In 1978, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il had South Korean actress Choi Eun-hee kidnapped because he loved her films. Spat’s graphic novel recounts this true story, interspersing it with a reimagining of a folktale that Korea’s first kaiju film, Pulgasari, was based on. This serves two purposes – it becomes an allegory for political strife in both Koreas, but its also a failed South Korean film that Kim wanted remade. To do so, he later captured Choi’s director ex-husband, Shin Sang-ok, as well.
This dual story-telling format means that Spat has quite a bit of ground to cover. This includes Choi and Shin’s first meeting, their romance, film careers, marital troubles, kidnapping, reuniting, and escape in less that 200 pages. It’s hardly enough time to sketch in details even if half the pages weren’t devoted to a folktale where a blacksmith’s daughter’s relatively carefree life is upset when the king kidnaps her father for forced labor. She must work with her fellow townspeople and some magical beings to rescue or avenge their loved ones.
However, the brevity works. There’s certainly enough story to fill volumes of nonfiction prose, but as an enticing introduction to Korean history and folklore, this shines. Readers are likely to finish this with many questions that are readily answerable with a bit of research. The downside is that occasionally the narrative feels abrupt as it switches between Choi and the pulgasari story. This is amplified by the spare art style. Sheree Domingo’s art style emphasizes emotion and vibe. For instance, Choi on a picnic with her children versus Choi as an actress talking to the press with Marilyn Monroe could almost be different graphic novels entirely – a great representation of the different eras of Choi’s life. The color palette consists mostly of blues and yellows, with occasional reds. Otherwise, it’s mostly black and white and contained in the expected panels. Domingo breaks free with phenomenal full page spreads where the passage of time occurs in torn off calendar pages or film cels.
There is something a little off-putting about the speech bubbles font in the English translation that isn’t present in either the Korean or German text. There is also a full-page panel featuring a protest that has footnoted translations placed rather awkwardly. The volume ends with a few pages of text that give a more succinct timeline, which is appreciated. It also may delight readers of a certain age since it mentions Choi and Shin’s involvement in the Three Ninjas movie franchise.
I happily recommend Madame Choi and the Monsters: A True Story for library collections as an interesting insight into Korean history. The kidnapping and strange behaviour of Kim Jong-Il is a great hook to draw readers in before giving them a greater insight into Korean culture and history. Aspects of Korea’s arts are trending these days with the love for K-pop, manhwa, and K-dramas continuing to rise, so that may translate into greater interest in Korea as a whole.
This title is geared towards adults not only because of the serious subject matter, but it does contain a couple panels of nudity in addition to domestic violence and infidelity. There is on page violence, but it is more disturbing for implications rather than the imagery.
Madame Choi and the Monsters: A True Story By Patrick Spat Art by Sheree Domingo Abrams, 2024 ISBN: 9781914224225Â
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+) Creator Representation:Â German, Character Representation:Â Korean, North Korean, South Korean,
Every city fears becoming Jeju Island—a paradise now overrun with monsters when heroes failed to close their gate in time. In this alternate Earth, portals to deadly dungeons began spawning without reason across the world.
Simultaneously, some people manifested special powers. It is incredibly rare for their power level to change, leading to a classification system of hunters used to triage dungeons most effectively. This brings us to Jin-woo, known to be the weakest of them all. Still, as long as he survives, dungeon work is lucrative so he can pay his comatose mother’s medical expenses and support his sister. When he somehow survives an unexpectedly deadly dungeon, he gains the ability to level up and soon surpasses everyone else.
In these kinds of stories, it’s easy for the protagonist to feel overpowered and boring, but ten volumes in and Solo Leveling is going strong. The tension stays high because his increasing abilities are leading him to greater threats that no other hunter is even aware of. While he does sometimes come into conflict with other hunters, this usually ties more to the secondary tension – is Jin-woo’s humanity the cost for power? The kindness that was his defining feature seems colder as the volumes continue.
The reveals come just this side of excruciatingly slowly, creating the perfect sort of agonizing anticipation that must be shared with friends through theories about what is actually going on. These come with a charming cast of characters we hope Jin-woo will continue treating well as his journey changes him. Battles are, of course, frequent and can be both brutal and, occasionally, funny.
As with most manhwa releases, the volumes are entirely full color art peppered with breathtakingly gorgeous panels. The illustrator, Dubu, has such skill at detailed work, when the story beats call for it. These are most frequently used for creating realistic, awe inspiring monsters, but his skills for setting and faces are just as great. Of course, most of the art doesn’t require quite that level of detail, but is still gorgeous nonetheless. The fight scenes are drawn with care so are rarely confusing and employ techniques to elevate them beyond standard fare.
The series is obviously great for gamers, who will be unbothered by level-up screens, but they’re tucked into the story well enough that lack of video game knowledge is no barrier. It’s all perfectly acceptable for a teen audience, despite Jin-Woo’s adult age. There is violence but no sex or nudity, only occasional swearing, and isn’t covering controversial topics. That said, Jin-woo’s concerns are adult enough to keep general adult audiences engaged. This (and the occasional severed limb) is probably why Ize Press rates the series as older teen. Right now is an excellent time to drop into the series because the latest volume, ten, had major revelations about the purpose of the gates and Jin-woo’s special ability. Additionally, the anime was popular enough to have the first two episodes of season two run in theaters in anticipation of the January release. This is definitely a must-have series for people looking to get into manhwa – personally, it was one of the two that started my addiction!
Solo Leveling By Chugong , h-goon Art by DUBU Yen Press, 2024 ISBN: 9798400902536
Volume
ISBN
9
9798400901935
8
9798400901072
7
9798400900488
6
9798400900266
5
9781975344382
4
9781975337247
3
9781975336516
2
9781975319458
1
9781975319434
Company Age Rating:Â OTÂ
NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18) Creator Representation:Â South Korean, Character Representation:Â South Korean,
Youngwoo Shin is a total loser. He is in debt to his parents, working freelance construction jobs to pay the bills, and has no hobbies or interests beyond video games. His favorite is the VR MMORPG Satisfy, which is the biggest fantasy game of its kind. It is there that Yongwoo becomes Grid the Warrior… and is just as much a loser as in the real world.
Three years of grinding and Grid has only managed to attain the modest rank of Level 73. Most other players who have been playing that long have levels over 200 and have found rare artifacts and unlocked special legendary classes. And Youngwoo loses even that after he stumbles across a magical tome containing the knowledge of a legendary blacksmith.
The bad news is that Grid has been knocked down to negative class levels and Youngwoo must start from square one. The good news is that his new Legendary Craftsman class has some special abilities that make up for his lack of combat power. These include the ability to wield any weapon and armor in the game and the ability to craft epic level items.
True, he takes a penalty for wielding unsuitable gear, but what does that matter when he still has an effective level 100 points higher than his single-digit attack score? Or when he can start selling the gear he crafts to make real-world money? Thus begins the legend of a new Legendary Blacksmith, who will forever change the world of Satisfy.
Overgeared started out as a Korean light novel series. It was later adapted into a graphic novel and has now been translated into English. In terms of story, it is like other Isekai science fiction where the hero enters a virtual fantasy world. What reportedly distinguishes it from similar series, however, is how Youngwoo grows as a person as the series continues and the complexity of its mythology.
There are signs of this in the first volume of Overgeared. Much of this book is devoted to explaining the world of Satisfy and the mechanics of how the game works. This is far from expository, however, and the information is naturally conveyed as Youngwoo learns about his new class and compares it to his old one.
We also learn through the eyes of other adventurers, who are stunned to see epic level arrows capable of slaying high-level enemies with a single shot showing up in the marketplace. There is also an early scene showing the game designers discussing the Legendary Blacksmith tome and what may happen when such power falls into the hands of a relative nobody.
The artwork of Team Argo is suitably animated and perfectly suit the story. The shading and inking effects are particularly noteworthy, giving an unusual sense of depth to the finished artwork. There are also subtle shifts in the color palettes, with cooler colors being used to denote the dull reality of Youngwoo’s life compared to the vibrant hues that dominate the world of Satisfy.
This volume is rated T for readers 13 and up. I consider that to be a fair rating. There is no nudity or sexual content, largely because Youngwoo seems uninterested in sex. Indeed, apart from one other warrior in a low-cut corset, there’s hardly any of the usual sexualized fantasy armor one expects to see in an Isekai comic. The violence level is also appropriate to the age range, with no excessive bloodshed.
