Freaking Romance

Webtoon creator Snailords debuts with a lighthearted fantasy romance, a slice of life with a cute conceit. Zylith is finally living on her own in the big city, having been kicked out by her overbearing parents (they want her to be a doctor; she does not). She stumbles upon a listing for a cheap apartment, but there’s a catch: the place is allegedly haunted. Soon after signing a lease, she meets her spectral roommate, Zelan, a pretty boy pop singer who any BTS fan would swoon over. Constantly together even though they’re separated by dimensions, the two quickly become attached as they playfully steal each other’s lunches, relax with their cat, and witness each other’s heartbreaks. Snailords’s vibrant, dreamy art takes influence from manga and manhwa flourishes and caricature, with detailed double page spreads. The ordinary and extraordinary are given equal flair. What could’ve ended up a one-dimensional ghost story develops into a savvy supernatural yet quotidian study of can’t-quite-touch coexistence with plenty of humorous moments, flirting, and fun. This low-key, sexy charmer shows plenty of promise. (Sept.)