Showing posts with label webtoons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label webtoons. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Manga Match 59 Your Letter

As you all know, I'm an avid reader of Webtoons. I'm subscribed to almost all of the featured Webtoons (except the horror/thriller ones mostly), or at least to all of the mainstream ones that everyone knows about. I spend about...45 min on average before bed catching up on my daily Webtoons and manga that've updated. Which is an obscene amount of time, don't worry I'm well-aware of this fact. But we're not here to judge my questionable habits. We're here to talk about Webtoons!

{Spoilers}

I'm not sure if I've ever found a perfect word to ever encapsulate the fantasy experience that you feel when you watch Ghibli movies, but this is a similar kind of vibe with a sort of surreal experience going on, a small kind of magic. Because it was such a short 10 episode Webtoon, it was really easy to follow along for the ride.

The story revolves around this girl named Sori and the letters that she found left behind by a mysterious student named Yeon. Together with Eugene, Sori unravels the mystery left behind the different letters that were left behind. And it really unpacks the mystery of Yeon and gives a satisfying conclusion to the motivation behind his letters and at the end when they're finally able to meet, it was amazing. It's hard to encapsulate all of the feelings that were evoked through the Webtoon, probably because there was so much said just through their facial expressions and through their actions and the complex dynamics the three main characters had between them that are woven in a special way. It's really hard to explain, and it's frustrating that I lack the words to really express how precious and carefully crafted this Webtoon was, but it's a good thing it's only 10 episodes so that you can quickly see for yourself.

I remember when the first 3 episodes were released. I love this kind of mysterious student trope, and so I was instantly drawn in. I remember my roommates were trying to talk to me about something mundane, but all I could do was hold my breath as I read the first 3 episodes. I was sucked in. My roommates didn't really understand this, I think we have different motivations and joys that we derive from reading Webtoons. For one of them I think she reads ones that are relatable/meme-able and the other one reads them because she enjoys a good laugh and romance(?). For me, because I love a good story and characters especially, it's interesting having conversations about them or even just them commenting on parts of episodes they enjoyed. If possible, it's great to have dialogue between people about things that they really enjoy, like a really great bonding experience that Eugene and Sori got through looking for the letters together.

If you read this, tell me what other stories this story reminds you of. It seems strangely familiar to me. It's been a while since I've written one of these, I think I'm just out of practice and kind of lacking something.

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Manga Review 16 Aura from Another Planet

So I'm pretty sure the creator of this manhwa also created Hive. There's that. Take it as you will.

This was what I imagine an acid trip feels like lightweight. Because at the beginning it seemed as though it would be a "how aliens adapt to Earth" series and then it turned into a teen rom-com and then again it turned into an action series? It's hard to explain or give a clear genre to.

I have to say that the only reason I read this was because it was on Webtoon and it was a completed series. That was it. There was no real other enticing factor for me. The premise was interesting for sure, but at the time I wasn't really looking for anything sci-fi/action. And if you know me you know I'm all in for aesthetics and great plot. So let's just jump into it why don't we?

Aesthetically, the art is definitely more geared towards action. It's got the iconic 'kaboom' and 'smash' onomatopoeia that are so prominent in action comics. The color palette is consistent and it's got this muted sort of aesthetic throughout. Very primary color-ish as far as the main characters go. No one had outlandish hair and from a visual point of view it all looked relatively normal. Save for the black mouths and how that one zookeeper guy became white and blue. That was a little...

The premise of this comic again was something I wasn't particularly interested in. It was an experiment for me as well as the author. Literally in the creator's epilogue they wrote that this whole thing was just an experiment. And it was a wild ride. It could've taken a very traditional turn and just been about how Aura and Auger adapted to life on Earth, but instead it became a sort of political/societal commentary. It dealt with issues such as government which led to an interesting discussion in the comments section about different political systems and the mentality of the people. If you want a more in-depth and wayyyyy better analysis of things like that than I can give you, you should head over to the LINE Webtoon app because wow those people are good. And beyond the political aspect was the socio-cultural aspect. Because it seemed like everything was all hunky-dory on Leviathan, the planet Aura and the others were from, but there were some obvious flaws. Like if life was so great there, why did they all start emigrating to Earth? If this wasn't Leviathan, how were people able to harness mana? Why would they need mass buffs to brainwash people if it was so great? Was there a great god Leviathan? There were so many questions that were raised that it was hard not to be enraptured by this alternate society and wonder. That wonder kind of leads you to contemplate our society and its constructs.

