Customer Reviews

Yi Soon Shin: Warrior and Defender #1

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a former Marine Corps officer and a fan of military history, I was pleasantly surprised when I came upon this book on Admiral Yi. I am new to the world of graphic novels / comics. I previously associated such books with fiction and fantasy. I am about "reality". Make no mistake, this book is VERY REAL. Mr. Kompan did not create Yi Soon Shin out of thin air. He is introducing our world to a warrior who was a true "hero" through and through. We tend to grossly overuse the term "hero" in today's day and age. 500 years ago in Korea, the term was just and fitting for a man who saved a nation by overcoming insurmountable odds.
Kompan and his team do not just tell a story; they recreate history in a visual sense that the reader experiences first- hand. You don't just read about the battles, you witness them...the tactics, the weapons, the ships, the warriors, the violence, the leadership, etc.
This story is extremely well researched. The illustrations are nothing less than outstanding.
After you experience this fine work, you will have a greater appreciation for the word "hero" and the great Admiral Yi Soon Shin, who exemplifies that term in every sense of the word.
I look forward to reliving Admiral Yi's next battle with Mr. Kompan and his talented team.
Thank you for bringing this great warrior back to life. Well Done!

This graphic novel is unlike any other. The story is well researched. The artwork is beautiful with vivid colors and beautiful drawings. The book is a tiny gem of Korean history introducing the reader to Admiral Yi Soon Shin. A real hero who fought and won battles that seemed impossible to win. The reader sees the ruthlessness of war not just from a warrior's view but from the people who lived regular lives. The drawings do not shy away from the gruesome reality of battle. This book introduces us to the quiet, thoughtful and brave warrior. I look forward to the next book. Who is Baron Seo?

I love reading about great people of great mind or great character.
Great mind and great character are not always found in the same person.
But Yi Soon Shin is an example of both.
His achievement in battle is absolutely worthy of super hero status.
But his character and integrity is even more amazing if you go read about his life.
Most of my hero's like Gauss, Tesla, Von Neumann are about great minds more so than great character.
But I am more moved by this man's spirit and integrity than famous religious figures.
Anyways, I can't wait to read the upcoming issues and am now motivated to catch the dvd series of this hero.

This comic book series is quite an achievement. At a time when every comic book author is clamoring to break into superhero books, the creator of Yi Soon Shin followed his own path. And in doing so, he has developed something quite original. Comics about war are few and far between. Yi Soon Shin is based on a true story that takes place at the turn of the 16th century in Korea, making it a one-of-a-kind comic book series. I admire what clearly must've been a tremendous amount of research to recreate the battles that took place in the 1590s between Korea and Japan. I have no idea if they actually are accurate, but they are written with such detail that they certainly give the impression of being historically valid.

First to the art. It's quite beautiful. The few female character (this is a war story after all) are perhaps too sexy and perfect, but other than that, the style is quite amazing. The details of the clothing and armor, the weapons, the ships!, the violence and blood, the explosions are all lovingly rendered. It's quite glorious to read.

The writing itself is serious. No exaggerated superhero-ish storytelling here. The author, Onrie Kompan, does a convincing job of recreating feudal Korea. He does use American colloquialisms at times, such as "man up" and "All right boys, let `em have it," which threw me slightly at first. But after following the story for a while, I decided that he had made a good choice going that direction. First of all, we are talking about a translation of what would have been said in 16th century Korean and Japanese. There can't possibly be a true translation of the idioms of something so long ago. Second of all, I came to feel that what was more important was that he was representing the sentiments and actions sincerely rather than trying to mimic something that would vaguely sound like Shakespeare's English. In the end, that would've gotten in the way of the reader enjoying the story and truly following it. Better he took a more natural path that communicated the events. Once I got past that, I felt the writing was outstanding. The story has tremendous suspense and tragedy. Heroism and villainy. Romance and friendship. The dialogue is rendered with both subtlety and boldness. Yet all believable, and amazingly, based on historical records. I'm glad that I didn't discover this series until the first four issues were out because I would've been dying to find out what happens next. These first issues complete one full story arc and apparently there are a couple more arcs to come. I can't wait.

