dystopia!

overview: haesoo struggles in getting emotionally involved in relationships because of his ex step-brother, joowon. things take a turn when he gets involved with photographer taekyung.

review: this is the epitome of the degradation of humankind - ALL characters are manipulative and have shitty morals, but it's fun to see the tug and play of emotions. the words are poetic and beautiful, and the boys are hot - haesoo is the finest protagonist i've ever seen.

plot: 9/10
drawings: 9.5/10

overview: jiwook wishes to escape his life of poverty by studying hard, but is stunted by the sudden interest his rich and affluent classmates sungeon and hyungseo take in him.

review: the art is immaculate and i just know the plot is going to get even spicier than it already is. hyungseo is a straight up psychopath and sungeon is manipulative, leaving jiwook vulnerable. i'm so excited to see where this goes!

plot: 8.5/10
drawings: 9.5/10

overview: suha, a smart and collected secretary, is looking for a good man to have some hot one-on-one action with when he finds his handsome boss, director park, in the restrooms of a gay bar.

review: suha is a downright whore, which i think is the main reason i added this here. his relationship with the obsessive director is interesting; their entangled pasts that scars them makes the story a masterpiece - even without the loads of sex and action we get.

plot: 9/10
drawings: 8.5/10

overview: myong sees his former unrequited high school love at their class reunion. as the two meet, they unravel their deepest memories from 10 years ago.

review: this story is in my soft list for the drawings and relationship, but beneath it all i think it's kinda screwed up. seonho getting turned on from myeong's choking in high school, and how he's married when they meet again... it's never addressed and i love that even more.

plot: 8.5/10
drawings: 9/10

overview: set in the 80s/90s, suchae decides to travel around the countryside after completing his military service. as he goes, he finds an attractive young man in the same bus terminal as him who holds a deep secret.

review: i thought this would be light-hearted... boy was i wrong. nevertheless, it truly is a phenomenal read. twists and turns lead to a bittersweet ending. honestly the boys are pure at heart, but life's cruelty got in the way.

plot: 9/10
drawings: 8.5/10

overview: chiwoo returns to school in hopes of graduating quietly. his plan is jarred by the ecstatic class president kyujin and the reappearance of his former companion jihyun.

review: a classic filled with lots of angst and perfect character depth & development. the illustrations are unique and i wish i could elaborate on each of the boys individually but i'd simply run out of character space. a complex yet beautiful read.

plot: 9/10
drawings: 8.5/10

overview: a rich business man purchases a "roommate" to spend the night with him, only for it to be a man.

review: this series is perfect. admittedly i didn't enjoy it initially, but in the short 12 chapters it has character development and a deep-rooted plot - not to mention the outstanding art. the fashion is also very 2010 which i appreciate. it appears humorous but is bittersweet and ironically finds a happy ending.

plot: 8/10
drawings: 9.5/10

overview: sewoong is a middle-aged man who grows agitated when his first love moves in next door with his family. unexpectedly, the man's son yooil catches sewoong's attention.

review: i felt like i was watching a movie while reading this. the illustrations are stunning and the plot made me feel so many things. the human condition, insecurities, their ill-fated relationship... it's all there. and it's real.

plot: 8.5/10
drawings: 9/10

overview: to cure his boredom, woojin starts making hwon, a man who is deeply infatuated with him, do several crude things - both physically and mentally. shockingly, hwon's persistence makes woojin's stone heart start to waver.

review: this has it all - protagonist's fucked up past, shitty parents, step-brother complex, abusive relationship, obsessive possession and jealousy, cheating, emotional detachment, you name it. i love how real it is.

plot: 9/10
drawings: 8/10

overview: sungji, a beautiful new recruit at a company, becomes interested in her blunt team leader sumin. she unexpectedly finds competition with the company president seju.

review: sumin is human with her contrasting emotions and actions. the beautiful illustrations don't deter from the fact that she's knowingly playing with the two women. this is the first proper yuri that i've invested into and i have no regrets.

plot: 8/10
drawings: 9/10