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DPS Only!
This captivating coming-of-age story set in the world of e-sports will have readers cheering for girl gamer Vicky Tan as she overcomes social anxiety, self-doubt, and an overprotective big brother to pursue her dream of becoming a competitive gamer. From the Tapas webcomic, a 2021 Eisner Award nominee.
High school student Vicky lives a secret life. To most, she is a meek pushover, often in the shadow of her e-sports superstar of a brother, Virgil. Unknown to anyone, however, she dons a secret identity when she logs on to play Xenith Orion, the multiplayer game dominating the e-sports scene. She knows firsthand the harassment female gamers often experience, but when an opportunity arises in a local tournament, Vicky—mask in hand—cannot resist the challenge. Sneaking around and hiding only works for so long, and once the truth comes out, what will it mean for Vicky and those who trusted her?
High school student Vicky lives a secret life. To most, she is a meek pushover, often in the shadow of her e-sports superstar of a brother, Virgil. Unknown to anyone, however, she dons a secret identity when she logs on to play Xenith Orion, the multiplayer game dominating the e-sports scene. She knows firsthand the harassment female gamers often experience, but when an opportunity arises in a local tournament, Vicky—mask in hand—cannot resist the challenge. Sneaking around and hiding only works for so long, and once the truth comes out, what will it mean for Vicky and those who trusted her?
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2022
9 people are currently reading
2307 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
March 11, 2023
4.5⭐️
*proceeds to Google everything about Velinxi*
I was not prepared for how good this graphic novel would be and inhaled it in one sitting. How does it have less than 300 ratings? Everyone needs to pick this up pronto!
All the different subplots are engaging and well-developed, from the sibling bond to Vicky and Opal's fractured friendship. The characters are delightful and I was pleasantly surprised by how well-done Virgil's arc was. I also loved how the book explored sibling dynamics while highlighting issues such as misogyny, sexism and harassment.
I didn't always understand all of the gaming scenes and lingo, but was completely absorbed and had fun reading this anyway. DPS Only! is an immersive read that takes you into the fascinating world of esports, with an excellent cast and #girlboss vibes to boot. Enjoy the ride!
*proceeds to Google everything about Velinxi*
I was not prepared for how good this graphic novel would be and inhaled it in one sitting. How does it have less than 300 ratings? Everyone needs to pick this up pronto!
All the different subplots are engaging and well-developed, from the sibling bond to Vicky and Opal's fractured friendship. The characters are delightful and I was pleasantly surprised by how well-done Virgil's arc was. I also loved how the book explored sibling dynamics while highlighting issues such as misogyny, sexism and harassment.
I didn't always understand all of the gaming scenes and lingo, but was completely absorbed and had fun reading this anyway. DPS Only! is an immersive read that takes you into the fascinating world of esports, with an excellent cast and #girlboss vibes to boot. Enjoy the ride!
June 9, 2023
Very good! I like all of Velinxi's works, especially their Tapa's Daughter of a Thousand Faces. Illustrations are always on point!
December 23, 2025
So. E-sports.
Vicky Tan's brother, Virgil, is a star. When it comes to Xenith Orion, he's one of the top competitors. Vicky is used to living in his shadow … and managing his social media accounts. She secretly dreams of competing herself, but 1) her brother would never approve, and almost never listens to her. And 2) she's familiar with the harassment female gamers often experience. Wearing a mask to hide her identity, she plays when she can at a local gaming cafe. A local tournament gives her a chance to live her dream. Will her disguise hold up as her profile rises? The truth must come out sooner or later …
I know very little about e-sports. I know that they're a thing, and, really, that's about it. I can't even tell if this story is wonderfully futuristic or charmingly retro.
I can tell you that it's fun and compelling. The characters are interesting and believable. The in-game sequences are exciting. The artwork is strongly manga-influenced in all of the best ways. The storytelling is deft, presenting its themes without belaboring them. All in all, it's a nice, solidly entertaining graphic novel.
It's also self-contained, not volume one of any sort of series or Chronicles or whatever.
