GEN Manhwa Issue 4 Review

The post-apocalyptic adventures of monster hunter Nicholas transition into their second story arc in the fourth monthly issue of GEN Manhwa. The 37-page digital issue features a full-color cover and 32-pages of stylish monochrome art channeling the spirit of Japanese series including Trinity Blood, Vampire Hunter D, and Trigun.

The seventh chapter of writer Kevin Han & illustrator Zom-J’s Korean action/horror comic Stone Collector sees wandering Novum Stone monster hunter Nicholas, with his new companion Liz, venture away from Holy Town and into the Iron Desert to reunite with an old friend. The latest chapter is imbued with suspenseful tension but is entirely dialogue-based, introducing a new character and setting up a scenario for fresh action to come in the next chapter. Similar to the prior installments, the dialogue is occasionally a little bit clunky, as though it’s more concerned with evoking masculine intonation than sounding like natural speech. Furthermore, while Liz has never been an outspoken or independent-willed character, in the story’s seventh chapter she’s reduced to a mere narrative object not even worthy of a name. She’s only referred to as “little girl,” and her sole function is to look incredulous and serve as a MacGuffin. Where the first story arc at least attempted to make her sympathetic, as the second story arc begins, Liz has so little presence that she acquiescently accepts everything said and done to her without any evidence of objection or rebuttal. In effect, the testosterone-fueled story turns from feeling masculine to outright sexist.

But readers may be able to overlook the reductive treatment of a series’ supporting character by becoming engrossed with the series’ super stylish artwork. Zom-J’s crisp line-work and dynamic contrasts of white space with swaths of pitch black are captivating and impressive. Sound effects are subtle and integrated deftly into the artwork. They’re also left untranslated, which may or may not disappoint select readers.

The first six-chapter story arc of Stone Collector is now available from GEN in a complete “Book 1” collection, allowing new readers to conveniently and quickly catch up to the story contained in this month’s issue. Fans of stylish action comics should definitely invest the minimal amount necessary to check out this exclusive new offering from GEN Manhwa.