Story by Sun Jiayu, Art by Gua Gua
Yen Press, 112 pp.
Rating: Teen

Based upon a classical Chinese of the same name, The History of the West Wing tells the tale of Chen Yuqing, a wanderer, and Lady Pianpian, a noblewoman, who chance upon each other and fall in love. The story is incredibly chaste and proper by today’s standards. Chen Yuqing and Lady Pianpian happen upon each other in the garden of a small Buddhist temple and they’re instantly in love. Apparently, due to the traditions of the time, courting and seeing each other can be a bit difficult. So it is that Pianpian’s maid, Xiaoyue, finds herself acting as a go-between for the two lovebirds.

It’s a very straightforward love story from there that sadly lacks any drama or tension whatsoever. This has a lot to do with the way it’s told in this adaption, because there are plenty of opportunities to create tense moments and drama that are just passed over. For example, early on the temple is attacked by a group of rebellious soldiers. They surround it and their leader demands Pianpian’s hand in marriage or he’ll destroy the temple and kill everyone in it. Pianpian’s mother offers to wed Pianpian to whomever can save them. Seizing the opportunity, Yuqing devises a plan to slip away under the cover of night and go for help. His plan plays out over a single panel. Furthermore, once he returns with help a large battle breaks out between the soldiers and the government forces, a battle which, once again, plays out in a single panel. The entire book is like that: any time there’s potential for conflict or suspense the story glosses over it. Whether this decision was due to the low page count or simply a storytelling choice is anyone’s guess. It certainly makes for an oddly bland read.

Gua Gua’s artwork is absolutely beautiful. Her characters are positively draped in their apparel. The clothing looks luxurious and opulent; ornately designed hair pieces and robes with intricate patterns make this book a visual feast. The panel-to-panel flow itself is a bit awkward and stiff at times, however, and there are some oddly sudden transitions with hours, days and, at one point, months passing suddenly and with little notice. Still, it was apparently Gua Gua’s first outing in the sequential arena so I suppose it’s to be expected. And hey… everyone should be so lucky to get their first comic/manga/manhua/etc. translated and published abroad.

In the end, The History of the West Wing is a bit of a bland, forgettable read. The story is stripped of all tension and suspense, and while Gua Gua’s artwork is lovely to look at, it’s just not enough to save the book from mediocrity.

The History of the West Wing is available now.