Review - The Breaker

I was asking for some comic recommendations one day, and my friend introduced me to this "lots of blood and action" type of manhwa. His words were, "You'll love it, you've always loved gore."

I think it was because I told him I love Berserk, that gory manga about gory monsters and men getting mutilated in various gory ways, but I digress.

The Breaker is a Korean manhwa that tells the story of Shi-Woon Yi, a student of Nine Dragons High School that gets bullied by his fellow schoolmates constantly. With no one to turn to, his only way out is to either jump off a building, or take up lessons and learn to fight back. On his way to a Muay Thai class, he bumps into Chun-Woo Han, the new teacher in school, and is shocked to learn that the skirt-chasing teacher is actually a skilled martial arts expert. Before long, Shi-Woon starts to blackmail the teacher into teaching him martial arts, lest his identity of being a member of a secret society called the Murim is shared to the world. After some persistent persuasian, Chun-Woo finally relents, and at that time unbeknownst to both of them, everyone around them is dragged into the dangerous world of Murim.

Chun-Woo being a jerk-ass. (Source: MangaReader.net)

The Breaker is the second manhwa I have read. Curiously, it seemed like every other manhwa deals with the topic of martial arts. If you've never read manhwa before, there's not much difference to Japanese manga, artwise. You'll be forgiven to mistake a manhwa for a manga, if you missed the Korean sound effects. Like Korean TV series, all the characters look like supermodels, pose like supermodels, and act like divas. It's quite entertaining, like watching a contemporary Dynasty. You know, that 80s TV series featuring shoulder pads, big hair, and even bigger egos.

When I first read The Breaker, I was a little bored. Kids getting bullied is a serious matter, but I prefer the protaganist to have a spine. Sena in Eyeshield 21 gets bullied all the time, but he learns to deal with it by running away faster than his tormentors. The same can't be said about Shi-Woon here. He lets himself be bullied constantly, and lets off gas on the one person that truly cares about him. If he hadn't met Chun-Woo, he would have flung himself off the rooftop sooner or later. Killing oneself is the most cowardly thing in my book.

It's a good thing too, that Chun-Woo gets suckered into teaching him martial arts. At least the lecher proves himself to be very cool when he gets serious. He kicks ass so well, you'd be forgiven that he was ever the pervert bum that nobody takes seriously. In fact, he has a secret identity. Now, don't tell me you never saw that coming!

 "That teacher" is having fun bullying the weak. He's certainly no noble warrior. (Source: MangaReader.net)

The real excitement comes when Shi-Woon starts to really grasp the basics of martial arts. At this point, it really doesn't surprise me to know that Shi-Woon is actually a good candidate for martial arts, with the potential to surpass his teacher and everyone's expectations.

The illustrator, Jin-Hwan Park (under the pen name Kamaro), does a mean job of showing the fluidity in the martial arts move executed. I appreciate being able to follow how a kick and a punch is thrown, which shows that there is actual action choreography. You have no idea how much a haphazardly drawn fighting scene irks me. 

One of Kamaro's action paneling often used. (Source: MangaReader.net)

Kamaro's lines are strong and crisp, and his action lines are superb. I remember thinking the same thing for Eyeshield 21, so you can see how much I enjoy their action scenes.

 Chun-Woo getting some ass-whopping of his own. (Source: MangaReader.net)

Did I mention about the gratuitous amount of fan service? They're sprinkled liberally all over the chapters. Actually, this applies to both guys and gals. The gals are of supermodel standards, much like the Korean girls on TV; while some of the guys are as hot as pancakes too. Expect a few Rains and Hyunbins, and some Psys if you're into more plumpy guys. I do feel like the female readers' demographic is so much smaller than the guys', but it's always nice to see beautiful people in stories.

