With more people reading manga and Webtoons (aka vertical scroll comics) than ever before, Beat’s Bizarre Adventure gives three writers an opportunity each week to recommend some of their favorite books and series from Japan, Korea, and elsewhere. This week we have a university romance, another great one-shot from VIZ, and, of course, dreams.
Rules for Dating Trash
Writer/Artist: Seo Yeon
Platform: WEBTOON
Ihyeon would probably be the recycling championship gold medalist with all the trashy men she collects. Her last campus relationship cost her 3 years of leave, and vicious rumors alleging she is a “serial stalker” or “crazy ex” still roam the campus. Sure, it was Ihyeon’s trashy ex (now T.A.) who acted as if she were the unstable one while mistreating her behind the scenes. But the damage is already done.
She’s back in school and already regretting her choices because everyone keeps gossiping about her, knowing she can hear it all. As if that wasn’t enough, a notorious playboy in her program has taken an interest in her. How did things escalate from Chanu teasing and annoying Ihyeon at every turn to them fake-dating in front of the whole campus? You have to read Rules for Dating Trash to find out!
I decided to give Seo Yeon‘s Rules for Dating Trash a chance because of its colorful key visual and fun title. It’s their only work licensed in English, and what can I say, I love a university romance! I wouldn’t say I’m blown away by it, especially with how Seo Yeon is laying one drama on top of another without enough breathing room for my liking. But there’s something adorable about how Chanu and Ihyeon try not to catch feelings while keeping close and displaying public affection. Plus, I prefer thick, bold lines and eye-catching character designs, so this webtoon worked for me in that regard as well.
Currently, 33 chapters are available for free on WEBTOON. We’ve already seen a bit of Ihyeon’s past; we are now slowly delving into Chanu’s past, his strained relationship with his family, and uncovering his biggest heartache. If you decide to give this series a chance, do know that the cliffhangers will hurt you for a while!
While I don’t want to reduce a work to simple buzzwords, it is true that we romance readers all have our tropes and dynamics that we actively search for. Rules for Dating Trash will work nicely for fans who are all about fake dating and size difference, but are tired of romantasy and want a modern setting. It might not change your world, but it sure will sprinkle some sugar on your Fridays. — Merve Giray
Finding My Voice
Writer/Artist: SK6 Vice
Publisher: VIZ
Few things are as powerful in life as connecting with another person. Even more powerful is when you connect with someone over a shared passion for art, whether by making it or being enthusiasts. Finding those people makes life less lonely, less bitter. It doesn’t matter whether the connection in question is platonic or romantic. Art brings people together.
Finding My Voice follows Aria and Ethel who meet in a park and bond over creating songs. The catch is that this story takes place in a fantasy world and Ethel is a banshee. She’s expected to scream, but reading Aria’s lyrics allows her to sing in a way unique to her. With Aria’s help, maybe Ethel will find who she is.
Writer/Artist SK6 Vice creates a comic that’s warm and inviting. The vivid expressions and “acting” of the characters ensures they read as real people. At the same time they are written so that you want them to triumph on their own terms. Vice beautifully portrays the tentativeness that comes with exploring a friendship, making art and being true to oneself.
The focus on authenticity is what makes Finding My Voice so special. Being able to sing or create something perfect isn’t as important as being true to oneself. Both Aria and Ethel strive to be authentic to themselves. Writing songs isn’t about being flashy but instead about being vulnerable and putting yourself out there. Isn’t that what making great art is all about? — D. Morris
Night Fragments
Writer/Artist: Sinran
Platform: Tapas
I’m not sure how I stumbled across Night Fragments, but I’m really glad I did. The series is a fantasy BL webcomic written and illustrated by Sinran that launched in November 2021 and ended with two seasons in September 2024.
Series lead Aryka is a Dream Watcher, a spirit assigned to watch over the dreams of sick or vulnerable humans. When he receives his fourth assignment, he’s shocked to discover it’s Vince, a depressed young man who was friends with his third human partner. Aryka has trouble making Vince happier with his dreams. But he does manage to communicate with him—something that has never happened between a Dream Watcher and their partner before. As Aryka’s feelings grow for Vince, they are connected by something inextricable.
At first glance, Night Fragments appears to be a reincarnation/reaper tale. But the unique rules guiding Sinran’s world makes it so much more interesting to read about. The stakes are high because even though Aryka wants Vince to be happy, he also risks reincarnation if he interferes too much. Meanwhile Vince is battling his own demons. The grief and guilt he is experiencing is heartbreakingly relatable; who wouldn’t want to stay in a perfect dream where there is no sadness or death?
While the plot twist at the end felt overly convoluted for my tastes—almost like it was thrown in there for the sake of a plot twist—I thought Night Fragments was a well-written story with an especially strong start. — Hilary Leung
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