Jon Dunbar is a copy editor at The Korea Times, as well as editor of the Foreign Community page and curator of the Korea Times Archive. If you have suggestions for possible articles, or wish to contribute articles yourself, contact jdunbar@koreatimes.co.kr.
Graphic novel creators preview release of 'No Rules Tonight'
Ryan Estrada, co-creator of "No Rules Tonight," poses at an exhibition of the upcoming graphic novel's art to be held this weekend at the Busan Global Webtoon Center. Courtesy of Ryan Estrada
By Jon Dunbar
There's still almost half a year to wait until the release of "No Rules Tonight" by Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada on Oct. 1. But anyone in Busan will be able to get a sneak peek of the art at the Busan Global Webtoon Center this Saturday.
"It was hand-drawn extra large, so each page is a foot tall!" the creators said in an online invitation. "We're doing something extra special with the original art from the book. It will be displayed all together for just one day! The pages will fill the room, floor to ceiling, so it will be like walking inside of the comic."
Both authors will be in attendance for the whole event starting at noon and will do a live Q&A at 4 p.m. There will also be a live music performance by Gino Brann.
Visitors can also join a photo scavenger hunt, in which they can receive a free comic book if they find and photograph 20 items on a list of 30. The items range from art showing specific objects and animals, as well as selfies with the authors and photos of the live music performance. There will also be chances to color in copies the black-and-white art pages.
After the show is done, the displayed panels will be clipped out and hidden in thousands of random copies of the book to be found by readers.
The special event is being held on the fourth anniversary of the release of "Banned Book Club," their acclaimed — and sometimes banned — graphic novel set in the dictatorship era of 1980s South Korea.
"No Rules Tonight" is the sequel to "Banned Book Club."
"It's about growing up under a dictator, and celebrating your one night of freedom when the curfew is lifted," the creators said.
The story is set on Christmas Eve, while the characters, who attend Anjeon University, are off at an annual winter camp held in a remote place in the mountains. There, they're free of parental supervision as well as the national curfew, which was lifted during the holiday.
"In the snowy mountains, everyone has a different plan for their one night of freedom," reads a description of the book found at goodreads.com. "Hyun Sook is trying to restart her banned book club but has to hide from a boy she suspects of being a spy. Taehee and Kiwoo are trying to build up the nerve to confess their feelings for one another, while Sujji pines after her crush, ready to risk it all and finally tell someone the secret she’s been hiding for her entire life."
Visit ryanestrada.com for more information, or tinyurl.com/Norulestonightexhibition for details on the exhibition.