Lumine, comics-maker Emma Krogell's online series, debuted in 2017; it's since garnered almost 400 million views on the popular Webtoon platform. That success transfers to the printed page, as this intriguing inaugural volume of the same name collects the first 14 of almost 200 online episodes.
Lumine has lost his job--again. Causing havoc for his last employer got him fired without pay, and he's back to sleeping outside. He's startled awake by Kody, who's been separated from Aiden, his father--who, it turns out, is looking for Lumine. Although Lumine hasn't quite figured out how to "transform normally"--he turns into an adorable, fluffy white puppy who's not very scary when fighting off bad guys--Lumine proves himself a capable protector. He's hired as Kody's bodyguard because, as Aiden explains, "trouble follows him everywhere!" Cold, detached Kody is more annoyed than impressed, even resorting to poisoning Lumine to keep him away. Remarkably loyal, Lumine isn't deterred because, at the very least, Kody needs help surviving the many bullies at school.
Krogell expertly draws in a classic manga style: oversized, emotive eyes (Lumine's are notably heterochromatic blue andyellow); onomatopoeically augmented exaggerated action (AUGHs, CHOMPs, POOFs); comical caricatured insertions and interruptions. Her vibrant panels are non-regular throughout, with noticeably varying backgrounds--plain white, solid single colors, intricately detailed, digitally manipulated--enhancing a sense of unpredictability throughout.
Though Lumine is deservedly an internationally recognized series, brand-new audiences might want to avoid even the book cover description, which--ironically, perhaps unfortunately--reveals more than the actual episodes included here. Practicing patience for future volumes will surely be well rewarded. --Terry Hong, BookDragon