Hello there and welcome to another Press Play.

This marks the first time that a Press Play isn't a show or movie but this one is focused on a Korean manhwa, “Dice,” by Hyunseok Yun. The story follows Dongtae's high school life being the school bullies' punching bag and facing unrequited love from his crush, Eunjoo. In so many words, he's a loser. A new transfer student comes, Taebin, who immediately becomes popular and wins over Eunjoo's heart. Dongtae becomes jealous but Taebin reveals that he hates the superficial attention he receives from the class just because of his looks. Dongtae is not at all impressed but Taebin offers him the chance to "be reborn." He also doesn't believe in that chance and he leaves in a hurry when he finds out that Taebin was waiting for Eunjoo. Later on, Dongtae spies and follows his rival to the rooftop of a building. During this he hears a strange noise and sees light behind him that materializes a die and he picks it up only to be discovered by Taebin. He gets a text message telling him to take the die from Dongtae and in their struggle it is dropped and it turns red. Dongtae gets a text message congratulating him on becoming a Dicer.

This is where the story gets really interesting. Dice controls everything in this world. People who have become Dicers get quests from a mysterious figure known as X, the game master who hands out the dice. These quests can range from anything like asking a girl out a date or even doing menial tasks like taking out the trash and doing homework. The rewards for completion are getting dice which the user can roll them to get a specific number and use those numbers to change themselves. This includes changing your height, weight, body build, making yourself stronger and faster and even gaining special powers. Dongtae takes full advantage of these newfound abilities and he makes himself taller and more attractive and increases his speed. This doesn't go unnoticed as now the rest of the class begins to see him in a new light and welcome his presence. The bullies leave him be and focus their attention on a new target, Byeongcheol, whom Dongtae takes sympathy for and he gives him a die which he uses to increase his strength to insane amounts much more than the body can take. He also begins studying the nature behind dice and about what X is. The newest dicer looks to share that info with Dongtae but before that happens he gets suspended from school for getting into a fight with the bullies and he dies in the middle of completing one of his quests. He was carrying all of his dice at the time of death and when his body is discovered at school the next morning multiple students find them spreading the dice game to everyone.

This all happens within the first 17 chapters, which is where I currently left off until I jump back in. I'm enjoying the read a lot. It's got decent character growth and a very interesting plot, something new that I haven't ever seen written about. The beginning starts out pretty slow but it picks up as you go. I recommend reading it as a friend recommended it to me so I'm passing it on. I haven't read a manga since seventh grade and this brought me back into the fold. You can find it online or you can use your phone and download the Line Webtoons app which has more comics for you to enjoy.