Looking for Answers

Chapter 1: Comic shop
Afterschool, Marie and several classmates and friends of the Korean-American community went to a comic shop to find manhwa, which were Korean comics, a parent came along and promised she’ll pay for it.

Marie walked through the shelves, she saw “日本の漫画” and “Japanese manga” written, the woman who owned the shop put signs in Japanese, Korean and Chinese for each.

She saw manga stacked neatly on a shelf, a title caught her eye and she pulled it out, it was called JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Phantom Blood, it was a hardcovered manga that gave it somewhat a Victorian feel.

”Hey, Maria!” A Korean-American classmate named Samuel called out.

She saw Marie read the book quietly.

The mother of the classmate, Sang-mi went over to the section.

Sang-mi was a Korean community worker who worked with Asian-American communities to help them with their problems.

“Did you find anything you wanted?” She asked.

Marie nodded, she looked up.

”This is about two adopted brothers, one tries to be kind to the other, but he’s not having it, it’s like he wants him to suffer the same way.” She said,

She pulled out Volume 2 and 3.

”I’ll buy it for you, you know, it’ll be expensive, but I’m willing to buy it for you.” She said.

”Are you okay with me having it?” Marie asked.

The Korean woman looked at her.

”They don’t allow manga where I’m from due to the Japanese colonial period, they say it’s to protect Koreans.” She said,

”I sometimes forget you’re from the North.” She said.

”It’s okay, everyone does.” She said.

She took it to the cashier, a young man with an apron scanned the books,

”Young lady, JoJo might be inappropriate for you, you sure you want it?” He asked.

She nodded.

They soon left with their purchases, Maria held the books tightly to herl

They went out to eat a a Korean restaurant, Maria put her books in the bag so she wouldn’t get food on them.

”You’re allowed to own manga, you know.” Samuel said to her.

”Manga isn’t allowed in Korea.” She said.

”It used to be banned in the South until Japan and South Korea‘s relationships improved enough, Japanese songs are still banned though.” Samuel said.

She nodded.

When they were finished, Marie opened the first volume.

She saw colored pages of what appeared to be a woman tied down and a knife over her.

Sang-mi looked at Marie as she read through the pages.

”It’s good, a little bloody.” She said.

She saw a scene where two boys were teasing a girl by taking her doll.

”That poor girl, the main character’s coming to save her.” She said.

She went through pages and pages.

”Oh, that poor dog....” She said.

Marie only liked docile dogs and hated them when running up to her.

When she looked through the pages of the main character hit with a ruler for getting answers wrong and being sent to bed without dinner for eating messily, she asked Sang-mi.

”Was this common back in the 1880’s?” She said.

Sang-mi looked over the pages with her.

”Yes, this was common, especially in wealthy families.” She explained.

”Okay.” Marie responded before reading again.

She found the father to be very strict, but meaningful.

She went through pages, making comments every single time, when she was on the bus, a friend sat next to her while Marie read through her book.

She saw the boxing match scene between both brothers, she saw the adopted brother jab his thumb into his brother’s eye and was easily hidden with a punch., it made her flinch.

”Ouch, that looks painful.” She said.

She saw the main villain grab the love interest of the main antagonist, she then turned the page and it was a forceful kiss.

She turned the page and saw a poem and the scene after.

”Two men looked out from prison bars one saw the mud the other saw the stars...” She read the poem to the side of the panel, it suited the characters perfectly, she thought.

As she read through the story of the dog and the main character, she smiled a little after seeing such a scene, the girl refusing to see the main character, the bullies laughing at him and him storming back home and he and his adopted brother getting into a fistfight.

She kind of felt satisfied at seeing it.

”He’s....crying...” She said.

She turned a few pages, making comments along the way.

”He set a dog on fire...poor puppy...” She said.

It scared her a bit, but kept reading through it.

She saw the main character grieve when he found out his dog was dead and the other sibling out side alone.

”He needs to control anger.” She said.

She was startled at his actions, but continued on.

She was liking it so far, it was beautiful.