Lex's manga / #Popular Lead(57)

Hosoo, a young man living a hectic life, alternating between part-time jobs to earn money for his sister's sake. On a rainy evening, he gets a call from his friend Dohyun, telling him that the latter had "delivered something to his place, so to hurry back home". Hosoo then comes home to find non other than the singer Esau. A popular singer who was just about to make a come back, lying unconscious on his porch, drenched by the rain. From this day on, his daily-life will take quite the turn. ---------- Hosoo & Esau's relationship feels real. They fall in love slowly and go through many hardships, dealing with past traumas and undergoing much growth before finally reaching happiness. I loved reading about them, they had an insane chemistry, I've never quite seen anything like it in any other BL before. Every single frame of them was just so alive. Filled with emotions. Everything, from their daily lives and running gags, to their passionate kisses and making love was just bewitching. I felt myself drawn into their each and every moves. It was really impressive how well the author managed to portray and convey every emotion they had. Their past traumas weren't brushed off and used as excuses, but an actual part of the plot that moved many aspects of it around over the entire story's timeline, and it was really satisfying seeing their scars slowly heal. Regarding Woojoo's past with his step-father, it caught me off guard. As I hadn't read anywhere that this manhwa had any trigger warning of sexual-assault content whatsoever, I wasn't ready to face such topics prior to reading it so that wasn't exactly pleasant to say the least.. And lastly, about the side couple: Dohyun & Woojoo, to be frank I have mixed feelings about them. I usually am pretty okay with age gap pairings when they're well-handled, and, of course, legal. But something about this paring just made me really uncomfortable. I liked both characters individually, but I didn't see them as an item in any way. So when they obviously became one, I wasn't surprised, as I'd seen it coming, but I was uncomfortable. It just felt off to me. I got used to it as I read more chapters about them, but it still makes me uncomfortable even now to a degree. Just not a fan. I'd have preferred to see Dohyun remain a supportive character, and for Woojoo to learn from his trauma-induced prejudices in another way than through the means of falling for another man himself. I feel like that'd have been way more interesting and fulfilling of a story. But anyhow. Even as is it was a good read nonetheless, I don't regret it as the main couple felt so real, and human. It was definitely worthwhile.

Sex can be amazing, not to mention ecstasy inducingly mind-blowing. And Eunsung knows that because 7 years ago, she had good sex (an understatement). She felt the universe crack open to show her its secrets. Too bad she hasn’t had a decent orgasm since. It’s been a long journey, but everyone knows, before you get to “P,” you have to go through “O.” ---------- Honestly..? A huge surprise is what I'm going to say. It made me laugh so much. It was both funny and cute at the same time, the characters are all so interesting. The plot's predictable yet so enjoyable. I really loved Sera & Minsuh's pairing, they had really nice chemistry. Okjae just straight-up made me laugh 'til my stomach hurt so many times, and finally, Eunsung's such an interesting and fun character. I loved reading her story, and her dynamic with Johan was such a good one. Their relationship's so healthy and cute. Seeing Minsuh's toxic ex and Minhee reap what they'd sowed was beyond satisfying as well. I do feel sorry for Minhee's character, but he really needed a wake-up call. And some seriously intense therapy sessions... I liked seeing his character growth following said wake-up call. To stay onto his character, but also go back on Minsuh's character's topic. Whilst I loved Eunsung's character and seeing her strength of character, as well as her growth, I have to say that Minsuh & Minhee's characters wereequaylly as fascinating as hers. I loved seeing them ad they battled their inner demons and struggled with self-doubt. They've both grown in many ways throughout the entire story's timeline. I found myself feeling sorry for them, pitying them, being angry at them, feeling happy for them. They truly gave me quite the emotional roller-coaster. Their issues felt so real, they were almost tangible. Next is: That. Trio. Seriously, this Eunsung-Minsuh-Okjae, Three Musketeers, kinda deal was so fun to read, and Sera's addition to the group as the story progressed became the cherry on top. I really loved their friendship and how well the author managed to display how tight it actually is. Overall, relationships between every character felt very realistic and had some serious work put into it. Of course this was the most obvious with the main couple: Eunsung & Johan. But it very well applies to both the romantic and platonic other relationships being tackled within this story as a whole. And the author not going for the easy plot device of creating unecessary drama in Eunsung & Johan's relationship using Ho-Eun's character's come back, but instead have her participate greatly in Minhee's growth, as well as help moving the plot forward for the main cast was really refreshing! Such a fun read! The Art's also such a sight for sore eyes. I loved how the author didn't shy away from giving her characters such a wide range of emotions and facial expressions. It really made them feel all the more alive.