One of the poignant societal elements that this comic touched upon was the issue of appearances. I don't want to start sounding preachy or anything, but it was interesting seeing the blind eye people turn to girls in danger. When Zizi was being stalked, literally no one did anything. They just all stood by and took that creep's word against hers. No one questioned it, no one even gave her a second thought. If Gosu wasn't there Zizi would've been another number for the statistics. Sure she's an imaginary girl, but she's also signifies the risk that every girl or boy for that matter is in. I can't stress this enough how we actually need to care about others and not just brush aside their concerns.

Another element that made this comic way deeper than it should've been is the other dark backstories people had. Like Gosu. He seems like your average, run-of-the-mill stony faced strong male hero. But beyond that he's a family man. Sure he gets mad at his mom and sometimes says things he shouldn't, but he always regrets it and does things to help his mom out as best he can. He even starts picking up his schoolwork to give her less to worry about. Under that stony faced demeanor he's a real guy with real motivations and a big heart (even if sometimes it's hard to take him seriously with his chair summoning and hair changes). And the teacher too. Oh my lord, he wanted to become a teacher to help kids like his old teacher helped him. And lost hope in everything around him when it wasn't that easy. Is there anything more heartbreaking? It's not just the soul crushing event of having no one believe in you that hurts the most, it's when even you start to doubt yourself. It's hard to accept the truth that not everything is pure and good in this world, but you've just got to do your best. That's so cheesy. Ugh why am I preaching right now?

Beyond all that deep stuff, I give this comic an A+ for the comedy. The amount of times they break the fourth wall is ridiculous. I think it was probably because the author thought to themselves "wtf am I doing?" but it also made this comic that much more enjoyable to read. And when the minor characters identified themselves as minor that was gold. And all of their facial expressions! Don't even get me started on the bara af rabbit. I'm still pretty disturbed about that. But the comedy was sincerely great and made it so much more candid and an easier read to binge.

I realized while inserting my screenshots that I forgot to mention the actual alien things like portals and elixirs. Well there's a lot of sci-fi action going on here with elixirs you can feed to animals/eat yourself to become mutant creatures. And there's kind of magic that's also ridiculous in here. Aura is one of the people on Leviathan that're called buffers and they cast spells called buffs. They're really ridiculous and serve to boost your stats like in a video game with +100 confidence or something like that. The premise is pretty interesting as Aura's buffs often go wrong, but they also desensitize you to stuff like death. Literally they get stabbed with lightsaber-esque mana weapons and get up perfectly fine. Like hmu with that shizz when Leviathans come to Earth for real (lol can you tell I'm starting to lose it?)

Overall I'd say if you can handle the slightest bit of creepy content and general ridiculousness then you can read this comic with no problems. There's a lot of profanity, but it's all censored to the point where you (or at least I did) become desensitized by it. It's super funny, super thoughtful, super ridiculous and it's finished. What more could you want? It's got the perfect amount of tension to keep you reading, but the pacing is good enough where you can stop yourself from reading all 100 episodes in one day. I think.

Yay for screenshots!

How could you not love these sexist jabs? Pfft

This will be more funny once you know the context I swear


asdfghjkl; the fourth wall has been breached

Ok this was really touching, let's be honest. And it just struck me that I didn't talk about Aura's buffs. RIP me.

RIP fourth wall

Gosu is the real winner in how to approach math textbooks 

Sniffing glue is the real hardcore drugs 

:') when a gangster delivers the real hard hitting lines

Awhhh isn't the teacher so great in a bittersweet sort of way

He's the fakest little b!tch if we're being honest here. A creepy yandere through and through.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Manga Review 15 Cherry Blossoms

I'm back at it with those super short manga reviews because I'm pretty addicted to short-lived thrills. It makes me sound like a total adrenaline junkie when I put it like that but I really just mean that I get excited by food and stuff. I got you didn't I? Anyways, onto the review!!! Forward march!

