Tomb Raider King Episode 1 review: A promising premiere weighed down by familiar ideas

With Tomb Raider King Episode 1 makings it debut, the anime is going to be available to watch on Crunchyroll. When it was officially announced that this popular webtoon is going to get an anime adaptation, the fandom was hyped but at the same time cautious because the narrative has similar themes to another iconic show, Solo Leveling. But looking at the premier debut of this series, one thing becomes clear: This anime is out to make a name for itself.

While it does share similar themes and an overpowered main character, the narrative does have its own uniqueness and thrill to it. Viewers are going to thoroughly enjoy the latest fantasy action anime, and looking at Tomb Raider King Episode 1 has proved itself to stand out as part of Crunchyroll's Summer 2026 anime season.

Interestingly, Tomb Raider King Episode 1 has introduced us to a world where mysterious tombs started to emerge and take over the existing society. The anime is being animated by Studio EEK, and the protagonist of this series is Joo-Heon Seo. From the second the episode began, we understand that he is an incredibly experienced excavator who has been sent on a deadly mission, and when it looked like all hope was lost, our character was mysteriously given a second chance at life for a redo.

This premiere does make us compare it directly with Solo Leveling, but they will not stick a lot because the narrative does establish that it has unique ideas to offer in a way that Tomb Raider King can become its own story. At the start of the episode, we see how the main character showcases his brute strength while fighting against a particular overpowered monster to the point that he is mortally wounded.

Just when he was about to die, a powerful relic sends him 15 years in the past, and just like a usual regression story, the protagonist has been given the upper hand by retaining his memories and his experience. This information was already teased to fans through promotional materials, but to witness this in the episodic format actually has the potential to make the viewers have goosebumps.

Undoubtedly, the Tomb Raider King Episode 1's premise is its strongest feature. Rather than the story focusing on a nobody weak main character eventually becoming strong, this series immediately shows us that Joo-Heon should not be underestimated, even for a second. This kind of strategic storytelling works because the anime will not waste time establishing a power-up; it can just focus on action and making fans wonder how the protagonist will use this second chance in life.

Joo-Heon Seo makes a divisive first impression in Tomb Raider King Episode 1

If we were to talk about some minor faults with the premier is how it portrayed its main character. Joo-Heon is different from the traditional heroes because he is arrogant, unforgiving, and morally ambiguous. Even Tomb Raider King Episode 1 does not give him enough time to be established in a way that feels genuinely engaging.

His attitude makes him seem immature rather than intimidating. Viewers are going to find this connection instantly because in the first fight itself, he continues to threaten his opponents even while facing death. It looks like he has no concept of being vulnerable. Viewers will just have to wait a little for his character arc to make him likeable, but the patience is definitely going to be worth it.

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Final verdict

Overall, Tomb Raider King Episode 1 delivers a mixed but promising debut. Its familiar setup and uneven characterization prevent it from making a truly outstanding first impression, yet its regression mechanic, relic mythology, and revenge-driven narrative offer enough originality to distinguish it from the series it is often compared to.

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