Kira-Kira Se~Kai

I would like to note that all picture files uploaded are not scanlated by me. Credits go to the various scanlators of the mangas which i reviewed.
I would also like to thank them for enabling us English readers to have access to all these wonderful mangas. Click on the pictures if you wish to see them in full resolution. ^_^

Happy reading!

Picture: Samantha Whitten
Created By: Skin City
Powered By: Blogger

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Vanilla Ice Vol.1

Synopsis:

In a town known for its delinquents, a fight was going on at the park. 8 vs 1, but the lone person manages to “exterminate” the opposition. A very handsome fellow, fights with grace and lethal moves. The scene cuts in on a very cute person sitting on the ground. A princess saved! What a fairytale!

Cool fighter Taehee & weak princess Yoon Sul have been neighbours for 12 years. And because of Yoon Sul’s beauty that always attracts troublemakers, Taehee had to “take care” of things. It was their first they at Hwan Sang school (both families just moved in), and both students attracted plenty of attention due to their incredible looks (also because they were both wearing normal clothes instead of uniform). The incredible revelation was revealed the next day, when Yoon Sul came into class wearing a boy’s uniform and Taehee a girl’s uniform!!!! The greatest shock in history to all students (and readers of the manhwa alike).

Yoon Sul’s body has always been weak (he’s asthmatic). Therefore, he was always saved by Taehee. She considers it her job to take care of him. However, what Taehee doesn’t understand is that Yoon Sul wants to be a man (meaning he wants to be strong and manly). Taehee’s entire family are private bodyguards (they all look so cool!!!!) whereas Yoon Sul’s father is a manhwa artist!

During a basketball game, Yoon Sul fainted, and Taehee (the everlasting prince charming) carried him to the school clinic. There, she met a handsome student smoking without care who told her that the nurse isn’t there. Later in class, Yoon Sul came back looking fine & annoyed. A fierce looking guy came looking for him, and confessed that he likes him! A punch from Yoon Sul was the automatic reaction. Turns out that the guy was the first year Jjang and the story that Yoon Sul got him down with a single punch spread all over the school. At the school assembly, Taehee found out that the smoker (from the clinic) was actually the student representative, Hwang SiJun. A perfect guy in both sports and academic, he was the living legend of Hwan Sang high.

All sports clubs are vying to get Taehee as member. The same for Yoon Sul for the artistic clubs. The first year Jjang (the one who confessed) also asked Yoon Sul if he is interested in joining “Hwan Sang Universe” (which is actually a club where gangsters are members). Initially declining, Yoon Sul eventually for fired up to join when he heard that only the strongest can join.

Back at Taehee house, we get to see her parents (both so so cool). Turns out that Taehee’s mom is 4 years older than her dad. Anyway, Taehee was ordered to go buy cigarettes. On her way back, she saw Hwang Sijun getting threaten by a couple of delinquents. Wanting to help, but the smoker quickly demolished the delinquents before she could step in. His fighting skills are incredible. After recognizing her, he “stole” her cigarettes & thanked her for it!

The next day, Taehee found out about Yoon Sul joining a “fight club” and went to rescue him! She completely beat up all the other members when Sijun (the smoker student representative cum good fighter) appeared. Turns out that he’s the leader of the club (or gang, if you wanna call it that way..hehehe) as well as the school’s Jjang! (Man, is there anything this guy can’t do?). Ignoring him, Taehee started pulling Yoon Sul out. Sijun laughed and allowed Yoon Sul to leave the club, on 1 condition – that Taehee has to replace him!

Review:
First time doing a manhwa review. And I’ve used so many exclamation marks in my summary. This manhwa is definitely full of surprises and twists. I love it!!!!!
Would just like to warn that this manga is currently on hiatus. It is only up till volume 4. It’s really sad if it is discontinued. The storyline is very very nice. And the drawings are above average. What I like most regarding the drawing is that it is not complex at all. I know manhwa artists tends to draw complex & intricate scenes (imagine Goong & Bride of the Water God) – although they’re beautiful, there’s just too much too look at. Therefore, I prefer the minimalist approach of Vanilla Ice.

Now to the characters: Taehee is just incredibly…incredible…no other words to describe. She’s cool, and confident! She doesn’t mind that other people see her as an ogre lady who’s so strong and manly. After all, her very very cool father fell in love with her mother (who’s also a strong). Yoon Sul on the other hand, is extremely dissatisfied with his looks. He gets angry everytime people treat him as a princess. It is quite clear that he likes Taehee (although he’s denying it) and hates it that he has to be protected by her all the time. Sijun – another incredible character. Like Taehee, he is cool, strong, with a “don’t care if you caught me smoking or fighting” attitude. But at the same time, he is the student representative as well as the school’s Jjang! I definitely love if there will be a development between him & Taehee. I like him more that Yoon Sul, mainly because he is confident with himself.

Taehee’s family appears quite frequently – we get to see her brothers (she’s the only daughter) as well as parents. Her family are all good looking and strong as well. No wonder she turns out to be such a good fighter. While Yoon Sul’s father treats him like his princess daughter. Now we can see how much family environment influence us!

Labels: vanilla ice

Posted at 3:35 PM