In the Starlight Volume 1 (v. 1) [Paperback]

Kyungok Kang (Author)

Book Description

Series: In the Starlight | Publication Date: March 6, 2007

Shinhye loves lying under the night sky with her father, listening to his tales of the constellations. And she dreams of a life among the stars. Little does she know that the stars may come down to her instead. Her journey begins when the department of science asks her family to host Sarah, a foreign girl with a unique talent. But, strange men are interested in Sarah and Shinhye doesn't know why. Unbeknownst to Shinhye, her every dream--and nightmare--is about to come true.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 10 Up–Shinhae likes to spend as much time dreaming under the stars as she does playing volleyball for her high school. Her life dramatically changes when the Korean government asks her family to host Sarah, a young American girl with telekinetic powers, and Sarah's enigmatic male escort, Redion, in their home. Meanwhile, reports of UFOs increase from across the globe, with each one connected to the disappearance of a girl with psychic powers. It becomes obvious that someone, or something, is hunting for Sarah, and Shinhae works to uncover the plot and help her new friend. The artwork is uneven at times, particularly in the confusing action scenes, but Kang possesses a flair for depicting her characters' emotions. Helpful footnotes explain aspects of Korean culture like food and table customs. With a sci-fi storyline, strong character development, and hints of romance, this series is off to a promising start.–Matthew L. Moffett, Pohick Regional Library, Burke, VA
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Product Details

• Paperback: 214 pages
• Publisher: NETCOMICS (March 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600090907
• ISBN-13: 978-1600090905
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,973,614 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a reminder, May 15, 2007

By 

Alison L. Mccabe "Ali S" (Queens) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In the Starlight Volume 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

In the starlight is a fantastical story of imagination and wonder. That is in a sense, kyungok kang has us look back to our childhoods in which everything was full of wonder, amazement and awe. The main character shinhye is in awe of the stars and the secrets they hold. But soon enough she is thrust into the world of those mysteries and is forced to grow up. I recommend this for anyone who still is captivated by the universe and/or enjoys a really good coming of age story. :D

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rough but good., June 18, 2007

By 

Eric P. Fretheim "Eric the Fred" (Dallas, TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In the Starlight Volume 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

Gorgeous but primitive example of early Manhwa. The Korean market (and this particular writer) has developed in skill since this title was written, but it gives us a glimpse into the past of a market we didn't get to see as early as the Japanese market, while treating us to a nice story.

I'm recommending this strongly, despite several defects, because the overall effect works very well. Like early Takuhashi work, the character designs are a bit cartoonish, the storyline is not quite realistic, and the material isn't precisely groundbreaking, but in execution, this is a beautiful piece of work.

What makes the difference is the artist's sense of visual presentation. Even though rough on perspective and anatomy, the artist has a real feel for the reader's eye, for the art of visual storytelling, and we are drawn from one page to the next while following a story that may not be 'realistic', (practically no panic or government reaction to a UFO sitting in the middle of the town?) but becomes engrossing as we are pulled into Shinhye Yoo's strange life.

Artistically, it is also interesting how involved the artist gets in shading, tones and textures. This is very early for this sort of work in Asian comics, although it was already common in the English-speaking world by the time. It reminds me of 'Dark Angel' and 'Silent Mobius', which had their start around the same time. It may seem a little strange at first, to see this kind of workmanship combined with the flaws in other aspects of the art, but as I noted before, this is from early in the career of the author.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THE STARS, May 26, 2007

By 

Sesho "www.sesho.libsyn.com" (Pasadena, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Starlight Volume 1 (v. 1) (Paperback)

Shinhye Yoo(17) is a pretty open-minded girl when it comes to accepting the mysteries of the universe. She's spent most of her young life dreaming about the existence of other life among the stars along with her astronomer dad. When Donghoon Suh, a classmate, overhears Shinhye defending the civil rights of ESPers and aliens if they should ever land on Earth, he enlists her help to house a very special foreigner named Sarah Hwang at her house for two months. Wouldn't you know it that Sarah is an ESPer who is able to control objects with her mind? Sarah doesn't have a real home and Donghoon thinks that she'll get along with the tolerant Shinhye. Sarah's guardian and resident feminine hot guy, Redion Gastani, is also going to move into one of the Yoo's spare rooms as well. Shinhye thinks things are going pretty well, but she doesn't know that Sarah and Redion are being hunted by different factions from an alien civil war.

Even though this series was first printed in Korea in 1987, its antiquated designs reek with more of a campy 1970s look and feel, like Kang was drawing more on her own childhood comics rather than creating something new. The art itself is rudimentary with a lot of the characters drawn out of proportion, especially when posed in what passes for action or emotion. Kang seems obsessed with drawing people with long flowing locks of hair that all look the same. The leader of a group of aliens looking for Sarah has to be one of the fruitiest looking characters ever to grace comics. The guy walks around with a large mane of waist length hair sporting a Wonder Woman on Amazon Island tunic. And when he poses in anger with one hand tossing his hair and one arm propped on his hips with jeans tucked into boots, he looks like he could join the Village People. I would have given this book one star except that it was good for some unintentional laughs. For instance when the aliens arrive, they come in one of the most stereotypical flying saucers you have ever seen. When it crash lands in the middle of the city, everybody just goes to school like nothing ever happened, like there's a brokedown car in the middle of the street! No military deployment, no earthquake induced shudder about the philisophical ramifications of solid proof of alien life. Nothing. The saucer just sits there and everybody just goes along with their daily life. Kang should have included a dog urinating on it. Avoid this title.