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Presented in the original Korean format, Shaman Warrior is a dramatic fantasy series with a kinetic style that will appeal to fans of Blade of the Immortal and Vagabond! From the desert wastelands emerge two mysterious warriors, master wizard Yarong and his faithful servant Batu. On a grave mission from their king, they have yet to realize the whirlwind of political movements and secret plots which will soon engulf them and change their lives forever. When Yarong is mortally injured, Batu must fulfill a secret promise to leave Yarong's side and protect his master's child. As Batu seeks to find and hide the infant, Yarong reveals another secret to those who have tracked him down to finish him off - the deadly, hidden power of a Shaman Warrior!
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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144 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 30 reviews
July 14, 2015
Anyhow... pretty cool manhwa with some pretty cool art... this first volume being the setup of the story. I have been eyeing this manhwa since Dark Horse first finished publishing the whole series. Would probably be cheaper if I could find a local translation. Hey, you know what? I think I will do that. Half the price of a copy on Google Play store. Malay translation - I can live with that - I finished whole manga series translated in Malay (Yuyu Hakushop, Slam Dunk, Doraemon) - and honestly speaking, I still loved those stories. Testament to the power of a good story & the comic book medium, eh?
I pretty much wish I could borrow this off someone though. Having whole sets of manga/manhwa really does your shelf space in. ~_~
I pretty much wish I could borrow this off someone though. Having whole sets of manga/manhwa really does your shelf space in. ~_~
October 10, 2025
Scratches the same itch that watching Red Cliff or the Battle of Helms Deep does. I’m here for it. Fight scenes were a bit hard to follow at first, but good towards the end.
November 11, 2019
Enjoyed this Korean manga way more than I expected I would. Really nicely illustrated. Sometimes when reading manga, I find it hard to identify some of the characters, as they are drawn similar to each other. This didn't happen in Shaman Warrior. Everyone was detailed and clear.
The plot was good and it has left me wanting to read the next one to find out what happens. That betrayal! Unexpected.
Decent manga, would recommend.
The plot was good and it has left me wanting to read the next one to find out what happens. That betrayal! Unexpected.
Decent manga, would recommend.
May 23, 2020
The art of Shaman Warrior is absolutely phenomenal. This was the first manhwa I've ever read, and it's because it was so lauded. It lived completely up to its praise.
July 6, 2014
It was a typical start i didn't actually get bored....
This was a very nice and gentle piece of artwork to read. I wanted to say cute but this would really sound out of the sync. It expresses the faithfulness, obedience of superiors and inferiors. The rank and the status of a true Shaman warrior who goes to war and accomplish missions. The battles are magnificently and attractively illustrated with pretty clear smashes and conflicts between characters. The plot was sort of -mainstream- but still keeps you hooked . A reader can predict BUT NOT easily the upcoming incident and appearance.
This review may contain spoilers.
But the fact that Yarong took off his cloak when he clashed with that dude with earrings who called himself Yuda, lowered my standards of a great shaman warrior when the author first represented him as a cool powerful individual when it all started off.
Because simply, Yuda was -not easily taken care of- but actually was beaten by Yarong's servant, which i don't see him as a servant to be honest he is more like a bodyguard or a companion in my opinion, by letting him fall off a bridge.
so Batu, the mightiest big man of Yarong actually handled that dude but the main ghost warrior couldn't. Seriously?
Then why you gave ME the possibility to actually believe that Yarong is a very genius robust and an unbeatable supreme character?.
The story is really good, although the fact that i did not see anything special in the script nor the plot itself but it can be acceptable and make you interested whenever you are going through the scenario to some extent. Sometimes i feel that i am the problem here. Either I am becoming less emotional to scenes that supposed to provide you with tremendous mixed feelings all in once or the author is the one to blame here.
I think i had a deja vu. I wished the plot was more unique in its platform but all it gave me was a repetitive sort of familiar story-line. But still, i want to see what happen next. This is simply what volume one is trying to put over.
I think the characters are personalized really well because they seem honestly realistic and not over-rated in some parts. They were some parts where the author is actually trying to represent the oppressed and the oppressor in order to dominate senses and interact emotionally; however, that felt just the opposite because those parts are the ones that improved the story-telling technique in hope to finally feel something different and out of the expectations and predictions.
