Semantic Error

Angy’s English-language debut, an opposites-attract boys’-love webcomic based on the novel by Soori, starts slow but finds a flirtatious rom-com rhythm. Sangwoo, a cerebral computer science major, takes full credit for a college group project because the rest of the crew slacked off. Jaeyoung, a gifted but irresponsible art student, is unable to graduate as a result. “I’m gonna make sure I leave an impression on that robot brain of his,” Jaeyoung vows as he dedicates his life to pestering Sangwoo: signing up for the same classes, hoarding Sangwoo’s favorite canned coffee, and wearing red, Sangwoo’s least favorite color. Sangwoo treats Jaeyoung as a coding error he needs to delete from his life, but as the two butt heads it becomes clear that their antagonism conceals a mutual attraction. The script meanders in the early chapters but hits its stride in the comedy of Jaeyoung’s pranks and Sangwoo’s irritation. The flat art seldom does more than move the plot points along, but the leads are swoony, which helps keeps the pages turning. In the cleverest visual touch, Sangwoo’s thoughts and fantasies appear as pixelated game art. The series already has a Korean television adaptation with a global audience. While the manhwa version doesn’t break new ground, diehard boys’-love fans will want to take a look. (Nov.)