Overgeared, Vol. 1 By Monohumbug Art by Team Argo Ize Press, 2023 ISBN: 9798400900518
Company Age Rating:Â 13+ Related media:Â Book to Comic
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16) Creator Representation:Â South Korean, Character Representation:Â South Korean,
Maha Lee is an aspiring Idol. Her group, Tea Party, hasn’t hit the big-time yet, but she’s made a lot of friends on the circuit. Unfortunately, most of her fame to date is due to her amazing resemblance to solo singer La Lima. It wasn’t a huge issue, however, until Tea Party’s manager got them booked on Pop Idol Sports Games, alongside La Lima and Shax, the hottest boy band in South Korea.
An accident during the games leads to Maha Lee becoming the most hated woman on the Internet. This is partly due to the anti-fans dismissing her as a pathetic imitation of La Lima. Yet what concerns her most is the apparent hatred of Kwon Ryok, the bad boy of Shax, who is equally outspoken about his disapproval of wannabe Idols ripping off established artists. Unfortunately, fate and Maha Lee’s newfound popularity lead to her being offered more work. This includes her first acting role, opposite Kwon Ryok. This pushes Maha to prove to herself (and the world) that she has what it takes to make it big on her own merits and that she is more than just an imitation.
Maha Lee is the classic good girl, struggling to succeed in a competitive business. La Lima is the classic Mean Girl. Kwon Ryok is the typical harsh love interest who hides his sensitive side behind a rough facade. Thankfully, the supporting cast vary things up a bit. A good example of this is Yujin, Maha’s friend and lead singer of the boy band Sparkling, who seems to have a crush on Maha he dare not express. The usual love triangle elements are avoided, though Yujin does step in to defend Maha. This, in turn, inspires her bandmates to push her to stop talking to Kwon Ryok so they can guide her to the far kinder Yujin.
The artwork of KyungRan Park is like their writing – smooth and satisfying. There’s nothing visually outstanding about the artwork, but nor is there anything glaringly off. The strangest thing is that for all the talk of La Lima and Maha Lee resembling each other, the two have distinctly different designs apart from similarly shaped faces. Even when Maha instructed to straighten her hair to look more like La Lima, it does little to make her look that much like the elder Idol.
Imitation Vol. 1 is rated T for Teen. I consider that a fair rating. There’s no violence or bloodshed, apart from a staged strangling which leaves Maha Lee bruised and Kwon Ryok bleeding from where her nails dug into him. There’s also no sexual content, apart from one kiss, but that’s a given considering how strict Idol culture is about the Idols dating, much less going further. The end of this first volume, however, suggests more kisses will be inevitable as the series continues.
Imitation, Vol. 1Â By KyungRan Park Yen Press, 2023 ISBN: 9781975367008
Company Age Rating:Â T Related media:Â Comic to TV
NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16) Creator Representation:Â South Korean, Character Representation:Â South Korean,
K-pop idols with magic are all the rage; those without magic are considered tier-two. Sadly, that means that boy band Star One barely gets noticed. Once the members turn 19 years old and still don’t have magic powers, their company assumes that they’ll never be a tier-one group, and takes away all of their glam treatment. However, during an attack (possibly by an idol terrorist group), one of the Star One members manifests magical powers in a moment of desperation to keep his friends alive. After discovering his powers, the company hires an agent to train him and help the other members find their powers.
Throughout The Star Seekers, the reader is taken along the journey of the Star One members finding their powers. With each magic power exposure comes a bit of background for the related band member, providing context and intrigue for the reader. The Star One members are all highly emotional, kind, empathetic, and caring. They love each other greatly, and it’s shown throughout the book. Most of their powers are born from the love they have for one another, and the desire to protect each other.
Interspersed in the book are glimpses of mysterious, dark meetings, in which the reader must determine who the villains are and what they are planning. This volume is very much an introduction to the characters, the world they live in, and their powers. I imagine more understanding of the enigmatic bad guys will come in subsequent volumes. The storyline in this volume is fun, interesting, fast-paced, and sweet.
With full colors on every page, simply flipping through the book is enjoyable. The art style is a bit serious – almost with a super-hero comic book tone. By contrast, the line art is cutesy, and the character designs are soft and gentle. The idols are all hyper-beautiful and feminine. Each type of magic displayed is accompanied by its own distinguishable style and color scheme. Some of the powers come with little creatures. The creatures are all round and big-eyed, giving them adorable baby-like vibes. Almost every panel shows movement, whether it’s in the background, the flow of clothes, or the characters. This movement works well with the action and drama in the story.