{Spoilers but not really because it's seven nuanced chapters sooooo there's not much to spoiled unless I wanted to get nitty gritty...which I could do I suppose}

Well this is a perfect example of the term "short and sweet." It's a lucky seven chapters that aren't very long. What makes it both a quick and complex read is the lack of dialogue. There's a lot of emphasis put on the drawings themselves and the simple movements they contain which help move the story along. It follows a high school boy coming to terms with the concept of finite time and young love. It's kind of funny because the running motif of this is the title itself: cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms are known for being transient, there one day and gone the next. This could be interpreted in many ways for this manhwa. It could be seen as foreshadowing of their relationship, the impermanence of feelings, the quickness of the passing of time; really it could be anything if you stretch your mind far enough. So, if you haven't caught on yet, while it isn't a very long read, it'll keep you thinking about it for a long time after. It's one of those unexpected insights into the human condition.

For this reason, this poignant philosophical quality, I definitely recommend that you read this manhwa. Visually it's so simplistic which gives you more time to focus upon the content and leave you wanting more. The ending is such a bittersweet kiss...but I hope from the depths of my heart that they all end up happy.
Do you see the promo for the creator's past Webtoon there?

If you look closely you can see little cherry blossom buds and I think that's beautiful

It's beautiful but I wonder why he's always alone

The street vendor is kind of my favorite character.

Besides it being about love, it also has a social message about littering :?

There's a slow progression of the cherry blossoms blooming through the piece that kind of shows the acceleration of time. 

Sure it's not the most eloquent thing, but didn't your heart clench just a little?

*inhales* Nuances *exhales*

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Manga Blurb 13 Magical 12th Graders

Haha I'm calling this a blurb because school's drained all the soul I might've once had out of me. But I shouldn't be complaining. My life isn't nearly as hard as the lives depicted in this manhwa.

This manhwa is a true testament to the human condition and the struggles that everyday people face. The creators even said so themselves that they created this manhwa with the intention of sharing a bit of humanity and their personal views on life throughout the story. And they did so. They revealed some of the greater truths of human nature as well as some unique aspects of life that are special and yet somehow still universal for all of us. They explored how the pressure of school can lead to drastic consequences, how parental expectations can be misinterpreted by their children, how one mistake can lead someone to spiral into a never-ending cycle of guilt. This manhwa truly has it all. 

Honestly I think it's worth the read if not only to make you feel as if your struggles aren't yours alone (because if you're a student this is all too relatable), but also to inspire you. The main character in this story was unconventional to say the least. She is an antihero and someone trying to somehow justify her existence and this gives her intrinsic motivation to power through life. (Where am I going with this?)

Well, for a relatable, funny, creative, and surreal story filled with quirky characters you should read this manhwa.

P.S. I'm sorry I didn't do it justice, but really...read it.
P.P.S. I wrote this instead of starting early on bio notes woohoo


Isn't it pretty?


Not gonna lie, seeing everything come full circle was really emotional

Friday, March 3, 2017

Manga Review 13 SHADOW

It's after finals (LOL I just write these when I can and schedule them a week apart because that's the only way I can keep a consistent schedule and my sanity hehe) so now it's time for my reviewssss YAYYYYYY *cricket sounds* Right, this is just me talking to me (LOL @ those Kermit memes)

Also I baked a cake...but it was more experimentation than anything so I didn't want to blog about something I wasn't completely happy with which is why I'm coming at you with another manga review rather than a airy chocolate and peppermint cake.

So a lot of mainstream media is centered around heroes, whether they be community heroes that help out at the library or superheroes in movies and books. But this manhwa is different. Instead of focusing on superheroes in a world filled with superheroes, it's a story about the people that clean up after them. Because if you really think about it, it makes sense that there has to be someone cleaning up after the mess the villian vs superhero showdowns create. And that's where SHADOW comes in to rebuild the city.

I think the best part of this is actually how not all of them have powers or especially useful powers. Instead they use technology to fix things, making the best of their situation and all that.

And even though this series was only 12 episodes it's something to be remembered. It gives a different spin on the superhero universe and that's pretty important. It's important to give everyone the chance to tell their story.



Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Manga Review 12 Annarasumanara

What just happened. I literally binged that all at once. Ughhh Ilkwon Ha is a master. Truly amazing.


(Just saying, I wrote this original post on 4 hours of sleep in the midst of studying for an AP Bio test. My soul had left my body at that point.)

This story had such surrealistic vibes. It was a wild ride. Just visually it was absolutely breathtaking. There were pops of color but otherwise it was a poignant grayscale. It was everything all at once. It was impactful. It was beautiful. It was meaningful. It was insightful. The list honestly goes on.

