Ablaze Publishing Manga Reviews Reviews

Manhwa Review: The Restorer’s Home Vol. 1 (2023) by Sang-Yeop Kim

A perfect introduction to manhwa

“High school freshman Sung-woo lives alone in a big traditional Korean house inherited from his grandfather. He has a great skill to restore objects such as antiques to their original condition. He also has a supernatural ability to see souls, which are sometimes tied to these objects. Trying not to reveal his ability, he secretly helps friends and people around him fix their broken stuff.” (ABLAZE Publishing)

Acting as a perfect introduction to the world of manhwa, 's “The Restorer's Home” shares similarities with its Japanese counterpart while also interjecting elements that make it distinctly Korean. Granted, fans of both can often point to many instances that make the two distinct, but where Kim's work excels is in celebrating Korean culture by exploring history to craft a story that is entertaining yet informative. This may not be like the recent spat of print releases that have seen manhwa gain a large fan base with sensational hero-driven titles like “Solo Leveling” or “Tomb Raider King“, but it captures the subtle brilliance of the medium of comics to touch on more wholesome and comforting narratives.

Notably, “The Restorer's Home” has a rather relaxed pace where the focus on antiquity and the job of a restorer becomes the central focus point while fantasy and comedy are used to complement the book's exploration of artifacts. By focusing on the history of Korea, including elements of mythology, the manhwa will appeal to readers who like learning about cultural aspects interwoven with light entertainment. Notably, Sung-woo's power to look at a broken item and explore its history to be able to fix it is, easily, the most rewarding aspect of “The Restorer's Home”.

At the same time, the book contains an entertaining cast of characters that will feel familiar to manga readers where an individual has to take care of supernatural beings while trying to live a ‘normal' life. The ghosts and deities that inhabit Sung-woo's add humour but also work to compliment the history explored, such as one of the inhabitants understanding ancient techniques for restoring damaged metalic designs. The majority of the comedy also comes from interactions with the large eccentric cast, struggling with or celebrating modernity.

Visually, Sang-Yeop Kim's style is not overly detailed and can seem crude at points. Yet, in world building and exploring the past, his work is perfectly apt. Furthermore, his sprite designs, the creatures that inhabit artifacts and convey how the item has been damaged, are utterly adorable in design and help realize Yung-soo's desire to fix everything. There is also an attention to detail in representing the past in earnest, which is highlighted in the bonus chapter where Sang-Yeop Kim shares his conversation with restorers to ensure he did not misrepresent the craft. Ultimately, the overall visual direction may not be stunning but it has a sincerity to it that is undeniable and charming.

Besides the bonus story, the inaugural volume from Ablaze includes concept art and annotations to help solidify the research and work that went into the project. The release is longer at 400 pages, which allows the reader to fully appreciate all elements of Sang-Yeop Kim's work. Consequently, everything from religious effigies to royal garments is touched in volume one, showing the scale of work and the potential for different avenues of exploration through examining various artifacts.

“The Restorer's Home” is that ideal balance of education and entertainment that makes for a comforting read. It is a welcome addition to published manhwa that sways away from the more sensational hero-driven work or dramatic period pieces that have been the focus of recent print releases.

About the author

Adam Symchuk

Adam Symchuk is a Canadian born freelance writer and editor who has been writing for Asian Movie Pulse since 2018. He is currently focused on covering manga, manhwa and light novels having reviewed hundreds of titles in the past two years.

His love of film came from horror and exploitation films from Japan that he devoured in his teens. His love of comics came from falling in love with the works of Shuzo Oshimi, Junji Ito, Hideshi Hino, and Inio Asano but has expanded to a general love of the medium and all its genres.

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