I would recommend this book for ages 12-18 who enjoys fantasy, action, and drama. This volume contains no romance. One friendship has the potential for romance, but it is difficult to tell at this stage.
The Star Seekers, Vol. 1 By HYBE , TOMORROW X TOGETHER, and Nicki Sidwell Yen Press, 2023 ISBN: 9798400900648
Publisher Age Rating:Â TeenÂ
NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16), Tween (10-13)
The Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook, is based on the personal experiences of the author, who grew up during a time where South Korea was under a totalitarian government. It begins with Hyun and her mother arguing over her choice to go to school. Her mother wants her to give up school and continue to work in the family restaurant. Hyun ducks out to end the argument and attend her first day of school. Once off the bus, she is surrounded by protestors and police. Tear gas is exploding all around her, people pushing their way through the cloudy air to escape arrest. Hyun makes it to class and the teacher informs her that they need to stay away from Communist activities and not participate in protests.
Hyun wants to remain above the fray and avoid politics. She decides to join the folk dance team. They perform a dance for the school, which ends up turning political. She meets a young man on the team named Hoon who begins introducing her to new ideas. He runs the school newspaper and hides political messages in the articles. Hoon develops a crush on Hyun and the feeling turns mutual. He begins drawing her further into danger. She must decide how far she is willing to go.
The simplicity of the black and white artwork draws you into the horror of the situation. When Hyun first gets on campus, she experiences a moment of contentment. She is on a bus, headed to school, with a smile on her face. The minute she steps out, she is greeted with chants for the President to step down. The scene pulls back to reveal riot police with shields moving towards the protestors. Scenes shift to different angles, adding to the tension and chaos of the scene. There are two scenes of torture in the book. One is brief with the person having scrapes and bruises on their face. The other, while only a few pages seem as if it goes on forever. Part of it is left to the imagination as we see the objects he has been beaten with. The other act is quite cruel with the person’s face being smashed into the ground.
In the beginning, I found the title hard to get into as I had no familiarity or understanding of Korean history. The title Banned Book Club made me believe the story would be about how books changed the lives of students living in a brutal dictatorship. It was this aspect that I kept hoping would appear. After 94 pages the story began to take shape and I could see clearly where the author was going with the narrative. The theme became about how a young girl learns how to stand up and find her voice living with a government who wants to shut down any opposition or free thought. I highly recommend this book and suggest that readers learn about the Gwangju uprising to deepen their understanding. This graphic novel is most appropriate for older teens, but probably will be more appreciated by adults who are interested in historical events.
Banned Book Club By Hyun Sook Kim Art by Hyung-Ju Ko ISBN: 9781945820427 Iron Circus Comics, 2020 Publisher Age Rating: OT
Browse for more like this title NFNT Age Recommendation: Older Teen (16-18), Adult (18+) Character Traits: South Korean Creator Highlights: Own Voices, BIPOC Creator
In 1978, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il had South Korean actress Choi Eun-hee kidnapped because he loved her films. Spat’s graphic novel recounts this true story, interspersing it with a reimagining of a folktale that Korea’s first kaiju film, Pulgasari, was based on. This serves two purposes – it becomes an allegory for political strife in both Koreas, but its also a failed South Korean film that Kim wanted remade. To do so, he later captured Choi’s director ex-husband, Shin Sang-ok, as well.
alternate Earth, portals to deadly dungeons began spawning without reason across the world.
interests beyond video games. His favorite is the VR MMORPG Satisfy, which is the biggest fantasy game of its kind. It is there that Yongwoo becomes Grid the Warrior… and is just as much a loser as in the real world.
Maha Lee is an aspiring Idol. Her group, Tea Party, hasn’t hit the big-time yet, but she’s made a lot of friends on the circuit. Unfortunately, most of her fame to date is due to her amazing resemblance to solo singer La Lima. It wasn’t a huge issue, however, until Tea Party’s manager got them booked on Pop Idol Sports Games, alongside La Lima and Shax, the hottest boy band in South Korea.
K-pop idols with magic are all the rage; those without magic are considered tier-two. Sadly, that means that boy band Star One barely gets noticed. Once the members turn 19 years old and still don’t have magic powers, their company assumes that they’ll never be a tier-one group, and takes away all of their glam treatment. However, during an attack (possibly by an idol terrorist group), one of the Star One members manifests magical powers in a moment of desperation to keep his friends alive. After discovering his powers, the company hires an agent to train him and help the other members find their powers.
