Many thanks to Yen Press for providing a review copy

About the Mangaka

No info available on either KookHwa Huh or SuJin Kim, you know what to do if you have any :D

About the Manga

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Reading this serialised in Yen Plus I was constantly in two minds as to whether I liked it or not. Not any more, this series is AWESOME

Reading this through as a single volume made me realise just how good a series it can become.

SuJin is an excellent artist, and while yes it’s true his style is pretty generic these days, he does it pretty well. Lately I’ve found that al lot of the manhwa I’ve been reading have been using chibi’s badly. SuJin seems to realise that a series doesn’t have to have chibi’s to be good.

Rather for me, it’s the lack of chibi use that makes this series so good for me. Rather than using chibi’s he uses facial expressions and postures to show the emotions. It works really well for me.

I immediately fell in love Doe-Doe, when she went for her gothic look it was to die for. SuJin has an excellent skill for drawing girls that are both beautiful, sexy, and don’t look like stick beans. Personally I’m getting sick of looking at women that would disappear if they turned side ways. Doe-Doe has just the right amount of meat :D

Mu-Yeon is interesting in her own right, and just as good looking, despite the mask. With her it’s a more formal beauty, wearing traditional clothing and stuff. The way she acts, talks and thinks is just so dammed cute. Though I have to admit I found the way she acted a bit OTT at times.

The other girl of not is Mu-Hwa, Mu-Yeon’s guardian, she has a whole ninja thing going on. She’s not like the other two, in that she’s plain and normal looking. However there were a few times through the volume I couldn’t help but feel she beat both the other girls when it came to cuteness

His colour double spread, and the cover and back are beautifully drawn, and do give off a different feel to that of the inside art. For me I think it’s because Si-Joon is portrayed as having pinkish hair in the colour parts, but black hair in the actual manhwa. The two differing hair colours give him a differing personality impression.

KookHwa’s story is equal to the task of matching the art. I found his story engaging and easily got drawn into it.

For me the differing personalities of the characters made this volume well worth the reading. Especially that of Doe-Doe (for the record, who the hell calls their daughter Doe-Doe!!), whose personality is just so damned funny, and freaky at the same time.

KookHwa manages to meld his story well with the art, and the two compliment each other perfectly. The flow was perfectly handled throughout, neither to fast nor two slow. Though  I do wish more of the story was revealed this volume. Certain events took place that really needed to be explained a bit, but were pretty much ignored.

Depending on how this is handled it could be a good or a bad thing. Leaving the bad guy hidden behind the scenes could be a great story builder, I only hope he doesn’t forget to finish explaining it as others have done.

Yen Press as usual did a superb job with this release. A nice glossy cover design and a double page colour spread. The translation was smooth and concise, with no discernable errors. No guttering issues (YAY!!!), and I loved the choice of fonts.

I can’t wait for volume two!! As such this series goes on my Essential Read list, this is definitely worthy of it’s place there!!

Where to Buy

This volume is not due for release until April 21st 2009

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