Imagine being the only one who knows how the world ends but also wondering what the writer knows and how much of the story one can alter.
Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint 1 starts with a promising premise. What if an online someone reads comes true? That’s the situation Dokja Kim finds himself in. He’s the only person who has read the entire series. It’s his sole joy. Things change the same day the book’s finale comes online. While he’s on a train with a coworker, the situation turns into the beginning of the book. The stakes are immediately high, where failure means death. Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint 1 is what one would get if Squid Games merged with Hunger Games with an otherworldly twist. Instead of wealthy, sadistic white people watching, or Panem, it’s beings from other planets.
With an original story by sinNsong, adapted by Umi, and art by Sleepy-C, it begins with Dokja narrating from an unknown present, recalling the day he read the final chapter of Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse—TWSA for short—and everything changed. Translated by Hye Young Kim, rewritten by J. Torres, and lettered by Adnazeer Macalangcom, the Yen Press comic throws readers into the thick of the chaos alongside the characters. Within a short while of chatting with his coworker, Sangha Yu, all hell breaks loose. The first volume covers the intro, prologue, the first two chapters called “episodes,” and a preview of coming events with full-color illustrations.
Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint 1 Is Vicious
A goblin that looks like a monstrous stuffed toy announces the free trial period for the world is over, and the main scenario begins. Bloodshed starts when the goblin tells everyone in the train car that they must kill to beat the level or die. Needless to say, slaughter occurs in every car as people kill each other. The goblin stresses making it entertaining for the constellations watching. While everyone else freaks out, Dokja remains unusually calm as he assesses the situation.
Interestingly enough, Dokja views Namwoon Kim—an older teen eager to murder someone—as a villain but ignores his own callousness. It raises the question of whether the person watching a murder and not helping unless it benefits them is as bad as the person committing the murder. Whereas Namwoon exhibits glee at bloodshed, Dokja appears disconnected, thinking about what’s coming. He doesn’t try to help anyone truly; his goal is to ensure Namwoon fails to kill anyone because he knows the threat Namwoon poses in the future.
Exposition Dumps Are Too Much, Yet Not Enough
The issue with Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint 1 is how Dokja explains the situation. But it lacks clarity. Readers can get the gist of some information, such as who is a threat. But the mechanics of this game with life and death stakes remain elusive regardless of some of Dokja’s explanations. To avoid that, Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint must ensure information is clear for non-gamers and feels like a natural offshoot.
Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint 1 sometimes gets bogged down explaining aspects of the new world Dokja finds himself in; however, despite some of the muddled bits, this premise and bloody opening are enough to keep interest piqued. Imagine being the only one who knows how the world ends but also wondering what the writer knows and how much of the story one can alter. These questions make the series worthwhile. Plus, it’s a compliment to some avid and devoted readers. Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint 1 takes the “we’re all living in a simulation” literally and to the extreme, building an intriguing world for readers to immerse in.
