Soul to Seoul

*Tetsu Deinonychus* · 08-29-2005, 11:31 PM

I just read the first 2 volumes of this Korean manga (technically it's a "Manhwa" if I'm not mistaken) by Kim Jea Eun. And, I gotta say, I'm hooked! I'm used to alot of sci-fi fantasy comics, but it's very refreshing to read something so down-to-earth and true-to-life. It's kinda like a Paula Danzinger novel but much edgier and not as sweet.

I also like how the hip-hop elements are kept in the background and not made into the main theme of the series, like ALOT of crap these days. It works well as atmosphere, given the VERY urban setting (Like Ice-Cube's hilarious "Friday" movies), but thankfully doesn't take over the story.

In much the same way I like how while racial background (Kai is half-white half-Korean, his buddy Spike is half-black half-Korean, etc.) IS a theme of the story, it again doesn't take over the story. This isn't a comic about racism, though it DOES appear in the story (Kai takes racist crap from his own Korean realitives), they don't beat you to death with it.

Also, if you live in a small town (as I do actually), don't worry about not relating to the characters. These characters are set up so that most people can realate to them regardless of setting. Besides, as someone who lives in a small town and works in the ghetto, I can tell you they're not really all that different.

The only thing I don't really like is the main character Kangil "Kai" Lee. He's suppossed to be a "Bad boy" with a soft-side, but he's more like a total asshole who occasionally does something nice out of boredom. But judging by the way things are at the end of Vol. 2. I suspect the author is planning to have him "learn his lesson" over the course of the series.

So, has anybody else been enjoying Kim Jea Eun's masterpiece so far?

*Tetsu Deinonychus* · 11-14-2005, 10:32 PM

Guess not.

Mandi-chan · 11-17-2005, 08:02 AM

I've become interested in reading this manga ever since I saw the pic in you avy, ヴァルキリ.

The artwork looks beautiful and kinda realistic, stuff like that greatly appeals to me.

How much of it has been translated?

*Tetsu Deinonychus* · 11-17-2005, 01:05 PM

Quite alot the comic store I got it at only had the first two volumes, but I think more than that has been translating it. Tokyo-Pop is the company bringing it to the U.S.

And, yes the artwork IS gorgeous.

08-29-2005, 11:31 PM	#1
Tetsu Deinonychus The Iron Dinosaur Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Studio Snowlion HQ Posts: 3,021	Soul to Seoul I just read the first 2 volumes of this Korean manga (technically it's a "Manhwa" if I'm not mistaken) by Kim Jea Eun. And, I gotta say, I'm hooked! I'm used to alot of sci-fi fantasy comics, but it's very refreshing to read something so down-to-earth and true-to-life. It's kinda like a Paula Danzinger novel but much edgier and not as sweet. I also like how the hip-hop elements are kept in the background and not made into the main theme of the series, like ALOT of crap these days. It works well as atmosphere, given the VERY urban setting (Like Ice-Cube's hilarious "Friday" movies), but thankfully doesn't take over the story. In much the same way I like how while racial background (Kai is half-white half-Korean, his buddy Spike is half-black half-Korean, etc.) IS a theme of the story, it again doesn't take over the story. This isn't a comic about racism, though it DOES appear in the story (Kai takes racist crap from his own Korean realitives), they don't beat you to death with it. Also, if you live in a small town (as I do actually), don't worry about not relating to the characters. These characters are set up so that most people can realate to them regardless of setting. Besides, as someone who lives in a small town and works in the ghetto, I can tell you they're not really all that different. The only thing I don't really like is the main character Kangil "Kai" Lee. He's suppossed to be a "Bad boy" with a soft-side, but he's more like a total asshole who occasionally does something nice out of boredom. But judging by the way things are at the end of Vol. 2. I suspect the author is planning to have him "learn his lesson" over the course of the series. So, has anybody else been enjoying Kim Jea Eun's masterpiece so far? __________________ (Image hosting by Postimage.org) And here's a list of all my old wacky threads! Last edited by Tetsu Deinonychus; 11-27-2005 at 07:07 PM.

11-14-2005, 10:32 PM	#2
Tetsu Deinonychus The Iron Dinosaur Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Studio Snowlion HQ Posts: 3,021	Guess not. __________________ (Image hosting by Postimage.org) And here's a list of all my old wacky threads!

11-17-2005, 01:05 PM	#4
Tetsu Deinonychus The Iron Dinosaur Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Studio Snowlion HQ Posts: 3,021	Quite alot the comic store I got it at only had the first two volumes, but I think more than that has been translating it. Tokyo-Pop is the company bringing it to the U.S. And, yes the artwork IS gorgeous. __________________ (Image hosting by Postimage.org) And here's a list of all my old wacky threads!

11-17-2005, 08:02 AM	#3
Mandi-chan Stone Warrior Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 932	I've become interested in reading this manga ever since I saw the pic in you avy, ヴァルキリ. The artwork looks beautiful and kinda realistic, stuff like that greatly appeals to me. How much of it has been translated?