There are two universal truths in today’s rapidly changing comics industry. The first is that Dog Man is the defining comic of our era. The second is that more people are reading manga and Webtoons (aka vertical scroll comics) than ever before. Therefore we at Comics Beat have chosen to embark on a new venture: Beat’s Bizarre Adventure. Every other week, we’ll have three writers recommend some of their favorite books and series from Japan, Korea and elsewhere. This week we have high school bullies, young adult soul searching, and, of course, spirits.
My Life as a Loser
Writer: Park Tae Jun
Artist: Jeon Sun-Wook
Platform: Webtoon
“My life was ruined after he bullied me in high school. So why are you happy and successful? I’ll give you a taste of your own medicine! Now you will see what it feels like to be me… And if you want to return to your own body, you better be ready to pay the price.”
My Life as a Loser is a gripping webtoon by the talented writer Park Tae Jun, known for his profound storytelling and intricate character development in the realm of Korean webcomics. It tells the tale of 21 year old Jang Ancheol, who is cursed by his bullied classmate Jinu Kim to travel back in time. He must live in Jang’s body until he rectifies his wrongdoings and prevents 4 “FML” incidents that Jinu can’t forget. The premise is original, well-executed and presents a fascinating twist on the typical revenge narrative.
The importance of My Life as a Loser lies in its exploration of bullying, a critical issue among Korean youth. Park brings this topic to life through his own past experiences in a way that resonates deeply with readers. The webtoon’s realistic portrayal of school life and the consequences of bullying not only entertains but also raises awareness.
The series features genuinely funny moments that had me laughing out loud. I loved the otaku character Seulgi, who quotes lines from his favorite anime (“Omai wa mou shindeiru. You are already dead.”) The plot twists are not only surprising but occasionally humorous, adding a layer of unpredictability to the narrative. The character development is also exceptional, especially for the main character. Park brilliantly captures their growth and evolving relationships.
The webtoon is not without its heart-wrenching moments. The second and fourth FML incidents stand out as among the most heartbreaking moments in Park Tae Jun’s work, illustrating the cruelty and heartlessness teenagers can exhibit under certain circumstances. Despite these intense scenes, the tone is carefully balanced by well-placed comedy.
Webtoon artist Jeon Sun-Wook’s realistic drawings perfectly complement the narrative. They evoke the feel of live-action Korean drama, or even DC superhero comics. References from Park Tae Jun’s other works add an exciting layer for fans familiar with his oeuvre.
If you enjoyed Lookism and are looking for a webtoon that combines the satisfaction of a revenge plot with real emotional stakes, My Life as a Loser is a must-read. Its seamless blend of humor, heartache, and character growth makes it a standout piece in Park Tae Jun’s repertoire. Whether you are new to his works or a long-time fan, this webtoon is both engaging and thought-provoking.
Season of Change
Writer/Artist: AJS
Translator: Chloe Lee
Editor: Ellie, Christine Thoreau
Platform: Manta
Manta is known for romantasy and BL titles like Under the Oak Tree and Semantic Error. But it also has a small but memorable collection of coming-of-age stories that tug at the heartstrings. One of these is AJS’s Season of Change.
Ohran Lim gave up boxing at 17 years old. She now runs a convenience store at 29. One day she is visited by high schoolers Woon and Baram. The three of them share advice and friendship over the years and steadily grow closer. Soon Woon and Baram graduate high school and start chasing their dreams. Meanwhile, Ohran reconnects with friends from her past as a social worker. She realizes that while everybody she knows is moving forward with their lives, only she remains stuck.
Season of Change made a big impact on me. It might be because I’m close to Ohran’s age. It might be that worrying “what the heck am I even doing with my life?” as you watch from the sidelines while your friends achieve their dreams is oh-so-famliar. I think the answer, though, is that seeing an adult on the page who you’d expect would have their life together, but doesn’t, was comforting to me. Ohran could have been content, if not quite happy, to keep working at the convenience store. It’s tough to change tracks at that point in your life, either because you’re already set in your ways or because your peers tell you that it’s too late. Ohran made that jump anyway, even though it took her a couple of years to realize she still had time to do what she loved.
I may or may not have fallen to my knees in tears when I saw that Manta will discontinue Season of Change on July 18. I hope that the comic finds a home elsewhere; it’s a series that everybody should read!
I Want to Hold Aono-kun So Badly I Could Die
Writer/Artist: Umi Shiina
Translator: Steven LeCroy
Lettering: Jan Lan Ivan Concepcion
Editing: Sarah Tilson
Publisher: Kodansha
Yuri Kariya loves her classmate Aono. But just two weeks after she confesses her love, he dies in a traffic accident. Yuri Kariya decides right then and there that it’s over for her. But just before she takes her own life, Aono appears in front of her as a ghost. The two of them begin their relationship once more. What will come of this charming love comedy? For that matter, what does Aono mean by “possession?” Is this something more here than meets the eye?
The great joke of I Want to Hold Aono-kun So Badly I Could Die is just how long it takes for the characters to realize they are in a horror story. Yuri badly wants to believe that she is in a vintage Rumiko Takahashi romantic comedy. Sure her ghost boyfriend sometimes acts erratically and changes her body with his ectoplasmic powers. But isn’t that normal for two people in love? The tragedy is that Aono himself is unaware of what is happening. He only wants the best for Yuri. Instead he is compelled by forces beyond his control to slip beyond humanity into a darker and stranger state.
Umi Shiina’s art at first just appears to be “functional.” Her designs are simple and don’t quite have the expressivity you’d want for this kind of story. Once the horror ramps up, though, she reveals herself as a thoughtful cartoonist. She makes her cute characters unsettling by putting them into places they shouldn’t be, or by distorting their bodies unexpectedly. She also understands just what makes ghosts so scary: the gap between what you see and what you don’t. A single speech bubble coming from the door behind you is far more frightening than a simple monster would be. Yet it takes much less effort to draw.
I Want to Hold Aono-kun transforms over its run from bad romance to folk horror to affecting character drama. Not every turn is as surprising as the very beginning. Yet the series is good all the way through, and only deepens in character and theme as it progresses. If you like The Summer Hikaru Died, you’ll love this.
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