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Manga-ka: Kim Jea Eun
Publisher: Tokyopop
Rating: 13+
Released: January 2005 – March 2007
Volumes: 5
Synopsis: We follow the fast paced life of a young half-Korean, half-Caucasian boy named Kai on his journey through the streets of Harlem. With piercing blue eyes that put everyone around him under a spell, Kai finds himself learning how to kill before learning how to love.
When you open the book it feels like you can instantly tell what the story is about. There’s the classic love interest, in this case a Korean girl named Sunil, who happens to fall into this strange world by secretly following Kai down onto the dangerous streets of Harlem. Once discovered, Kai’s best and only friend, Spike, instantly falls in love with her. He asks Kai to hook them up, but instead of doing what he’s asked to Kai steals her away creating a rift in their friendship that lasts the entire series. So that’s what Soul to Seoul is about; just another stereotypical friend versus friend over a girl right? Not even close.
The main character Kai is a wrestles soul searching blindly for something to make him feel alive. At home he’s an outsider, being the only blond-haired, blue-eyed son of a completely Korean family. His brother, J.J, is adopted, staying with them until he is officially adopted because their sister Gelda (the only child of both parents) refuses to accept him as family. In avoiding his complicated home life, Kai seeks out the dangerous path of a gangster and not your typical thug in the street gangster either; more of a mafia style gangster/hit man.
New characters and faces pop up every other page, and for a while you forget who exactly this story is supposed to be about. There’s a detailed tangent about Kai’s almost adopted brother J.J., which is very welcome as J.J. is just so darn cute and horribly hard done by. While the story of J.J.’s life plays alongside the main story, updates on the rest of the characters are included in a way that doesn’t disturb the fluidity of the plot. You’re shown how each story weaves around the others so you can be blindsided by the unexpected, but complete, ending.
The art style is very distinct, each character having their own defining features so you can’t confuse them with each other. The only flaw in Kim Jea Eun’s style is that the girls look far too much like the guys. Don’t expect to understand why Sunil (or any other supposedly attractive girl) has more appeal then a nameless chick hanging about in the background. If you’re an avid Manhwa reader like I am, however, none of these flaws will affect your experience in the least.
Though hard to obtain, as Soul to Seoul has been placed on Tokoypop’s exclusive online order list, it’s worth the extra time it takes to get it. Full of love and loss, you may find yourself learning about the dark world of 20th century New York State’s Manhattan Harlem, or get a better understanding of what it feels like to be different. You’ll laugh, you may even cry, as the ups and downs of these lovable characters play out in your hands.
Written March 10, 2007 by Kagami Han’ei
Volume One
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Manga-ka: Kim Jea Eun Publisher: Tokyopop Rating: Teens (13+) Released: January 2005 Synopsis: “Kai and Spike are best of friends. They have a common background, the fact that they are both half Koreans. They both feel alone and mistreated, angry towards the world, and uncomfortable in their own house. One day in the middle of black Harlem, they accidentally encounter a Korean foreign student, Sunil, and both become interested in her…” |
Volume Two
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Manga-ka: Kim Jea Eun Publisher: Tokyopop Rating: Teens (13+) Released: April 2005 Synopsis: “As agreed, Kai kills the Chinese gang leader on his wedding day, and this is his first time killing a person. He goes into hiding for a short time and even colors his blond hair to black, but to no avail; he is found by one of the Gui-Ryung gang members. Interestingly, he is also Korean, but in a Chinese gang, and does not kill Kai. Innstead, he suggests to Kai that they should form their own gang.” |
Volume Three
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Manga-ka: Kim Jea Eun Publisher: Tokyopop Rating: Teens (13+) Released: October 2005 Synopsis: “Spike, one of the only constants in Kai’s life, disappears from the neighborhood for a while. When he returns, it is as a bodyguard–and he and the girl he protects enroll in the same high school as Kai and Sunil! Although Kai and Sunil spend more time together, she wants to know everything about him–including his hidden life. But living dangerously is no laughing matter; when a fight breaks out with rival Gui-Ryung gang members, Kai might pay to keep Sunil safe with his life!” |
Volume Four
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Manga-ka: Kim Jea Eun Publisher: Tokyopop Rating: Teens (13+) Released: July 2006 Synopsis: “Kai and Sunil are still going strong, even though he is the reason Sunil got shot. As Sunil’s gun wound heals, her addiction to Kai just gets stronger… Meanwhile, Kai and Spike are still on the outs. Although Spike misses his old pal, his new girlfriend Hillary fills some of that void. While Gelda continues to worry about her missing brother, she secretly pines for JJ. Will sparks fly when she goes to a NOBO-D show with Sally to see him?” |
Volume Five
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Manga-ka: Kim Jea Eun Publisher: Tokyopop Rating: Teens (13+) Released: August 2007 Synopsis: “The final volume of Soul to Seoul is here–and it’s packed with hot secrets! J.J. is still mourning the death of his foster father…so much so, that he decides to visit Korea–much to Gelda’s chagrin. Has she missed her chance to reveal her true feelings for J.J.? Meanwhile, Spike finally confesses his feelings of love to Sunil–and then tells Kai that he’s moving to the west coast. But what Kai tells him next will change all of their destinies forever!” |
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