Downtown Khazan: Ice Cold Utopia

[OrangeRangerPete]

Limit dance

I like that even Power Rangers gets a mention.

Hey, at least DBZ wasn't giving kids epileptic seizures.

[Sharkerbob]

I've bumped into a number of them that have been quite enjoyable to read, in their own way. And some with absolutely gorgeous art.

The last few years, I've definitely come to appreciate art in comics in ways I didn't before. I enjoyed good art before, of course, but now I feel like I'm really seeing it, beyond just it's function to move the story.

[Lord Falcon]

I'm becoming quite experienced with a Manhwa version of Isekai manga - rom-com-drama kind of thing where the central character (in this case, always a woman) ends up 'living in fantasy romance novel' or 'replaying their fantasy life again'. It's less a power-trip kind of thing, and sometimes the art in these Manhwa is fantastic.

There's a lot of them, now (some I have really enjoyed, others...less-so) - it's so much a thing that they sometimes even gloss over the 'how did this happen?' part in a couple of panels. Almost like 'Yeah, you know the story, I got hit by a bus and ended up in this other world'. And some of them have started lampooning the genre somewhat, or the 'standard' characters in the genre (the male lead, as an example).

So I ran into The Villainess Flips the Script. It is another one that leans a little into the 'we're at least poking the genre with a pointed stick' kind of thing. And one thing it does do is give me endless reaction pictures I can use for my own purposes. Mostly because the hyper-competent male love interest is a complete doofus when it comes to dealing with people, feelings, anything that doesn't require him to be upright and highly skilled.

Attachment 130749

Oh, nice! I'm glad to actually know someone into these genres.

I'd highly recommend I Will be the Matriarch in This Life. It has absolutely gorgeous art and a lot of likable, layered characters and appropriately timed comedy. The protagonist's story does involve power with romance much more on the slow burn, but the story handles this power struggle better than most isekai (it's actually also a one-off regressor story, and the regression matters way more than the isekai). That's because there's no flashy magic battles or overpowered sword fights. The focus instead is on navigating politics, guiding family members, and cultivating an actual base of supporters. The protagonist just happens to be pretty smart, bolder than she was in her previous life, and able to leverage some points of knowledge of the world she inhabits because of her regression.

[Sharpandpointies]

The last few years, I've definitely come to appreciate art in comics in ways I didn't before. I enjoyed good art before, of course, but now I feel like I'm really seeing it, beyond just it's function to move the story.

True, that.

Oh, nice! I'm glad to actually know someone into these genres.

I'd highly recommend I Will be the Matriarch in This Life. It has absolutely gorgeous art and a lot of likable, layered characters and appropriately timed comedy. The protagonist's story does involve power with romance much more on the slow burn, but the story handles this power struggle better than most isekai (it's actually also a one-off regressor story, and the regression matters way more than the isekai). That's because there's no flashy magic battles or overpowered sword fights. The focus instead is on navigating politics, guiding family members, and cultivating an actual base of supporters. The protagonist just happens to be pretty smart, bolder than she was in her previous life, and able to leverage some points of knowledge of the world she inhabits because of her regression.

Coolness. Yeah, that sounds like the genre - it's almost never about flashy fighting and raw power, and the central character's power is more in how they move through the society/fix their mistakes or the issues in the original story in which they find themselves (Rebirth of a Tyrannical Empress has both, but the raw power is still deemphasized in the storyline). I'll check out that one. Thanks!

[bruceleegreyhulk]

That makes me wonder is the Manhwa Pigpen an Isekai? spoilers:

since it largely takes place inside the MC's mind, who is in a coma.

end of spoilers

[Len Ikari145]

That makes me wonder is the Manhwa Pigpen an Isekai? spoilers:

since it largely takes place inside the MC's mind, who is in a coma.

end of spoilers

Not really, Isekai is literally about transporting into another world/universe. Being trapped in a 'world' that exists solely within a person's mind doesn't count. Same with virtual simulation stories.

[bruceleegreyhulk]

Not really, Isekai is literally about transporting into another world/universe. Being trapped in a 'world' that exists solely within a person's mind doesn't count. Same with virtual simulation stories.

So a person being in a coma and then having the tech to go inside said person's dreams don't count as Isekai. spoilers:

A character in the Manhwa actually goes into the MC's mind and uses an avatar to pretend to be someone else to find out the truth of if the Mc killed his son or not.

end of spoilers This means that animes like Paprika which are about entering the minds of others aren't Isekai.

this means that SAO isn't Isekai and neither is Inuyasha. No matter how much people say it is since technically Kagome doesn't get transported to another world, she just travels back through time.

[Postmania]

Is that from the 90s or something?

I assume so yea

[Sharkerbob]

Round Two:



Link to PDF here: https://sharkerart.blogspot.com/2023...-book-two.html

[Tami]

Round Two:

Attachment 130782

Link to PDF here: https://sharkerart.blogspot.com/2023...-book-two.html

That was real nice. I enjoyed the interaction between 'Bobbi' and the gatekeeper.

[Hiromi]

Dungeons and Dragons movie is fun

[Sharkerbob]

That was real nice. I enjoyed the interaction between 'Bobbi' and the gatekeeper.

Thanks for reading! Glad you enjoyed it!



I probably should have been clear from the first one, but to anyone else who might be interested, these are roughly 50-page comic books made with Minecraft and Comic Life 3.

[OrangeRangerPete]

Dungeons and Dragons movie is fun

I got to see an advance screening of it, back at the start of March, with some of my besties. I really loved it. I thought it was great. Very MCU-style, but I like that style, so, it worked for me.

The paladin fight scene was beautiful.

[bruceleegreyhulk]

[Cleric of Hell’s Brigade]

I got to see an advance screening of it, back at the start of March, with some of my besties. I really loved it. I thought it was great. Very MCU-style, but I like that style, so, it worked for me.

The paladin fight scene was beautiful.

Agreed.

Really liked the Paladin.