 Chun-Woo is not impressed. (Source: MangaReader.net)

The story of The Breaker is exciting, thanks to the brilliant writing of Geuk-Jin Jeon. It's what one would expect from a Korean series, which are famous for their plot twists and cliffhangers. New martial families sprout up along the story, until I have some trouble remembering who is who. Their faces are memorable, but the names don't stick (probably to do with the fact that I don't speak Korean). Not being able to understand who they are talking about hampers my full understanding on the storyline, but it won't seriously cripple the reading experience. At least I can still follow the storyline up to the end of The Breaker.

The Breaker ends after chapter 72, but it isn't the actual ending of the story. In fact, the story is still ongoing with a new series, called The Breaker: New Waves. This is probably a norm for manhwas, breaking the stories into arcs with a different story title. I see the same for Veritas, another manhwa (with martial art elements too).

If you enjoy good martial art manga, then by all means try The Breaker. The series ranks quite high on the popularity polls, and I agree.

Have a taste of the manga here. 

The second part of the manga can be found here. 

(If you like this manga, please buy the original to show your support to the author. Currently only Korean, French, Italian and Russian volumes are available though.)  

Review - Mr. Morning

The Rainbow Stone Train runs through a vast country, powered by Rainbow Stones and Light Water, resources unique to the beautiful country. When the train passes by, people stop and wave to the train. Such is the love the people have for the train that spews rainbow clouds.

The train is split into three sections: Morning carriage for people who are travelling short distances or want low rates; Afternoon carriage for the middle class; and the Evening carriage for the rich and posh.

This page explains it all. (Source: MangaReader.net)

Being fascinated with the Rainbow Stone Train as a child, Toky Towy (still a child) joins the crew of dedicated people as the newest member. His carefree and innocent personality clashes terribly with his superior, Wiseman, who exerts steely discipline towards all his subordinates.

 

Wiseman is strict to everyone. (Source: MangaReader.net)

The main story follows Towy as he learns what it means to be a crewmember of The Rainbow Stone Train. However, the train is marked by the military, and everyone on the crew list is required to obey the military's commands. It seems like a conspiracy is working behind the curtains, and the Rainbow Stone Train is the target...

At first glance, the manga is unassuming. I regret to say I did not know Shinobu Takayama, the mangaka. A Google search return results of Amatsuki, his best known series, but I know nothing of that either. That is not to say that Mr Morning is the inferior brother of Amatsuki or the rest of Takayama's work.

When I read the first few pages of the first chapter, I was already in stitches. Towy is adorable. He is like a soft toy, a puffy pomeranian, and marshmallow all rolled into one. For goodness's sake, his first appearance was made by climbing up the Rainbow Stone Train, earning himself a whack on the head by his superior, who he immediately remarks out loud that Wiseman "reeks of evil boss vibes". Cute, innocent, and blunt with his japes.

Towy's japes extend to everyone. (Source: MangaReader.net)

Wiseman, his super-strict direct superior, is the poor man assigned to make a "crewman" out of the enthuastic creature. He is quick to temper, wants only the best from everyone, and is super-committed to his job as assistant train conductor in the morning carriage. He loves the Rainbow Stone Train, and will make mincemeat out of his subordinates if they show any substandard service.

Wiseman being sentimental. (Source: MangaReader.net)

Mr Morning is a short series, ending in nine chapters. It hardly seems enough to tell the story of the crewmembers on the train, much less the BIG storyline that comes in the middle. But happily, the pacing feels all right to me. The suspense builds up in a nice pace, and enough limelight is cast on each characters to make readers care about them. I suppose the only quip I have with the pace would be the ending. It's just too short!

Art-wise, the manga series is delicately drawn. That is, everyone looks delicate, even the bad guys. What I really enjoy is looking at the minor characters, even the ones that are supposed to be fodders. A few simple lines make a character, but they look solid enough. Most of the time mangakas keep fodders as just fodders and rarely invest much into them, but Takayama's fodders are so endearing that it isn't really hard to imagine their background story. Also, I am tickled pink by everyone's chibi form, especially Towy's. There are a lot of chibis running around in the manga, with lots of shouting and large movements, which makes it utterly amusing to look at.

