The Summit

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It's hard to recommend a manga to someone when 3.7 of the volumes have been translated. That's right. 3 full volumes have been translated. Half of the fourth. And then like 4 other random chapters after that. How are you supposed to reel anyone in with a premise like that?

Because it either will or it won't.

The Summit is surprisingly good. Not great because I haven't felt like I've had the full helping I should (like I explained above, not the full translation), but what I've been given had me reading straight through. I didn't stop and I wanted to read more. And I ... was seriously disappointed when there weren't any more chapters for me to read!

Story: Saez, Han Lee or whatever is on a train one day and gets pickpocketed by Moto, this really pretty, effeminate boy. Standard stuff. But I felt like there was this hard-edged, gritty feel to the The Summit and while I didn't particularly feel any pull towards Moto, I felt it toward Saez. He's the one who changes, specifically his tastes toward a pretty boy who suddenly starts to hang around him a lot, and the story sort of goes through their life together. Nothing particularly special, just them together. Until we get a little further in and we see Moto's pasts starting to come out and the trouble that he seems to drag everywhere and that's where it really starts to pick up-and also where the translations get **cked up! It's really very interesting though to watch as Saez tries to keep his growing feelings tame for Moto who's completely oblivious about it but who attracts just about every testosterone filled organism within a 50 mile radius (yes, people. BoyxBoy love if the synopsis didn't clue you in on that already.)

Art: I've never really been one for Korean art, but I have read some before (Boy Princess, Bride of the Water God) and it always has this weird look to me at first. Like I can't read it because I'm so used to reading manga and not manhwa. But once I got past my initial reaction it's just as beautiful as most other manga. But one thing I can say, is that manhwa always feels edgy, rough and sometimes harshly detailed. Not that I find this demeaning in any way. On the contrary I think it is what gives it the unique feel of manhwa and I always appreciate that. But I think it is something others may not like.

Character: I find that I like Saez much better than I like Moto. There's certainly character development, definitely between them and for each of them, though I can't say how much for Moto. The random chapters at the end have revealed a devastating past and decision that he makes and I really wish that the translators would do something about that! But the supporting cast isn't bad either, partially because they're almost nonexistent until later and then they fit into the part of the story that we don't have much to go on yet, so it's hard to say what about certain characters. But I don't have anything against any of them. Just that I like Saez, even if he is a bit of a perv.

Enjoyment: All together, I particularly enjoyed reading this manga and I would really rather they just translate them in order and not jump around like that. Because that's what ruins the enjoyment of the manga for me. Not the material but how I have to read it. I can't find it anywhere to buy and so I must revert to the internet. But really, don't let that stop you from at least giving it a try. It may not all be there and I know some people may not want to start something that may never be finished and that has bits and pieces thrown in at random places, but it's almost worth it to just suck it up and deal with it.

Regardless, I can honestly say I don't understand why anyone translates half of volume 4 and then skips the rest only to go and do chapter 32, then 36, 38, 46 and then 52. Seriously? I'm not a translator, nor will I ever be able to be one because I don't know Korean or any other language. But if I did I would be translating my heart out. Don't get me wrong, I am truly grateful that anything is translated period. But what's the point of jumping around, when it won't make any sense in the end?

This is one of my top two favorite yaoi manhwas of all time. Unfortunately, it is unfinished and the author has disappeared to such a degree that there is speculation about her death. So this story may never be completed and it ends in a painful cliffhanger. It's difficult to recommend a story under such circumstances but nevertheless, I do. Even knowing how much it's gonna hurt to get to such an abrupt ending, it's worth it for the journey.

What I loved about it:

1. This is one of the most stunningly gorgeous manwhas I've ever seen.
2. I adore the ... crap out of Saaz. He is second only to Mookyun from Totally Captivated in terms of how cool, badass, funny, and sweet he is.
3. The story is extremely engaging on many levels.
4. It made me crack up laughing many times.
5. There were some super sexy scenes that didn't even involve sex but we're still incredibly hot.

What I disliked about it:

1. Well, obviously the fact that it ended in a horrendous cliffhanger with next to no hope of being resolved.
2. Moto's pruddishness and self-denial got annoying.
3. I think that the details of Moto's past could have been revealed a little less slowly. There's still things we don't know, 48 chapters in, and now may never know.

STORY: This was a wonderfully easy story to follow. Given what I can surmise about Moto's past, it could have been complicated but thankfully, it wasn't. The details of Moto's past could have been brought out more quickly. It was a bit frustrating getting only tiny snippets that were more teases than actual information. But aside from that, the pace and flow was really great and I couldn't put it down. It did a marvelous job of keeping me hooked.

CHARACTERS: The two main characters were instantly captivating. Their looks and their personalities were so incredible from the very moment they stepped onto the page. They commanded my full attention every frame they were in and I never doubted them for a second. They never broke character and they were completely believable in everything they did and said. Their interactions with the side characters was fascinating to watch as well. It never felt forced or contrived.

ART: I give this a 12/10 for art - it's just that amazing. In fact, I need to go back and revise some of my other ratings after seeing this. Like I said above, every frame is gorgeous, not just a select few. Some people don't like the Korean art style but I happen to adore it. I want my 2D men to look impossibly exotic and amazing and in this one, they absolutely do. Also, she pays an incredible amount of detail to their clothing. It's simply stunning. I highly doubt anyone actually dresses like these two do but I love it that they do. It makes them stand out so much more in such a beautiful way.

SEX SCENES: There is almost no sex in this story. There are two sex scenes in the last chapter (both non-con) and the focus is on the uke's face because of what he's enduring emotionally and it's painful to watch. However, there are several very sensual scenes between Saaz and Moto that are incredibly beautiful and erotic. The way she draws their kisses alone is enough to send me into a tizzy. The hair washing scene, the hands on faces scene - she has a way of capturing their sensuality and passion in even simple acts that's really incredible.

Overall, I'm devastated that this story is incomplete but I'm glad to have met these characters and traveled with them this far.

I happen to come across a recommendation about this manga so I decided to read it.

The first few chapters were OK, however the story kinda went down on its succeeding chapters. The intensity it built at the beginning of the story was lost as you read further. I really got confuse with the characters, when I was reading the manga there were names that keeps appearing but were never really discussed well, their role, what they had to do with the other character,significant contributions to the story and such.

Art is OK but not that appealing

The manga is still on going but I don't think ... I'd continue reading it till the end.