Welcome to the Big City · review
Spoiler warning
This review may discuss plot details.
Sadly, I thought it was going to end well. Maybe get better. But while it started off as just okay...it just went downhill from then on. While the art style was done beautifully, the story and the characters were all just terrible. No one had any redeeming qualities whatsoever - not the main character, or any of the women in his so called "harem". And while the main character became a real loser and a creep, the women had more than plenty of their own personal flaws. The characters in this story were all basically a bunch of self-righteous hypocrites. And while the main characterhad a goal in mind...he never achieved it because he was too busy screwing around, which of course ended up messing up his whole future. Why couldn't it have been like Gildong Kwak left his quite town because he wanted to experience the city life, and what it had to offer. And while he was trying to get use to the city life, I would have preferred that Gildong never lost that country innocence of his - being naive but not stupid, being kind but not a pushover, being people smart but still wanted to learn more about society. And while he did end up enjoying sex, he could have still seen women as people and not objects for personal affection. He could have also been a bit more appreciative of what he had, and tried to make the small apartment of his work; maybe eventually fix some of the things that broke - him being from the country, you'd think he be good with his hands and at manual labor. Another thing that might have worked, was Gildong not wanting to be in a relationship for the moment (while he would like someone special in his life, he'd want to focus on his work for now). Gildong could have also offered to help all the women he came across, but accepted that they were beyond his help.
But like I said, the women were also at fault for the way things turned out. Instead of making Bom Han look like someone who is easy and can't seem to commit (for reasons we were never given), she could have dated many guys because she wanted to find the right one...but part of her still feared commitment due to how her parents divorcing when she was still young. Hayool Kan, might have been the sexiest women in the comics, but having an affair with a guy she doesn't even know and is in a relationship with a friend...while already being in a relationship herself was nothing more than a punch below the belt - why not have her be the party girl who enjoyed living life to the fullest, and not being tied down. Ha-Eun Kang was really no better than her twin sister, but while she was a bit more down to earth, she still gave Gildong a crappy apartment building and shamed him for the things he did; while taking no responsibility for her part in all of it - but I would have liked to see her as the type of person that actually tried to help the people she'd sell places to, giving her a great reputation around the city. And while Seolah Park had a pretty tragic backstory, it still didn't give her the right to bring Gildong down; but she at least admitted that she wasn't perfect, and accepted her flaws - it would have still been nice if she and Gildong became close, and might of had a chance at being something. Jia Lee, who turned out to be the worst of the group, was a spoiled brat, a masochist, a manipulator, and a hypocrite - why not just have her be the nice one, the confident one, the strong one, the one who had the most to give.
Maybe the story could have ended with Gildong getting fed up with how difficult the city life is, and decides to return back to his old hometown of Yeosu. During this, all the women come to realize that Gildong has really been the only man that tried to be good to them and saw them as people; but it's too late and they just miss his train. However, Gildong does end up creating his own erotic comic books, gained from the experience he got during his time in Seoul. And while his stories become a success, Gildong refuses to leave his hometown; only going to the city for conventions or important meetings. He could come across Bom, Hayool, Ha-Eun, Seolah and Jia whenever he visited the city. They could be doing well for themselves, and changed their lives around. And yes, it could also lead to some very erotic and lewd situations for all of them. Also, why do old ladies always have to be...wrinkly? Why not give GILFs a chance? Seriously, let Gildong come from a town filled with GILFs, and he comes to see that once he returns.
But as always...these are just my opinions.