#jiyoung ahn

[booksandwords]

The Dark-Hunters: Infinity: The Manga #2 by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Art by JiYoung Ahn

Read time: <1 Day Rating: 5/5

The quote: "Sim? A hand please?" "Really? Can Simi barbecue him?" "Bon appetit, babe." — Caleb & Simi

Book 2 of this sadly only two-part series has Nick seeing more of the supernatural world around him, meeting new creatures, including the inhabitants of Sanctuary, and confronting another supernatural entity. Sanctuary + perspicacity = animals everywhere (and a very cute human form Wren). It is based on Invisible. I really like the story, the ending makes me happy.

Some art and character design rant. Simi's demon form is badass while somehow being just as cute as she is. Apparently, my adoration for Caleb has not faded at all since I last read con. He's still one of the best characters. And he's still got one of my fave demon forms. Laguerre's design is brilliant. She is the personification of war, having her be soft, fun or sweet. She's in a fecking catsuit... I mean just yes. Death is as abstract and odd as I'd hoped. His is the sort of design that will always be out of place.

I wish there had been more than two of these graphic novels. CoN is a series that translates to graphic for exceptionally well. And given the series target audience, it is also well suited. Again this will make sense to people who haven't read the CoN novels but it will make more sense if you've read book one.

[booksandwords]

The Dark-Hunters: Infinity: The Manga by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Art by JiYoung Ahn

Read time: <1 Day Rating: 5/5

The quote: Free will. Some have called it the greatest gift bestowed on humanity, while others it's a crap myth that we have preordained destiny we can not change. I personally don't believe in this crap. I say I control my destiny and my life. No, nothing controls me. Ever. I am what I have become because of the interference and secrets of one creature, and I curse the day I ever called Acheron Parthenopaeus my friend. I am Nick Gautier. And this is my life and how things should have been... — Ambrose/Nick Gautier

The wording in this graphic novel is almost word for word what is in Infinity for the sections used which is impressive. The focus really is on the illustration and adding a dimension to the characters and story that wasn't necessarily there for some people previously. But what it means is the words and quotes which are what makes Sherri such a beloved author haven't been lost for the sake brevity.

I love Infinity and the whole Chronicles of Nick series this is an opportunity to see what Sherri approves of as forms for her characters. Their official forms if you will. And that shirt... *suppressed shudder* it's just as fugly as I hoped for. Despite my prior knowledge, I don't see this as pure fanservice. This is something that could easily be picked up and understood as a self-contained piece of fiction. It may even encourage readers into the origin series.

On the art. It is well fitted to the story blending the calming and plain with the light horror needed for the zombies. Simi is as cute as I was hoping for, that outfit is still one of the best and most iconic created by Sherri. The two surprises for me were Artie and Sraosha Artie's styling is quite similar to Cherise (just in Grecian robes) note sure what to make of that given their roles in Ambrose's life. Sraosha is just flawless but the clothing, flowing robes are so becoming to that character. Ambrose's physical appearance confuses me. It one point he almost appears to have Sentinel marks, which while a thing in this verse was not something I've ever associated with him. His species is wrong for one. Oh but I do adore the demon forms for the demons in play.

One thing I want to note. This is of its time a bit and there is one piece of problematic language now regarding gender expression. Eric's whole deal is stunning but I'd completely forgotten that tidbit.

[fandompost]

The Dark Hunters: Infinity Vol. #2 Manga Review

The Dark Hunters: Infinity Vol. #2 Manga Review

The Dark-Hunters: Infinity Vol. #2

Nick is given a crash course in the supernatural while trying to stay alive.

Creative Staff Story: Sherrilyn Kenyon Art/Adaptation:: JiYoung Ahn

What They Say Nick Gautier has enough trouble dealing with normal teenage problems: avoiding getting pummeled at school, talking to girls, staying out of trouble. Now Nick is facing a whole new world of challenges. As his powers develop, Nick sees supernatural (and potentially dangerous) creatures everywhere he looks. With the help of his Uncle Ambrose-who is actually Nick’s future self communicating his thoughts across time-and his new tutor-the Grim Reaper-Nick must learn to control his abilities and elude the dark powers that seek to control him…

Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers): When we last left Nick he was just getting over the strange events of the previous volume, which featured a zombie attack and him learning he’s the son of satan.  Well, not exactly either of those two things, but it’s close enough.  Now he’s been placed under the care of a man who he believes to be a vampire, but good and evil are not so clear cut in this series.

