Book Review: Raging Clouds by Yudori

While I read my fair share of manga and manhwa, I don’t particularly enjoy much of its mainstream output due to its frequently vapid, incoherent, painfully decompressed storytelling. Pretty pictures only take a book so far when the story is idling in neutral. Thankfully, while Yudori is Korean and her gorgeous black and white artwork looks like accomplished manhwa at a glance, her writing talent proves to be equally as impressive as her art. Her lively, unpredictable tale and fully formed, complex characters make for a book that is a deeply affecting read, not just an exercise in visual style.

The story centers on a plucky young woman named Amélie who dreams of both real and spiritual flight, trapped in a loveless marriage in the restrictive environment of 16th century Dutch high society. While she hails from a prestigious family, her father’s squandering of their fortune led to her betrothal to a common merchant for financial considerations, a pairing that finds the husband treating her as little more than a possession. She spends her days tending to their household, little better than their two hired hands, longing for the frequent absences of her husband when he travels for business. 

Enter the wild card, an Asian sex slave her husband brings back from one of his trips, ostensibly as an act of mercy to prevent a worse fate for her, but really as an object of his lustful desires. With no recourse due to her lowered social station, Amélie is forced to accept her husband’s mistress into the household, gradually forming an uneasy alliance with her as they get to know each other. It’s not a yuri story though, in spite of the misleading cover image. This is where Yudori’s character-building really pays off, as we watch the trio work through their feelings about each other and their untenable situation. Aspects of religion, sexual politics, feminism, and class status combine into a heady brew that rates among the most inspired and insightful writing in comics. 

Yudori’s work is a fascinating study of contrasts colored by her unique background. Born in Korea, but spending formative years in the Philippines and U.S., she now lives in the UK, giving her work truly global inspiration and appeal. Her clean, supple linework represents the best of manhwa, while her direct and briskly paced narrative channels the clarity of effective American writing, and the European settings, characters, and costumes feel like the cream of bandes dessinées. Indeed, the book was first published by Delcourt in France in 2022, where her subsequent work has also launched.

Fantagraphics presents the work in a lavishly produced hardcover at generous 7” x 9” dimensions, surpassing typical manhwa format. In addition to the classy, textured dust jacket on heavyweight stock, the book sports a full-color, embossed cover with a different wraparound image. The large size allows for thorough enjoyment and appreciation of Yudori’s delicate, fluid lines and detailed costumes.

Raging Clouds releases on July 15th. Yudori’s U.S. debut is a knockout tour-de-force. Much like Amélie seeks to escape the restrictions of her society, Yudori soars above the expectations of manhwa to deliver a universally appealing and impactful tale.