This was a very nice and gentle piece of artwork to read. I wanted to say cute but this would really sound out of the sync. It expresses the faithfulness, obedience of superiors and inferiors. The rank and the status of a true Shaman warrior who goes to war and accomplish missions. The battles are magnificently and attractively illustrated with pretty clear smashes and conflicts between characters. The plot was sort of -mainstream- but still keeps you hooked . A reader can predict BUT NOT easily the upcoming incident and appearance.
This review may contain spoilers.
But the fact that Yarong took off his cloak when he clashed with that dude with earrings who called himself Yuda, lowered my standards of a great shaman warrior when the author first represented him as a cool powerful individual when it all started off.
Because simply, Yuda was -not easily taken care of- but actually was beaten by Yarong's servant, which i don't see him as a servant to be honest he is more like a bodyguard or a companion in my opinion, by letting him fall off a bridge.
so Batu, the mightiest big man of Yarong actually handled that dude but the main ghost warrior couldn't. Seriously?
Then why you gave ME the possibility to actually believe that Yarong is a very genius robust and an unbeatable supreme character?.
The story is really good, although the fact that i did not see anything special in the script nor the plot itself but it can be acceptable and make you interested whenever you are going through the scenario to some extent. Sometimes i feel that i am the problem here. Either I am becoming less emotional to scenes that supposed to provide you with tremendous mixed feelings all in once or the author is the one to blame here.
I think i had a deja vu. I wished the plot was more unique in its platform but all it gave me was a repetitive sort of familiar story-line. But still, i want to see what happen next. This is simply what volume one is trying to put over.
I think the characters are personalized really well because they seem honestly realistic and not over-rated in some parts. They were some parts where the author is actually trying to represent the oppressed and the oppressor in order to dominate senses and interact emotionally; however, that felt just the opposite because those parts are the ones that improved the story-telling technique in hope to finally feel something different and out of the expectations and predictions.
July 2, 2019
When I started with this series I had mixed feelings and I really didn't think I would like it. I felt the graphics were a bit cluttered and messy, and I really wasn't thinking I would like it.
Honestly I feel I was reading it to get through it so I could be done with it, but then I reached the final chapter and things just fell into place. Now I feel I need to read the series.
I give it four stars because of how everything pulled together in the end. Definitely looking forward to continuing the series.
Honestly I feel I was reading it to get through it so I could be done with it, but then I reached the final chapter and things just fell into place. Now I feel I need to read the series.
I give it four stars because of how everything pulled together in the end. Definitely looking forward to continuing the series.
March 4, 2015
A warrior commander is sent on a mission with his faithful partner to stop the rise of a homegrown militia before it gets too powerful. But what can two men do against many?
The art and pacing of this Korean graphic novel is very frenetic and often difficult to keep up with. I'm thinking of reading it a second time just to see if some of it makes more sense.
The art and pacing of this Korean graphic novel is very frenetic and often difficult to keep up with. I'm thinking of reading it a second time just to see if some of it makes more sense.
July 9, 2020
This is one of those graphic novels that would rrreally benefit from being in color to some degree. The action scenes were chaotic and hard to follow. There was just too much going on on the page. Some color would have helped define the shapes to what were probably some badass scenes.
That aside I liked the story that was set up and found myself very invested in Baku. Im requesting volume 2 now so that I can see the story unfold.
This was also the first manhwa Im aware of reading. It seemed it relied heavily on story telling through images vs words. Its also interesting that the strongest characters seem to be very femine with long flowing hair and elaborate flowing clothing. I wish I saw more of the Shaman beast form. It seemed reptilian but then there was a wolf on a filled page so Idk anymore.
That aside I liked the story that was set up and found myself very invested in Baku. Im requesting volume 2 now so that I can see the story unfold.
This was also the first manhwa Im aware of reading. It seemed it relied heavily on story telling through images vs words. Its also interesting that the strongest characters seem to be very femine with long flowing hair and elaborate flowing clothing. I wish I saw more of the Shaman beast form. It seemed reptilian but then there was a wolf on a filled page so Idk anymore.
January 22, 2024
Beautifully drawn. The origin story is intriguing, although there is some magic intertwined in the battle scenes that so far is opaque - how does the magic contribute, where does the magic come from, are the adversaries aware this magic exists? My biggest beef with it is the action sequences are hard to follow - the reader has no idea what is going on or how they are fighting - even though it is illustrated with great detail and a distinctive style - beautiful form, but the story telling function fails. The action is integral to the story as we are reading about warriors. I got frustrated trying to figure out the action scenes.
