NOW is a manhwa

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...

 by Park Sung-woo

Park Sung-woo

Park Sung-Woo is a manga-style South Korean manhwa artist. He had his debut in 1993 in IQ Jump. He was awarded a "Manhwa of Our Time" prize in 2002.-Works:*Anima Cal Livs*Black God*Chun Rhang Yul Jun*Dark Striker...

. It is published by Seoul Munhwasa and serialized in IQ Jump Comics, a weekly Korean manhwa magazine. It is distributed in the United States by Infinity Studios

Infinity Studios

Infinity Studios was an American publisher of Japanese manga and Korean manhwa, publishing such series as Iono-sama Fanatics and Unbalance Unbalance.-Manhwa and manga distributed by Infinity Studios:*Animal Paradise *Bambi *Blood Alone...

 (licensed absorbed from ComicsOne

ComicsOne

Comics One was an American distributor of Asian Comics , established in 1999. ComicsOne was based in Fremont, California...

).

Story

The story of NOW is set in Goguryeo

Goguryeo

Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....

 and stars Bi-Ryu, a martial artist, and Ah-Rin, a bubbly girl with a sword, as they go on various adventures. The series is currently finished with 25 volumes in South Korea

South Korea

The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...

 and up to 6 volumes in United States.
NOW is an action/fighting oriented comic targeted towards male fans.

Sa-Shin-Mu Disciples

Pa Goon-Sung's Disciples

• Bi-Ryu

The main character of NOW. Practitioner of the "Sashinmu" (사신무) killing style. He has distinct silver colored hair. He was the adopted grandson of North Star, and holds himself responsible for North Star's death. He seems to be developing a crush on Rin. Bi-Ryu is a rather simple young man, unable to catch up with the times on his own. This is shown when he and Ah-Rin prepare to embark on their quest. She asks if he is all packed, and if so, where are his things. He casts a finger to Cho-Ryung in response. He also had casually walked in on Yhun Ah-Rin and Cho Ryung in a bath, Bi Ryu asked directions and left as though she was not naked, Cho Ryung seems to have the same casualness. However, he is merciless in combat, referring to himself as a Sa-Shin, a death god. He has been shown to descend into a ferocious killing rage during battle, with Ah-Rin being the only one able to return him to normal.

• Yu Sae-Ha

One of the male protagonists of NOW. A good person at first but is becomes twisted and evil by a traumatic incident in the first volume. Originally sent with his brothers to destroy Sashinmu's secrets upon his swordmaster's last wishes. He discovered his older brother had secretly been working for an opposing force, and was nearly killed by him. It was this brother's sword that left the scar on his cheek. Together, the two plunge into a chasm, and he barely survived unlike his brother. He acquires the Sashinmu killing technique from reading the Sashinmu book with the purpose of changing the world so as to acknowledge his strength and, indirectly, his reason for existing. Yu Sae-Ha's style of Sashinmu is unique, for it utilizes negative (ice / Yin) ki instead of positive (fire / Yang) ki, as a result of him having absorbed Yhun Ah-Ran's ki. Originally starting out as a shy and timid character, Yu Sae-Ha grows obsessed with power as the story goes on, willing to do anything to become stronger. He harbors feelings for Yhun Ah-Ran, although she does not return them.

Yhun Oh-Rhang's Disciples

• Yhun Ah-Rin

The 15 year old female protagonist of NOW. Though powerful thanks to her father's transferred Sashinmu energy, she is considered a bit of a klutz. She seems to be developing a romantic interest upon Bi-Ryu, starting from when Bi Ryu saw her naked body, her mother and sister have told her she has to marry the first man to see her naked body. Her mother, the legendary Whur Ha-Rhang(Lunar Ice in English version) (월하랑), has trained both her and her sister in the Heavenly Mountain Sword Stance, which constantly circulates a type of internal ki to accentuate constant movement in battle. However, when Ah-Rin was younger, she accidentally ingested a poisonous herb. To save her life, her father transmitted some of his own Sashinmu energy to her, thus saving her life and at the same time preventing her from mastering the sword stance at her current level.

• Yhun Ah-Ran

Elder sister of Yhun Ah-Rin. Ah-Rin is much more stoic

STOIC

STOIC was a variant of Forth.It started out at the MIT and Harvard Biomedical Engineering Centre in Boston, and was written in the mid 1970s by Jonathan Sachs...

 than her sister. After a confrontation with Bi-Ryu, she is left injured and drained of energy. It is here that she is captured and taken to Mother Demon's palace, where she is held captive until Yu-Sae Ha rescues her. It is discovered that she had killed Demon Mother's younger brother in an earlier confrontation during her search for Rin. She is eventually paired up with Yu Sae-Ha in a secondary storyline. Unlike her sister, Ah-Ran seems to have nearly, if not completely, mastered the stance, as she has displayed advanced techniques. However, as Yu Sae-Ha has absorbed her ki, it is unknown whether or not she is still able to fight.

