Bakuman., Vol. 1
2 journalers for this copy...
When I heard that the creators of the marvelous Death Note series were working on a new series, I knew I had to try it - even though it seems to be quite a change of pace! From the twisted good-vs.-evil plotting of Death Note they've switched to more of a slice-of-life series - about a manga-creating duo, yet! (In the little author-bio blurbs up front - always entertaining - Obata actually says "There's no fantasy in this series, so I feel a bit nervous about it.")
This volume introduces high schoolers Moritaka, who loves to draw, and Akito, who loves to write. Akito spots Moritaka's artwork (handing back his notebook with the wry comment "Don't worry, it's not like it's a Death Note!"), and suggests that they team up to write manga. Moritaka recalls the early death of his uncle, a manga artist, who never made it big - but despite that he decides he WILL be a manga artist. And when he does, he'll marry Azuki, a cute girl in his class whom he's barely had the nerve to talk to...
I already like the enthusiastic Akito best, but he and Moritaka together do make an entertaining team, encouraging each other (or outright nagging each other). And while Moritaka's mother is very much against his manga plans, his grandfather is on his side - and in one of the more heart-warming (and surprising) moments, gives him an incredible gift...
Moritaka already knows more about creating manga than Akito does, and explains the concepts of storyboarding to him - the book itself has rough-sketch storyboards of selected pages in between the chapters, by way of illustration - and they get to work.
I love the artwork, which mixes detailed realism with charmingly over-the-top expressions (especially when our excitable heroes are especially pleased by something). Even without creepy shinigami peering over people's shoulders, I'm enjoying this!
[The delightful TV Tropes site has a page for this series, here.]
This volume introduces high schoolers Moritaka, who loves to draw, and Akito, who loves to write. Akito spots Moritaka's artwork (handing back his notebook with the wry comment "Don't worry, it's not like it's a Death Note!"), and suggests that they team up to write manga. Moritaka recalls the early death of his uncle, a manga artist, who never made it big - but despite that he decides he WILL be a manga artist. And when he does, he'll marry Azuki, a cute girl in his class whom he's barely had the nerve to talk to...
I already like the enthusiastic Akito best, but he and Moritaka together do make an entertaining team, encouraging each other (or outright nagging each other). And while Moritaka's mother is very much against his manga plans, his grandfather is on his side - and in one of the more heart-warming (and surprising) moments, gives him an incredible gift...
Moritaka already knows more about creating manga than Akito does, and explains the concepts of storyboarding to him - the book itself has rough-sketch storyboards of selected pages in between the chapters, by way of illustration - and they get to work.
I love the artwork, which mixes detailed realism with charmingly over-the-top expressions (especially when our excitable heroes are especially pleased by something). Even without creepy shinigami peering over people's shoulders, I'm enjoying this!
[The delightful TV Tropes site has a page for this series, here.]
This book's going into Box #1 of The Great Manga Trade, which will be on its way to BCer HI77 in Florida soon. Enjoy!
What comes of nothing
but itself?
Goals are the golden apple.
but itself?
Goals are the golden apple.
