Manhwa Monday: January Thaw

One of my favorite reviews this week came from David Welsh over at the newly-renamed Manga Curmudgeon, for JiUn Yun’s Time and Again (Yen Press). Though this book has been featured here before, his review is so delightful, I simply can’t help myself.

David begins his review by likening the book to a character played by a young Barbara Stanwyck, “… sexy, funny, moving and often ruthless. It’s about an exorcist-for-hire who seems more inclined to give his clients what they deserve than what they request.” This description of the title’s lead character, Baek-On, is so apt, I wish I’d written it myself. Also this, “… his skills with the unquiet dead are virtually moot in balance with his indifference towards the unquiet living.”

Check out David’s review for further insight and wit.

The one bit of news I have to share will likely provoke a bit of eye-rolling. On Wednesday, The Yaoi Review noticed some activity on the forums at DramaQueen, including an announcement claiming that the publisher is not dead and that they are “working quietly” to get their books out. Those who have been watching DQ for a while know that they have made such claims many times before–even lying outright about books being printed, apparently for the purpose of collecting more money from fans (thanks to Lissa at Kuriousity for giving me the background). You may also know that DramaQueen holds the licenses to several manhwa titles, including DVD and Peter Panda, two of the titles that come up most often in pleas for license rescues. Will DramaQueen actually come back to life or is this just another ploy to keep the book orders coming? Time will tell.

There are just a handful of reviews to dig into this week. At i ♥ manga, Lorena Nava Ruggero reads volume one of Dokebi Bride (NETCOMICS). Julie at Manga Maniac Cafe looks at volume seven of Shaman Warrior (Dark Horse). At TangognaT, Anna reviews both volume five of I.N.V.U. (Tokyopop) and volume one of Land of Silver Rain (NETCOMICS). Rob at Panel Platter checks out volume six of Tarot Cafe (Tokyopop). Lastly, Lissa Pattillo reads volume three of Pig Bride (Yen Press) at Kuriousity.

To round things out, let’s take a moment to look at January’s manhwa releases:

Yen Press debuts two new series this month, Hyun You and YoungBin Kim’s Laon, a fantasy about a nine-tailed fox disguised as a little boy, and Sirial’s One Fine Day, a somewhat trippy all-ages tale about anthropomorphic pets and their master, a “novice magician.”

Dark Horse releases volume five of Bride of the Water God, one of Danielle’s favorites in 2009.

NETCOMICS has no print releases due this month, but January has already seen new chapters of both Please, Please Me and Full House, two of my favorite manhwa series for grown-up women–a demographic only NETCOMICS has really gone after so far.

That’s all the news!

Is there something I’ve missed? Leave your manhwa-related links in comments!