Gi-Wang-Mu's Disciple traveling with Bi-Ryu

• Cho-Ryung

A feral cat-like girl

Catgirl

A catgirl is a female character with cat traits, such as cat ears, a cat tail, or other feline characteristics on an otherwise human body. Catgirls are found in various fiction genres, and in particular Japanese anime and manga where they are more commonly referred to as Neko or Nekomimi , in...

 that is the traveling companion of Ah-Rin and Bi-Ryu. She is unable to talk and instead makes animal-like noises to communicate. It is speculated that she is the creation of Mother Demon. Bi-Ryu considers her a simple piece of property, to which she holds no objection to. She is very powerful, able to make off with Ah-Rin's rather heavy sword at the beginning of the series holding it only by her teeth. Cho-Ryung, like most animals, despises water and only after being caught and forced will she bathe.

Myung Wong Shin Gyo (Ming Cult)

Head

• The former head

She was also a reincarnation of Parvati. She is the eldest sister of Shiva and Ganesha. During a war between the Shaolin and the Myeong Wang Shin Gyo, she sacrificed herself by throwing her own body into fire in order to save Shiva and the Myeong Wang Shin Gyo children.

• Nirvana (니르바나)

A little girl introduced in volume 4, Nirvana is not all she appears to be. She is Indian

Demographics of India

The demographics of India are inclusive of the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people , more than a sixth of the world's population. Already containing 17.5% of the world's population, India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2025, surpassing...

 and is first seen as a child who Ah-Gi has taken to kill and make into food. Bi-Ryu and Ah-Rin show up just in time to save her, though she shows no fear towards the man. He believes her to be a mute, as she has not spoken since he abducted her. Later, after meeting Bi Ryu's Party she speaks slowly with future predictions, accurately predicting Yhun Ah-Rin kicking Bi Ryu. It is also known that she apparently is wanted, as a group of assassins intrude upon Bi-Ryu's party and attempt to kill them to take Nirvana. She seems to like Cho Ryung, as she hugs her like a stuffed animal a lot (She's also the only one who can understand what Cho Ryung says). She carries the memory of the former heads of Myung Wong Shin Gyo, Parvati.

Chief Minister and Left-Right Ministers

• Asura (아수라)

The former chief minister of Myung Wong Shin Gyo, master of Shiva. He and Sho-Rhim's head Cheon Jong were former friends, they planned to keep the peace between Chinese Martial World and Myung Gyo, but failed by the evil Sho-Rhim monk Cheon Seung, who only followed the way of power.

• Brahma Brothers

They were the ministers of Myung Wong Shin Gyo, in the generation of Shiva's eldest sister.

After the Cult's House had been destroyed, they served Shiva as new chief minister. When they discovered that Shiva was using Yaksha's seal to create Ananga, they attempted to stop him but were defeated. The elder lost his eyes and two arms, while the younger lost the lower body. They combined to form a body to protect together. They taught Yu Sae-Ha the secret skill of Gyu Yeom — grandmaster of Sa-Shin-Mu — Pa-Yeol-Jin (Destroying Quake).

• Shiva (시바)

Chief minister of Myeong Wang Shin Gyo. He used Yaksha

Yaksha

Yaksha is the name of a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, who are caretakers of the natural treasures hidden in the earth and tree roots. They appear in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythology. The feminine form of the word is ' or Yakshini .In Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist mythology,...

's seal to create the Ananga to assist him in the way to destroy the Chinese Martial World.

• Lakshmi (라크슈미)

Head of the security detail in Myeong Wang Shin Gyo. She and Ganesha make up the Ministers of the Right and Left respectively. Her primary duty is to provide security to the Chief Minister (Shiva). Her and Ganesha are apparently not on good terms. It is said that her powers are on par with Ganesha, but she is not the "brute force" type. Instead, she is known to make deals and use subversive methods to do her job. She often passes herself off as the "lovely little lady". When Ganesha returns with Yu Sae-Ha and Yhun Ah-Rin, Shiva requests that she "lightly spar" with Yu Sae-Ha. She displays here her actual strength, seeming to teleport to and from. It also seems her physical strength is above average, as with one kick, she sends Yu Sae-Ha flying upwards into the air, despite his unintentional defense. She also cares much for Rakshasha, despite her attempts to deny it.

