Have you ever wanted your spooky spectator? If so, you'll get an afterlife aftershock from Grand Ma by Gurei.
Summary
Minh Tam Nguyen could see and interact with supernatural spirits for as long as he can remember. At first, Minh thought it was a curse as it often left him an outcast to his human peers. But after living with Granny, a mysterious ghost who happened to live in his apartment, he starts to gain a further appreciation for those who remain unseen. Even if it means his life is now a hotbed for creatures of all shapes and sizes.
Characters
Minh: Our MC, Minh, is a young man who works at a flower shop. Jaded from a lifetime of getting ostracized for his ability to see spirits. As such, he usually tries to keep to himself and has an incredibly pessimistic mindset due to not wanting to mess up or disappoint anyone. However, he shows off his dependable side through Granny's help and natural kindness.
Hoang Le: Or Granny for short. Hoang is a kind and elderly ghost who is currently waiting for her lost love. Due to spending years in Minh's current apartment, she's as much a stranger to the fantasy world as others, making her a bit jumpy about new experiences. However, her gentle and caring nature quickly spawns her small home into an interconnected community.
Overview
Grand Ma Webtoon I've read this year, barring maybe Zatanna the Ripper or Survival Diary. As a kid, I've always been obsessed with mythology, fantasy creatures, or media portraying them. Not only was I predisposed to like this story, but it may have also rekindled my interest in exploring other urban legends.
Gurei's stylish art means we get greeted with your average creatures like werewolves or ghosts, but it's clear through the art that there's a much bigger focus on depicting minor creatures and spirits from different myths. From the fabric-lined fickle Ittam-Momen in Japan to the wonderfully watery Jengu from Cameroon, there are tons of great intros to other cultures here.
Combined with the fun interactions and beautiful character designs representing these creatures, our characters get thrown into a new scenario every chapter. Still, this story would only be less effective because of our titular pair. Minh and Hoang aren't related by blood, but their connection is so strong it might not even matter.
They both provide the home the other needs for each other at the time. Creating a one-of-a-kind bond draws in more and more people as more time passes by. Amidst the various jokes, it can be easy to forget, but learning more about Minh and Hoang's past makes it easy to remember just how important a community can be.
Epilogue
Overall, Grand Ma is a good ride whether you're looking for a cute reprieve from life or a proper introduction to some eldritch entities. I will keep it in the weekly rotation to see how big the ever-evolving cast grows in due time. Still, light continues to shine on it as we focus on a different story in due time.
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Webtoon Spotlight
AcakJust a simple person is trying to shine a little light on the beautiful world of webtoon. With a splash of sarcasm, narration, and spitfire along the way. And who knows I might have other segments just for the hell of it.
