Title: The One

Author & Artist: Nicky Lee

Chapters: 1-59 (Ongoing)

Summary:

The ordinary life Lele Cane has experienced for seventeen years is about to end. After looking at a photo of the popular American model Angus Lanson, she begins to see modeling as an art form. From that one photo, she decides to take a chance and go into modeling. Since her parents were models as well (until they died in a plane crash), her chances may not be so slim. But soon she learns modeling is more than taking pictures and looking pretty. Even so, she is determined to reach the dream her mother and father couldn’t.

The Good

Artwork

I’m not used to seeing manhua artwork, but that shouldn’t stop me from reviewing the comic. The photo shoots are the main highlight when it comes to the artwork. They are the most well detailed, which they should be seeing as this is a modeling story. The photos hold the most dramatic part of the manhua.

Story Concept

I like underdog stories. I enjoy seeing the main character overcome incredible odds and achieving a level of greatness. The concept behind this story is similar. A young girl trying her hand to become one of the best models in the industry. That is a big goal to achieve, even though Next Top Model makes it look so freakin’ easy.

Side Story

There is a side story involving two supporting characters that has gotten my interest. They are probably the only reason I’m still reading the series.

The Bad

Pacing

The manhua’s pacing is uneven (I couldn’t think of another word for it). It’s not that I didn’t understand what was going on, actually the beginning felt that way, but certain things about the manhua didn’t “sink in” when they should have. For example, Lele’s grandmother. Even though she played an important role in Lele’s life, she didn’t feel important. She just seem like another character added as a stepping stone for Lele.

Artwork

I know I said I liked the artwork in the good section, but I also dislike it. Since this manhua is a comedy, you would expect the artwork to contain cartoony elements to it. Well, you’d be right. The problem with this is that it overshadows everything. Even though the photos of the models are quite good, it doesn’t “sink in” very long. But the cartoony elements are almost everywhere in the manhua. The artwork here is a double-edged sword.

Lele

I dislike the fact that Lele falls into the female archetype seen in manga female characters, but that isn’t my only problem with her.

******Spoiler Alert*******

Her development is too damn confusing. First she is a naive, innocent girl looking to break in modeling. Then when grandma dies, she is a cool hearted (not cold, cool) woman who never complains about the hardship of model. It seems like she has grown from the death of a loved one. But once she goes to New York, she reverts back to naive, innocent girl. You see, she went from girl to woman to girl again. WHAT THE HELL!

I’m not tempted to read anymore chapters mainly because the bad outweigh the good. I do want to see the development with the side story, but that is probably it. Whether Lele gets her Prince Charming, I don’t care. I’d rather hear others opinion on The One.