"The Max Level Hero Strikes Back" Review

If you’re wondering if I ever get tired of reading isekais and regression stories, the answer is… yes, sometimes. This title may not exactly fit into that genre, but the trope is still there. Our main character goes from underdog to overpowered after training in some magical world while he’s in a coma.

This week’s title is The Max Level Hero Strikes Back on Tapas.

We are reviewing up to Episode 13 with no spoilers. This review is part of my weekly series where I review a new webcomic every week.

Premise: 3 out of 5

What’s the catch, the hook, and what makes this stand out?

Prince Davey O’Rowane wakes up after spending six years in a coma due to a poison arrow courtesy of his stepbrother. Still appearing frail and weak, he plays up his incapacitated state when his stepmother and stepbrothers visit, acting as if he were completely unaware of their crimes. These six years may have had an effect on his body—but his soul meanwhile spent almost a thousand years in the Hall of Heroes, training under some of the most powerful beings in all of history. Now a fully equipped mage with excellent mana control and power, Davey is simply waiting for the right time to get revenge. 

I originally didn’t plan to read further than Episode 10 or so, since the story progressed pretty quickly and I felt like there was enough to cover in the first episodes. By the end of Episode 10, we get introduced to new characters and a new arc that I liked enough to keep going. There was also the mystery around the concept of the Hall of Heroes—an otherworldly plane for overpowered beings to train—intrigued me. The story is currently leaning heavily into the kingdom politics and the royal atmosphere, so it’s hard to tell how Davey’s will bring his magical experience in the Hall of Heroes into the present time.

World-building: 3.5 out of 5

What is the world like? The rules?

We are immediately introduced to two major settings: the Hall of Heroes and Davey’s estate. Although we know that Davey’s soul had spent centuries in the Hall of Heroes, the hall itself is a mystery. Is it on another planet? Is it in another universe, outside of time and space? Davey himself speaks of his time there with both reverence and distaste (because he thinks he was heavily overworked by the godlike heroes there).

The conceptual location of a Hall of Heroes was quite confusing, and something that could have been further fleshed out; it is alluded to that elements of time may be in play (that the Hall of Heroes may have existed in the past), but I myself am too unsure to state that confidently.

Back in the real world, Davey’s kingdom is nothing special. Davey’s role in it is especially nothing special, considering that he has lost all social standing and power after his stepmother, Lynesse Bariatta, took control. Davey’s father, the King, is a bit of an unknown wildcard right now. He seems complacent, but not explicitly cruel to his people—although I would argue that turning an eye to your first wife bing poisoned and then ignoring your son after he wakes up from a coma induced by your second wife is quite…questionable.

Plot: 4 out of 5

Where does the story go? 

Despite his magic, Davey’s body has limits. On the outside, he’s a weak young adult. But the Hall of Heroes gave him the time and space to mature both physically and mentally, so he knows revealing all his cards before he’s ready would only work in Lynesse’s favor.

With most of the royal family and their staff turned against him, Davey’s estate funds are being pocketed by the treasury and by staff who ran away with their salary. He is forced to use the survival skills he learned in the Hall of Heroes to provide for himself and his only maid. There’s a time skip early into the series, where half a year passes with Davey slowly building his strength and training his magic; it’s a smart move on the part of the writer, since the inside of our hero’s estate grounds quickly become boring scenery for Davey, and for us.

Remember how earlier I said I almost stopped around Episode 10? Enter Davey’s other stepsiblings, Baris and Winley, who swoop in just in time (for this reader, anyway) with smiles and excitement. They are genuinely overjoyed to be reunited with him, and it was incredibly relieving to see that Davey had some family members who care for him. It was getting quite tiresome to read about Davey in insolation. They invite him to the swordsmanship tournament that happens between all the nations every five years, and Davey is ecstatic to go on an adventure.

Characters: 4 out of 5

Davey O’Rowane occasionally acts a little too mature for his soul’s advanced age, cracking jokes that only boys his age can get away with. His brief interaction with the heroes that we see are humorous, giving us a glimpse into both his personality and the heroes’. They’re fond of him, but it still strikes a nerve when he makes fun of them. Even though just a few panels are enough to show that Davey and the heroes had a fun love-hate mentor-mentee dynamic, I wish we saw more of the heroes to begin with.

 

Lynesse leans in pretty close to the evil-stepmother mold, although her control over a guild of assassins keeps the tension high. What does she have as leverage for these killers to be at her beck-and-call the way they are? As someone who poisoned her way to the throne, she’s a despicable person, but not too impressive a villain.

Unlike Lynesse’s two sons who

despise him, Davey’s other stepsiblings are a joy from the get-go. As the children of one of his king’s concubines, they have their own hardships,  but their genuine sibling relationship brings much-needed comic relief, as well as slice-of-life moments in Davey’s otherwise difficult journey. They don’t treat him differently after his accident, and are still as aggressive—in a sibling-like manner—as ever. 

Art: 4 out of 5

The Max Level Hero Strikes Back uses the scroll-format of webcomics to their comedic advantage. Since Davey’s current situation is… depressing, the authors lighten the mood through Davey himself. 

He cracks a lot of jokes, and the punchline usually comes a beat later, or a scroll later. Paneling in webcomics when it comes to comedic moments is as important as timing in television shows. This is equally true when it comes to drama and suspense, and it remains to be seen whether the same effect will be delivered in later action scenes. For now, The Max Level Hero is delivering on the comedic front, creating a satisfying, realistic rhythm.

The character styles are flexible and chibi(cuter and simplified) versions of the characters are quite common. It helps build on the lighthearted moments and allows for more expression experimentation.

Final Thoughts: 3.7 out of 5

If you’re a fan of worldbuilding, you might get antsy with the lack of questions answered in the first few episodes. And the premise, meh, it’s a tad too familiar. But nonetheless, The Max Level Hero Strikes Back holds potential. I’m hoping to see the characters and plot fleshed out in the next few episodes. Meanwhile, this is a good read to get you laughing.

Like always, let me know what you think of the story, and whether or not we have opposing opinions!