Manhwa-ga: YoungHee Lee
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: May 2008

Synopsis: “Everyone dreams about Seung-Ha, the perfect prince, the shining star of the school. Chasing after the perfect prince is definitely not easy. For Nan-Wo, Seung-Ha was just a dream – far, far, away. However, sometimes dreams exist to come true! But when Nan-wo’s dream comes true, it comes at an expensive price. Who knew the perfect prince was actually a big jerk?!”

Nan-Wo is a spunky, spirited, and ultimately extremely clumsy girl, who like everyone else at her school (girls, boys and teachers alike) has a huge crush on Seung-Ha. Attractive, athletic, smart and kind, Seung-Ha is seen as the perfect guy and no one could possibly for be good enough for him. Then one day he asks out Nan-Wo and everything gets turned upside down.

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Manhwa-ga: JiSang Shin & Geo
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: July 2008

Synopsis: “A spoiled brat from a wealthy Japanese family, Tsuyoshi is unceremoniously shipped off to Kora by his strict grandfather who tells him the family secret – they’re Korean! Sparks fly when the resentful high schooler arrives at the airport and shares an impromptu cab ride with Be-Rei Kang, a plucky girl who happens to be his new neighbour. Will the two ever get past their differences? And will Tsuyoshi learn to accept his new identity?”

Tsuyoshi is a spoiled teen from Japan who is told by his grandfather that he’s a Korean descendant. To curve his spoiled ways and teach him some long-lost heritage, Tsuyoshi is sent away to live in Korea. Already there, is a Korean-born-and-raised Be-Rei Kang, a spunky teenage girl with an eye for money and a hundred and one ways to save it. These two teens meet when sharing a cab on the way home from the airport, only to discover they’re next door neighbours and classmates.

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Manhwa-ga: Yun JiUn
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: June 2008

Synopsis: “Hye-Min gives Ma-Ha the cold shoulder after discovering how he broke up with Bora. But when Bora seeks her help to reunite with Ma-Ha , Hye-Min can’t say no to her friend. Things get even more complicated when Ma-Ha catches on…and reveals how he truly feels about Bora as well as what he thinks about Hye-Min!”

Cynical Orange is based around the complicated life of beautiful Hye-Min. She’s a lovely girl with a slight body and face which melts most boys’ hearts. In volume one she found out being quiet and polite was keeping the guy she was crushing on from liking her, and the gloves have been off ever since. Keeping the secret of her fiery and violent temper from her classmates, she goes so far as to almost kill someone in a single mad fury over a stolen kiss.

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Author: Dall-Young Lim
Manhwa-ga: Sung-Woo Park
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: June 2008

Synopsis: “Discovering that his new enemies are actually allies, Keita receives the guidance necessary to take on the evil behind the false alter-egos running rampant. But he must also revisit the painful memory of his mother’s disappearance when this new battles takes him and Kuro to his mother’s hometown of Okinawa. Will the strength gained from his new friends be enough to help him through this gruelling journey?”

In this volume of Black God, Akane is again the target of mysterious sources, out to capture her in relation to the sudden, unexplained deaths happening around the city. Two of those that Keita and his partner-of-sorts, Kuro, had fought against are now revealed as allies and are able to shed some light on the increasingly grave situation. Keita struggles to unravel the mystery behind his mother’s disappearance, people’s deaths and protect Akane all while trying to discover and understand more about his ability to aid Kuro in fights.

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Author: Yi DongEun
Manhwa-ga: Yu Chung
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: May 2008

Synopsis: “When Tublerun overhears the reason for Verna’s desperate need for cash, he sets out for the North Pole to join GIA’s treasure hunt and win the prize money. But the hunt’s been rigged so that no one gets out alive! Even those who somehow manage to survive will have to contend with a bloodthirsty Chroma. Without Verna or Lorel to aid him, will Tublerun be able to make it out in one piece?”

After overhearing Verna’s need for money to help support a hospitalized friend, Tublerun runs away to join in a dangerous contest. Numerous people looking to win the monetary prize showed up for the competition, only to find themselves against seemingly undefeatable life forms. Without his friends there to support him, Tublerun finds himself petrified and reliant on the strangers around him, strangers who see each other as threats for the goal.

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Author: HaNa Lee
Manhwa-ga: KangHo Park
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: May 2008

Synopsis: “Chiwoo trains with Ju-Ah to become a better mangnani. Ju-Ah promises Seol-Ha that despite Chiwoo’s struggles, he will become a great warrior in the end. Later, while Seol-Ha continues his search for Bi-Hyun, Chiwoo and his friends confront Yi-Yun to rescue Uncle Wol-Bek. Will both missions succeed? Or is there more trouble in store for these heroes?”

Most of volume four of Heavenly Executioner Chiwoo is a long fight scene and in that way, following what was happening was pretty easy. Dialogue from lead and background characters filled in a lot of gaps readers would have about the who, what, where and why of the story, in preparation for the action sequence that takes up ¾ of the book.

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The past returns when Eun-Yang appears in town, Sueng-Suh’s best friend from junior high and an important part of prior events. Mi-Ha is annoyed that’s never heard of Eun-Yang before and when Seung-Suh doesn’t elaborate, she tries to find out from the newcomer herself… only to start falling victim to Eun-Yang’s charm. Some risky emotional games are played in volume five of Bring It On.

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Author: KwangHyn Seo
Manhwa-ga: JinHo Ko
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: June 2008

Synopsis: “Da-Il has a new job working for a famous comic creator. Not that Da-Il has any artistic ability. At least that’s what he thinks until he meets Mu-Huk, a ghost whose appearance Da-Il’s creativity gives shape. The budding artist soon learns that he has the skills of a “Croquer”, someone whose talent gives form to ghosts – ghosts it is Mu-Huk’s job to dispatch.”

Da-Il is the newest assistant to famous manhwa-ga, Ho-Go. He’s a boy with no knowledge or talent for drawing, but his passion for reading the man’s comics gets him hired none-the-less. When moving in to his new home, simple images drawn in the floor’s dust bring forth violent doodles that attack! Suddenly a strange guy named Mu-Huk shows up, saving Da-Il and telling him that’s he a Croquer, someone who can draw fast and give ghosts physical forms through his creativity. Wait… what? Croquis Pop takes an interesting spin on the common-manga archetype of sports manga, replacing the sport with art and the equipment with pencils and erasers!

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Manhwa-ga: Kim MiKyung
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: May 2008

Synopsis: “The Sword Master of Black Iron is kicked out of the magic guild when he’s unable to follow an order to destroy the beautiful doll called Fiona. Then one night, Fiona comes home with a letter for him. What are the contents of this letter and why is Fiona so afraid to present it to her Master? Also included are Kim Myung’s early short stories Strawberry Children, Alien House, and The Reason Why I’m Poor and Burdened.”

Despite being presented as a side-story sequel to the series, 11th Cat, those who have not read the series need not worry when picking up 11th Cat Special. The ‘side story’ takes up a mere 22 pages in this 176 page. Following that are several unrelated short stories ranging from aliens, ghosts and fantasy kingdoms that come together for an interesting collection of chapters.

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