In today’s ever-changing comics industry, there are two universal truths. The first one is dog man is an iconic comic of our time. The second is that more people are reading comics and online comics (also known as vertical comics) than ever before. So we at The Comics Beat chose to embark on a new adventure: Bit’s Bizarre Adventure. Each week we ask three authors to recommend some of their favorite books and series from Japan, Korea, and elsewhere. This week we’re covering fairy tales, killer love stories, and of course, monsters (but not the eighth kind.)
crow legend
Writer/Artist: Hao Qianxun
platform: webcomic
i once loved crow legend for many years. It’s close to my heart, partly as an artist and writer, Hao Qianxunis someone I know. But in my opinion, it’s also because it’s a hidden gem in the sea of originals that dominate the platform.
crow legend It will be serialized on WEBTOON on March 11, 2021. The story centers on Wen, a raven-haired girl who is sheltered in isolation on a farm by her grandmother, Mother Goose. When a mysterious man with the power of a raven kidnaps her grandmother, Vin embarks on an adventure to save her. She is joined by Corliss, a prince cursed to help others at his own expense, and Theo, Corliss’s bodyguard turned barn swallow.
crow legend Takes place in the world of fables and fairy tales. Each region has a fairy-tale name, such as Fablewald, Talehurst or The Sea of Talemar. Winner and Collis meet familiar characters from Puss in Boots, Snow White (The Best Girl), The Pied Piper, and more. The characters are introduced in a natural way yet spark curiosity about their role in the narrative.
It’s also one of the few original books I’ve read that ties into the Canvas series, through one of the supporting characters who goes on adventures with Vin and Corliss. It’s subtle and may be beyond the comprehension of some readers. However, as someone who has read the Chihiro Canvas series, this connection gave me such an amazing dopamine rush that I wish I could experience it again.
art in crow legend Stand out from many online comics. Chihiro’s style is so colorful and expressive, yet comfortable. Bright watercolors make the characters and world feel at home in this fairy-tale setting. The backgrounds are incredibly detailed, no doubt due in part to the contributions of the legendary Atsuhiro. His past works include the famous Shonen Jump series such as “Death Note”, “Hunter x Hunter” and “Shaman King”. These backgrounds complement Chihiro’s style and ensure that the characters are always the focus of their space.
I can continue to praise crow legendbut that should give you an idea of what this series means to me. Its story, art and setting are unique among WEBTOON’s other original works. It deserves more readers. — Justin Guerrero
reach the abyss
Artist/Writer: Moyori Mori
Translator: Debbie Fu
Lettering: Nicole Roderick
Publisher: ShuCream BL
Chinatsu is a killer who doesn’t know how to kill. Five years ago, he witnessed his younger brother die as a result of his actions. Blood, fear, guilt and a hand reaching out from the darkness still haunt his dreams. So did the tender eyes of the boy who saw what happened that fateful night. One day, he met the boy, a young blind man named Kasumi.
Five years ago, Kasumi lost his sight and his world became dark. While this didn’t change when he met and became friends with Chinatsu, the darkness no longer oppressed him and he no longer felt alone. Chinatsu and Kasumi have lived alone in the darkness for so long that neither of them remembers what light is until they meet again.
reach the abyss yes Mori Morai’s debut novel, this is really a debut novel. There is a tenderness in Mori’s art: in Kasumi’s soft eyes as she gazes at the world around her; Chinatsu watched Kasumi’s expression; gentle touches were exchanged between them. This tenderness can also be seen in Mori’s story of two lonely souls who find acceptance, forgiveness, and love in circumstances they thought were impossible.
Chinatsu and Kasumi convey the power and beauty of vulnerability. Everyone around them thinks they’re weak – either because of Chinatsu’s inability to kill, or Kasumi’s disability – but they both possess a quiet resilience that they don’t realize they possess until they meet.
reach the abyss Complete in one volume. Although the story is short, the ending is perfect, which is a bit regretful. — Liang Haoying
Homosexuals who turned into monsters
Writer/Artist: Kazuki Minamoto
Translated by: Regan Harvey
Lettering: Carolina Hernandez
Publisher: Yen Publishing House
Takashi tries to finish high school as quietly as possible, but bullies attack him. Only the kindness of the homeroom teacher, Mr. Kuroda, makes coming to school worthwhile. However, Takashi’s world is turned upside down when he overhears Kuroda continuing to talk about how disgusting gay men are. Vulnerable and wounded, he desperately wants to be anyone, anyone else: “someone” who isn’t gay. He then transforms into a strange monstrous monster with a human body and…well, look at the cover.
I know Source Kazuki The best work comes from their Boys Love work, but they also draw women’s comics and teen romance comics. Their work is quirky, upbeat, fun, and seems to have been put together simply because the source wanted it that way. The Man Who Turned into a Monster is as weird and funny as the rest of Source’s work, but this time it’s much more serious.
Haruhiko Kuroda’s homophobic comments deeply hurt Takashi. The pain of rejection combined with the heavy burden of “normality” turned him into a monster. I’m sure this feeling of denial itself resonates with many queer people. But the source extends this further, adding layer after layer of complexity. Layer after layer is added and brings interesting complexity.
After becoming a monster, Long was no longer bullied. This gave him a mixed feeling of excitement. Getting up in the morning is less exhausting and getting to school becomes easier. Meanwhile, Haruhiko Kuroda is determined to help Takashi return to normal. He took him to the hospital to find a doctor willing to treat him, while making a grand statement of acceptance. The similarities between these and queer experiences, such as being treated as a sick person or a danger, or having to carefully navigate every relationship without knowing if you’ll be accepted, are real hits.
Kazuki Minamoto, an openly gay artist himself, has created a bittersweet, funny, and complex one-volume manga that I highly recommend. — Melvi Guire
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