and Throne of Seal.
- Luo Feng appears in his Jiangnan base warrior gear, one of the franchise's best-known visuals.
- The manhua keeps the English subtitle The Legend of Spacewalker on its covers.
My take
An honest, pleasant manhua that captures the post-apocalyptic mood of the opening well. It adds little to the donghua, but art lovers will find the monsters better showcased. I recommend it as a complement, to relive Luo Feng's time on Earth.
Who is it for?Luo Feng fans who prefer drawings to 3D, and lovers of post-apocalyptic science fiction.
— Spidermas, for Donghua Fan
The authorI Eat Tomatoes 我吃西红柿The author who won over the West