Review
Sonia Leong should need no introduction to fans of the UK manga scene - a Sweatdrop member and SelfMadeHero artist, Leong's art is a distinctive and stylish stalwart of the scene. Once Upon a Time is her first comic with Sweatdrop, created back in 2003, and this collected volume pulls together extras, original releases and commentary from Leong, with updated and redrawn art. It tells the story of a group of young women, all of whom have their own problems. Each short story takes them on a short, satisfying journey of the course of a few pages. With ease, Leong proves herself a talented short story writer, guiding the reader through a bog of teenage angst as the youngsters try to find their paths through life. Very much a personal letter to Leong's younger self, this is a touching and resonant examination of the uncertainties and problems of youth - and refreshingly, it doesn't all centre around members of the opposite sex! Leong's artwork is beautifully drawn and most free of technical problems - she's nailed shoujo perfectly, and fans of manga won't be disappointed with her interpretation of the style. (4.5 out of 5 stars) --Gemma Cox, NEO Magazine
About the Author
Sonia Leong is a professional Manga artist. A winner in Tokyopop's UK Rising Stars of Manga competition (2005/06) and in NEO Magazine's 2005 Manga Competition, her first graphic novel was the popular Manga Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet. She illustrates the Manga Life series of self-help comic books (Infinite Ideas) and her work appears in Domo: The Manga (Tokyopop/Big Tent).