In Magic From The Margins, Latonya “Penn” Pennington explores sci-fi fantasy webtoons and Tapas comics by marginalized creators. For the nineteenth entry, they’re checking out Not Another Cliche.
Not Another Cliche
Creator: Simkray
Artist: Simkray
Genre: Action Fantasy
Platform: Tapas
In the vibrant virtual realm of Artisan, creativity is your weapon, and your imagination is the limit. But beneath the glitz and glamour, a dark secret lurks. Can Sky and her friends unravel the truth before it’s too late?
There are plenty of portal fantasy anime, aka isekai anime, out there, such as Magic Knight Rayearth and Sword Art Online. However, there are not a lot of isekai stories that focus on creativity. This is what makes Simkray’s webcomic stand out.
One of the ways creativity is showcased in this comic is through its characters. Sky, the main protagonist, is a young woman who doesn’t yet know the value of her own creativity. As a result, when she gets tossed into the world of Artisan, things feel twice as overwhelming because she has to learn to be resourceful to survive.
Then, there is Ackee, a young girl whose creativity manifests in the form of blacksmithing. Not only can she create weapons for herself and others, but some of those weapons are unconventional yet useful. One such weapon is a hotcomb that is infused with liquid flame, which is especially fun considering a hotcomb’s relevance to Black culture.
Another way creativity is displayed is through the artwork. On Tapas, the comic will occasionally have animated comic panels that enhance emotional tension, such as classic shoujo anime sparkles that add to the upbeatness of a character. The color palette also enhances this, as it ranges from vibrant colors that showcase the world’s wonder to reds and blacks that represent its sinister undertones.
Last but not least, the comic’s worldbuilding is both glamorous and ominous. There are different clubs in Artisan that you can join, but some are more friendly than others. Moreover, as a video game-inspired world, there is always the danger of dying once you venture outside the game’s main town area. In Sky’s case, she isn’t in complete control of her journey in Artisan, but she also isn’t without allies.
All in all, Not Another Cliche is a wonderful take on the isekai subgenre that infuses creativity and Black culture with fantasy and horror elements. If you love video game-inspired comics, check this one out.
Not Another Cliche is currently available to read on Tapas.
Keep up with every entry in K-Comics Beat’s Magic From The Margins column by clicking here.