How far (or low) can an attractive body take you in a slum? Pretty and well endowed, Choi Hyungdo scrapes together a living as a waiter by day and porn actor by night. He's occasionally called in for odd jobs at the male brothel where the charismatic owner, Lee Gyung, relentlessly tries to seduce him. Hyungdo feels as though he’s spiraling, but his attraction to Gyung feels as real as his imminent bankruptcy. The descent may be ruthless, but it's not without its pleasures. ----------- Lee Gyung & Choi Hyungdo's relationship is such an insanely mesmerizing one. From beginning to finish, their dynamic reels you in. Gyung's twistedness mixed with Hyungdo's own one makes up this rather strangely ever so intriguingly fascinating pair. Gyung is so messed up so. Somehow the author managed to make their chemistry as such that Gyung's sick actions somehow felt consensual in a way (it's still a crime, not condoning his actions here. Just saying that the author managed to handle their relationship and the plot in such a way that it didn't feel as much so, if at all). Hyungdo's such an interesting main character to follow, he's never strayed from his straight-forward and headstrong personality from beginning to finish. Yet he was also very endearing in his own way at the same time. And the same applied to Gyung's character. I felt very satisfied with the ending, which is rather unusual for me. It felt like all loose-ends were tied, and that it had come to its end in due time. Without being rushed. I also let out quite a few giggles as I read through this. And the Art's quite the sight as well.

After a car accident, Taemin finds himself in the body of Siwon, a victim of bullying at school. No longer a pushover, he starts standing up for himself but then meets Woojin, an old friend from the past. Somehow, Woojin immediately picks up Taemin's 'scent' from Siwon. What happened between these two in the past and how will it affect their future? ---------- It's a really interesting story to follow, but also a really disappointing one. I wish that Jiwook would've ended up in a youth detention center or a psych ward to get some treatment or something as well as pay for his crimes somehow. Whilst he was not physically one of Siwon's rapists, he was still an instigator, as well as the one who leaked the videotape around. I wish we'd seen a scene with Siwon's assaulters being brought to justice with the videotape and the recording as evidence. I do get what the author tried too do by having Taemin (AKA Siwon) throw the recorder away and tell Woojin (AKA Siwoon) that he "didn't want him to step that low". But that wouldn't have been stepping low in any way shape or form if they'd brought said recording to the authorities. And I'd have felt better about Siwon's case, like he at least had gotten justice for what he'd endured and been pushed to suicide for. Jiwook literally pushed someone to suicide, had the videotape of said person being raped leaked and spread around, he abused them in several ways, and again last but not least, he pushed them to suicide. But he gets to just live his life as if nothing ever happened along with his fellow instigators? They should all pay for what they did. So, I'm pretty sour regarding this fact. It was really upsetting how there was such a build-up to them paying for their crimes, yet nothing happens in the end, and you're given such a piss poor of an excuse that "I don't want you to stoop as low as them". It makes no sense. I'll give you that Taemin & Woojin's relationship is such a fascinating one. Their bonds go deep, which the author does a really good job at demonstrating. Their relationship has a very nice vibe to it as well, and Taemin's character on its own is already really interesting. He made me chuckle more than once just by being himself. It's crazy how interesting each characters are. Even side-characters like Hoon and Minjun, you end up wanting to learn more about them and get attached to them more and more as the story goes. But Woojin is way too controlling and obsessive. So it could be worth giving it a go for these few aspects, but one should be aware that it will de disappointing and upsetting overall.

For someone that has always been stimulated by pretty things, he takes photographs from afar, feeding his secret fantasies. But when Youngwon finds out, Haemin is forced to face the object of his desires and before he knows it, those secret fantasies start becoming a whole lot more real. ----------- This one was quite the let-down. It started off as really interesting, the characters were fascinating and you'd want to learn more and more about them. But as the story progressed, their characters suddenly turned into mush and had lost that spark. Somehow, the author made this main pair, which was Haemin & Youngwon start interacting with each other in such a way that the chemistry they'd started off with got obliterated. Haemin's character also went through a ridiculous growth-spurt which somehow turned him into a tree over a mere few months, his character's design felt really off. Then, the story shifted focus onto another couple, Sanho & Dongha and I couldn't bring myself to find them to be an interesting pair. Whilst they did have a few moments here and there, especially towards the end, which I did enjoy, overall I found their dynamic & overall plot-line to be really uncomfortable.

