There are two universal truths in today’s rapidly changing comics industry. The first is that Junji Ito is the defining artist of our era. The second is that more people are reading horror 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 Halloventure. Every week through October, three writers will recommend some of their favorite scary books and series from Japan, Korea and elsewhere. This installment features such terrifying topics as: immortality! Frozen meat! Animal masks!
Live Forever
Writer/Artist: Raul Trevino
Editor: Bekah Caden
Background Assistant: Andres Baquerizo
Project Consultant: E. Dieter
Platform: WEBTOON, Rocketship (print)
Come on you apes! You want to Live Forever?
It’s spooky season, and I have just the right pick for Beat’s Bizarre Halloventure. It’s one of the first WEBTOONs I read back when I first downloaded the app, and has been a huge influence on my own work. This series is Raul Trevino’s supernatural thriller Live Forever. It tells the story of Sarah, a teenage girl searching for a means to achieve eternal life after a tragic family event forces her to face her own mortality.
Live Forever is one of, if not the only WEBTOON Original I have read that is entirely in black and white. That is a big deal considering that the majority of Originals have to be in full color. This series stands out for the way that it uses line art and black to emphasize shadows, creatures, clothing, and scenery. Red is also used to draw the reader’s attention, just like in comics like Sin City and films like Schindler’s List.
Raul Trevino’s art is also unique, with simple character designs that strike a balance between being detailed and simplified. I can’t describe the appeal of his character art in words. You just have to read his works and see his art to understand how he achieved it.
The webtoon is really short, being only 52 episodes long. So it is a short and sweet read for this time of year. Without spoiling the story, if you’re a fan of mysterious murders and supernatural entities, you won’t be disappointed. Also, if you enjoy reading this webtoon, I recommend checking out Raul’s other WEBTOON Original Magic Soda Pop. — Justin Guerrero
The Vampire & His Pleasant Companions
Writer/Artist: Marimo Ragawa
Original Story: Narise Konohara
Translator: Taylor Engel
Lettering: Abigail Blackman
Publisher: Yen Press
It’s hard to explain why you’re naked in the women’s toilet of a meat-processing plant when you don’t know the language. More so when you were a bat accidentally shipped to Japan in a package of frozen meat. Yet, this is the predicament Albert finds himself in.
He is a vampire, but his transformation wasn’t executed properly. Now he involuntarily turns into a human at night while spending his days as a bat. A string of events leads him to Akira, a seemingly cross and teasing embalmer. We accompany Albert as he tackles life, makes friends, and finds meaning in his existence.
Marimo Ragawa is an established manga artist. Two of her other series, New York, New York and Those Snow White Notes, have been licensed in English. The latter has an anime adaptation. Her new series The Vampire & His Pleasant Companions, made in collaboration with novelist Narise Konohara, is a slow-paced, bittersweet Boys Love manga featuring an odd pairing that never misses the chance to butt heads.
The series carefully balances goofiness, tragedy, tenderness, and romance. It isn’t quite “down to earth” because of course there are vampires. But Albert faces believable challenges after being turned into a creature that can’t hold a human form. Losing family and friends, not having an ID, and therefore ending up homeless and only having to get by working part-time jobs that pay almost nothing are all now “normal” for him.
His life with the broody embalmer Akira is not exactly smooth sailing either. Yet having allies and a roof over his head is enough for Albert to shine. He’s energetic, full of love and kindness. Maybe he’s impulsive and prone to mishaps. But he’s trying with all his might to survive in a world that is pushing him away. Akira is slow to open up, but makes a great pair with Albert, and his increasing trust in his were-bat flat mate as the chapters progress feels so rewarding to read.
Ragawa’s The Vampire & His Pleasant Companions is a poignant manga and a fitting October read, especially for people who aren’t fond of horror like me but want to get into the Halloween groove. The fifth volume just came out, so there are plenty of volumes to go through! — Merve Giray
Version 1.0.0Everything is Fine
Writer/Artist: Mike Birchall
Editor: HB Klein
Platform: WEBTOON, Webtoon Unscrolled (print)
In a quiet, idyllic neighborhood, a couple named Maggie and Sam live together in a nice house with their lovely dog Winston. Everything seems normal and fine. Until you realize things aren’t quite right. Winston isn’t…really Winston anymore. Maggie and Sam are skirting around something that they don’t want to or can’t talk about. If they do talk about the wrong thing, their eyes turn red and they forget about it. Other than that, everything. Is. Perfectly. Fine.
Everything is Fine is unsettling in large part due to its extremely simple art. The colors are simple and solid and the lines clean but also simple. Birchall conveys the creepiness through his use of shadows and by zooming in on character faces. Dialogue is not needed here; the readers know something isn’t right but they just can’t quite put a finger on what. Disquiet is also conveyed expertly through the character designs. They are all wearing animal head masks, so you can’t tell how they are feeling by looking at their faces. The eyes on these masks don’t blink. They don’t sparkle. It’s the same dull black regardless of if they’re angry or scared or happy.
The disturbing quality is felt right from the beginning through the little details. Maggie staring at three swings in the park, Charlie buying copious amounts of foil, Sam barely batting an eye (metaphorically, not literally) when someone who looks like he had been through an attack stumbles into his yard. Things are not fine, but everyone is too scared to point that out. This makes Birchall’s writing of dialogue all the more clever because the characters say things…without actually outright saying them.
Everything is Fine is like if George Orwell’s 1984 was remade as a webcomic and people wore animal heads all day long. Yet the personal stakes feel much higher in Everything is Fine. — Hilary Leung
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English (US) · 