Cuteness over 9000! (Source: MangaReader.net)

Paneling and text placement are nicely done, so reading is a breeze.

Mr Morning might not be an epic manga with mind-blowing art, but it is still a good series to enjoy if you're looking for laughs.

Have a taste of the manga here.

I've even found the second series of Mr. Morning, called Mr Applicant! Here!

(If you like this manga, please buy the original to show your support to the author. I am not really sure if I can even find this series in local book stores, but I would definitely add it to my collections.)

Review - Pluto

One of Japan's greatest mangaka (if not the greatest), Osamu Tezuka, wrote the beloved story of a robot boy, who would later become one of the most prominent icons of Japan manga.

Title page for Mystery Man of the Blast Furnace (Astro Boy, 1961) 

Astro, the child robot that was created in the manga Astro Boy in 1951, gets a fresh story retelling in Naoki Urasawa’s Pluto. Specifically, the manga is based on Osamu’s "The Greatest Robot on Earth" story arc. Unlike the tame fairytales found in Osamu’s Astro Boy, Urasawa’s version tells a darker and more mature side of a world inhibited by both humans and robots.

 Pluto volume 1, Viz Media

In the future world, humans have created intelligent robots that live alongside them as normal citizens. The robots are given rights. They can have a job, marry another robot, and even adopt robot children, as long as they adhere to the Three Laws of Robotics, the most fundamental being the prohibition to harm a human being.

Gesicht, a Europol detective whose identity is significant (and I won’t spoil it here), gets assigned to a murder case of one of the seven most advanced robots in the world. The case is baffling, as only another advanced robot could have destroyed a super robot. Before the case has been solved, another murder case crops up, this time of a human. All cases point to the same culprit, but can a robot be capable of killing a human being?

  

 Who is capable of killing a super robot and a human? (Source: MangaReader.net)

Before I even started reading Pluto, I was already hooked on Naoki Urasawa’s manga. Before Pluto, I was reading Billy Bat, and way before that, 20^th Century Boys and Monster. Urasawa is a fantastic storyteller, and an incredible mangaka. He weaves extraordinary stories that wraps you into his world, and makes you care for the people in it, like they were very close friends and family.

In Pluto, I get to know Gesicht, I get to know how incredible he is as a detective, and underneath that cold exterior, is a person who genuinely cares. Through him, I get to know his lovely wife, and how beautiful their relationship means. I see the world that is created by Osamu and Urasawa through his eyes, and learn what it means to be someone living there, whether as a human or a robot.

 Who knew that under the cool exterior, is a loving man? (Source: MangaReader.net)

In what could perhaps be the best moment in the manga, Gesicht meets with Atom, the wonder boy robot. In the original Astro Boy, Atom stands out because of his metal-looking hair and clothes – or rather, the lack of them. Here in Urasawa’s world, no one would have been able to point out the boy from a crowd, as he is actually built to be identical to a human being. He is fascinating, in that he sees the world through a kid’s eyes. He’s interested with snails, he enjoys eating ice-cream, and he even cries. In Atom, the line between robots and human beings are blurred so much, that I can’t help but think of him as made of flesh and blood. Gesicht has trouble differentiating Atom from a human boy as well, and their meeting is important for both of them to learn what it’s like to be on the other side of the human/robot fence.

 The moment Atom said he wanted ice cream, I feel in love. (Source: MangaReader.net)

The world drawn by Urasawa is beautiful but unforgiving. Lush forests still dot the landscape, while futuristic skyscrapers built on platforms look like they float in the air. But in Central Asia, the war wounds are still fresh. The war is a major plot point in Pluto, and Urasawa makes it gut-wrenchingly so. Nothing is sugar-coated, and it feels like my heart is being rent apart. That’s what Urasawa does best. He rends hearts.

