Noblesse, the manhwa rising in fame and taking the world by storm, is so unique that even its illustrator is having some trouble with a specific character, the protagonist himself. At the heart of the story is Cadis Etrama Di Raizel, (referred to simply as Rai) an ancient and powerful vampire. His kind are called Noble in the webtoon and he is the titular Noblesse.
His silent presence, regal demeanor, and lack of expression made him an enigmatic person in the webtoon. This depiction, however, hasn’t been the easiest on Lee Kwang-soo, the illustrator for Noblesse. He speaks about this experience in an interview with Naver.
Note: Some context from this interview might get lost in translation and may not convey the exact message.
This challenge didn’t make Lee back down from providing the best for Rai’s portrayal and despite his expressionless face, the protagonist is quite handsome. It becomes a part of his appeal and it is quite pivotal to the context of Noblesse. This isn’t the average vampire story and the artwork is gorgeous.
Despite the Challenges, Lee Kwang-soo Captures Rai Perfectly
Rai’s circumstances are quite interesting and put him in a funny position. The immortal Noblesse has been asleep for 820 years and wakes up to a newly advanced world in South Korea. He decides to attend Ye Ran High School and subsequently reunites with Frankenstein, his loyal servant, who helps him navigate the world and is also the Principal.
Their dynamic is a highlight but so is watching Rai fumble constantly. The comedic blend with high intensity action is what makes Rai such an incredible protagonist and it’s also thanks to how Lee Kwang-soo goes about portraying him.
In an interview with Naver, the illustrator gets honest about his artistic process:
It was very difficult at first. In the past, I pursued cartoons with various expressions and movements, but Rai is almost expressionless and his actions are static. That’s why I try to focus on facial expressions. In a way, isn’t each character an actor? No matter how handsome an actor is, if he can’t act, you can’t focus on the drama, and I think the same goes for cartoons, so I try to express the character’s emotions through the eyes.
It is, after all, the illustrator’s job to make sure their emotions come through, just like a director and writer would guide an actor. Rai might be expressionless but he has subtle emotions in his eyes that relay everything the reader needs to know.
Why Rai Stands Out in Noblesse
Other than being the main protagonist, Rai is a well-written protagonist who falls into the immortal stoic being trope without always having the mask on. He often finds himself in amusing situations, and while he maintains a cool demeanor, Lee Kwang-soo makes sure, with his careful attention to Rai’s subtle expressions, that other sides of Rai shine.
The Noblesse not only captured the audience’s attention but also held their emotional investment throughout Noblesse’s gripping narrative. He is a beloved character not for his good looks but for his portrayal. Lee’s work on Rai stands as a testament to the power of subtlety in visual storytelling.
Noblesse is available on Webtoon, and the anime on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
