It doesn't matter whether one evaluates DVD on the strength of the original story and art or the official English adaptation, this book is good. And this is coming from someone who can't stand most things in translation.

It's a DramaQueen release, and people are not kidding when they say the production quality on their stuff was worlds and universes better than the competition. I mention this because it may have something to do with my enjoyment; I actually felt like I was reading a manhwa and not something on shitty packing paper with a cover like a chalkboard.

Story summary: Female Protagonist gets dumped by the boyfriend she truly loves but who was only using her to pass his entrance examinations. Luckily, she meets smart-mouthed, breast-obsessed CK Model material Male Protagonist #1 and Goth Punk Male Protagonist #2 immediately prior to her plans to off herself and begins to reconsider. Oh! Now would be a good time to mention that FP hallucinates in a Joan Osborne "St. Teresa" video/Legal Drug kinda way. It's pretty and fun, but doesn't seem to be too vital to the plot (yet?).

Anyway, the FP is cute, and there is a refreshing lack of panty shots or stumbling about in a ball of whimpering, simpering, cutesy hijinked manhwa womanhood (see: Goong). Her emotions are actually rather understated, which is nice. MP1's breast obsession is played for laughs, but somehow manages to avoid being annoying. And I've actually developed a bit of a thing for MP2, with his Dream/Edward Scissorhands hairdo and Sephiroth jacket. (And his reactions to FP are actually kinda cute.) The interaction between the three protagonists is natural; they really seem like kids you could have met in high school or uni. The repartee is pretty good as well, when it could easily have fallen flat. And let me mention again how much I appreciate the fact that FP is weird and intelligent instead of spunky and adorably clutzy.

The translation reads pretty naturally in English; there are a few bits where I can tell the Korean grammar and phrasing were left intact, but it doesn't spoil the flow very much. The book could have done with cultural notes, which is my biggest complaint; I can tell when I'm missing a reference and that happened several times throughout the volume. (For anyone who has/will read DVD, I can help with two: Nongae is a prostitute famous for throwing herself and a Japanese general to their deaths during the seige of Jinju Fortress, and Huh Joon is a famous physician active after Jangeum. Go me!) Sfx are all in English and inserted into the text without bolloxing up the artwork.

End verdict: this volume is definitely worth the read, assuming you can get your hands on a copy in the wake of DramaQueen's unfortunate demise. My only caveat is that doing so will likely lead to the Heartache Of Needing To Know What Comes Next for anyone who can't read the Korean original, as only two volumes were ever officially released in English. Still, this title stands head and shoulders above the other shoujo competition for its originality and humor. ( )

Funny and random ( )

DVD starts when Ddam, a smart, slightly delusional (she occasionally has mild hallucinations) girl studying to retake the college entrance exam so she may attend the same school as her long time boyfriend, is suddenly dumped by said boyfriend, leaving her heartbroken, lost, and ready to end her life after one last night on the town. However, for this last night she ends up making the acquaintance of two quirky, attractive men, Venu and DD, who are looking for a roommate, and end up inviting her to live with them...

So. Romantic(?) comedy about under appreciated girl magically finding herself living with and in the constant company of some totally hawt men, much to the envy of all the women around her? It sounds like standard shoujo all the way through, but the feel, and possibly the purpose, is entirely different.

For one thing, the two men are not dreamy knights in shinning armor here to pamper our poor heroine. They are self-proclaimed slackers, dedicated to living “a pathetic life.” They spend their time having spitting contest and discussing the sexuality of oysters, whether or not you can milk male cows, and playing cat's cradle on the bus. They are rude, and not even horribly concerned with Ddam's spiraling downward mental state. On the other hand, in some ways they are actually quite kind to her. What Ddam gets from being with them is not self-affirmation pathetically based on hoarders of attractive men who's lives are centered around her, but a sort of bizarre distraction from the real world, or from herself, that allows her, for the moment, to continue going. Honestly, I'm not even sure if this is a romance.

As for the art, the faces could be a little more expressive, but other than that it's probably very good for it's style. On the other hand, the style doesn't really appeal to me. Pointy faces, big, slanted eyes with thick eyebrows. It wasn't really irritating but I didn't get too much enjoyment out of it. Just depends on personal taste, though.

Unconventional and so far without much plot, DVD for now seems mostly about keeping your interest with it's oddly appealing characters and it's quirky dialog. I really enjoy these aspects, but at the same time... I like characters I can care about. Those in DVD are certainly endearing, but I feel a bit like I'm watching monkeys at the zoo. Their cute and fun and their bizarre behavior makes you like them even more (even when they flinging poo, since it can't really hit you), but it's a passing amusement, if a fairly good one. I'm not overly interested in hearing how this story ends, and I'm not sure how much I want to pay for good weird banter. Still, it's a fun addition to my bookshelf, and someday when money is somewhat less of an object, I'll probably enjoy reading another volume. ( )