Platform: Webtoon
Writer & Artist: Peglo
Genre: Slice of Life
Episodes: 8 (Fast Pass To 13)
To call Kang Dae an introvert is an understatement. The grumpy 20-year-old lives alone and does everything that he can to ensure that it stays that way. He narrates that it’s better this way, and so far, there is no indication that it is due to some trauma or that he secretly yearns for more. He might not be particularly likable yet, but Kang Dae is the protagonist of To The Stars and Back.
When his extroverted and overly smiley neighbor Bo Seon moves in next door, Kang Dae is now forced into social situations where he is consistently annoyed and uncomfortable. Writer & artist Peglo has a fairly typical concept in this comic, but the presentation and lively art helps make the formula feel fresh. There are a few pitfalls throughout, especially when one looks at how mean Kang Dae is to Bo Seon. It’s difficult to believe that anyone would continue to be as kind (and clueless) as Bo Seon is. Still, the slice of life crowd might find this easy to overlook, as cliches are what makes these kinds of reads endearing.
While the characters aren’t particularly deep or fleshed out through the first eight episodes, the interactions are still a delight. Peglo does well at inserting just enough lighthearted comedy into every episode to get a nice chuckle or at least a smile out of the reader. Despite the tropes, the characters are rather endearing, and the social situations that they are thrusted into are at least entertaining and creative.
The characters are much easier to fall for when one sees how expressive they are. Peglo has a nice art style that allows for the characters to be fully understood by their expressions alone. The style isn’t particularly groundbreaking, but is effective. The backgrounds aren’t overly detailed, but this is made up with strong character composition throughout the panels. The reader’s eyes are always drawn to what they are meant to see, making this a comic that’s easy to follow throughout.
It’s too early to call To The Stars and Back a must read, but it is at least a delight for fans of slice of life books. There is plenty of potential for these two characters to get much, much closer. The lighthearted comedy and sincere situations will make readers want to follow these two to the stars and back (Sorry).
To The Stars and Back
To The Stars and Back is full of cliches, but it is also full of sincere comedy and some genuinely cute moments.
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