I enjoyed it more than I expected to, to the point where I wish I could think of more to say about it. Definitely recommended!
Vicky Tan's brother, Virgil, is a star. When it comes to Xenith Orion, he's one of the top competitors. Vicky is used to living in his shadow … and managing his social media accounts. She secretly dreams of competing herself, but 1) her brother would never approve, and almost never listens to her. And 2) she's familiar with the harassment female gamers often experience. Wearing a mask to hide her identity, she plays when she can at a local gaming cafe. A local tournament gives her a chance to live her dream. Will her disguise hold up as her profile rises? The truth must come out sooner or later …
I know very little about e-sports. I know that they're a thing, and, really, that's about it. I can't even tell if this story is wonderfully futuristic or charmingly retro.
I can tell you that it's fun and compelling. The characters are interesting and believable. The in-game sequences are exciting. The artwork is strongly manga-influenced in all of the best ways. The storytelling is deft, presenting its themes without belaboring them. All in all, it's a nice, solidly entertaining graphic novel.
It's also self-contained, not volume one of any sort of series or Chronicles or whatever.
I enjoyed it more than I expected to, to the point where I wish I could think of more to say about it. Definitely recommended!
Read
October 31, 2022[Content warnings: misogyny/sexism, harassment, referenced child abuse.]
I’ve been on a webcomic kick the last several months, so I was excited to get my hands on an eARC of DPS ONLY! I’d never read the original comic (on Tapas), but the publishing team did a great job of converting the (vertical, long-scroll) episodes to traditional pages/spreads for printing. There were only a handful of places where I was uncertain about where I should be looking first—not bad at all for having to reformat everything in a different orientation!
Creator Xiao Tong Kong (aka, Velinxi) put together an engaging, one-volume story. I really enjoyed Velinxi’s art style, especially the character design and color palettes. The “in game” views of Xenith Orion were interesting, though I was occasionally confused by what was going on when the action got complicated. Part of that is certainly due to my inexperience with games like Xenith Orion; DPS ONLY! does include some definitions/explanations of various terminology throughout, which were very useful.
So far as the story goes, our heroine Vicky has been hiding her interest in Xenith Orion from her brother—and with the strangers she plays online with as well. The (real-world) sexism/misogyny in e-sports is never far away from the center of the story, from Virgil’s well-meaning but patronizing attitude to Vicky getting hit on at tournaments to the harassment female players experience from both players and fans. I really appreciated that Velinxi included other female players in addition to Vicky—such as Opal, one of Vicky’s teammates, and Fangs, part of the Hunting Howls team—as it was nice to see that even in a story where Vicky feels like she has to hide her identity, there are other female players competing and thriving at a high level.
The one plotline I really didn’t enjoy was Virgil being hostile to Opal and Eric, and especially how Virgil kept hounding Eric about hanging around Vicky. The age difference between Eric and Vicky is Virgil’s concern, but it gets uncomfortable fast since Eric is the only Black character in the main cast and Virgil is pretty convinced Eric has nefarious designs on Vicky. This very much soured my opinion of Virgil, and I almost wished DPS ONLY! had been longer just so I could see more of Virgil repairing his relationship with Vicky and actually building relationships with Opal and Eric. As it is, I was a little miffed by how quickly all of that was resolved.
Recommendation: Pre-order it if you’re interested in e-sports. Xiao Tong Kong created a solid one-volume work about a teenage girl who feels like she has to hide herself to succeed at what she loves. It’s an interesting peek into the uphill battle female players face, and I’ll be checking out the creator’s latest project.
I’ve been on a webcomic kick the last several months, so I was excited to get my hands on an eARC of DPS ONLY! I’d never read the original comic (on Tapas), but the publishing team did a great job of converting the (vertical, long-scroll) episodes to traditional pages/spreads for printing. There were only a handful of places where I was uncertain about where I should be looking first—not bad at all for having to reformat everything in a different orientation!
