What in Hell?! Not if Dong-Young can help it!
Creative Staff
Story/Art: Kara / Lee YunHee
Translation/Adaptation: Jamie S. Rich
What They Say
Princess Dong-Young is kidnapped by the powerful demon, Se-In. With the help of Bi-Wal, Doh-Hyun, the Black Turtle, attempts to rescue the princess. Just when you think it can’t get any worse, Ryung enters the scene out of nowhere… and more secrets are revealed of the characters’ hidden past!
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers):
With this volume, much of what had been kept secret is now revealed to character and reader alike. The fact that male student Dong-Young is actually the Princess of Heaven was made known to most of the characters earlier, but what is new here is that Dong-Young finds out that Bi-Wal has known of this all along.
The big motivator in all of this exposition is Dong-Young’s kidnapping by Se-In, a servant of Ryung, whose relationship with Hell is unclear, although he certainly is a member of the kingdom. In a very amusing scene which shows just how much Dong-Young has adjusted to earthly life, Dong-Young wakes up at the kidnap scene to a figure standing by the bed and remarks about how really good Bi-Wal’s cosplay is. Of course, this is not Bi-Wal, but Ryung Jin, who it turns out, is Bi-Wal’s twin. (This is very convenient, especially when some of the characters are already a lot alike.)
Se-In and Ryung kidnapped Dong-Young to dismantle the peace between Heaven and Hell, and perhaps to kill Dong-Young, certainly not deliver her to the King of Hell as a bride. When the two brothers face off, Bi-Wal surprises everyone, most notably Dong-Young, when he reveals that he doesn’t care what happens to Dong-Young, he has his own reasons for getting involved. He implies that the friendship was more out some unspecified private agenda than any real interest in Dong-Young.
The battle that ensues is full of surprises. Dong-Young shows a power that has not be seen, one which harkens back to early life in Heaven before self-imposed exile. Its demonstration saves the group from the attack by Ryung, but has the effect of signaling Heaven to Dong-Young’s whereabouts. The group escapes with Ryung vowing Dong-Young’s death when next they meet.
Dong-Young’s rage and sense of betrayal by Bi-Wal causes a rift in their relationship with frosty feelings all around. This is noticed by all their classmates, but only White Tiger senses the dangerous shift. Doh-Hyun (Black Turtle) arranges a meeting for the Four Guardians to discuss recent events and the issue of Bi-Wal’s identity, but an interruption by Wal-Hyang (Queen Hong of Hell) introduces serious complications which even concern Bi-Wal.
In Summary
Fans of the series were left with a real cliff-hanger with Dong-Young’s kidnapping. It’s been a wait, but this volume will more than satisfy. Kara’s art is lovely and Yen has included some color pages as a bonus. YunHee Lee has provided some well-paced revelations to keep the story lively. Of interest are those about Dong-Young’s early years, plot devices worthy of Moto Hagio or CLAMP, and the possibility that these might hold the solution to the personal and political troubles of Dong-Young and Bi-Wal.
Content Grade: B
Art Grade: A
Packaging Grade: B
Text/Translation Grade: B+
Age Rating: 13_
Released By: Yen Press
Release Date: June 30th, 2008
MSRP: $10.99
