Tiger Coming In

Edit

What would you like to edit?

SynopsisBackgroundAlternative TitlesPictureChapters/VolumesPublishing DatesRelationsTypeExternal Links  

This series is seriously too cute. I smile every chapter.
Sometimes literature like this has tone shifts that feel out of place for the sake of stakes, but this story doesn't feel the need to do that because every interaction feels meaningful and fun.

The simple, but purposeful, art's style elevates the story and the quality is professional with full color, backgrounds, and consistent perspective and proportions.

The character interactions feel grounded for both the children and adults. The children act like children and not 24 year olds stuck in a baby's body. They are stupid, act irrationally, but don't mean the harm they cause and they grow ... and learn from their mistakes.

Although this is slice of life, the act of raising these children feel like progress to the reader and with a mix of magic and myths from the setting extraordinary situations arise to keep things fresh.

9.5/10

I could recommend this to almost anyone and I feel confident that they would enjoy it.

If you're like me then you're constantly on the hunt for a manga/manhwa that is fun and adorable but not shallow and two-dimensional. So many stories out there kick things off with a fun (if simple) premise that hooks you in the introduction, but after a dozen chapters things already feel stale. On the other hand, there are manga where the plot can become too rapid and the character development abandons the very premise that intrigued you as a reader in the first place, and the characters you loved are left behind as the story transforms into something else entirely. It feels like a lose-lose ... scenario: either you settle for a manga that is cute but unsubstantial, or you accept that the wholesome train cannot go on forever and watch it slowly drain away and get replaced by drama and conflict.

And then there is Tiger Coming In. I *love* this manwha precisely because of its ability to balance these two seemingly contradictory elements into one adorable, compelling, unified whole. The family dynamic - a wife and husband looking after two tiger girls who adore each other - remains the center of the manhwa and drives every arc and interaction. Each character has as a defined personality that drives the various scenarios and hijinks, rather than the other way around, giving the entire story a high level of believability and authenticity. Meanwhile intriguing and fun side characters are introduced, new environments are gradually explored, and a background "conflict" slowly moves into view without overwhelming the experience. The family reacts differently to each of these and it is so much fun seeing them move closer together as they support, help, and occasionally bicker with one another. Similarly, the author makes appropriate use of flashbacks and sprinkles them throughout the novel, providing further context and a handful of sweet stories that deepen the relationships between characters.

The end result is that with every new "arc' (I use that term loosely) the story remains fresh *precisely* because the author has enough confidence in their characters that they allow change to occur, knowing they will stay true to themselves. It is so refreshing to read a wholesome, cute, happy story in which the characters still face challenges and uncertainty strikes unexpectedly without the core of it all unraveling. And every time I feel like one particular character is getting a little too "tropey" or they are beginning to slip into the background, the author suddenly hits me with a series of chapters illustrating their growth in a way that complements their established traits. All of this alone makes the manhwa worth your time to read.

Aside from the premise, characterization, plot, and themes, the art itself is a treat to look at. The character designs are unique and attractive and the illustrator has the hilarious habit of sticking in the background or the corner of a frame a fun or silly detail that makes re-reads just as enjoyable. Likewise the paneling is smooth, creative, and doesn't over-rely on background shots or inflated dialogue bubbles to pad out chapters. The only genuine criticism I can lob at the manhwa is that there is a brief moment in which one male character believes another male character is hitting on him, and he rejects it on the premise that two males cannot be romantic with one other. Thankfully the moment passes quickly and there has not been any other overt anti-LGBTQ content (As of writing I am currently on chapter 101).

Overall, a strong 9/10!