Creator Xiao Tong Kong (aka, Velinxi) put together an engaging, one-volume story. I really enjoyed Velinxi’s art style, especially the character design and color palettes. The “in game” views of Xenith Orion were interesting, though I was occasionally confused by what was going on when the action got complicated. Part of that is certainly due to my inexperience with games like Xenith Orion; DPS ONLY! does include some definitions/explanations of various terminology throughout, which were very useful.
So far as the story goes, our heroine Vicky has been hiding her interest in Xenith Orion from her brother—and with the strangers she plays online with as well. The (real-world) sexism/misogyny in e-sports is never far away from the center of the story, from Virgil’s well-meaning but patronizing attitude to Vicky getting hit on at tournaments to the harassment female players experience from both players and fans. I really appreciated that Velinxi included other female players in addition to Vicky—such as Opal, one of Vicky’s teammates, and Fangs, part of the Hunting Howls team—as it was nice to see that even in a story where Vicky feels like she has to hide her identity, there are other female players competing and thriving at a high level.
The one plotline I really didn’t enjoy was Virgil being hostile to Opal and Eric, and especially how Virgil kept hounding Eric about hanging around Vicky. The age difference between Eric and Vicky is Virgil’s concern, but it gets uncomfortable fast since Eric is the only Black character in the main cast and Virgil is pretty convinced Eric has nefarious designs on Vicky. This very much soured my opinion of Virgil, and I almost wished DPS ONLY! had been longer just so I could see more of Virgil repairing his relationship with Vicky and actually building relationships with Opal and Eric. As it is, I was a little miffed by how quickly all of that was resolved.
Recommendation: Pre-order it if you’re interested in e-sports. Xiao Tong Kong created a solid one-volume work about a teenage girl who feels like she has to hide herself to succeed at what she loves. It’s an interesting peek into the uphill battle female players face, and I’ll be checking out the creator’s latest project.
November 24, 2020
This comic follows Vicky, a shy 17-year-old gamer who hides her talent from Virgil, her guardian and older brother who is (justifiably) concerned about his sister being around the toxic and misogynistic gamer culture. Virgil worked as a teen so he would have enough money to get an apartment for himself and Vicky away from their abusive father. I found this sibling dynamic very interesting and hopped back and forth between thinking Virgil has great protective instincts and thinking he is far too prescriptive of what Vicky can and can't do. While I know basically nothing about gaming, the characters are what kept me engaged throughout the story.
August 12, 2024
zacznę może od tego, że nigdy bym nie pomyślała, że tak mnie wciągnie komiks internetowy o turniejach gier komputerowych! a tu proszę, 'połknęłam' to w jeden dzień, haha. i było warto!
muszę przyznać, że sięgnęłam po to tylko ze względu na autorkę, velinxi (xiao tong kong), nie przeczytawszy nawet opisu😅
absolutnie uwielbiam jej styl rysowania, przez co zdecydowanie musiałam przeczytać jej prace (inne też zaczęłam, ale przyznaję, że ta wciągnęła mnie najbardziej🤭🤭)
zupełnie zakochałam się w głównej bohaterce, vicky, a także jej przyjaciółce, opal🫶🫶🫶
historia była naprawdę ciekawa i dobrze przemyślana, świetne przedstawienie skomplikowanej realcji vicky z bratem, a także sytuacji rodzinnych innych bohaterów
no i fajnie też od czasu do czasu przeczytać coś, w czym nie ma romansu😇😇
zdecydowanie polecam!!!
muszę przyznać, że sięgnęłam po to tylko ze względu na autorkę, velinxi (xiao tong kong), nie przeczytawszy nawet opisu😅
absolutnie uwielbiam jej styl rysowania, przez co zdecydowanie musiałam przeczytać jej prace (inne też zaczęłam, ale przyznaję, że ta wciągnęła mnie najbardziej🤭🤭)
zupełnie zakochałam się w głównej bohaterce, vicky, a także jej przyjaciółce, opal🫶🫶🫶
historia była naprawdę ciekawa i dobrze przemyślana, świetne przedstawienie skomplikowanej realcji vicky z bratem, a także sytuacji rodzinnych innych bohaterów
no i fajnie też od czasu do czasu przeczytać coś, w czym nie ma romansu😇😇
zdecydowanie polecam!!!
