Sky Blade
Publisher
ADVmanga
Writer
Hyun Kang-Suk
Artist
Ah Shin
Country of origin
Korea
Year
1998
Manhwa Fans Unite! Sky Blade GN 1
By David Rasmussen
9th Aug 04  Studio - ADVManga
Age - All Ages
Author - Hyun Kang-Suk
Illustrator - Ah Shin
ADV Manga credits
Translator - Trisha Eggleston
Lead Translator/Translator Supervisor - Javiar Lopez
ADV Manga Translation Staff - Jason An and Simon Jung
Publishing Editor - Susan Itin
Assistant Editor - Margaret Scharold
Editorial Assistant - Varsha Bhuchar NOTE - Notice how this week it's Manhwa Fans Unite and NOT Manga Fans Unite!(?)
That's because this week's selection of reviews are Korean Manhwas titles, hence the name change. Graphic Novel 1
I'll make this short and sweet.
Set in ancient times of swords, warriors, bandits and so forth we have this one cool looking dude named Jih-Ro. Seems he's destined to become conqueror of the land... UNLESS of course somebody else happens to have been born on the same day, at the same hour, as himself -- then it's a 50/50 toss up as to which one of these two will rule the land. Right off the bat Jih-Ro runs into his "counterpart"... and, yes, it's a loser. Jerk, down on his luck dummy, etc. who just so happens to have stumbled across dead bandits and gone away with a powerful sword. Of course he has no idea what he's holding, or the power he might have if he somehow gets rid of his scheming power hungry counterpart. First, of course, he'll have to get away from the remaining bandits who now think he killed their associates and are out for his blood, the female warrior who DID kill said bandits and now wants to kill him because he accidentally kissed her and (scandal) people now think they're MARRIED, or the other female warrior (friend to the first) who had her lower clothing accidentally yanked off by said loser who now wants to kill him because of her embarrassment. Yeah, if he gets out of this book in one piece? That'll be a miracle. Sky Blade Breakdown the 1st What's Hot? It seems pretty interesting and yet it's for all ages so anyone can get into it. What's Not? It also seems at times to play out like bad Asian cinema. I don't know but some of these moments just seem forced. And a little obvious here and there. It's a good read, but I've had issues with a few points here and there. Moments to Remember? I hate to say it, but somehow the scenes with the female cast somehow are the most interesting for one point or another. Oh, and the fighting is good too. What to Ignore? Uh -- yeah. I think I've seen a few of these gags before. But nothing too bad. Overall? It's a fair start, but I'd like to see it take off and fly high with Graphic Novel 2. Waiting to see how high it can go when the next book hits.
-- David Rasmussen 9th Aug 04
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