Deja-Vu: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter is exceptional. The storytelling is superb. The art of each season is drawn by a different artist, and is stunning. This manhwa presented by Tokyopop includes an afterward from CLAMP! talking about the manhwa in Japan as well as two short stories from Korean artists, Utility by Byun Byung-Jun and Ocean by Lee Vin.  

One of the things so appealing about Deja-Vu is the way the story is broken up and presented by seasons. Each season is also a different point in history, drawing out the story of two star-crossed lovers facing huge obstacles across centuries.  

When we first meet our two lovers, it is Spring 673 A.D., as drawn by Yang Kyung-Ji. This part of the story introduces us to a boy and girl fated to love each other and yet never truly together. When Wonsul leaves his tribe due to a dishonor he brought on his family, he meets the mysterious Sohyul. The two quickly fall in love and are determined to be together, but there are barriers they must cross before they can have their heart’s desire.  

Summer 1945 A.D. is drawn by Yoon Seung-Ki. It tells the story of a Korean prisoner of war and a young Japanese military doctor. When Captain Natsume first sees Tong-Ju Yun, she feels as if she has seen him before. Natsume goes out of her way to make sure Tong-Ju has everything he needs and that he is well taken care of. When a release date is set for Tong-Ju, Natsume decides she is going to pop the question, but things don’t work out quite as planned.  

Fall 1995 A.D. takes place in America and is drawn by Kim Tae-Hyng. Our two lovers are seen through the eyes of a Native American who can see the connection between their old souls. Kim is a 23-year-old Korean living in the United States. He is working on a record deal. Susan is Korean as well, but was adopted by an American family when she was just a girl, and is blind. The two meet when Kim saves Susan from some attackers. Though she’s blind, she knows she has seen and known this man before.  

Winter, a few thousand years later, is drawn by Park Sung-Woo. Humans have become extinct, only to be revived by aliens far into the future. So far, only three have been born successfully. Tiger and Bear are both females, but only Bear, the younger of the two, is able to reproduce.

When Rock, the only male, wakes from an incubator, he must become Bear’s partner so they can continue the species. As the three live together and come to know each other, Rock falls for Tiger, which causes a rift to form. In her jealousy, Bear makes a drastic choice that affects the entire race.  

Deja-Vu is a must for any romance fan, but I would also recommend it to any reader because it has top notch art and storytelling. It’s fantastic, pure, and simple. It would be a shame to miss such a feat of storytelling. It’s a timeless tale of love and the changes that love can make in our lives.