February 3, 2023
If you like gaming and character development, please please please read this. It kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Also, I very much relate to Eric being a cry baby about everything because, same.
December 7, 2022
Largely fun. The basic plotline is kind of classic, about a girl learning how to be herself and be more assertive in her life. But she's also an extreme doormat to her brother, to the point where she can't even bring himself to tell him what kind of food she likes. And he's so self-absorbed that he's never caught on that his sister is unable to express any preferences in his presence at all, nor to figure out on his own what she does and doesn't like. He also has a long running and totally unexplained animus towards a character who happens to be the only black character in the main cast. I'm not sure that the author intends to imply that he's racist as well as sexist, but it is kind of suspicious that he's set against this character since long before the story in this book begins. I ended up hating the brother and being occasionally frustrated with the sister and her passiveness. Which doesn't make seeing her growth any less satisfying. As this is basically a sports story, I'll also say that I found the progression of skill to be satisfying. It isn't rushed, and it's clear that all characters involved have put in a lot of work before and during the course of the book to improve their skills. The ending is also satisfying, without being a total fairy tale ending. I think a lot of folks who like e sports and sports manga will really like this, and I think the issue of gender in gaming is handled well overall.
December 17, 2023
I love DPS Only. Vicky is such a cool character and I love how fleshed out everyone is. It’s such a wholesome read and watching the characters grow and develop throughout the story is so fulfilling.
Not to mention the art is absolutely gorgeous. Thank you sm for the gorgeous comic Xiao, it’s such a feel good experience.
Vicky’s making me wanna become an esports player.
Not to mention the art is absolutely gorgeous. Thank you sm for the gorgeous comic Xiao, it’s such a feel good experience.
Vicky’s making me wanna become an esports player.
August 10, 2020
maybe some gamers deserve rights
November 3, 2025
High school student Vicky Tan is a shy girl who lives in her esports superstar brother's shadow. She handles her brother Virgil's social media presence, and he mistakenly thinks she doesn't even like gaming. However, Vicky has a secret. When she's on her own, she logs on to Xenith Orion (the same game her brother plays). She's good enough that another player even asks her to join his team for the upcoming XO Tournament.
As she works with her new teammates and learns to communicate with them better, Vicky gradually comes into her own and gains confidence. However, when her masked secret gamer persona goes viral, will she be able to hold up against all the extra attention...and the possibility that her brother could learn her secret?
I feel like Virgil might have grated slightly less if the details of his and Vicky's home life had been revealed a little sooner. Or maybe he'd still have been annoying, I don't know. To be fair, Vicky bugged me as well. She was so hesitant to speak up that she even let him think mackerel was her favorite food when she actually hated it. Again, I could see the roots of her actions when more details about their family life were revealed, but it was still frustrating.
In addition to Vicky's feelings of being stuck in her brother's shadow, this also dealt a lot with attitudes towards female gamers. I particularly felt for Fangs, one of the female players Vicky faces off against. Her and Vicky's interaction after the game was nice.
All in all, the story didn't exactly break new ground, but it was still enjoyable to read, and the artwork was appealing (even if I preferred Vicky's first mask to her second).
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
As she works with her new teammates and learns to communicate with them better, Vicky gradually comes into her own and gains confidence. However, when her masked secret gamer persona goes viral, will she be able to hold up against all the extra attention...and the possibility that her brother could learn her secret?
I feel like Virgil might have grated slightly less if the details of his and Vicky's home life had been revealed a little sooner. Or maybe he'd still have been annoying, I don't know. To be fair, Vicky bugged me as well. She was so hesitant to speak up that she even let him think mackerel was her favorite food when she actually hated it. Again, I could see the roots of her actions when more details about their family life were revealed, but it was still frustrating.
In addition to Vicky's feelings of being stuck in her brother's shadow, this also dealt a lot with attitudes towards female gamers. I particularly felt for Fangs, one of the female players Vicky faces off against. Her and Vicky's interaction after the game was nice.
