The Adventures of Young Det Volume 1

By Gyojeong Kwon

by Gyo Jeong Kwon
Two adventure-loving boys from the country set out on their quest to defeat the evil dragon that threatens the world. Our tale begins with an essential prologue, "Peramore Story," set eighty years prior to the actual events of Young Det. It sets the foundation for our intrepid adventurers' quest and introduces the reader to the epic world that has been shaped around a new mankind, their lands, the monsters they face, and the magic that flows through everything. Det and Osen battle their way to glory, finding romance and the life of heroes along the way. As the many ties between the foundation laid in "Peramore Story" and the actual events of The Adventures of Young Det reveal themselves, we find history and the present colliding, weaving an exciting tapestry of medieval fantasy in this new, thrilling tale.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1600093000
• ISBN13: 9781600093005
• Release Date: December 2008
• Publisher: NETCOMICS
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 7.1"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

A fantasy story of epic proportions.

It's a difficult task for an author to convincingly craft a fantasy world that is consistent and believeble, but "The Adventures of Young Det" lives up to the challenge. I enjoy the implications that the world is about to erupt in conflict (partly because of the oppositional clans), and the fact that Lazarus is getting so involved with the Ferat will surely serve to make things more dramatic. The wispy lines of the illustrations pull the reader into this fantastical world, and the details of the story make it a page turner. As far as the characters themselves are concerned, I'm rooting for the Ferat and Lazarus while feeling a bit of a "Romeo and Juliet" meets "LOTR" vibe. The fact they use varying types of magic, as well as the fact their kinds seem to be at odds with one another, seems tragically romantic. I think teacher/student romances can be very interesting, and often fraught with conflict, especially if the student excels . How ironic that the Ferat is so powerful, yet in some ways so weak she cannot emerge from her quarters! Not to make a play on words, but I also think the issues of dark vs. light magic may not be so "black and white," as it were. No doubt their romance, as well as seeing what comes of their whole world, will be an interesting ride. And it's one literary rollercoaster I'm excited to be riding.

A good series for Manga and superhero fans alike!

I'm more familiar with superhero comics. The world of Manga is new to me. That said, I'm really getting into it. Characters with fantastic or superhero powers appeal to me in particular. So, it's probably not a surprise that this series is one I'm really getting hooked on. First of all, there are the drawings. I think a cute Manga style would have done the tone of this story a disservice. "The Adventures of Young Det" is stylized in a way that fits the fact it is a fantasy. The characters look otherworldly, and the drawings are pretty in an almost ghost-like way. The story itself seems to be setting up a lot of elements I think will be interesting as it progresses. I think Lazarus is an interesting and relatable main character, because he means well but his confidence sometimes gets the better of him. Personally, I think a hero who has flaws is far more intriguing than one who is cookie-cutter perfect. Lazarus is a young man who has a lot of power. The combination of power and youth can cause arrogance, and/or cause someone to make bad decisions. As they say, "He who has great power has great responsibility." I am curious to see how this is going to play out. Especially if his relationship with the Ferat ends up hurting him, or she's the one who ends up using her power in a harmful way (either towards him or the fate of the world). As I said, I'm looking forward to seeing how it all plays out. I also think the themes of power, corrupting that power, and romance getting in the way of everything are universal. I'm glad to be crossing over and reading a comic that's Manga/fantasy, and still has the same themes that I liked in "Spiderman," "Batman," etc. that I've liked from the time I got into comics as a kid. Bravo!

Loved it

The Adventures of Young Det unites Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings in this one epic fantasy of two powerful sorcerers who train and conjure magic to conquer a dark evil that was prophesized to destroy their world. Like most manhwas, the first volume was just a dragged out introduction of the characters and the magical world, but nonetheless, my attraction to the series was instant. I fell in love with the eerie and mysterious charm and not to mention the lure of the taboo romance that emerges between the sorcerer and the sorceress. Even though there wasn't as much "adventure" as the title suggested, I still enjoyed it greatly and hope to find more promises in the continuations of the story.

A must read for fans of well-crafted, beautifully drawn fantasies!

Wow! I love books with a rich backstory, and especially when there is a very well-crafted fantasy element to the whole thing. So far, this series is wonderful! The drawings are beautiful, and some panels even almost have an ethereal feel to them. I have a feeling that there is much to come, and I am excited at the possibilities of exploring forbidden friendships between humans and feramores... and perhaps forbidden relationships that take things even further. If you are a fantasy-lover, the combination of interesting characters/plot and eerily beautiful art makes this a story to not be missed.

Highly recommended. I want more!

The first volume of The Adventures of Young Det follows the happenings of a young, naturally talented sorcerer, Lazerous. He befriends the leader of the prophetic race of Gaderins, the Ferat, and the two begin studying magic together. The Ferat had a vision in which the dreaded dark dragon was released and destroyed the world. In this same vision, she saw Lazarus, suggesting he is somehow involved in the release of the dragon and the fate of the world. The Gaderins believe their prophecies to be unchangeable, but Lazarus isn't quite so sure. I liked the start of this series for a lot of reasons. First, the art is gorgeous and sets the tone of the series nicely. The artist does facial expressions really well. Also, there's a lot going on in this story and on several different levels. You've got two young adults who share a passion for learning as much as they can about magic and yet are unaware of the bond they are forming. You've got the delicate interplay of politics both within clans and between clans as everyone is worrying over the coming destruction. I also really like the technical detail that the author gives for most of the spells the characters are casting. Some parts feel as though you are reading a magic lesson. It really adds to the believability and depth of the world this book takes you into. Gyojeung Kwon develops the characters wonderfully in this epic story of magic, prophecy, and the unconscious emotions of youth. I highly recommend it!