Manga is an umbrella term that covers a broad range of works, including comics, graphic novels and more. They are created in Japan and published internationally. In recent years, manhwa has become a massive hit for many manga fans. Originating from South Korea, manhwa has garnered a lot of attention for its colourful publishing, a stark contrast to mangas, which are black and white.
This month’s recommendations are:
Eleceed
Genres: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural, Comedy, Adventure
“Jiwoo is a good-hearted young guy who uses a cat’s lightning-quick reflexes to discreetly improve the world, saving one tiny child or foster pet at a time. Kayden is a fugitive secret agent who finds himself trapped inside the body of a…decidedly obese old fluffy cat. With Jiwoo’s superpowers and Kayden’s uber intelligence, these unlikely allies confront the forces that want to let evil rule the world. That is, if they can put up with each other long enough to get the job done.”
This manhwa is written by Son Je Ho and drawn by ZHENA, who is known for creating the manhwa ‘noblesse’, which I will be covering in a later issue. This manhwa is a perfect example of how extravagantly and almost outrageously action scenes can be drawn. It also incorporates various ‘slice of life’ moments with the main protagonist, Jiwoo, and his friends, that will melt your heart.
You can read it online for free here.
Horimiya
Genres: Romance, Shounen, Comedy
“Hori is an average teenage girl who has a bright personality and is popular at school; however, she has a side that she doesn’t want anyone to find out about. Then there is Miyamura, Hori’s classmate, who looks like your generic teenaged boy at school, but has his own secrets outside of it. During one fateful encounter, they discover each other’s secrets and develop an unexpected friendship.”
Any avid anime or manga fan will know that the romance genre has two extremes, either full, over-the-top drama, or the rare occurrence of sweet and light-hearted romance with a satisfying happy ending. Personally, I prefer the latter so this manga truly captures my heart. At times, ‘Horimiya’ feels as though it’s about to cross that line between lightheartedness to dramatic but never actually does, and again it’s a good thing! Its simplicity and balance between the two sides is what makes Horimiya stand out compared to other rom-coms, and was definitely a part of why it was so popular. The authenticity of the characters, both the main and the side characters, gives you a warm feeling throughout the manga. This manga also has an anime adaption and is definitely a must watch alongside reading the manga.
You can buy the first volume on Amazon here.