All in all, the story didn't exactly break new ground, but it was still enjoyable to read, and the artwork was appealing (even if I preferred Vicky's first mask to her second).
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
February 24, 2024
This was a pretty solid graphic novel. I enjoyed all of the characters and was happy with how everything in the plot resolved. I am personally not that into competitive e-sports but I figured I'd give it a try in book form. It definitely hasn't turned me onto the concept, I prefer other kind of gaming content, but it was definitely an interesting backdrop for a story.
February 7, 2023
DPS speaks to my inner child
I saw myself so much in pieces of these characters in this book. I don't have words for a review that won't spoil the ending, unfortunately. I'm so happy it ended the way it did. Such a good book. Highly recommend. 10/10
I saw myself so much in pieces of these characters in this book. I don't have words for a review that won't spoil the ending, unfortunately. I'm so happy it ended the way it did. Such a good book. Highly recommend. 10/10
July 5, 2024
wtf this was so good!!!!! i immediately got a copy of this when i saw velinxi, one of my favorite artists, made this, but i wasn't expecting it to be this good. it's already a given that the art is amazing. the characters are well-written with backstories that made me cry several times. definitely one of my new favorite graphic novels ever.
Want to read
August 8, 2022Sorry, ignore my rating earlier... tried to add this on my to-read and my fingers got the wrong stuff. 😭😭😭
Read
April 9, 2023i will read ANYTHING velinxi writes.
June 29, 2023
Velinxi could draw the instruction manual to an airfryer and I'd still read it.
November 12, 2024
Great art and an engaging story, even for someone who has zero interest in e-sports.
April 16, 2025
4.5 review. I honestly really enjoyed this comic. It was cute, well paced, and entertaining. I also enjoyed the ending and how it all came together. An enjoyable read and nice story! I love women in esports! 🙌 as a fellow gamer, this book made my heart happy! 🥹
June 3, 2025
This was such a cute fun graphic novel! If you're a marvel rivals/OW player this is for you!
February 1, 2023
It was really good.
December 20, 2022
Loved it!
I'm in love with everything Velinxi creates, having been reading Ctc and the translated svsss novels, and following her progress on social media (♡ω♡ ) ~♪ I hadn't read DPS only, and when I found out it was being published as a book, I pre-ordered immediately. The characters are well developed and realistic and the problems they're facing are very relatable. I can't wait for her other stories to be officially published! (人*´∀｀)｡*ﾟ+
I'm in love with everything Velinxi creates, having been reading Ctc and the translated svsss novels, and following her progress on social media (♡ω♡ ) ~♪ I hadn't read DPS only, and when I found out it was being published as a book, I pre-ordered immediately. The characters are well developed and realistic and the problems they're facing are very relatable. I can't wait for her other stories to be officially published! (人*´∀｀)｡*ﾟ+
July 9, 2022
3.5 stars/5 stars
I really liked DPS Only! I was in awe of the illustrations and the illustrator's style. The protagonist was possibly my favorite character out of all and the overall story was pleasant to read but the pacing at times was not consistent and dragged a bit at times.
I really liked DPS Only! I was in awe of the illustrations and the illustrator's style. The protagonist was possibly my favorite character out of all and the overall story was pleasant to read but the pacing at times was not consistent and dragged a bit at times.
November 28, 2025
Absolutely adored this! Not only because I was a fan of Velinxi's art since I made the connection between the fan art she makes for PJO, her covers for the English version of SVSSS, and when I belatedly realised she has a couple of webcomics I was interested in reading...
...Who am I kidding? I was here for the art. Stayed for it too (and the story. Of course :") Even with the few flaws in terms of the pacing and plot... For her to admit that in her afterword (plus to have had original plans to address this), I'm still giving this the 5 ☆ it most certainly deserves.
Now makes me tempted to try my hand at e-sports, even knowing I have zero clue about it outside of webcomics and novels 😅 If anyone finds me playing Genshin one day... it's because of this.And because I finally got the guts to admit I'm obsessed with Venti ahaha...
