To put it simply: it was a masterpiece. From beginning to the end. I knew it would be great, because the plot had me from the very first chapters, but I was definitely not prepared to read such a deep, heart-wrenching yet comforting story.
I often start my reviews with a summary of the plot before exposing my opinion, but I cannot do that with Bastard. A huge twist happens early in the story, and I would rather let people discover it the same way I did. Having no expectations, no clue of what the resume is, no idea of what it is about before starting was the best thing I did. If you come across this critique and have not read this manhwa yet, this is my tip: start without skimming the synopsis!
This author is so good at this, I have felt it for Sweet Home too. Pity. A strong feeling of pity towards the main character. I love when the protagonist tries their best, thrives on hope, perseveres, even though their life or situation is hard, to say the least – a more accurate adjective would be tragic. Jin is that main character. In a world where no one understands him, where only he knows the truth a demon tries to hide, where he is unable to physically protect his loved ones due to serious health issues, where he struggles to make friends, where he gets rejected by people he thought appreciated him, where all the weight is on his shoulders only… he still finds a way to cling on life. And he fights.
It almost feels as if I have read poetry instead of a Webtoon. To me, it was an illustrated poetic prose that made me have the impression of being involved in this chaotic mess. The tension was so intense that, whenever the situation got worse for Jin or his life was threatened, I literally felt sick to my stomach. It was as if I went through the protagonist’s hardships along with him. Sometimes, the strain was so unbearable that I had to pause before resuming the chapter.
To say that I love Jin and Kyun would be an understatement. At first, I did not really like Kyun because she would always call Jin’s feelings into question when it came to his father; however, in the end, I have to admit that her reactions were only normal. She’s a very realistic character, with a pure soul and a strong willpower to do what is good. Her trust in Jin really warmed my heart. They’re both incredible characters.
The father, in the other hand… I have not felt this disgust towards an antagonist for a long time. A manipulator, a traitor, a groomer, a p*dophile, a stalker… and a murderer. The list is not even exhaustive. Jin’s fear towards his father is shared with the reader, who starts fearing him and calling him a demon, the same way Jin does. The father was so good at gaslighting his own son that he almost had me in the end.
Spoiler: I do not believe in the slightest that his father ever cared for him. If he did, he would have never implied his own son in this mess and ruin his life like he did. To me, he simply took advantage of his own son’s gullibility, just like he exploited his son’s weaknesses earlier in the story with Kyun.
Other spoiler: Manny Kim… I used to hate you. Maybe I still do, but the hatred is surely less strong than it was at the beginning. Things could have turned differently, but I think it was the best way to seal your fate. You hurt so many people during your life and you paid for your wrongdoings in the worst way possible. Isn’t this outcome quite fair?
Hope, sadness, angst, comfort, love, this story had me experiencing a full spectrum of feelings, each one more powerful than the last. This is why I appreciate dark themes; they make me feel so deeply. The art style truly did justice to that atmosphere.