My Soul Mate by Wah Kee

Blurb:

Two novice manhua artists connect and collaborate across the boundaries of the material world in this semi-autobiographical story of creativity and storytelling against the odds.

Chung Chuen Ming is an experienced art assistant in the comics industry who spends his days working on perfecting the work of others. Inside his heart, he longs for artistic fulfillment and wants to create his own manhua. Determined to make his dreams a reality, he quits his day job to focus on his personal project. Through a strange turn of events, he meets fellow novice artist Cheung Shan, someone who could really help him achieve his dreams! There’s just one small issue: Chung Chuen Ming just died and has been possessing Cheung Shan!

Can a creative collaboration bloom between these two artists, even against the boundaries of life and death? Follow these two fearless artists as they follow their creative dreams in My Soul Mate.

Review:

Comic books were the first time where I read something with a triple-digit page count. From mythological tales in Amar Chitra Katha, to children’s stories in Tinkle Comics, to discovering superheroes and the likes with Marvel & DC, comic books formed an important foundation in my life both as a reader and as a writer of speculative fiction. 

Manga—on the other hand—came to me pretty late in life. I was in my mid-twenties when I first picked up a manga (Death Note), and there’s been no looking back since. Funnily enough, I read my first ever manhwa this year, with My Soul Mate being my first manhua. Well, manga/manhwa/manhua all mean comics across different societies. Why am I mentioning all this? Because, the book in question is about two manhua artists. A semi-autobiographical account with a paranormal twist, Wah Kee’s manhua, My Soul Mate, promised a slice-of-life story that appealed to me as a writer. But, did it impress me as a reader?   

Spoilers Ahead! 

What I liked: 

Like I mentioned already, comics have played—and continue to play—a very important role in my life. Both as a reader and a writer. So, naturally, I’d be inclined to pick up a story like this. I can’t speak for how accurately the story captures the work culture of artists, but from an emotional perspective, this story delivered exactly what it promised. 

While it is a supernatural story including spirit possession, at its heart it really is about fulfilling your dreams. And that is a premise that’ll appeal to artists across the world, irrespective of the medium (pun intended). Both Ming & Shan are manhua artists with a dream to publish their own manhuas. While the stakes and conflicts don’t really grow as much through the story, their passion towards their artform makes itself apparent through every chapter. From going out of your way post-work to develop your story, to giving up everything to focus on your dream project, to literally continuing to work even post-life, My Soul Mate captures the never-say-die passions that inspire many an artist to even attempt realizing their dreams.

The story and characters themselves don’t have much to offer. Our main characters, Ming & Shan, are both relatively two-dimensional. But we do get a brief glimpse into each of their backstories, which sets the stage of their personalities and personal goals. Even the world of manhua comics doesn’t play a huge role outside of being the background setting of these characters’ journey. Yet, the focus on our protagonists’ passion and dreams, and their drive to achieve them is what makes the bulk of the manhua. 

I do want to take a moment to praise the artwork. Wah Kee’s illustrations are wonderfully detailed, bringing a unique character to the manhua overall. They’re realistic, and immersive, which further elevates the emotional comfiness of the slice-of-life story. I would have loved to see more of the manhua artists’ in-story manhuas and illustrations, but the few that we did get highlight Wah Kee’s own versatility as an artist. I will definitely be looking out for more of their work. 

Don’t go in expecting a life-changing story. Don’t go in expecting unique, profound characters. Go in, however, for the cozy, comforting vibes. If you’re an artist yourself, you’ll probably enjoy this one more than non-artist readers out there. Think of My Soul Mate as the manhua-equivalent of a relaxing coffee break. It’s an easy read, and the illustrations are beautiful. 

What I didn’t like: 

Honestly, there isn’t anything bad about the manhua. But nothing really stands out either. The story is pretty esoteric, and the lack of world-building and exploration could make this a dull read for people not interested in the world of comics. 

Apart from that, there is one plot point which kind of felt forced to me. But it served a purpose, adding a realistic and skeptical touch to an otherwise too-good-to-be-true story, so I guess it belongs there. 

In Conclusion:

A sweet, delightful tale of fulfilling lifelong dreams, My Soul Mate by Wah Kee is a manga that is sure to move you with its simplicity and beautiful artwork.

TL;DR: 

What I liked: cozy vibes, artistic passion, slice-of-life story

What I didn’t like: lack of world-building & exploration of the manhua world, one plot point