September 3, 2017
My first Korean comics. I have appreciated the artwork, the attention for details is good and make the readers feel they are in Orient, although the fighting scenes are at time difficult to follow. The story isn't engaging, there are few flashback to clarify some background, but I never really felt intrigued. I will probably read the second volume too, to see if it get more involving.
November 3, 2022
This is really a good manga.
Im not really into action fighting manga but the illustration and the plot is great. The story start strong and im looking forward to the next volume. Hopefully libby have it.
Im not really into action fighting manga but the illustration and the plot is great. The story start strong and im looking forward to the next volume. Hopefully libby have it.
July 28, 2017
The artwork and lettering is great but I had trouble getting into the story. I'm still not quite sure what it means to be a Shaman Warrior...
June 8, 2019
For a graphic novel, it was actually pretty good. It's a translation from Korean, so sometimes the text sounded disjointed (formal vs. informal), but the illustrations were lovely.
August 7, 2020
4 for the art 2 for the story 3 for the rating
October 28, 2020
It was a great experience I have never read a book like this before
June 25, 2021
Tutto disegni e niente cervello.
August 3, 2022
Pretty nice app... Boredom
September 4, 2022
I think I understand why this is one is considered so good.
P.S. If you want to see large men made beautiful, this is the great place to see that.
P.S. If you want to see large men made beautiful, this is the great place to see that.
December 30, 2013
Honestly, I'm int hat state that right now where I'm trying to quickly read ten comics in order to finish up my book count for the year and this caught my eye. I'm a big fan of magic mixed with just about anything. Why should magic make you a spineless wizard when you could be an awesome swords men with magic swords? And I just like the word shaman, even if it does get misused from time to time like how lycanthrope, Skinwalker and a few others probably have over the years.
So how did this book stack up? You did notice the two stars, right?
The book starts out typical: some nameless warrior stupidly insults warrior number two. Its a one way fight and not much stock is put into it. Warrior number two is accompanying his master who is said shaman warrior on the cover. I want to go into the plot details, but this entire volume was close to seventy percent of a fight scenes surrounded by a dry, dusty scenery that includes a a bridge, what remains of a mound with a house above it and just more dry dusty terrain.
The art really shines with the characters and movements they perform when fighting. The color pages are to die for and I actually looked a few up because its not everyday you get nice proportions combiend with colorful magical warriors. Granted, I feel like the magical warrior was under-powered by the over-sized human warrior knew no real limit.
This entire volume basically acts as the setup for the next volume, trying to make us care about a character who the story is already moving past. The lines aren't that great in places either, but then again, most manga--manwha in this case--don't have the best writing, especially when they tend to focus more on getting to a fight when pesky words are in the way.
Even when I am rushing to finish something, I still looked for a book worth my attention. When it boasts about being one of the best selling manwha of all time, you kind of want to see why.
So how did this book stack up? You did notice the two stars, right?
The book starts out typical: some nameless warrior stupidly insults warrior number two. Its a one way fight and not much stock is put into it. Warrior number two is accompanying his master who is said shaman warrior on the cover. I want to go into the plot details, but this entire volume was close to seventy percent of a fight scenes surrounded by a dry, dusty scenery that includes a a bridge, what remains of a mound with a house above it and just more dry dusty terrain.
The art really shines with the characters and movements they perform when fighting. The color pages are to die for and I actually looked a few up because its not everyday you get nice proportions combiend with colorful magical warriors. Granted, I feel like the magical warrior was under-powered by the over-sized human warrior knew no real limit.
This entire volume basically acts as the setup for the next volume, trying to make us care about a character who the story is already moving past. The lines aren't that great in places either, but then again, most manga--manwha in this case--don't have the best writing, especially when they tend to focus more on getting to a fight when pesky words are in the way.
Even when I am rushing to finish something, I still looked for a book worth my attention. When it boasts about being one of the best selling manwha of all time, you kind of want to see why.
March 10, 2016
So, to start out with, picking this book up I couldn't help but laugh. While the only other Manhwa I ever read did not note this fact, the publisher's of Shaman Warrior couldn't stop talking about how Manhwa is actually read left to right (how novel!) and how this was the genuine authentic experience!!! I guess they didn't want people ignorantly criticizing them for mirroring, but it made me chuckle and it's certainly not something I am going to forget anytime soon.