...Who am I kidding? I was here for the art. Stayed for it too (and the story. Of course :") Even with the few flaws in terms of the pacing and plot... For her to admit that in her afterword (plus to have had original plans to address this), I'm still giving this the 5 ☆ it most certainly deserves.
Now makes me tempted to try my hand at e-sports, even knowing I have zero clue about it outside of webcomics and novels 😅 If anyone finds me playing Genshin one day... it's because of this.
January 16, 2021
4.5/5⭐
Sin duda una de mis webcomics favoritos, había visto muy pocas historias que tratasen some competiciones de esports. Sin duda para aquellos a los que les guste ver competiciones online, es un comic ideal.
Las ilustraciones son PRECIOSAS y acompañan a una historia muy buena sobre como esta chica comienza a hacerse un nombre en el mundo de los videojuegos sin que nadie sepa quién es de verdad.
Sin duda una de mis webcomics favoritos, había visto muy pocas historias que tratasen some competiciones de esports. Sin duda para aquellos a los que les guste ver competiciones online, es un comic ideal.
Las ilustraciones son PRECIOSAS y acompañan a una historia muy buena sobre como esta chica comienza a hacerse un nombre en el mundo de los videojuegos sin que nadie sepa quién es de verdad.
December 1, 2022
I’m going to be real, I don’t understand why this is a graphic novel as opposed to a traditional one. There’s really no benefit. The art is mediocre at best and only really gets good (haha gamer pun) during the scenes when they’re in game.
Also Virgil sucks as a character and I don’t like him. BUT…. I love that his gamer tag is Aeneid. That is hilarious.
Also Virgil sucks as a character and I don’t like him. BUT…. I love that his gamer tag is Aeneid. That is hilarious.
January 26, 2023
A good story with fun characters! But the end felt a little rushed in its wrap-up.
October 14, 2023
A glimpse of the FPS MOBA e-sports scene and the lives behind its aspiring champions.
Full Review can also read here!
Synopsis: Vicky Tan has always watched from the shadows and looked up to her older brother, Virgil, as he enjoyed the spotlight as a professional competitive player for the game “Xenith Orion.” Secretly harboring her own aspirations and love for the game as DPS main, she takes on the persona of ‘Aegis’ for a chance to participate in an open tournament. Just how far can she go, and will she ever eclipse her older brother?
Status: Completed, 30 Chapters
Where to Read: Tapas (https://tapas.io/series/dpsonly/info)
Review: To be honest, when I saw the title I inwardly laughed and thought this would be cringe-y and gimmicky based on the title and premise. Oh boy, was I ever so glad to have my expectations completely flipped. Instead, I got a heartfelt glimpse of various portraits of the characters who love a game so much that comes from a place of genuine heart, drive, and passion at the finest competitive level. What drives someone to achieve their dreams, to chase that feeling of having reached the apex of their success in an environment with razor-thin margins?
While there are a lot of gaming references seasoned players of FPS MOBA games would enjoy, the true spirit of the story are the deeply heartfelt character interactions. As Vicky learns to share more of her inner world and experience of what it’s like to scrim as a team, what it’s like to take home a high, and even sometimes take home the lows. All the supporting characters are real gems, with the standout highlight of the female friendship between Vicky and Opal -- I’m really glad the author took the time to integrate positive and complex female interactions within the story. Eric is the best support character (quite literally, as he’s a support main!).
There are a lot of layers to unpack in the dynamics between Virgil and Vicky. In a sense, Virgil is both the antagonist of the story and a supporting figure for Vicky. It would have been the easy route to create a caricature of a misogynistic antagonist that snubbed at Vicky’s gaming ambitions because she was a female -- and while yes, there may have been unconscious gendered influences in Virgil’s remarks, there are a lot of heartfelt brother-sister dynamics between Virgil and Vicky that are real heart-jerkers that both create added complexity and serve as the central core driver of the story. Even though Virgil has certain blindspots throughout, his intentions are from a place of care for his younger sister so it isn’t as simple as him versus me, etc. I have to say, the resolution of the arc of how the events concluded were so tense and was so symbolically meaningful and the bittersweetness was almost palpable -- open-ended, but satisfying at the same time for closure -- perfectly balanced.
