Hissing (manhwa)
Encyclopedia
Hissing is a Korean manhwa
series written and illustrated by Kang Eun-young. Originally serialized in the magazine Wink, Hissing was later released in 6 volumes between January 2004 and August 2005 by Seoul Cultural Publishers, Inc. ICEkunion
licensed the series for an English release and published 3 volumes, but was absorbed into the Hachette Book Group USA
's graphic novel imprint Yen Press
. Yen Press continued to release Hissing, and the final volume was made available in March 2009. Western critics gave the series mixed reviews, with its art and storytelling both criticized and applauded.
acquired the rights to publish the series in North America and proceeded to release the first three volumes between June 2006 and February 2007. ICEkunion was later absorbed by Yen Press
, a graphic novel imprint of Hachette Book Group USA
. Yen Press inherited ICEkunion's entire catalog and subsequently resumed publishing Hissing under their label. Their distribution rights for the series extended to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom
. Yen Press released the remaining volumes of Hissing between July 2008 and March 2009.
's Krista Hutley did not recommend the series. She noted that "poor dialog, hard-to-follow viewpoint shifts, and "mysterious" plotting" caused attempts to "build suspense" to "fail". Hutley also criticized that the "two male leads [were] confusingly indistinguishable from each other".
Michelle Smith reviewed volumes four through six for PopCulture Shock. Volumes four and five were collectively rated with a "B"; Smith wrote that though she disliked the first volume, the series "grew" on her and that flaws in the series "grow less glaring with time". The sixth and final volume of Hissing was graded with a "B+". She commented that it was a "very satisfying" final volume, with "a good balance between humorous and more emotional moments". She stated that the "only complaint [she] could make [was] that Sun-Nam’s irritating brothers made it all the way through the series without contributing much of anything to the story".
Manhwa
Manhwa is the general Korean term for comics and print cartoons . Outside of Korea, the term usually refers specifically to South Korean comics. The term, along with manga, is a cognate of the Chinese manhua...
series written and illustrated by Kang Eun-young. Originally serialized in the magazine Wink, Hissing was later released in 6 volumes between January 2004 and August 2005 by Seoul Cultural Publishers, Inc. ICEkunion
ICEkunion
ICEkunion published South Korean manhwa comics in the United States. The firm's industry experience come from Studio ICE. Titles were licensed from manhwa publishing companies that originally sold them in The Republic of Korea in the Korean language...
licensed the series for an English release and published 3 volumes, but was absorbed into the Hachette Book Group USA
Hachette Book Group USA
Hachette Book Group is a publishing company owned by Hachette Livre, the largest publishing company in France, and the second largest publisher in the world. Hachette Livre is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lagardère Group. HBG was formed when Hachette Livre purchased the Time Warner Book Group from...
's graphic novel imprint Yen Press
Yen Press
Yen Press is the manga and graphic novel imprint of Hachette Book Group. In addition to their regular book releases, Yen Press produces a monthly anthology called Yen Plus. The company's varied list demonstrates an interest in publishing a wide variety of Japanese manga, Korean manhwa, and other...
. Yen Press continued to release Hissing, and the final volume was made available in March 2009. Western critics gave the series mixed reviews, with its art and storytelling both criticized and applauded.
Media
Hissing, written and illustrated by Kang Eun-young, was published in Korea by Seoul Cultural Publishers, Inc. The manhwa was serialized in the magazine Wink and collected into 6 volumes. Hissings serialization in Wink ended in the magazine's August 2005 issue, published on July 15, 2005. Seoul Cultural released the first volume on January 15, 2004 and the final volume on August 11, 2005. Publisher ICEkunionICEkunion
ICEkunion published South Korean manhwa comics in the United States. The firm's industry experience come from Studio ICE. Titles were licensed from manhwa publishing companies that originally sold them in The Republic of Korea in the Korean language...
acquired the rights to publish the series in North America and proceeded to release the first three volumes between June 2006 and February 2007. ICEkunion was later absorbed by Yen Press
Yen Press
Yen Press is the manga and graphic novel imprint of Hachette Book Group. In addition to their regular book releases, Yen Press produces a monthly anthology called Yen Plus. The company's varied list demonstrates an interest in publishing a wide variety of Japanese manga, Korean manhwa, and other...
, a graphic novel imprint of Hachette Book Group USA
Hachette Book Group USA
Hachette Book Group is a publishing company owned by Hachette Livre, the largest publishing company in France, and the second largest publisher in the world. Hachette Livre is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lagardère Group. HBG was formed when Hachette Livre purchased the Time Warner Book Group from...
. Yen Press inherited ICEkunion's entire catalog and subsequently resumed publishing Hissing under their label. Their distribution rights for the series extended to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Yen Press released the remaining volumes of Hissing between July 2008 and March 2009.
Volume list
Reception
Hissing has received mixed reviews from Western critics. Patricia Bear of Mania gave the fourth volume an overall grade of "B+", and recommended it as a "lovely and moving story". Beard praised how "EunYoung Kang gives her characters the time and space to show what they're experiencing rather than telling the readers of the romance as a statement of fact", which she felt allowed "the irrationality of love" to be "believable". Beard went on to say that the art had flaws, but could be "very beautiful and expressive", and that leaving out backgrounds in some scenes "[emphasized] the emotional experience and reflection of the character". However, Library JournalLibrary Journal
Library Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
's Krista Hutley did not recommend the series. She noted that "poor dialog, hard-to-follow viewpoint shifts, and "mysterious" plotting" caused attempts to "build suspense" to "fail". Hutley also criticized that the "two male leads [were] confusingly indistinguishable from each other".
Michelle Smith reviewed volumes four through six for PopCulture Shock. Volumes four and five were collectively rated with a "B"; Smith wrote that though she disliked the first volume, the series "grew" on her and that flaws in the series "grow less glaring with time". The sixth and final volume of Hissing was graded with a "B+". She commented that it was a "very satisfying" final volume, with "a good balance between humorous and more emotional moments". She stated that the "only complaint [she] could make [was] that Sun-Nam’s irritating brothers made it all the way through the series without contributing much of anything to the story".