Moon Boy (Vol. 06) – YoungYou Lee
Published by Yen Press

Every time I think I have the plot of this figured out, half a dozen characters show up to confuse me all over again. Sad thing is, they’re the same characters who’ve been confusing me for several volumes now! Rabbits, foxes, magic and Tribes, plus some vampiric tendencies, make for a fairly interesting plot premise, but at this point a rather messy one, and while this book does attempt to advance the plot, I found it lacked the character charm that made me enjoy the previous volume.

Fortunately, a side story following the back-story of two of the secondary characters was this book’s saving grace and I actually really enjoyed it, prompting me to return to older volumes to revisit them as they are now.

The artwork continues to teeter between annoying me when character designs mesh together or anatomical inconsistencies abound, to making me stare with much attentive love at the fine detailing and sharp use of contrasting black and whites. I withhold earlier thoughts however that I find the art much more appealing via the attractive chapter covers than at any point during the story itself where the art tends to veer more to its flaws than its charms.

Moon Boy altogether continues to be a series I have a lot of trouble following but it manages to muster those few moments that keep me caring just enough to keep going.

Review written February 10, 2009 by Lissa Pattillo
Book provided by Yen Press for review purposes

Follow

Share on Tumblr

Author: KwangHyun Seo
Manhwa-ga: JinHo Ko
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Teen (13+)
Released: January 2009

Synopsis: “There are dark forces at work that seek to manipulate the young croquer Da-Il for theri own ends. When he and his friends are held hostage on the subway in the Dead Zone, Da-Il learns more about the fuel for his croquis from a mysterious croquer with a camera. But not all teachers have benevolent motives . . . and, as Da-Il discovers, some are downright deadly.”

Tearing off where the previous volume ended, this third volume of Croquis Pop wastes no time in showcasing some dramatic one-sided battle scenes to its reader, giving a glimpse at the untapped powers lurking under the manhwa-ga student, Da-Il. Unbeknownst to him, he continues to a big part of someone else’s plans, and while this volume doesn’t expand too much on the fact, it does offer a different look at some familiar faces and the introduction of another Croquer who could very well be friend or foe.

Read more…

Follow

Share on Tumblr

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

Synopsis: “When E-Soh issues an ultimatum to Kum-Ji, she has to choose him on the spot or watch him walk away for good! Happy couplehood seems imminent for the two friends until former Yo-I fan club president Barbie makes her debut on the idol scene. Is this her new ploy to win E-Wan over?! And will it work against E-Soh and Kum-Ji’s budding relationship… since Kum-Ji still hasn’t quite gotten over her broken heart?”

I still have so much trouble telling these characters apart! Doesn’t help most have the same profession, close to the same character design and names that I have difficulty remembering. Fortunately I can always tell who Kum-Ji is which gives me a grounded starting point in most situations. Keep an eye on the romantic-heroine and everyone else will fall in around her eventually, right? Fortunately Chocolat usually makes it all worth the effort.

Read more…

Follow

Share on Tumblr

Author: KangHo Park
Manhwa-ga: HaNa Lee
Publisher: Yen Press
Rating: Older Teen (16+)
Released: September 2008

Synopsis: “When Chiwoo’s epic battle with Yi-Yun is rudely interrupted by Il-Lak of the Heavenly Emperor’s army, the truth behind the death of Yi-Yun’s father is revealed. As alliances shift, Chiwoo’s clash with this new enemy brings about an unexpected casualty. Can Chiwoo overcome the sorrow dredged up by this tragic turn of events in order to become a better mangnani and deafeat hte Heavely Emperor once and for all?”

There’s lots to reveal for fans of the series here in the fifth volume of the series, as the story leaps off from where the previous one left off. Chiwoo continues to face one of the strongest opponents of his life in a desperate struggle to save those he came for. But despite all his efforts, lives are lost and some dramatic truths are exposed.

Read more…

Follow

Share on Tumblr

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

Synopsis: “As the studio erupts in chaoe over Ho Go’s new comic, one of his former students – Ga In – appears at the door! Da-Il, who ends up sharing his room with boss’s former protege, wakes p in the middle of the night to find his guest in the grip of a huge monster! Under attack himself, Da-Il is thrown into a stragic story from Ga-In’s past, where discovers that Mu-Huk can’t always save him and even superpowers have their limits.”

A lot more of the story’s key elements made much more sense to me here in the second volume of Croquis Pop. While the manhwa-ga, Ho Go, and his students make a fuss over his new comic starring themselves. the group are greeted with a surprise guest, an old student named Ga-In. It’s into the past of Ga-In that Da-Il finds himself next, the ‘Dead Zone’ which reflects the strong emotions of a person manifested into a place. Or atleast that seems to be the simpliest way I can figure it, much more concise than my confuddled thoughts after finishing the first book.

Read more…

Follow

Share on Tumblr