Another aspect I greatly appreciated was how it delved into the female space, especially for the unique obstacles that females have to overcome in order to be seen as a respectable gamer/content creator in the space that has so much ingrained misogyny in its culture. Major kudos for spotlighting and exploring this unique perspective.
One criticism I would say is that because there were several characters introduced within only thirty short chapters, certain character interactions and conflicts are introduced and resolved rather quickly. I think the story could have benefited from a few more chapters to let the emotional magnitude of resolutions to resonate more deeply, as well as explore certain themes that were introduced beyond just a concept. On the other side of the coin, there’s little/none filler or wasted paneltime and each moment incrementally builds up to something more and nothing gets dragged out.
Summary: This was an extremely solid read. I personally loved this so much and related to even though I play only one FPS MOBA game and have no aspirations to go professional. Finally, a webtoon about that's actually gaming from the female perspective! I would strongly recommend this read. It’s free to read on Tapas and is relatively short, completed at 30 chapters --- there’s no reason not to!
Rating: 8.5/10
Full Review can also read here!
Synopsis: Vicky Tan has always watched from the shadows and looked up to her older brother, Virgil, as he enjoyed the spotlight as a professional competitive player for the game “Xenith Orion.” Secretly harboring her own aspirations and love for the game as DPS main, she takes on the persona of ‘Aegis’ for a chance to participate in an open tournament. Just how far can she go, and will she ever eclipse her older brother?
Status: Completed, 30 Chapters
Where to Read: Tapas (https://tapas.io/series/dpsonly/info)
Review: To be honest, when I saw the title I inwardly laughed and thought this would be cringe-y and gimmicky based on the title and premise. Oh boy, was I ever so glad to have my expectations completely flipped. Instead, I got a heartfelt glimpse of various portraits of the characters who love a game so much that comes from a place of genuine heart, drive, and passion at the finest competitive level. What drives someone to achieve their dreams, to chase that feeling of having reached the apex of their success in an environment with razor-thin margins?
While there are a lot of gaming references seasoned players of FPS MOBA games would enjoy, the true spirit of the story are the deeply heartfelt character interactions. As Vicky learns to share more of her inner world and experience of what it’s like to scrim as a team, what it’s like to take home a high, and even sometimes take home the lows. All the supporting characters are real gems, with the standout highlight of the female friendship between Vicky and Opal -- I’m really glad the author took the time to integrate positive and complex female interactions within the story. Eric is the best support character (quite literally, as he’s a support main!).
There are a lot of layers to unpack in the dynamics between Virgil and Vicky. In a sense, Virgil is both the antagonist of the story and a supporting figure for Vicky. It would have been the easy route to create a caricature of a misogynistic antagonist that snubbed at Vicky’s gaming ambitions because she was a female -- and while yes, there may have been unconscious gendered influences in Virgil’s remarks, there are a lot of heartfelt brother-sister dynamics between Virgil and Vicky that are real heart-jerkers that both create added complexity and serve as the central core driver of the story. Even though Virgil has certain blindspots throughout, his intentions are from a place of care for his younger sister so it isn’t as simple as him versus me, etc. I have to say, the resolution of the arc of how the events concluded were so tense and was so symbolically meaningful and the bittersweetness was almost palpable -- open-ended, but satisfying at the same time for closure -- perfectly balanced.
Another aspect I greatly appreciated was how it delved into the female space, especially for the unique obstacles that females have to overcome in order to be seen as a respectable gamer/content creator in the space that has so much ingrained misogyny in its culture. Major kudos for spotlighting and exploring this unique perspective.
