Kim Yeon-Joo - Nabi, vol. 01-02

[oyceter]

I love Kim Yeon-Joo's art. It's gorgeous, her kids are adorable, and I love the clothing. I also love her characters. Unfortunately, her storytelling skills aren't so great.

I read Nabi: The Prototype, which is a prequel to Nabi and has three stories about Aru, Ryu-Sang, and Myo-Un, the main characters in Nabi. Ah-Ru is an adorable girl, Ryu-Sang is a grumpy guy who used to be Myo-Un's friend before smashing a vase over her head for reasons yet unknown, and Myo-Un is one of the orphanage's more mysterious inhabitants, at least in terms of origin. Nabi begins at the orphanage; a noblewoman has gathered orphans together and fostered them, again for unknown reasons. Soon, the orphans must disperse, and we get more vague hints as to Myo-Un's specialness.

As you can tell, I have very little idea of what is going on. I suspect I would just give up on the manhwa if it weren't for my emotional investment in the characters from reading the prequel. I'll probably keep reading, but I don't have high hopes for the plot. I think Kim may excel at creating brief character interactions and at invoking emotion in the short form, but she doesnm't seem to be very good at building things out over time, be it in terms of plot or characterization. That's really too bad, because I very much want to know what is going on with Ryu-Sang and Myo-Un.

Comments

[rilina.livejournal.com]

I just came across the scans of this, though I hadn't had time to properly read them. Have you read Kim's short story "The Door" (http://rilina.livejournal.com/527232.html)? It's gorgeous.

[oyceter]

I read it and vaguely remember liking it, although now I do not remember what it was about! But yeah, let me know if you can figure out what's going on in Nabi...

[laikie.livejournal.com]

i couldn't agree with you more! ^^
anyways, im still continuing reading it, because im really very curious too on what will happen to ryu-sang and myo-un,
i read somewhere that up until the 5th volume, it's still a mystery, who's the assassin really after,hmmmm,,
waaah.. and i read at baka-updates that it has 6 volumes, gosh, im so excited to know what will happen :D

[oyceter]

Wow, 6 volumes! I hope the plot manages to come together! Or if not, I just want more Ryu-Sang and Myo-Un, really.

[laikie.livejournal.com]

yeah! more ryu-sang and myo-un! haha, i want to see them lovey-dovey, lol xD

[(Anonymous)]

i agree with you. i don't quite know why would Ryu smashed a vase on Myo's head when both of them seemed very close when they first met. then about the assassin, about Han-Ah(seemed not his/her real name) brother, why they(Myo n Ryu) must protect her/him n others. But i like Kim Yeon Joo's drawing. It is so unique and almost like Japanese manga. BTW, where can i read this manhwa? cuz i searched around a lots n i did find it but it don't have the past of Ryu n Myo first met each other, for example like animea.net it only has the momment they were adults.