It deals with the unrealistic expectations and demands families often place on their children. It deals with societal expectations. It deals with having to grow up in the face of hardship. And most of all it just pulled at my heartstrings.

While I was reading this I didn’t cry...but i was damn close to. Just the illusions that L would create to make 'real magic' was honestly a whirlwind. This genre definitely wasn't romance like it said it would be. It honestly doesn't even really need the romance to stand on its own two feet. It’s got this amazing vibe to it where some of the images are photographs while others are pure drawings. The marriage of these two give it a more realistic and tangible feel than it otherwise would. This was a clever move on the artist’s part because it made it almost seem like an anchor to ground the readers that might get completely lost in the illusions L spins. Imagine Oyasumi Punpun and Paradise Kiss (but a more PG version) and magic all wrapped into a giant bundle of everything you could never imagine for yourself.

This work is so artfully done and so well thought out that it honestly amazes me that more people don't talk about this masterpiece. Everything about the characters and the plot are so well thought out and the visuals that show their interactions without any dialogue whatsoever speak volumes. Just take Ildeung for instance. At the beginning you can’t help but take him at his face value where his face is almost half his body. But as you read through the 28 chapters (that absolutely destroy you and make you reflect on your life), you begin to realize why the author did what they did. It’s truly amazing the depths to which this story transports you.

It’s a piece that transports you to a magical, kind of desolate dimension. I think that anyone would enjoy a piece like this because it’s short (almost too short T^T), it gets to the point, and it’s extremely impactful in the message it gives. It’s not a "Never grow up" type message as you might think when you first read it through, its more of a "Follow your dreams as best you can and hold on to them tight".

You can already tell it's going to be riveting when even this has got you mesmerized.


See those surrealistic vibes?

Old habits die hard hehe

*waits for a continuation that will never come because even the ending was beautiful*

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Manga Review 10 God of Bath

It's a beautiful journey of self discovery spiced up with a lot of humor and overly serious shirtless guys. Ok do I have your attention?

Every now and again you need to take a break from all the serious wear and tear of everyday life and kick back with a funny manga. Look no further, you've found it!

{To avoid summarizing which can be the least fun part sometimes I'm not going to have spoilers}

If you're looking for a manhwa that seems to have absolutely no relevance whatsoever to your life and you don't mind cocky characters you need to read this. It's great. It's on Webtoon (I love Webtoon. I live there scrolling through Discover and stuff), it's completed, and it's only 30 chapters. 30 quality chapters you can easily binge.

You might be thinking to yourself: Self, why would I want to read a manhwa with a title so weird? Well, Self, I think you should read the manhwa because you can't judge a book by its cover. It seems really weird and somewhat strange at times, but trust me it's worth it in the end. Heo Sae might be the cockiest guy, but he's really hilarious at the same time. You never know what parts of yourself you might see in one of these characters. It's one of those things that you just have to try to really know if you like or not. I'd say it's kind of an acquired taste since it's basically all in a bathhouse and about scrubbing dead skin...but it's super hilarious. I live for Heo Sae's selfies.

All amusements aside I think that this manhwa might help some people because it's really about letting go of societal expectations and just living for what you want to live for. At the end it's a bit vague if you haven't been paying attention, but if you have it's a beautiful farewell. I think the most beautiful endings aren't the ones that give you a pretty package and open it in front of you, waiting expectantly for the reaction they want; the best endings are the ones wrapped nicely just waiting for you to open and purely enjoy.

If you couldn't tell already, this is a great manhwa to give a whirl. It's short, sweet, and has a great message. Trust me, if you're reading this you have time to go read God of Bath.

(Also I heard they made it into a movie so :3 (omg I just looked at the movie and the cast and they are FINE AS HECK (brb gonna go watch the movie)))

Now just imagine them...as real people

Monday, November 14, 2016

Manga Review 7 Girls of the Wild's

Okay, I swear, soon I will make another baking blog post. Soon. I promise. *college apps scream in neglect*

{Spoilers}

Gah, I don't even know if I can do this one justice if I'm being completely honest. It was so great. I never considered myself to be a hardcore feminist, but now after reading this I might have to change my mind.