One criticism I would say is that because there were several characters introduced within only thirty short chapters, certain character interactions and conflicts are introduced and resolved rather quickly. I think the story could have benefited from a few more chapters to let the emotional magnitude of resolutions to resonate more deeply, as well as explore certain themes that were introduced beyond just a concept. On the other side of the coin, there’s little/none filler or wasted paneltime and each moment incrementally builds up to something more and nothing gets dragged out.
Summary: This was an extremely solid read. I personally loved this so much and related to even though I play only one FPS MOBA game and have no aspirations to go professional. Finally, a webtoon about that's actually gaming from the female perspective! I would strongly recommend this read. It’s free to read on Tapas and is relatively short, completed at 30 chapters --- there’s no reason not to!
Rating: 8.5/10
June 9, 2024
I had no clue what the title meant when I picked up this book, but the art style intrigued me. I know a little bit about video games, which is to say that I know a lot about the video games I like but very little about the competitive scenes in any game. Still, I found the plot and competition mechanics easy to follow. The artist Velinxi is fantastic at drawing dynamic poses, and I love the way she illustrates the fictional game's play style.
Beautiful art aside, I enjoyed the story, as well. Vicky's friends are wonderful, nuanced characters, and I love their designs! Even her brother Virgil is a great character, because although his actions often grate against my nerves, Velinxi takes the time to explore his relationship with Vicky in such a way that his behavior feels poignant and authentic. We learn why Virgil feels so protective of Vicky, and we get to see his behavior unintentionally loop back to the very parenting styles he was trying to save his sister from. That's fascinating to me, and I love how the heart of this story is friendship and siblings, with no complicating love interests.
I also like how concerned the plot is with misogyny and sexism in video games. I understand why Vicky is reluctant to play as herself online, and it makes sense that she envy's Virgil's ease and lack of concern for himself in male-dominated spaces. We get to see Virgil's accidentally misogynistic side when he tells Vicky to stay away from such spaces without working to make those spaces safer for women and young girls in the first place. Fowl Play's match against the Hunting Howls is a perfect culmination of this theme, and it broke my heart in the best of ways, as I grew to sympathize with and love both teams.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Last but not least, I love the way that this story concludes. It would have felt too easy if Vicky's team had won the tournament their first time competing, but having them lose by a hair's length to her brother is both satisfying and realistic. I like how Virgil learns his sister's identity just before the match begins. (I had been jokingly thinking that Vicky should remove her mask during the match to unsettle her brother at just the right moment.) And I like how his speech at the end gives readers hope for their relationship going forward. Everything is tied up rather nicely, and though there is much we do not know, it seems like there are many good things ahead for these lovable characters.
Beautiful art aside, I enjoyed the story, as well. Vicky's friends are wonderful, nuanced characters, and I love their designs! Even her brother Virgil is a great character, because although his actions often grate against my nerves, Velinxi takes the time to explore his relationship with Vicky in such a way that his behavior feels poignant and authentic. We learn why Virgil feels so protective of Vicky, and we get to see his behavior unintentionally loop back to the very parenting styles he was trying to save his sister from. That's fascinating to me, and I love how the heart of this story is friendship and siblings, with no complicating love interests.
I also like how concerned the plot is with misogyny and sexism in video games. I understand why Vicky is reluctant to play as herself online, and it makes sense that she envy's Virgil's ease and lack of concern for himself in male-dominated spaces. We get to see Virgil's accidentally misogynistic side when he tells Vicky to stay away from such spaces without working to make those spaces safer for women and young girls in the first place. Fowl Play's match against the Hunting Howls is a perfect culmination of this theme, and it broke my heart in the best of ways, as I grew to sympathize with and love both teams.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
Last but not least, I love the way that this story concludes. It would have felt too easy if Vicky's team had won the tournament their first time competing, but having them lose by a hair's length to her brother is both satisfying and realistic. I like how Virgil learns his sister's identity just before the match begins. (I had been jokingly thinking that Vicky should remove her mask during the match to unsettle her brother at just the right moment.) And I like how his speech at the end gives readers hope for their relationship going forward. Everything is tied up rather nicely, and though there is much we do not know, it seems like there are many good things ahead for these lovable characters.
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