In recent days, the online community has been quite stirred by a comic book from Vietnamese artist Binh Hai titled “Dream,” which has been invited to participate in the World Comic Creation Contest held in Korea and has won the first prize for its outstanding beauty and meticulous artistry.
“Dream,” created by the talented artist Binh Hai, is something that anyone interested in Vietnamese comic works would surely notice right away. Binh Hai is a prominent figure in the artistic scene, and he is currently garnering a large following for his creative endeavors.
Through the first two chapters of “Dream,” readers can focus on an intriguing storyline revolving around a young man named Tran. In an unexpected moment, he visits a temple named Huyen An Tu, where he encounters a mysterious old man and begins to uncover his own identity connected to Tran Nguyen Dan, a historical figure from the Tran Dynasty in the 14th century.
From an objective perspective, the visual elements in “Dream” are crafted meticulously, creating a powerful impression on viewers from the very first frames. It is not too difficult to understand why some critics might imagine that this is a comic creation from abroad, as the visual presentation is executed exceptionally well.
However, there are some differing opinions that say the work “Dream” by Binh Hai winning the top prize is somewhat surprising because while the visuals are impressive, the storyline does not yet fully convey the depth that it could.
In essence, while the comic has two chapters, it still has not been able to clearly present the author’s intent as well as the main content within the storyline that the author aims for. The details are quite scattered, making it difficult for readers to see the connection within the narrative.
Furthermore, the character development of the main character, Tran, is quite overwhelming as he struggles with his inner conflicts, leading to moments of tension and confusion. In the second chapter, the character’s emotional state becomes even more complicated as he faces challenges related to his father’s past and the loss of his beloved pet cat, which ties back to his own emotional turmoil.
Overall, if we were to evaluate “Dream” from an objective standpoint, it could achieve high points in terms of visual artistry, but in terms of content and storyline, it still struggles to make a clear impression and could be seen as meandering.
Nevertheless, the fact that the best work recognized at the World Comic Creation Contest was selected by the judging panel indicates that the work has potential, and “Dream,” while it may not have made a significant impact in terms of content, certainly shows promise for future development. Therefore, should we respect the judging panel’s decision, as well as the works that have surpassed others in visual presentation?
Readers interested can read the comic “Dream” here.
