Platina Vol. 1by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 9 Auna is of noble birth, but due to a bankruptcy she's now a servant to the princess. As the story progresses we see that this princess is more than she appears to be, but at the moment she decides to give Auna a gift - a fox named Jinna who's really a boy under a curse. From noon to midnight he's a human and from midnight to noon he's a cute little fox. Auna sees him as a responsibility since the princess entrusted him to her as a steward. He sees this as an opporunity to escape ... until she pulls her pistol and shoots. Girls with guns are very intimidating! She has promised to help break his curse and to reunite him with his love, Sara. Trouble ensues as many people are after human Jinna.Platina is easily one of the best manhwa I've read to date! It's the perfect blend of beautiful art, fantasty story, and situational humor. I love the details of the eyes - they are often that big, beautiful but empty look - but here they are well contrasted with the chibi forms (big but uber simplistic). The chibi versions are used exceptionally well, interspersed at just the right intervals and to emphasize humorous situations (which can be subtle at times). The chibi forms also retain a sense of beauty and form, and aren't just squished jelly blobish forms of the characters which is fun and refreshing. The story is a little Cinderella-esque (complete with magic), but it's also very different. I love that Auna is cold, spunky, and a crack-shot with her pistol. Jinna is a great character, and he's just so much fun in fox form wagging his tail or biting someone on the head and getting mad when mistaken for a dog or cat. Backgrounds and body language are used well when they're used, but this manhwa is heavy-handed in its use of facial close-ups and expressions. I do think my favorite bit of action though is when Jinna, in human form, jumps feet first onto a guy to knock him down and then kicks the second guy. The angles and shots of it are great and not without their comedic aspects as well. I do think it's interesting that the front and back covers portray Auna as having pink hair, when inside she is most often portrayed as having black hair. Jinna, who's supposed to have red hair, darker than hers, according to the cover is actually drawn as lighter even when Auna's is shaded and not just stark black. I don't mind. I like both actually. And since both the princess and Jinna are portrayed with light hair, a dark haired character was badly needed. I also like that Auna and Jinna's hair is short and straight/choppy - and it works well as a contrast against the princess, Samuel, and the mage's curly tresses though I'm not entirely sure that was intentional. The story takes Auna and Jinna on adventures of sorts as they are sought after, and search for answers for themself and quest for the cookies the princess wants. Little bits of history are revealed and some rather interesting insights into the characters, but still leaves things shrouded in mystery giving the story (and the relationships therein) a bit more substance. This manhwa really has it all: a little magic and transforming, a girl with a gun, quests, daring escapes, and a potentially romantic relationship (complete with a tiny bit of bondage humor at the beginning). Don't miss this fun and enchanting read! Written: June 1, 2007
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