Feel 100%

6:49pm - 13 July 2008 - 119 views - 2 Comments
Posted in: Entertainment

Feel 100% is a romance comic from Hong Kong, and I finally had the chance to finish reading it.

The significance? The author took FIFTEEN years to complete 16 books. The last volume was out in June 2007, and I suppose it took a while to get to our shores, translated, censored and whatnot. A highly popular manhua in Hong Kong, it has been adapted into 4 movies and 1 TV series, way before the comic was actually completed.

Having just finished it, I was reminded why I zealously followed the series for a whole fifteen years. Because it’s that good.

Unlike other comics I’ve read, this series is relatively short. That said, it is also one of the most memorable one. The premise is simple - two best friends going after the same girl.

What sets it apart from other comics is that it everything is portrayed in a realistic manner, one that anyone could easily relate to. It’s not just the art - the characters, the settings, the events and most importantly - the emotions, are all believable. No fantasies. No live-happily-ever-afters. Just live. A very probable one.

So attached I was to the series and characters that I didn’t had a problem remembering what happened in the previous volume while I was reading the last one. The thing is, I read the second last volume years ago. I still remember how I was cursing the author as he made it a major cliffhanger. Having to wait years to find out the ending of a story that you’ve been following for a requires a lot of patience. A lot.

I read the last volume again. And again. And again. The ending was expected and unexpected at the same time. I expected something like that to happen, just not that way. I wouldn’t say it’s the best possible ending, but it’s an ending alright. Loose ends were tied up and fans (read: me) were satisfied (at least I was).

I still can’t get over it.

It had ended. But now I wish it hadn’t. But if it hadn’t, I’d wish it would. Gah I’m confused.

Under normal circumstances, I would insist that you go to your local book store and get the books but unless you’ve been following the series for at least a decade, I’d say tough luck. You might have just missed out on one of the best romance comics around.

Now excuse me while I go read Feel 100% again. From the beginning.