What's up, guys?
This week I have an early look at and review of one of my most
anticipated new releases of 2023, The Horizon.
It’s one of my all time favorites, so I wanted to go more in depth on this one
by letting you guys know why it's unique and worth picking up, in addition
to an early look at the first volume, which is releasing on June 30th, 2023.
And if you guys enjoy content like this, be sure to like and subscribe
because it really helps the channel.
An English print release on The Horizon is highly anticipated,
so I couldn't be happier.
The Ize Press is releasing one
and after getting the first volume in-hand, I'm even more excited
because the quality as well as the design of the volume,
is everything I could have hoped for and more.
Like JH’s art these volumes are minimalistic, yet aesthetically pleasing.
The image says a lot about what you are in for with this series.
The sprawling landscapes and a child left alone in a post-apocalyptic world
that now must traverse the land in search of safety and hope.
The artwork wraps around the entire volume and the volumes
have a texture to them as well.
The quality is nice and the print quality, which you guys will see
in a minute in the flip through is top notch.
For those of you that are wondering how many chapters the first volume
collects, the first volume collects the first five chapters of the series.
So the Horizon is a manhwa by JH and is one of the most harrowing stories
I've ever read.
And despite it only being 21 chapters, it is still as impactful,
if not more impactful, than some of my favorite stories
I've read that have over 100 chapters, if not more.
It didn't take as much of a toll on me as Goodnight Punpun But Inio Asano
or No Longer Human by Usamaru Furuya did, but it came close.
And for a series that's this compact, this is a huge feat.
The Horizon explores deeply complex themes that
give it a lot of weight, and it's one you will never forget.
I also want to mention JH’s other series, The Boxer, real quick,
because I've written not one but two series that hooked me.
If you loved his works
or you love stories about boxing it’s one you want to check out.
One thing I enjoy about all of JH’s works is that they deeply explore
existentialism and dive into what it means to be human and the struggles many face
throughout their lives.
The Horizon is an amped up version of this because these kids are suddenly faced
with surviving in a harsh and unforgiving world
where morality has taken a backseat to survival.
They suddenly have to face all the hardships of one lifetime
in the span of what feels like days, whether it be grief, loss or trauma.
JH takes these series one that's about two kids
living in the aftermath of a cataclysmic war and another that's
about a boxer and tells them in a way that feels poetic.
So the storytelling element is a strong suit of these, for sure,
but the stories also feel real and the characters are relatable.
JH tells these stories minimally, and there's little dialog throughout only
when necessary, yet the messages they give can be heard loud and clear throughout.
JH also highlights the beauty of simplicity
and how things don't always have to be said with words, but can be told with art.
The Horizon is one of the most profound and dark series I've ever read.
It's similar to The Road, and to this day that movie still haunts me.
Much in the same way, The Horizon still haunts me to this day,
but even more so because no parents are helping these children in this story.
Instead, the story follows a young boy who is trying to survive
in a post-apocalyptic world after losing his mother.
One day he meets a young girl who is struggling to do the same
and they accompany one another on their journey.
Despite all of the scary moments and obstacles they face, they push forward
in search of a safe haven and are looking for light and hope in this dark world.
Of course, that light can be very well felt at times in their interactions
with one another.
But it's very clear from the images in this story that the loneliness
these two feel despite having one another, still exists.
Panels like this one hone this in.
You see these two walking hand-in-hand, but the scale of what lies
ahead of them feels a much too large to overcome.
Yet still, they press on because they have hope and they have one another.
A lot of the panels in The Horizon either feel chaotic or they feel empty,
depending on the situation and the emotion they are trying to get across.
It's this ability to convey the gravity and feeling of a moment that really sets
JH apart.
The dialog and text we do get are impactful and often
what others would say and pages JH gets across with a single sentence.
We are asked questions like “why has the world turned out this way?”
That puts us in the mind of the characters.
Because of this, it’s
one of the most thought provoking and tough series I've ever read.
Watching these two navigate this bleak and unforgiving world
which has been ravaged by war, is heart wrenching, to say the least.
They meet other survivors along the way,
notably adults who have lost their humanity
and their endeavor to survive no matter the cost.
Some have lost all morals.
Some have resorted to terrible acts.
And you see firsthand just how dangerous it can be to trust others in the face
in such calamity.
Post-apocalyptic manga always take a hard look at humanity,
but since The Horizon is told through the eyes of children, it hits harder.
Even though our MCs are children, though they are still smart and streetwise
and while they still find themselves in tough situations along the way,
they bond together and work to overcome the odds.
They stick together no matter what, and their relationship
brings about some light in this dark world.
It's an emotional tale that while has little dialog, has so much to say.
The atmosphere
and emotion that JH conveys through the panels is unbelievable as well.
You grasp the grave nature of the situation
and the way the story unfolds is just so expertly done.
The landscapes in the series are incredible.
It's the scale of the landscapes and the absolute silence that can be felt
within them that hone in on just how alone these two kids are in this world.
The Horizon is mostly in black and white, but you will see some pops of color
when reading the chapters, kind of like you'd see in series like I Am a Hero.
I enjoy when creators do this because it adds emphasis
to particular moments in the series and in The Horizon, it further highlights
just how traumatizing and life altering
some of these moments are for our characters.
The Horizon is a series that broke me, but I'm glad
I experienced it nonetheless, because it's one of my all time favorite series.
Volume one of the Horizon is releasing from Ize Press on June 20, 2023.
And I hope you all will check it out.
It's one you’ll want to give a shot,
especially if you enjoy post-apocalyptic or thought provoking series.
If you like JH’s works, be sure to check out the Boxer,
which recently began releasing with English translation
thanks to Ize Press also.
I have a showcase of the first volume on the channel, if you’d like an inside
look and would like to learn more about the series.
And that's it for the video guys.
If you’re looking forward to The Horizon, let me know in the comments below.
Thanks, as always to Ize Press for sending over a copy
so I could showcase this incredible series and to all of you for watching.
If you enjoyed the video, please like and subscribe
because it really helps the channel.
I hope you have an awesome week and I'll see you all in the next video.