Customer Reviews

Love As A Foreign Language #1 (v. 1)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The drawing style of this graphic novel is an interesting mix of American comic and Asian manga, and the smooth, clean lines are quite pleasing to the eyes. I think there's some influence from City Hunter. Admittedly the story is slow paced, and not a lot goes on, but hey if his life isn't like that, the character won't be feeling so bored. The artist tries to portray Joel's isolation through the wordless panels. Little bits of humor sprinkled around keep the story enjoyable.

I really like the word play in the titles, like Seoul Searching, Soju Want to Teach English in Korea, Hana-lyze This, Just Call My Name and Kalbi There. ANd I do learn a bit about Korean culture too.

I recently read this graphic novel and I personally loved it. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars because I do agree, it was on the short side. Besides that it was a great story, very heart-warming and honest. It was a simple read for a cloudy day. If what you're looking for is an epic novel you can purchase The Odyssey by Homer.

Having been in the same mixed couple situation in Korea myself, I was very eager to read this series thinking due to personal experience I would be able to relate to the main character ad get a few laughs...after 3 books I totally give up, really I should have given up at book one...but because they are so short (only 66 pages per book) I gave it a try. What a waste.

First off, the art and layouts are painfully bland and boring...its just totally dull and uninteresting to look at. You would think having a setting in Seoul it would make for some really interesting backgrounds and elements...but nope. Basic as basic can be. The main character Joel is also boring and totally uninteresting, I think only the writer found him amusing. It feels painfully like an author insertion into his own story...kind of like Mega Tokyo (which also is an awful read)

After reading 3 books *nothing* has happened, I pay my money and read how this boring and stale character swoons over a cute Korean staff member in his English school. Thats it. Nothing else interesting happens.

You would think if he did a comic on something like this he would have had a bit more to put into the whole "Joel hates it in Korea" bit about why its rough being a foreigner in a place like that, but its like the guy never really spent any time in Korea himself. I mean Kimchii is spicy and everyone speaks Korean, those are his main gripes with the country.....yeah.

So yeah, bland art, painfully boring and uninteresting characters, story that goes no place, and has the stink of self-insertion mary-sue....or whatever you call a male mary-sue.

I finished this graphic novel in about as much time as it takes to finish a tall Starbucks latte. But it cots a whole lot more than a latte. The "story" ended right when it was supposed to begin - with the main character falling in love! I was very annoyed and decided that buying later installments to find out if they even start dating was not worth it.