Dokebi Bride, Volume 1

by Marley

by Marley
Having been born into a shaman family, Sunbi has inherited supernatural powers to see and communicate with spirits just like her grandmother, who was once a notable shaman and savior of their little South Seas fishing village. Sunbi's dark, alienated childhood continues onto a new stage of difficult challenges when she joins her re-married father in Seoul after her grandmother passes away. Now, she has no one to protect her from a universe of Dokebis who tirelessly attempt to seize her body. Alone but determined, she vows not to become a scapegoat of any Dokebi just like her mother who was driven into a doomed end. Now she has to adapt to a whole new environment of the two distinct worlds where nobody, including her distant father - her only family - understands the ultimate reality of her life but herself. Will she give up the fight for the life of her choice and give in at all in the face of dreadful Dokebis?

Genres: Manga, Manhwa, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Shojo

174 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2006

Reviews

[Lisa Guiry · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first comic since a teenager. This was a great introduction to get me back into reading these types of books. I really enjoyed it. Love the story. I have the next 4 volumes. Cant wait to read them. I know it's going to be awesome.

[John Weeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young girl from fishing village with shamanic gifts moves to Seoul. Starts slow, but it's a nicely textured story that examines the shamanistic traditions of Korea via its protagonist. Some horrific imagery but it's all in keeping with the mythos.

[Sleepninja · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was definitely interesting. But nothing much really happened in this volume.

[Kienie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art is always very expressive and often detailed. I don't know where this story is going, but this felt like a very good introduction to this version of demons and ritual. I also really like Sunbi, our protagonist. I also like how the supernatural works with the human world. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of it and finding out the rest of the story.

What pisses me off though is that the grandma obviously knew what was coming, and yet she left Sunbi pretty unprepared. She didn't teach her much of the lore and none of the rituals. Maybe she thought she'd have more time? I don't know.

Also, spirits -- even good ones -- are dicks.

[Sianeka · Rating 1 out of 5]

Typical angst-filled outsider teenager doesn't fit in with her family or peers. Sunbi is born into a shaman family and can see demons, gods and spirits that most people can't. This causes her estrangement from her immediate family, who can't abide the spiritism of shaman side of the family, and distances her from classmates. Neither the story nor artwork is particularly distinguished.

If you like this type of story, this is an adequate yarn in this genre. But it never rises above adequacy and I wouldn't recommend to someone who isn't a fan of this type of story.

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dokebi Bride is a rather serious manwha about high school, ghosts, and traditional Korean culture. The story moves slowly in volume 1 and I found myself a bit bored (except for the Korean culture angle, which was relatively new to me.) The art seemed inconsistent and the dialogue (or rather the translation) a bit unnatural though.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting mish-mash. The pretty cover art is deceptive; the interior art is often intentionally not pretty in a way that's interesting and effective. No enormous sunjeong manhwa eyes here! And Sunbi herself is an interesting heroine; not exactly likable, but the edge of her anger feels real and earned, and is a nice change of pace from other manhwa protagonists I have known.

[Kate]

Wow some of this art is really bad. But I enjoyed learning about Korean shamanism.

[Kagama-the Literaturevixen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its very unusual. Art is more realistic than pretty. And the dokebis are no bishounen (korean equivalent anyone?)