• Ganesha (가네샤)

The Head of Security in the Myung Wong Shin Gyo. He seems to be a controlling man, telling Ran and Rin's parents he had come to handle business with Mother Demon, but became captivated with their fighting skills. His apparently true purpose of coming was to obtain the secrets of Sashinmu. He seems to be powerful as well, escaping from the two skilled warriors with the only damage received the losing of the bottom portion of his mask. He entices Yu Sae-Ha to accompany him to Myeong Wang Shin Gyo along with Yhun Ah-Ran. It is later revealed that he is the twin (younger) brother of Shiva, and that he only takes off his mask when he is needed to "stand in" for Shiva in certain situations.

Chil-Rhun-Sa (Seven-Wheels Children)

• Cheong Mok

Il-Rhun

A Westerner who, as a child, was brought into the East as a slave. He has the skill Dok-Shim-Sul (Mind-Reading Skill), as well as high-level Qing Gong. He tested Bi Ryu's strength before revealing him the way to the Myeong Wang Shin Gyo.

• Unknown member - Whur-Rhun

He is the assassin sent to kill Ah-Rin in Mo-Yong house. But he is killed by Ja Hye and Mo-Yong Bi. In the end, he puts a joke: "I'm killed so fast that I can't present my name!".

• Akni (아크니)

Hwa-Rhun

• Baraha (바라하)

To-Rhun

Is his best status status in the ground. Defeated by Bi-Ryu.

• Matshia (마트시아)

Sue-Rhun

Is his best battle status in the deep water. Defeated by Ah-Rin.

• Hanuman (하누만)

Mok-Rhun

Uses the poisonous insects to eliminate opponents. Defeated by Mo-Yong Rin and Hyun.

• Rakshasha (라크샤샤)

Kim-Rhun

Best in assassination. Defeated by Ah-Ran.

Gwi-Wang-Mo's faction (Lady Demon King Mother)

• Gwi-Wang-Mo

An old lady with powerful strength. She raised Cho Ryung, So Goon, Shi Rang, and the Mae Ran Guk Juk. Her desire to become the strongest in the Wulin World went to smoke when she met Yhun Orang. Ultimately, she died by the hands of Lakshmi, but not before showing last bit of kindness to her pupil, So Gun.

• So Gun

A beautiful cross-dressing boy. He used to envy "Baek-Rhang-Gyeon" (White Wolf-Dog), who actually is Cho-Ryung, because his master praised her very highly. After his master's death, he sets out to seek revenge against Ma Yeom Cheol, who he mistakenly believed had killed his master.

• Shi Rang

Another cross-dressing boy in Gi-Wang-Mu's faction. After Cho-Ryung's escape, the Demon Mother had Shi Rang wearing the hand-claws with hope equal to Cho-Ryung's ability.

• The four sisters

Mae, Ran, Guk, Juk are the guardian quadruplets protecting their master. They are later "freed" after So Gun, who wished them to experience freedom, decided to undertake the revenge for his master by himself. Their names are flowers: Ochna

Ochna

Ochna is a genus comprising 86 species of evergreen trees, shrubs and shrublets belonging to the family Ochnaceae. These species are native to tropical woodlands of Africa or Asia. Species of this genus are usually called Ochnas or Mickey-mouse plants, a name coming from the shape of the drupelet...

, Orchid, Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums, often called mums or chrysanths, are of the genus constituting approximately 30 species of perennial flowering plants in the family Asteraceae which is native to Asia and northeastern Europe.-Etymology:...

, Phyllostachys

Phyllostachys

Phyllostachys is a genus of bamboo. The species are native to Asia with a large number of species found in Central China, but can now be found in many temperate and semi-tropical areas around the world as cultivated plants or escapes from cultivation...

Others

• Britra (브리트라)

A powerful fighter of Myung Wong Shin Gyo. He provoked Sae-Ha and Ah-Ran when they first came there. Defeated and killed by Sae-Ha after his training with the Brahma brothers, two former ministers of Myung Wong Shin Gyo in Shiva's eldest sister's generation.

• Ah-Gi

An evil monk who is also a cannibal. He wields a cooking knife attached to a chain, which emits loud clinking sounds meant to distract the opponent during battle and perhaps make up for a lack of physical strength. He flaunts himself as a master cook. As the story progresses, Ah-Gi becomes more of a comic relief character than an actual threat. He has his own pages, located at the end of the Manhwa, called "Ask Ah-Gi," a short comical strip of few pages where he (supposedly) answers questions from the readers, often involving Ah-Rin and Ah-Ran, and ends up getting beaten up/stabbed/slashed/etc. by the two girls.

