Invu Vol. 1 [Paperback]

Kim Kang Won (Author)

Book Description

Series: Invu | Publication Date: February 11, 2003

When 16 year-old Sey’s mom leaves suddenly for Europe, she leaves Sey with a new family, the Kangs. Her new "family" is supposed to be normal, but when her foster brother turns out to be a sister, she begins to think that her new home is weirder than her old one. Sey looks for a job so she can get her own place and escape her crazy life, but the more she finds out about her new sibling, the more she finds out that their lives are intertwined.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: TokyoPop (February 11, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591820014
• ISBN-13: 978-1591820017
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,630,566 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Innocent. Nice. Vivid. Unique., February 8, 2003

By 

Tea (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Invu Vol. 1 (Paperback)

I'm not big on shoujo (girly) manga, but I immediately got hooked to this series on the first page. It shows a skater making a jump in the rain with out a care in the world. Sey (the main character)then explains that she had found a kindred spirit in a complete stranger. It's kinda cute, but not overly corny.

The story starts as Sey's mom decides to go to Italy to write a book and leaves Sey to live with the Kang family who Sey has never met but her mother is good friends with. If Sey's life wasn't weird enough to begin with, her story just gets more complicated. From her new "mom" spoiling her like a princess and the daughter she never had, to the family's only son, Terry (same age as Sey), whose first words to her were "Get on my nerves and I'll kill you". There's also tension between her and her two friends as a new boy steps into the picture.

I should probably explain to you that this is technically manga (japanese comic books) it's manwha (korean manga). Basically, I'm just saying that you can read the book left-to-right like any other american book. The series contains all your steriotypical shoujo-ness complete with love triangles, tears, gigantic and lavishly lashed eyes, and cute boys. It might seems similar to "Peach Girl",if you've read that, but the artist still maintains her own unique style.

The plot is intreging enough, but it might be easy for some readers to get confused. It seems like a bunch of miny stories have been started, but there is evidence that all of the different story lines will merge together in the future. I was also a little disappointed with the lack of depth in the characters, but hopefully this will change as the series progresses. The artwork is beautiful; keeping the traditional shoujo pattern, but bending it to her own style.
OVER ALL: This is a great new series that's sure to be a hit. While there are a few minor short-commings, I'm sure they'll works themselves out as the story progresses

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beware!, August 27, 2004

By 

TenshiEmi (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Invu Vol. 1 (Paperback)

I love this title BUT I would not recommend buying it at this point in time! Volume 3 was released over a year ago and there has not been a release since. I have heard that the company the author worked for went out of business; but regardless of whether that is true there is no information about a 4th volume on TP's site and the series definitely did not conclude at volume 3. Just in case I would not recommend buying it until another volume comes out, otherwise prepare to be disappointed when you are left hanging.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An intro in Korean shoujo, November 19, 2003

By 

Anna T. (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Invu Vol. 1 (Paperback)

This was one of my first forays into Korean shoujo manhwa and I have to say that I'm very happy that I was introduced to it via INVU.

I've had a chance to read up to the 3rd volume, and though I am just as big of a fan of cliffhangers as the next person, each of the three volumes literally had me on the edge of my seat. I'm still waiting on word for the release date for v4.

It's common for most shoujo manga have a very soap-opera feel, and INVU is no different. What I enjoyed about this series isn't necessarily the original storyline, but rather, the way that the creator staggered several storylines of each of the characters, giving the readers small glimpses here and there of each of their lives, all the while keeping the continuity intact. From the sheer number of characters to the segues to the "coincidental" situations the characters find themselves in, I wouldn't be surprised if INVU is incarnated as a live-drama sometime in the future. In the world of INVU, everybody knows each other directly or indirectly through a friend, family member or other such degree.

Would I recommend this title? Yes, most definitely. The characters are all very engaging and you cannot help but be drawn in to their stories and their dreams. The art is pretty, and I'm rather impressed with the fashion choices the artist Kim Kang Won creates for the characters. It's not as edgy as Paradise Kiss, but it's still good.