It was so amazing. All the girls were kickass. They're all so powerful in their own ways and yet they never lose that 'teenage girl' vibe. I, as a teenage girl, totally related to them (not the fighting though). I think the hype over this Webtoon was well worth it. This creator poured their heart and soul into this for 5 years okay. FIVE YEARS. And it really shows. It's filled with diverse characters and a unique plot. It follows the antics of a rich girl, a poor boy, a flirtatious girl, and a candid girl (Moonyoung ily). It shows the journey of the poor boy from a submissive pushover to someone who fights back against the wrongdoings of others and stands up for what he believes in. It shows the humanity and struggles that follow the extreme expectations of a big company CEO's daughter. It shows how even when you pour your heart and soul into loving someone, sometimes it can't be forced and something better comes along. And it shows most importantly that women are strong, they are powerful, and they are beautiful. That's the main takeaway from this Webtoon. These girls should not be messed with. They may be average teenage girls in that they all worry about love, but at the same time they're way more than that. They're more than pretty faces. They're more than extremely good fighters. They're so multidimensional that listing every one of their character traits would take days. The creator really poured their soul into making these characters so dimensional and so deep that it would take so long trying to understand each of them at a fully comprehensive level (but to be honest, who's going to do that? This isn't AP Lit, this is FREAKING AWESOME Webtoons). With some comics and mangas there are some dull moments. Not so with this comic. It's full of a lot of everything. There's some romance arcs. There's some angry, vicious fight arcs. There's some sub arcs with side characters. You get the gist. But the real point here is that it's not just a romance or an action or a slice of life Webtoon. This is a masterpiece that incorporates different elements to be this compelling and utterly engaging.

It would be easy to read it through in one sitting. Even though it's 260 chapters it would be a breeze to read through. I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope that others will find it and be enraptured like I was reading through it. Also it's really good fitness motivation, seeing these girls working hard to become stronger. There's just so many good things that you really just have to read for yourself to be immersed in the atmosphere of Wild's High School and the antics of its charismatic students.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Manga Review 6 The Stories of Those Around Us

I am so so soooo sorry for anyone that checks up on this child of mine. I've been so sleep deprived that blogging was one of the last things on my mind. T^T I just wanna pass high school, okay? Anyways, in the midst of being stressed I decided to pick back up this manga? Manhwa? *shrugs*

{Spoilers}

This Webtoon is adorable. I honestly completely adore Webtoons in general. Lots of them are in color, the art is amazing, the story lines are epic goals, and there's no ads! How could it get any better? If you aren't already using Webtoons then gogogo sign up! (Not sponsored btw but I wish)

I have to say that this is a very realistic Webtoon. The plot follows these three girls: one that's a sensible woman that doesn't understand love, one that's in a relationship that's lacking love, and another trying to find her place in society with a loving boyfriend at her side. All three of them seem very relatable and realistic, just like anyone you might meet on the street. I think that's why this particular comic really resonated with me. I think anyone could find themselves in any one of these characters.

It's beautiful the way that they all grow. It's wonderful to see Jung-A realize that her relationship isn't working out and being strong enough to break up with her boyfriend for both of their benefits. It was painful, but also very raw and human. When Mira goes on that blind date and ends up falling for Peace I couldn't help but cringe at her awkwardness that's reflected in any human being that's being honest with themselves. And Summer. Oh Summer. Even though she has the perfect boyfriend she's drawn to a guy that is in a relatable situation. But then she ends up staying with the perfect guy. Although this isn't exactly a perfect solution it really does reflect real life. We often times want to say that we're the bigger person, that if we were in that situation you would do this or that when in actuality all of us want to play the hero but never really muster the courage to go through with it. This Webtoon is amazing at showing us our own humanity by illustrating it in the lives of others.

I really recommend you read this Webtoon. It's only 60 chapters and completed. You know what that means don't you? :3 IT MEANS YOU CAN MARATHON IT IN ONE SITTING! Get hyped. That's when you know to just drop everything because this Webtoon is that good. Honestly all the girls are so lovable and so relatable. The way the author paced the chapters was amazing. You never got lost and you always felt included in their thought process and little meetings they have. There was a good mix of fluffy and plot. It was just overall a melting pot of love for this comic. Read it. Just read it. It won't take a lot of time and you'll walk away feeling the bliss of seeing your (figurative) children grow up and develop as adults and transition into the weird realm which is romance.