Moving on to the story itself, it took me quite some time to really get into it but I did end up finding it beautiful and interesting enough to move on and read some more in the series. I am not overall a fight scene lover in general, so the fact that a large portion of the book is a fight scene with very little dialog turned me off at first. The art was so beautiful though that I couldn't really pull myself away. And while the lack of exposition and dialog was rather confusing at first, it meant the story was super fast to read - so that was nice.
While I have not actually read the Lone Wolf & Cub series, from what I've heard of the series when the back blurb says that Shaman Warrior is in the tradition of LWAC it really means it. Otherwise the story is just getting started so I don't feel like I can really comment on it. There does seem like there will be a lot of political intrigue in the future however, and by the end I did have a lot of questions that I look forward to having answered.
AND THE ART! My only complaint is that sometimes I had a hard time figure out what was going on because there wasn't a clear focus in the panel, as in the foreground and background were equally detailed, but that wasn't always the case and my confusion was probably exacerbated by the fact that I don't generally read fight scenes. It is one of the most beautiful eastern comics I have read in the past year, maybe ever.
Moving on to the story itself, it took me quite some time to really get into it but I did end up finding it beautiful and interesting enough to move on and read some more in the series. I am not overall a fight scene lover in general, so the fact that a large portion of the book is a fight scene with very little dialog turned me off at first. The art was so beautiful though that I couldn't really pull myself away. And while the lack of exposition and dialog was rather confusing at first, it meant the story was super fast to read - so that was nice.
While I have not actually read the Lone Wolf & Cub series, from what I've heard of the series when the back blurb says that Shaman Warrior is in the tradition of LWAC it really means it. Otherwise the story is just getting started so I don't feel like I can really comment on it. There does seem like there will be a lot of political intrigue in the future however, and by the end I did have a lot of questions that I look forward to having answered.
AND THE ART! My only complaint is that sometimes I had a hard time figure out what was going on because there wasn't a clear focus in the panel, as in the foreground and background were equally detailed, but that wasn't always the case and my confusion was probably exacerbated by the fact that I don't generally read fight scenes. It is one of the most beautiful eastern comics I have read in the past year, maybe ever.
November 6, 2008
Dangu is one of those amazing manhwas that stand out from everything else I've read. The art reminds me of that of Victor Ambrus but with less busy lines - incredible nonetheless due to all the detail put into the background and characters. The storyline is unique and doesn't grow tired after the second volume as it doesn't turn into an all-out battle royale with horde after horde of unbeatable, infamous new bosses. Most importantly, the characters are not portrayed as the same, over-used stereotypes. They may very well be so but I find that I love each one regardless of gender or appearance because they all seem so real and defined.
I can't wait to get my paws on more.
I can't wait to get my paws on more.
March 27, 2009
Ok, I'm going to talk about the art. It really is amazing. Pretty much on the same level as Blade of the Immortal. Dark Horse really knows how to pick which series to translate and bring over from Asia to the US. The pacing of the story is excellent and doesn't get bogged down with super long fight scenes. Definitely for taking a look at.
August 24, 2015
THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE SERIES AS A WHOLE.
I LOVED the characters, plot and art. However, the ending left me angry, disappointed and wondering what was the point of the story. I wish the author/artist would continue the story with some of the characters surviving that were implied to have died off screen.
Amber S.
Librarian
Mahon Branch
Lubbock Public Library Call #: GN MANG MISC
I LOVED the characters, plot and art. However, the ending left me angry, disappointed and wondering what was the point of the story. I wish the author/artist would continue the story with some of the characters surviving that were implied to have died off screen.
Amber S.
Librarian
Mahon Branch
Lubbock Public Library Call #: GN MANG MISC
February 24, 2009
Really cool battle! I think this one is going to be fairly drawn out because the entire first book is a set up for the rest of the story. I still liked it though. Fastes read ever for me! Only took about 20 minutes to read! (Ususally takes me an hour)
February 27, 2010
There's mostly fighting in this volume and there's no reason to think next volumes will be different. I hope this will unfold into an epic story, otherwise I will stop reading this manhwa for sure.
August 11, 2011
Not bad. Interesting, could read more.
May 22, 2014
Amazing, kinetic artwork. Since this is an introductory volume, we don't get too much story. Hopefully the plot gets deeper as the series moves on.
February 4, 2015
Love it. First manhwa I've read. Good so far.
December 11, 2021
Beautiful art style, and the story will get you hooked.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 30 reviews