Internationally Acclaimed Cartoonist Yudori Takes Readers on a Romantic Journey Through Tumultuous 1920s South Korea
This Summer, Takumigraphics – an imprint of Fantagraphics specializing in the art and craft of East Asian comics – will debut with Lovers of the Empire Volume 1, a new full-color graphic novel from Yudori, the world renowned cartoonist behind 2024’s acclaimed Raging Clouds. Set in 1920s South Korea, this dynamic manhwa romance is a funny, heartfelt exploration of class, colonialism, and love. As the first Takumigraphics publication, Lovers of the Empire will introduce a new, curated slate of international comics from more of the world’s greatest cartoonists.
“Lovers of the Empire is a cute boy-meets-girl romance, set against a silent backdrop of massacres and battles,” says Yudori. “That is in a way what it feels like to exist as a Korean: keeping the façade of abundance and harmlessness, while something is always brooding deep inside, just below the point of explosion. Wars do not stop at battlefields and bomb sites, they seep into our everyday existence.”
Lovers of the Empire follows two teenagers from different social strata who are thrown together. Arisa Jo, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is the most eligible bachelorette in all of Gyeongsung (the capital city). With her Western dresses, movie star hairstyle, and assertive attitude, she embodies bold “Modern” values. Jun Seomoon is her opposite, a young man from the countryside deeply rooted in tradition. When Arisa’s father tasks Jun with escorting her to the big city, their personalities clash and sparks fly. Their unlikely connection opens these teenagers’ eyes to new perspectives amidst the rapidly changing world they find themselves in. On the surface a sweet and funny “will they, won’t they” romance, this story garners depth from its depiction of Korea at a crossroads: a city occupied by Japan, molded by Western influences, and facing a modernity that stirs inner conflicts within its citizens. Rendered in gorgeous full color, this period piece portrays a fascinating city in a tumultuous time, with two winsome characters at its heart.
“Fantagraphics' mission has long been to celebrate great cartooning in all of its incarnations, from the form’s early luminaries to contemporary artists from around the globe currently forging the future of visual storytelling,” explains Fantagraphics Associate Publisher Eric Reynolds. “Takumigraphics is an extension of this mission, and an acknowledgement of the key role that Manga, Manhwa, and Manhua, and other east asian comics continue to play in forging that future. As we continue to expand our roster of Asian works, it made perfect sense to bring them under one umbrella, to best showcase the great works being created in Japan, South Korea, China, and elsewhere.”
“We at Fantagraphics are thrilled to publish Yudori’s Lovers of the Empire trilogy,” says editor Conrad Groth. “Her new series has it all: endearing characters that play off each other in delightful ways, a lushly rendered period setting, and a plot that deftly balances lighthearted romance with deeper themes to sink your teeth into. Funny, engaging, and crackling with curiosity and imagination, Lovers exemplifies the kinds of work we aim to publish in the Takumi line.”
Coming off the heels of her lauded debut Raging Clouds, Lovers of the Empire proves Yudori to be a comic artist at the height of her creative powers. This beautifully drawn, nuanced graphic novel is emblematic of the work the Takumigraphics imprint will champion. “Takumi” comes from the Japanese kanji meaning “excellence,” skillfulness,” and “ingeniousness.” This character exemplifies the aesthetic caliber of the books that will comprise this imprint — works of mastery and vision which will include Marina Lisa Komiya’s On Their Frontlines: The Lives of Japanese War Brides, Shimura Takako Wandering Son, Akane Torikai’s Wandering Cat’s Cage and many more masterpieces from across East Asia.
Here’s what critics have to say about Yudori’s Raging Clouds:
"Korean artist Yudori unfolds an erotic, feminist-infused tale of yearning in her fiery debut."
― Publishers Weekly Starred Review
"Gorgeous."― Booklist
"Utterly unique, the work of a singular voice."― AIPT
"Aspects of religion, sexual politics, feminism, and class status combine into a heady brew that rates among the most inspired and insightful writing in comics...Yudori’s U.S. debut is a knockout tour-de-force. Much like Amélie seeks to escape the restrictions of her society, Yudori soars above the expectations of manhwa to deliver a universally appealing and impactful tale."
― Cinema Sentries
"Raging Clouds is an excellent, unique manhwa from a promising new cartoonist."
― Anime UK News
"Yudori makes full use of the space and time afforded to a cartoonist when working in the graphic novel form to flesh out a visual world rich in both symbolism and feeling."
― The Comics Journal
The 224-page hardcover Lovers of the Empire Volume 1 is due out on August 18 from Fantagraphics, and the Takumigraphics imprint will publish a host of new titles throughout 2026. Fans can look forward to Marina Lisa Komiya’s On Their Frontlines: The Lives of Japanese War Brides in August, Shimura Takako Wandering Son in September, Akane Torikai’s Wandering Cat’s Cage in October, and Kago’s The Ultra Power Mongol Invasion in November – with more breathtaking East Asian comic classics on the way.For updates, fans can follow Fantagraphics on X, Instagram, Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube.
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