• Dharma (다르마)

An antagonist introduced in volume 4, he is a large muscular man with dark skin. His weapon is a spear

Spear

A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head.The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as flint, obsidian, iron, steel or...

 named Shin-Chang NAGA that absorbs all his negative ki thus giving him the ability to hide his ki in fights. He is defeated by Bi Ryu, after mortally wounding Yhun Ah Rin. This inspires Bi-Ryu to "pass judgement" and deliver the "Seven Dark Star Attacks" upon the man and finally kill him. His last sight is that of Nirvana, whom he states is the Founder of Myeong Wang Shin Gyo.

• Seop Poong (섭풍)

An assassin from Gi-Ryung-Bae, an assassin faction. He is the younger brother of Seop Jung, who was killed by Whur Ha-Rhang in The Legend of the Sirius. Followed by the author, his name came from the name of the protagonist of the manhua

Manhua

Manhua are Chinese comics originally produced in China. Possibly due to their greater degree of artistic freedom of expression and closer international ties with Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan have been the places of publication of most manhua thus far, often including Chinese translations of...

 Feng Yun

Fung Wan

Fung Wan is a Hong Kong wuxia manhua series. It is the first manhua released by Ma Wing-shing in 1989 with the help of his assistant Siu Kit under his own company, Jonesky Publishing. The title translates to "Wind and Cloud"...

, Nie Feng.

• Ma Yeom-Cheol

Also known as Ryong-Ma-Do-Jae (Longma Saber's Emperor). His daughter is kept hostage by Myeong Wang Shin Gyo, so he must obey the cult's orders. He was ordered to kill the Mother of the Demon King, but before he would do so, Lakshmi intervened and killed the Mother.

Yhun Oh-Rhang's Family

• Yhun Oh-Rhang

Only one to have mastered the complete sashinmu, Yhun Oh-Rhang is said to be even stronger than Pa Goon-Sung, the eldest disciple of Gyu Yeom. He is also the father of Yhun Ah-Rin and Yhun Ah-Ran.

• Whur Ha-Rhang

Master of Heavenly Mountain Sword Stance and also mother of Yhun Ah-Rin and Yhun Ah-Ran.

Gyu Yeom's Disciple

• Ghyur Mah-Ro

He's a person from Goguryeo

Goguryeo

Goguryeo or Koguryŏ was an ancient Korean kingdom located in present day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula, southern Manchuria, and southern Russian Maritime province....

(고구려), teacher of Ah-Rin. In the war between Goryeo and Chinese Martial World, he killed Ja Hye's sisters so when he met Mo Yong Bi again, he cut one of his arms to apologize.

Shin Ryong Moon (Shen Long Faction)

• Juk Woon
• So-Hyang

Mo-Yong Bi's Family

• Mo-Yong Bi

In his younger days Mo-Yong Bi has fought Yhun Oh-Rhang and Ghyur Mah-Ro as enemies. However since those days he has corrected his ways and gave up fighting and picked up medical skill (holistic medical skills are very close to pressure point based martial arts).

• Ja Hye

She was a servant/assassin to Mo-Yong Bi in his younger days. Now Ja Hye is Mo-Yong Bi's wife. During the fight between Yhun Oh-Rhang, Ghyur Mah-Ro, and Mo-Yong Bi, Ja Hye has lost two of her younger sister who were also Mo-Yong Bi's servant/assassin.

• Mo-Yong Rin

The adopted daughter of Mo-Yong Bi.

• Mo-Yong Hyun

The adopted son of Mo-Yong Bi.

Sho-Rhim-Sa (Shaolin Temple)

Head

• Cheon Jong

The former friend of Asura. He and Asura wanted to prevent the battle of Myung Gyo and Mu- Rhim (World of Martial Artists).

Elders
They are the elder monks of Sho-Rhim Temple. Their name are Cheon Kwang, Cheon Gak, Cheon Seung, Cheon Woon.

• Cheon Seung (천승)

Though he is not Sho-Rhim's head, he is the most powerful monk.

Others

• Im Chol-Sim

An old man who was an expert martial artist, but retired. He saved Bi-Ryu and Ah-Rin after their fight against Dharma.

Publishers

NOW was originally published by ComicsOne Corp.. In 15 June 2005 Infinity Studios LLC took over publishing, announced that will be republishing the first 5 volumes in the series.

External links

• Official site of Park Sung-woo
• Infinity Studios (U.S publisher of NOW)