Two examples of Urasawa's near realistic depictions of sceneries. (Source: MangaReader.net)

Be warned, there is a significant amount of deaths in the manga, each one more heartbreaking than the last.

 

Just as breathtaking movies benefit most from amazing cinematography, Urasawa’s manga benefits from his masterly use of panels. Scenes flow from one panel to the other effortlessly, sometimes deliberately lingering on important moments to let the feelings sink in.

  Urasawa lets the panels do the talking. (Source: MangaReader.net)

Though I have a few bones to chew on after finishing the manga, particularly about a few loose threads, they do not detract from the overall enjoyment I received. For a few days after, the story gnawed on my mind. The mind kept replaying certain scenes, while the heart kept longing for more of the characters that were killed off too soon.

Only masterpieces deserve to be immortalized forever in the reader’s mind, long after the last page of the manga had been read.

Pluto has won the 2005 Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Grand Prize, which Urasawa had also won for Monster in 1999. It also received an Excellence Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival in 2005.

Have a taste of the manga here.

(If you like this manga, please buy the original to show your support to the author. I am definitely buying the full set as soon as I cleared some space for my already crowded bookshelves.)

Hi! Nice to meet you!

What was the first comic ever drawn? If ever there was a question as significant as the first word ever spoken by our ancient ancestors. Who can tell? It might be a caricature of a pet mammoth, in the veins of a delightful family comedy; or it could be the mauling of a disliked neighbour by a sabre-toothed cat, in full gory details, masquerading as an uncensored gore comic.

(If you’re interested in knowing the first published comic though, try here.) 

For me, the first comics I know came from my elder brother, who was (was, because I’m guessing he had out-growned them by now) an avid comic fan. It was during the 90s, when Hong Kong comics were the rage among Chinese-reading teenagers. Tony Wong was considered the King of Hong Kong comics, and his Jade Dynasty Comics nurtured more than a handful of rising comic artists. But my brother is a fan of one of his most prominent comic artist, Ma Wing Shing, the creator of Chinese Hero and Fung Wan (Storm Riders).

Never a fan of Hong Kong comics myself, I just skimmed through his prized possessions when he wasn’t at home. I somehow had the impression that he would skin me alive if he had found out that I’d been touching his books. 

Then, my brother started to buy a weekly manga magazine (published locally) that would be delivered to our doorstep every Saturday. At first I would (as nosy little sisters do) flip through the whole thing, and then drop it aside. The one manga that would catch my eye and started this whole comic-loving history of mine was Hell Teacher Nūbē, the quirky and super funny-and-scary ghost manga. I’m not sure how the two-person team of mangaka and the story writer did it, but the series gave me fits of hysterical laughter and chills up my spine at the same time, and later sleepless nights.

From then on, it was a discovery of a lot of interesting manga. From Rurouni Kenshin to Detective Conan, it seemed like there were tons of good stories to whet my insatiable appetite. 

My love affair with Japanese manga lasted for quite some time, because there were so many good stories with a wide variety of genres. But my selection was limited to what can be bought in magazines and tankōbon, translated to Mandarin (there wasn’t a market for English-translated manga yet back then, and Malay-translated manga are really limited).

And then, people started posting scanlated manga on the Internet. My choices expanded to Korean manhwa and Taiwan manhua. Later, I found webcomics posted usually by western comic artists. It feels like comics/manga/manhwa/manhua are experiencing a great growth spurt.

I just figured, since I’ve been gorging myself with famous/less famous stories alike, I can do some good by introducing the lesser known ones to other people. Readers don’t need another person telling them how awesome D.Gray-man is, but they might appreciate an introduction to Eden: It's an Endless World! And since almost everyone is hooked on manga nowadays, why not try a webcomic from Dubai (Warrior U)?

It’s a tiny wish on my part, that I can share the guffaws I have on reading comics. I hope you’ll enjoy the stories that I’ll be introducing on this blog as well.

Neko