Where do I even begin? I started to read Dark Heaven out of boredom. Not just any boredom but the kind where even if you tried, nothing seems to stimulate the senses. So here I come across the webtoon and thought “okay the cover looks appealing" mostly due to the fact that one of the main characters had long hair. Lord I am a sucker for long hair. Now this is where it gets interesting. The story starts off good and it peaked my interest enough to keep me going. However, the story quickly starts to tackle a touchy subject, racism. When I started coming across the slurs and derogatory dialog I was honestly put off a bit. As a Latina I am not comfortable reading this kind of subject for pleasure. I mean who does?
So I put it down for a week or so before giving it another shot. At that point I was more mentally prepared to read the webtoon. I decided to no longer look at it as a love story and more as a drama. Page after page, I was hooked.
The body of the story had so many things going on making sure it tugged every heart string. It was a roller-coaster of emotions I still was not ready for. I was sold and oh so grateful to have started to read it again. Although my tissue box had a rough time.
What is Dark Heaven about?
The story focuses on Conner, a Korean-American, who lives in a city where same sex marriage had been legalized but was still plagued by racism and homophobic hate crimes. He ends up forming a band with a blonde hair blue-eyed man named Simon. This band was aptly named “Dark Heaven". Soon they develop feelings for one another that starts to feel the pressures of society.
What to expect?
This story definitely puts you through the feels as it takes you through a journey of love, sex, drug addiction, abuse, racism, and homophobia. It is definitely not for sensitive readers. I do advise caution.
Art style
While most webtoons are in color this one is not. The greyscale though does lend to the heaviness of the story. The art style also gets to shine because of this. Although it was only released in 2016 I feel it has has a slightly simpler design to it. It’s hard to explain unless you see for yourself but trust me it does not take away from anything. If anything it’s refreshing.
My thoughts
Considering a universal way of rating something, I would give Dark Heaven the full 5 out of 5 stars. If you wish to not read spoilers please stop here and go read it on Lezhin. Continue at your own risk….
The story opens with a beautifully done back and forth panels between the band performing on stage with an energetic crowd and flashes of love scenes between Connor and Simon in bed. Immediately you’re pulled in by the passion portrayed in these scenes. I was definitely moved by how well the scenes went back and forth effortlessly. No words, just images displaying raw energy. Then, if not only to throw you for a loop, it abruptly changes to what ends up being present day and the person Simon is in bed with is someone else. Although still sex, the scenes are nothing but hurt, aggression, and pain. Thus the emotional coaster begins.
By chapter two we are already touching on the racism and I have to say this is kinda where I stopped at first. I was bothered by the use of the word “negro" by a white woman to refer to her own employee. It was a continuous slander that had me sucking my teeth. For some reason I thought the racism shown would be more indirect but this webtoon does not hold its punches. The hate shown towards the Black and Asian community gets disturbing but realistic which is what adds to how blunt it can come across.
“Please don’t deny my happiness just because you can’t understand it, just because it doesn’t conform to the majority. Nobody can tell me that the way I love is wrong.”
Chapter 80
By the middle of the story, around chapter 40, I was so distraught but rooting for the main leads. I didn’t realize how hard I was biting my lip in anxiety until something else caught my attention. Don’t you hate interruptions, ugh.
I won’t spoil the ending but in the 80 plus chapters you will find yourself wondering how you didn’t read it sooner.