Make no mistake, this is not a children's book. The violence is brutal. The author does not sugar coat the war. It is as intense as anything you might find in Full Metal Jacket, Saving Private Ryan or Johnny Get Your Gun. It's as bloody as a John Woo movie but without the "coolness" of the action. Instead, it is rather horrifying and honest. Dark, no doubt about that. This is war, kids. Not play action. I never would've picked up a war comic under normal circumstances, but I'm glad I found this by accident at my local comic book shop.

Lastly, I would note that this entire series was pulled of without being supported by a major comic book publishing company. This is quite impressive because the quality of the book is to the highest standard. Someone like Dark Horse or Image Comics should pick this series up. I think there might be a graphic novel collection of these first four issues coming out soon. If you ever watched Shogun when you were a kid or enjoy epic drama then this series is worth your time. Highly recommended.

I would like to extend my gratitude to the author and his team for doing things that could not be
done by Korean people.

It is fair to say all Korean people know this general by learning from school and watching his
story on TV programs.

If he could not save this country then with only 13 ships against 200 Japanese ships, Korea would
have been ruled by Japan ever since. Or more recently, Korea would have taken it for granted that
Japan invaded Korea and other Asian nations in the 20th century and never resisted its rule.

If any reader from the world visits Korea someday, they can see him looking down the main street of Seoul at Gwanhwamoon with his long sword on his side.

Historical comics I always approach with trepidation. When I go for it, I always look for authenticity. If it's a fictional take of something that really happened, at least keep the basics correct. (i.e. look, dialogue, etc) Thankfully, this book has it. The art is wonderful. All uniforms/costumes, settings, and weapons have a very genuine feel. The colors are vibrant and everything is clean and easily recognizable.
The story is told very well. The narrative boxes add layers to the beautiful art. Everything is quite accessible. The dialogue gets to be in the way, however. Most of the words seem to be forced in. It seems more like an editorial choice than one that the writer made.
The ending is a great lead in to issue 2. I look forward to meeting the mysterious character that's hinted (and shown in the preview) and what he's all about.

Incredible artwork and absorbing writing ressurect the legacy of Korea's greatest military hero in this well researched graphic novel. Mr. Kompan and his team vividly demonstrate the courage and cunning of Admiral Yi Soon Shin, commander of the Korean Navy during the Imjin War of 1592-1598, and how his leadership inspired the annihilation of the pitiless invaders from Japan despite incredible odds. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and cannot recommend it highly enough.

Whether your a history major or not, you'll love this comic. I plan to use this comic series as an inspiration for my writings.

I have read all the three books by Onrie Kompan's comic books about Admiral Yi. Some depictions are not accurate due to cultural differences. However those are OK considering that they are comic books. Yi's character is somewhat not accurately described in my opinion. The story development is fast. It is an interesting and powerful comic overall.

It is rare that we literary fans get a chance to read a capitivating and entertaining story, especially one about a real-life historical figure and national icon. But through the engaging writing of its scribe along with the beautiful scenes that are rendered by both its artist and colorist; it is exactly those aforementioned attributes that this book provides along with so much more. Like a time machine, you're transported back into 16th century Korea, which is a country in the midst of war and political turmoil, and experiencing everything as if you were really there. You see and appreciate the simple lives of the townsfolk; and tense-up at the masked faces of the Japanese Ashigaru soldiers. You weep as you see those same masked demons plunge their swords and spears and gun barrels into those defenseless towns-people whom you've just become aquanited with. From the land you enter the sea like an ancient mythological beast and you hear the ocean waves crashing into eachother as fleets of ships from both sides of the struggle prepare for the hell that is about to unleash. A seagull flies overhead, unleashing its unnerving caw; the quiet before the storm. Then, in one fell sweep, cannons burst, guns fire, arrows soar, and cries of war ring out. And if I've wetted your appetite, that's good; I've done what I set out to do, which is to get you all excited as I've become after reading this fantastic little book. So if you're are looking for a great, fun, and informative read; look no further then here. Pick it up and enjoy it as much as I have! ;o)