Webtoon Spotlight

Spotlight#101:Nano List (T#1)

Have you ever wondered what to read for 2022? If so, then fear not because I'm going to turn old stories new life. And what better way to start this trend the by shining a light on Nano List by Songah Min? Either way, let's stop talking and start analyzing how these next few spotlights are going to go!

What's a "Throwback"?

Long story short, during my march to 100 spotlights, I had a lot of cool ideas about what I wanted to do for the significant triple digits. One of them was to have Where Tangents Meet takes the title initially. However, I decided a celebration of webtoon overall would be more appropriate. However, rereading WTM did leave me thinking about something that has always been eating at me.

Mainly the fact out of negligence or pure memory, I've shined a light on completed webtoons very rarely. Most of the time, I tackled them purely because they got only recently finished, and the sheer number of webtoons means that some would eventually get through the cracks. This is why I've decided to fix that mistake by introducing the throwbacks, a chance to reevaluate and reintroduce past read webtoons. The nano list will be the first, but all across 2022, I plan to do these back to back consistently before phasing them in regularly with other spotlights.

Combine that with my creed to include canvas webtoons that have turned into originals, and I think this will be a good mix of older and newer selections to appease everybody. With all that out of the way, though, let's get into this first throwback properly.

Summary

In a not-so-far-future, the world's biggest commodity is now androids, human-looking robots that follow their master's orders to the end. From house cleaning and assassination to (can't say here), they have effectively taken over multiple jobs in society. An average teenager named Milo Ahn is trying to live an ordinary life in this world.

However, that all changes when Milo gets a special gift for his birthday, Nano, the magnum opus of Milo's genius android specialist sister Maddie Ahn—initially he thought that Nano was nothing more than a foul-mouthed bodyguard android. However, that quickly changes as it is revealed that Milo effectively has the most powerful weapon globally, and everyone wants control over the trigger.

Characters

Nano: Our titular character, Nano is a childish, foul-mouthed, aggressive yet passionate war machine created by Maddie Ahn. While originally only following Maddie's dying request, it's through Milo's kindness that we truly understand her inner psyche. Despite all of her badassery, Nano is just a little girl who is worried her power and nature will inevitably destroy anyone she tries to get close to.

Milo: Our other main character Milo is a relatively kindhearted, optimistic, and friendly individual. Unlike most, Milo views his androids like family and is willing to do just about anything to protect them. However, this promise becomes harder as he tries to be a good man in a world that is anything but.

San: Milo's "housemaid" android, San, has served as Milo's primary caretaker ever since Maddie's death. With an almost unhealthy infatuation with her "master," San is intensely aggressive, provocative, jealous, ruthless, and protective when it comes to him. However, this all comes from a place of pure love, as she genuinely wants to be by his side till Milo dies a peaceful death.

Chacha: As explained in my top 5 webtoon antagonist Chacha is the mad leader of MSA, the biggest android manufacturer in the world. Driven mad with ambition, she is a cruel android who is deadset to rule the world. To do that, she seeks to reacquire Nano at any cost.

Overview

Honestly, putting Nano list is strictly the sci-fi genre is like asking a puppy to sit still. It just can't happen. Still, that doesn't negate that this is one messed up webtoon. Throughout the story, like an onion, the layers get slowly peeled back towards a sea of underground corporate decisions that decide the lives of dozens. The blood quickly mixes with oil as the war for Nano causes many brutal andriod on andriod fights and chilling human casualties. Casualties weigh on every character involved as every character gets pushed to their limits.

The art and presentation carry that fact, often ruthless ripping apart the characters in no holds bar fight scenes. The Nano list focuses on a pale color palette with thin outlines and more 3d-Esque environments. It's at its personal best whenever the series becomes more symbolic, accompanied by the contrast of red, black, and white in title images.

Yet despite the death and destruction, Nano list remains one of the funniest webtoons I've ever seen. The series's tight tension will often make fun through fourth wall breaks, dramatic irony, and running gags. While some could say it doesn't jive well amongst literal warfare, I think it's the opposite. 

If only due to pointing out how batshit crazy Nano's realm gets compared to Milo's.I think the gags also help illustrate Nano list underlining the emotional core. It may be tragic, sad, and gory, but that's what makes Nano lists' emotional moments hit a helluva lot harder because it makes the series more sincere moments hit harder.

Epilogue

When this series was in 2019, I thought that Nano list was good, but I realized that was untrue after rereading it. Because this story is even better than I remember, easily reorienting itself as a top-tier toon in my eyes, seeing those one hundred forty-seven chapters left me in a mess of emotions.

Overall though, I would say that Nano list is a tale about love, how hard that essential emotion is to maintain, and how much it is worth it. Maybe this year, as I begin a new chapter of my college life, I'll hold onto that feeling for both the people in my life and myself. These throwbacks will take a lot more time than the average spotlight for the foreseeable future since I'm also balancing trying to read manga and do writing commissions, but I think that'll make our time in the spotlight all the more special.