The Archmage Returns After 4000 Years

Time for my second webcomic review!

To give a little variety compared to last week’s review, I chose the second comic very carefully! It’s still an action-fantasy isekai, which is genre I am very familiar with. And sooo, the comic of the week is The Archmage Returns After 4000 Years, officially licensed in English on Tapas Media.

Before we begin, please take note:

CONTENT ADVISORY

This series constraints depictions and/or strong implications of the following:

• Suicide

• Violence

Crisis Text Line in the US and Canada: Text Reason to 741741

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

Ok, let’s get started~

The Archmage Returns After 4000 Years

I first read this title when it came out in 2020. After Solo Leveling, it was definitely one of the more popular and high-tiered webcomics at the time. I had to refresh myself on its story to write the review, and my jaw dropped a little to see that it’s already past 110 episodes. Time flies even faster when you use most of your quarantine time reading webcomics…

The Archmage Returns After 4000 Years is made by Redice Studio, the same studio that brought Solo Leveling. I thought it was re-dice for the longest time until I learned it was Red Ice… go figure. You might see similarities in the art style and the effects between the two series, but we can get to that later.

Premise: (2.5 out of 5)

What’s the catch, the hooker, that makes this stand out?

Lucas, the greatest wiz—sorry, archmage—is basically condemned by a demigod. What did he do to piss this demigod off? He was pretty much too powerful and thus, he was sentenced to an eternity of solitude: the equivalent of being told to stand in a corner to reflect on what you’ve done wrong…except you can never escape.

(Kind of harsh for someone who was just being himself, no?)

Lo and behold, after four thousand years, Lucas’s deteriorating consciousness is connected to a weak nobody named Frei Blake who has just committed suicide after being bullied and disowned (Why him? Why now? *shrugs* for the plot). Our archmage winds up in the body of the same boy who had committed suicide, basically possessing him. 

The story begins with everyone’s favorite part of an isekai—and definitely not something we’ve all read a million times—the rebirth. Then bam, we launch into the school and academy arc, where Lucas, now Frei, is trying to get a grasp on how the world has changed around him since his four thousand years in prison.

A nobody thus becomes a somebody, and then that somebody somehow picks up an apprentice despite becoming powerful literally overnight. Lucas realizes that magic was at its peak when he and his friends were all alive, and it’s been stagnant ever since. Knowing that the demigod is still alive and playing with the world that they all live in, Lucas Trowman swears to defeat it.

If you ask me if The Archmage Returns After 4000 Years stands out from other action-fantasy webcomics, uhh…well…I would say it doesn’t really. But it’s a ridiculously quick weak-to-strong progression that gives readers the expectation of jaw-dropping surprise, past bully takedowns and badassery in general, which is always fun. 

World-Building: (3.5 out of 5)

What is the world like? The rules? 

While the premise does borrow from popular tropes, its world is a bit more fleshed out. 

To readers of the action-fantasy genre, the western medieval-style with a flair of modern design is very familiar. But as the story progresses, it becomes obvious that the author has thought about the politics and economy of the world a lot further than it originally seemed. Its development is done very tastefully. The author doesn’t just dump everything on you at once, but deepens the story as it progresses.

I will leave the details for readers to unravel that for themselves. The politics and the economy are carefully intertwined with the history and the main character’s journey.

As for the power-system and the process of leveling up, a person’s power level is measured by tiers. Tiers 1-9(...possibly more?) is basically the gist of it. There are training montages scattered across the story, but because Lucas is already established as the strongest Archmage in history and has been at the top for four centuries, training isn’t really training… he’s on hax mode.

A lot of the hierarchy is established through explicit acknowledgement (such as depicting literal jaws dropping, the occasional “Gasp! How can someone do something of this caliber?”, and the use of titles. You can assume having a higher title or title that’s established as “high and mighty” makes you just as strong. 

The story becomes easy to follow, since the characters go around basically narrating and explaining to readers how strong or weak a certain person is. 

Plot: (3.5 out of 5 stars)

Where does the story go?

The plot ramps up to the highest gear at the beginning, with Lucas unleashing his magic to fight a full army. The audience gets a taste of his power before it gets stripped from him.

Even after Lucas gets stuck in the body of Frei, a lot of predictable but amusing things keep you hooked on what happens next. There’s Lucas avenging Frei by beating his past bullies, outsmarting some very unlikable professors, and getting the popular girls to blush over him. So you know…the fun stuff.

But he doesn’t stay in school for too long(Shocking, I know). And once he leaves the academy, even though the plot slows the stakes get higher, with the emergence of enemies that are actually a threat to Lucas.

Characters: (3 out of 5 stars)

Lucas Trowman in Frei Blake’s body actually displays very little character growth.

I mean, if you think about it, he’s already the strongest archmage in history. He sits through classes at the academy that praise his power and his impact.

However, this stasis is offset by the fact that he is one very well-rounded, badass protagonist. He’s humorous at times with a soft side, but he is also able to mercilessly kill those who deserve it. What’s not to like?

Unlike other heroes who have been reborn into a past or alternate life, Lucas doesn’t bother to hide that he is not Frei Blake. He makes numerous jokes and quips about actually being present those eons years ago, only no one catches on to this dead giveaway since they write off his behavior as more peculiar and confusing than anything. He is especially open with his apprentice, the main side character. Her obliviousness adds to the humor.

Like many action-fantasy webcomics, the side characters are commonly used to really shine a light on the main character. They give reactions, they’re amazed in the right places, they swoon at all the right times, etc. 

At the end of the day, Lucas Trowman is the fan-favorite.

Art: (4 out of 5)

The character designs in this webcomic are some of my favorites. I find Lucas’s design very refreshing, considering that I have been exposed to maybe one too many shaggy black-haired protagonists. The shading is very well done and adds to the characters’ personalities.

On the other hand, there are small anatomical inconsistencies at times. It’s enough to be a little noticeable, and just enough to distract you from the story. The lack of faces drawn in some zoomed-out panels is also a little noticeable, but only if you squint.

 The overall art style of the comic has a nice mixture of comedic semi-chibi shots along with serious detailed portraits. The artists doesn’t rely heavily on 3D concept backgrounds (or they do a great job tracing over it)! If you’re an artist or if you work in comics, then you know that that 3D concept backgrounds are an absolute godsend for everyone involved. However, in some episodes, I find there to be an over-use of color to avoid background details. Since the backgrounds are very original though, I still give them positive points in that area.

And the way magic is portrayed in the story might be my favorite. The details and the effects are very pleasing to read along to. The magic feels very impactful, along with the devastation it causes afterwards. 

Final Store: (3.3 out of 5)

Give it a read!

The pairing of its plot, unique character designs and lovely art makes it a very fun webtoon. Of course from the studio that brought you Solo Leveling, who would have expected less?

The progression of this webcomic is very different from the one I reviewed last week, so if you read both, let me know your thoughts below!