Nick ends up making new allies in this volume, along with new enemies.  He’s constantly warned about various people’s alliances from different groups.  Haunted by visions of the future and seeing things that a sane person really shouldn’t be, Nick is just thankful he’s still in one piece even if he feels like he’s going crazy.  I’m honestly not sure how he’s holding it all together.

Suddenly other 14-year-old boys in his school start dying, and Nick is split between keeping the truth from his mother, learning new supernatural abilities, and trying to solve the serial murders before he becomes the next victim.  I can feel the narrative breaking under the page constraints of the manga format.  It’s a common problem in these adaptations, too much is happening all at once and there simply isn’t enough space to give everything breathing room.

The main mystery with the coach and the murders has an interesting hook, but the solution to the problem forces yet another new character to appear, and the resolution feels hollow.  I have a feeling that the series at large has a massive cast and that all of these side characters are cameos from that body of work.  Easter eggs for long time fans are fine, but for new readers it’s hard to figure out who is actually important to the plot and who is fanservice.

We never do find out where the lines are drawn for different groups of friends and foes.  Some demons are good and some are bad, and we have only the words of an unreliable narrator from the future to trust about who is on whose side.  Speaking of Ambrose, I’m not sure how time is supposed to work in the Dark Hunter universe, but trying to change the past rarely seems to work out for the protagonist in the end.

I still feel that the dialog is suffering from trying to be cool and coming off as completely unnatural.  It’s either an effort of the author trying not to turn the teens into the foul-mouthed creatures teens actually are at the risk of offending certain parent groups, or not being around a teenager in twenty years.  It’s especially strange considering we’re constantly told Nick’s dangerously close to slipping to the dark side.  If he is they certainly aren’t doing a great job showing it, he’s better behaved than most kids his age.

The artwork is still doing an okay job of portraying the action and characters.  The demons have nice designs and all of the characters look distinct.  The setting often suffers though, we’re constantly told we’re in the New Orleans area but I never get the feeling that’s where the story is.  In fact, and this is hilarious, it took a line of dialog about the Oprah show for me to realize that the story is not set in present day New Orleans.  A trip the the author’s website clarified that Nick was born in ’82.  This story is set in 1997… and no one told the artist!  She draws something that clearly looks like a Nintendo DS and modern computers, and smart phones!  No one I knew even had a cell phone in 97!  I’m not sure how much of this is the writer’s fault, the editor’s fault, or intentionally fudging the timeline to make it more accessible for a modern audience.

Yen continues to put out nice looking physical books, and this volume opens with several color pages to start the chapter off.  The larger trim size matches the other young adult adaptations they’ve released.

In Summary The Dark Hunters: Infinity Volume 2 throws Nick into even stranger and more dangerous situations.  It still suffers from all of the problems that the first volume did and assumes the audience is completely familiar with the source material.  While the mystery at the center of this volume is stand-alone in nature, and not particularly compelling, the events surrounding it are a confusing mix of split loyalties and shadowy threats.  The break-neck speed at which all of this information is delivered makes it seem as if time is of the essence, but without knowing what the ultimate stakes are it all turns into a mess of noise signifying nothing.  Fans of the series from which this spawned should feel far more at home, the rest of us will be over in the corner scratching our heads.

Content Grade: C + Art Grade: B Packaging Grade: B +

Age Rating: 13+ Released By: Yen Press Release Date: December 17th, 2013 MSRP: $13.00

Check out the full article by Kate O’Neil at http://www.fandompost.com/2014/03/27/the-dark-hunters-infinity-vol-2-manga-review/

[kenyon-menyon]

[fandompost]

The Dark Hunters: Infinity Vol. #01 Manga Review

The Dark Hunters: Infinity Vol. #01 Manga Review

The Dark Hunters – Infinity Volume 1Zombies, demons, gods, werewolves, vampires, the whole nine yards and a bag of nuts. Creative Staff Story: Sherrilyn Kenyon Art/Adaptation:: JiYoung Ahn What They Say Fourteen-year-old Nick Gautier doesn’t have it easy. With a single mom struggling to...

Check out the full article by Kate O’Neil at http://www.fandompost.com/2013/03/26/the-dark-hunters-infinity-vol-01-manga-review/