현혹

HYEONHOK

MANGA

STATUS
COMPLETE
VOLUMES
3
RELEASE
November 12, 2020
CHAPTERS
60

DESCRIPTION

It’s 1935 in Gyeongseong, and struggling artist I-Ho Yun has been commissioned by the reclusive, elderly Madam Jeong-Hwa Song to paint a portrait. Madam Jeong-Hwa Song allows I-Ho to set eyes upon her -- an unprecedented event -- and standing before him is a young woman. But why does she ask him to paint an elderly version of her? “Don’t finish the portrait.” Tucked between the previous artist’s paint tubes is an ominous letter. I-Ho learns that no artist has left Madam Song’s abode alive or of sound mind. Just what is she hiding and what will happen if I-Ho finishes the portrait?

(Source: WEBTOONS, edited)

CAST

Jeong-Hwa Song
I-Ho Yun
Bayarmaa
Ren Xiao
Jiren Cheng

CHAPTERS

REVIEWS

ShibuyaConfidential
70/100
A simple story with some interesting peaks and magnificent artwork.
Delusion (현혹) by Hongjacga (홍작가) is one of those works that remain in your heart, not so much for the plot that has in itself nothing unmissable or new, but for its absolutely spectacular art style. As I read this work, I grew in the desire to own a physical copy of the Manhwa that would lend itself very well to a paperback graphic novel to be put on display on our bookshelf.

The story is set in the 1900s when Korea was still united and the young and economically broken painter I-Ho Yun (윤이호) is called to the hotel of the octogenarian Jeong-Hwa Song (송정화), to realize a painting of her that is apparently on the verge of death.

Without a real surprise (and not even spoilers since everything happens in the first chapter), our eighty-year-old lady has the features of a twenty-year-old and a cathartic beauty worthy of a Greek Venus.
In short, a vampire.

A total of sixty chapters, thirty of which tell a fairly predictable story, going to explore the past of the lady, and the characters who did populate her life. Our I-Ho Yun in this part is only a spectator, nothing adds and takes nothing away from the story (he will later be redeemed in the finale). His is the role of readers listening to dramatic stories of vampires, conspiracies etc.

What is striking is the stellar artwork. Ms. Song I think represents one of the most beautiful 2D characters I've seen in comics literature in general. I must say that the author must have put so much into the creation of Ms Song. As mentioned, hers is an ethereal beauty that makes damned anyone who is in contact with her, even leading him to real hallucinations (Delusions, and hence the title). I myself was enchanted by the beauty of her features.

The Manhwa also offers us various paintings of her, absolute jewels that deserve to be exhibited in an art gallery, as mentioned the art that holds up the story.

But is it a failure?

Absolutely not. I've read vampire stories and many don't work well. But the author here manages an ultra-abused canvas making it credible and elegant although a certain section in the plot made me a bit cringe if I can say and turn up my nose:

Ms Song due to a fortuitous event takes the identity of Miss Marisa, an Italian noblewoman who was supposed to become the owner of the hotel where the events take place. Now Ms Marisa is Italian, and our Song is Korean, but everyone apparently does not ask questions why an Italian lady is clearly an East-Asian Venus.

The above one is not explained to us and it surprised me why the author did not use another nationality. But except for this inexplicable and honestly not necessary passage, everything stitches together perfectly.

With this saying I give Delusion an excellent 70 thanks to a simple story with some interesting peaks and magnificent artwork.
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