Conor, a Korean-American, lives in a city where same-sex marriage has been legalized, but where racist and homophobic hate crimes are still frequent. He joins a band with the blonde hair, blue-eyed Simon and the two go on to create their own “dark heaven” in an abandoned church. Feelings develop between the pair, but light cannot dwell with dark, and their time together will soon come to an end. ---------- This is such an emotional roller-coaster. I've lost count how many times I got sad, angry, anxious, ... the list goes on and on. The characters are all so tangible. I kept on getting triggered at all the racism & homophobia in this one. It made me want to throw fists so much. It's such a beautiful and realistic story, but dang, does it make me angry at the world. This is so well-written in its depiction of unfairness, xenophobia, racism, homophobia, abuse, white privileges, .... The list could go on and on. But as it is so well-written, that's what keeps you motivated to keep reading it. It brings up such harsh topics and doesn't hold back for a second. The characters are all extremely well thought-through and fascinating as well. Especially Connor & Simon. Their relationship is such a deep one that I couldn't help but get invested in. It just feels so real. You can truly feel their feelings for each other the entire time as you read through each and every chapter. They complete each other, their love is such a strong one, and the author does an amazing job at displaying it. The Art's also one-of-a-kind. I've never seen anything quite like it before.If you want to read this, be aware that it's extremely triggering. But it's also absolutely worth your time. It's been quite a while since I've seen a work that'd bring up real-life problems so well. And also one that'd depict love so bluntly and honestly. I was really taken aback by how much of a masterpiece this was.

Five years after high school graduation, Chiwoo and Kyujin are all grown up and still going steady. In fact, their bond is deeper than ever, both emotionally… and physically! But when Jihyun comes back on the scene, could there be trouble brewing in paradise? ----------- Kyujin and Chiwoo's happy ever after hehe~ loved it. They're adorable together! But Gosh... Jihyun's character breaks my heart even in this side-story... I just want him to find real happiness in the future and get over Chiwoo. His mistakes will never be forgotten nor can they be forgiven. But do I hope for him that Jihyun keeps on improving himself and eventually finds happiness. He hurt Chiwoo in ways he'll never fully understand, but I do hope he finds help and peace to some degree. He's just really pitiful. Part of me was kind of glad to see him miserable too though. Because I personally just can't excuse his actions no matter how much I understand the trauma and psychology behind them. Some things just can't be forgiven.

Doyun is a recessive Omega, but he certainly doesn’t look like an Omega at all: he’s tall, chiseled... But the worst of it all is that he’s a full-grown adult male who has yet to go into heat. He himself doesn’t see the problem though, and everyone he meets assumes he’s an Alpha, anyway. But when his body finally decides it’s “time,” it just happens to be at the most inopportune moment. He has no-one to turn to but his work rival, Taehan – but thankfully, Taehan is more than man enough to help him out. ---------- I quite liked Taehan and Doyun's personalities originally. And the plot was fairly interesting. The Artwork also had amazing potential, sure it has issues such as body proportions and, unfortunately, it's not very consistent, but the Artist really has this knack of pulling you in to its characters, especially their facial expressions. When I read Ch.12 I was so impressed by how the the Artist managed to make you feel how much Taehan and Doyun were absorbed into one another. I love how their emotions are drawn with so much attention, you can really sense that the Artist cares about their work and tries their best. But this is this and that's that. Honestly this was quite the let-down. Sure, it had potential. But for how long? As soon as Teahan and Doyun got together, Doyun's personality, along with the seemingly intriguing plot both went down the drain. It turned into this big orgy pile and I lost interest. Doyun isn't his own person anymore, he turned into this weak damsel in distress that needs Taehan to do everything for him. The plot has been stalling, and is basically nonexistent at this point. This manhwa is nothing else but easy sex now. And that is not to mention the unhealthy side "couple" with the Doctor and Doyun's brother. It all just really took me out of it. An unfortunate drop.