Semantic Error Volume 4 Review

I shouldn’t lead him to think he’s my soulmate or anything like that… Jaeyoung Jang

The unlikely relationship between Jaeyoung (the ‘semantic error’) and Sangwoo is going well and in spite of Sangwoo’s initial reservations they’ve progressed to actually having sex. And even though Sangwoo is still voicing his concerns and insecurities in his own inimitable way (his brain is just wired differently) and the issue of long-term commitment (and even the concept of being ‘in love’) is a bridge too far, things are going surprisingly well. Their project, Veggie Venturer, the game they’re developing together, is also going well.

But real life keeps intruding; Sangwoo has never been more aware of how Jaeyoung’s good looks attract young women wherever they go, and, to complicate matters, Jaeyoung’s uncle dies unexpectedly, meaning he has to go home and face his family (did we know he has a twin brother, Jaehong? Well, we do now). And boy, are his family competitive and generally unpleasant (apart from his grandfather)! Even when Jaeyoung escapes the stifling home environment, both he and Sangwoo become increasingly aware that he’s due to go abroad to continue his studies. When Jaeyoung asks Sangwoo about his birthday, it turns out it’s in October – and he’ll have left Korea by then. Are Sangwoo’s concerns justified? He’s not used to having feelings for anyone and now he fears that the handsome young designer will just move on and look for new conquests elsewhere.

What’s irresistible about this chalk and cheese BL romance is how relatable and believably fallible the main characters are. Jaeyoung – the handsome, ultra-cool one featured on the cover (it’ll be Sangwoo’s turn on Volume 5) – is alternately obsessed with and frustrated by neurospicy Sangwoo’s unconventional and utterly unpredictable approach to a sexual relationship. And it’s still a substantial read (not just the weight of the full-colour pages in the physical edition) because of the importance given to the depiction of Sangwoo and Jaeyoung’s relationship. We’ll soon get the chance to read the original novel by J. Soori that this manhwa is based on when it’s released by Ize Press in January, but the manhwa version has the advantage of a very direct form of visual communication with readers through Angy’s art (and all those delightful little graphic extras like chibis, use of colour to show intensifying emotions and witty IT references). At its best (like the cover portrait) Angy’s facial expressions, use of dynamic angles and panelling bring the story and the people to life in a really memorable way. However, some of the features of manhwa art that I find less appealing also begin to appear here (possibly pressures of time?) especially big muscular male bodies sketched with much smaller heads that almost seem to have been added by a different artist.

What’s especially good, though, is the portrayal of the two flawed but very human main characters. Seeing Sangwoo begin to awaken to the truth of his own feelings is genuinely moving, even if at one vulnerable and intimate moment he says to Jaeyoung, “This pretty much confirms that I’ve failed as a biological human being.” And Jaeyoung is far from a paragon, in spite of his good looks and outward-going personality. He also has an arrogant streak (not surprising, now that we’ve glimpsed his toxic family background) and the self-confidence of one who knows deep-down that he’s able to charm his way into (or out of) any situation. Except when it comes to Sangwoo.

This volume comes shrink-wrapped with a Mature 18+ rating because it contains several uncensored sex scenes. These feel essential to the development of Sangwoo and Jaeyoung’s relationship and are sensitively and tenderly portrayed – although, given that one partner is Sangwoo, they also contain some undeniably funny moments which help to heighten the authenticity.

The translation from Manta dates from 2021 and is again uncredited but the lettering for Ize Press from Chiho Christie is good and enhances the reading experience. Extras include a page of translation notes, a double-page pin board with lots of items pinned to it that relate to the development of Sangwoo and Jaeyoung’s relationship and this is followed by a two-page preview of Volume 5.

Fans of this unlikely yet sympathetic couple won’t want to miss the latest instalment of Semantic Error – although it ends in a deeply unsettling place. Volume 5 (the final volume?) is due out in February/March so not too long to wait to find out how everything is resolved.

Our review copy was supplied by Ize Press.