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Laon #2
Laon, Vol. 2
When the latest victim of a serial rapist is found alive, the media is determined not to let the fragile woman have any peace until they get all the facts. But it's not the type of story that would attract gossip reporter Tae-Ha-not until those same pressing members of the press are murdered one by one. Is it just a cruel prank, or does his nine-tailed companion have something to do with their deaths?
194 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 12, 2020
My NFNT review for the whole six-book series is here.
September 4, 2023
So far, a big portion of what this series is about just feels like an unfortunate series of events (not the Lemony Snicket series). Perhaps it’s due to Laon’s presence, or maybe she simply gravitates to circumstances like these, but it seems that wherever it is that is within the gumiho’s reach, tragedy follows.
Also, I do wonder why Tae-Ha is the “yummiest” of the bunch of humans. Perhaps his soul is the most weathered? Or perhaps he houses something unusual within himself? Regardless, I’m getting the feeling both from Laon and from the medium girl (Ku-ri?) That Tae-Ha is special in some way.
As for the special characters in this volume, they were actually fairly scary this time. The previous volume was frightening too but it mostly left me feeling gross and disgusted. This one leaves me feeling chilled. Laon, as a series, continuously makes me uncomfortable, but I remember an art professor telling the class before that art is meant to make you uncomfortable. Take this with a grain of salt, however. I personally believe that art takes as many forms as numbers are infinite.
Regardless, I did get uncomfortable at times still, mostly with the odd bestiality and pedophilic themes in this volume. Besides that, it felt a lot like a horror manhwa and I enjoyed those aspects of it. I do feel so bad for the victims, though. And it’s wonderful to see a mother’s love in action, albeit incredibly tragic in this case.
Lastly, I found the explanation of Laon’s sexuality to actually be pretty interesting. I suppose I can call her a she or a he, it doesn’t quite matter… especially since Laon only acts remotely human, and pronouns are man made social constructs.
Also, I do wonder why Tae-Ha is the “yummiest” of the bunch of humans. Perhaps his soul is the most weathered? Or perhaps he houses something unusual within himself? Regardless, I’m getting the feeling both from Laon and from the medium girl (Ku-ri?) That Tae-Ha is special in some way.
As for the special characters in this volume, they were actually fairly scary this time. The previous volume was frightening too but it mostly left me feeling gross and disgusted. This one leaves me feeling chilled. Laon, as a series, continuously makes me uncomfortable, but I remember an art professor telling the class before that art is meant to make you uncomfortable. Take this with a grain of salt, however. I personally believe that art takes as many forms as numbers are infinite.
Regardless, I did get uncomfortable at times still, mostly with the odd bestiality and pedophilic themes in this volume. Besides that, it felt a lot like a horror manhwa and I enjoyed those aspects of it. I do feel so bad for the victims, though. And it’s wonderful to see a mother’s love in action, albeit incredibly tragic in this case.
Lastly, I found the explanation of Laon’s sexuality to actually be pretty interesting. I suppose I can call her a she or a he, it doesn’t quite matter… especially since Laon only acts remotely human, and pronouns are man made social constructs.
August 30, 2011
This is a truly odd manhwa. It revolves around Laon a nine hundred year old nine-tail fox, a gumiho who has lost its tails. Trapped on earth, the fox is searching for her tails, enlisting the help of Tae-Ha Kwon, a journalist for a conspiracy theory/supernatural happenings newspaper. For his part, Tae-Ha has holes in his memory he’s trying to fill and he is both baffled by and attracted to Laon which causes him a lot of distress for several reasons; he knows Laon is a gumiho, that Laon’s sexuality is fluid having both breasts and penis alternating or together for that matter and that Laon appears to be a barely pubescent child.
In covering a story about a new cult, Tae-Ha and Laon meet another reporter and a lovely young woman in the cult. Laon has her own concerns as various hwan, parasitic demons want to eat her and collect 900 years of power. Laon, for her part, will gladly eat them.
Later in the story, the young cultist turns up raped and beaten and in a rather unrealistic scene (or I hope it is, knowing nothing of police procedures in Korea but I can’t imagine they’re this insensitive), multiple reporters show up at the crime scene, trampling evidence and trying to interview her, bloodied and traumatized, before the police even get to her. Afterwards obituaries for these reporters show up one at a time saying how the reporter will die and then they do.
Laon is creepy, fascinating and just plain strange. The sexual attraction between Laon nd Tae-Ha (if it even is that on Laon’s part. S/he might just be using Tae-Ha as an energy source drawing it out via kisses, a common trope in manga) has a pedophilic feel to it, even if she is supposed to be centuries old. Laon is drawn acting very animalistic, recognizable canine poses predominate the art which both cool and unsettling. I do like this but it is quite different.
What I didn't like was the way the rape victim was treated. It was obvious that it needed to happen to make the storyline work but I could do without that sort of thing. It almost stopped me cold.
In covering a story about a new cult, Tae-Ha and Laon meet another reporter and a lovely young woman in the cult. Laon has her own concerns as various hwan, parasitic demons want to eat her and collect 900 years of power. Laon, for her part, will gladly eat them.
Later in the story, the young cultist turns up raped and beaten and in a rather unrealistic scene (or I hope it is, knowing nothing of police procedures in Korea but I can’t imagine they’re this insensitive), multiple reporters show up at the crime scene, trampling evidence and trying to interview her, bloodied and traumatized, before the police even get to her. Afterwards obituaries for these reporters show up one at a time saying how the reporter will die and then they do.
Laon is creepy, fascinating and just plain strange. The sexual attraction between Laon nd Tae-Ha (if it even is that on Laon’s part. S/he might just be using Tae-Ha as an energy source drawing it out via kisses, a common trope in manga) has a pedophilic feel to it, even if she is supposed to be centuries old. Laon is drawn acting very animalistic, recognizable canine poses predominate the art which both cool and unsettling. I do like this but it is quite different.
What I didn't like was the way the rape victim was treated. It was obvious that it needed to happen to make the storyline work but I could do without that sort of thing. It almost stopped me cold.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2013
Vol 2. Chapters 9-16
Laon is nine-tail fox (kumiho) who lost his tails in a bet. When Laon sees an article about kumiho he seeks out Tea-Ha, a journalist. After witnessing Laon's supernatural powers Tea-Ha decides to kidnap him. It doesn't work as Taea-Ha expected but Laon spares his life and they make deal: Tea-Ha will help to find the lost tails and in return when Laon's powers are returned he will grand one Tea-Ha's wish.
In the second volume, Tea-Ha has to write about a sect. There he meets a woman who later is raped and after that she commits suicide. Not long after that several journalists are murdered. How these incidents are linked and what is Laon's role in these deaths?
This volume ends with cliffhanger
Laon is nine-tail fox (kumiho) who lost his tails in a bet. When Laon sees an article about kumiho he seeks out Tea-Ha, a journalist. After witnessing Laon's supernatural powers Tea-Ha decides to kidnap him. It doesn't work as Taea-Ha expected but Laon spares his life and they make deal: Tea-Ha will help to find the lost tails and in return when Laon's powers are returned he will grand one Tea-Ha's wish.
In the second volume, Tea-Ha has to write about a sect. There he meets a woman who later is raped and after that she commits suicide. Not long after that several journalists are murdered. How these incidents are linked and what is Laon's role in these deaths?
This volume ends with cliffhanger
June 16, 2010
You know what always makes for entertaining fiction? Sexist harassment of rape victims! STAY CLASSY, KOREA. I hope this is just some epic fail on the author's part and not actually representative of hope rape victims are treated in Korea, which would be so much more horrifying.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews