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ghostdriveSomeone on LJ did a whole week of manga recs, making one post per day about a series she thought others should check out, and I've been sort of inspired to do the same. Except, while she recced series currently not licensed in the states, I'd thought I'd stick with ones that are available in bookstores yet I never hear anyone talk about. Mainly, these are series I wish I could blather on about with my flist.
I probably won't be doing a week's worth of recs, though, since I only have four posts *tentatively* planned out. "Tentative" being the key word. Anytime I try to plan things out I tend to spend more time sitting with a blank WordPad file in front of me rather than typing. My mind goes blank, all those thoughts I had floating around before go flying out the window.Plus, I tend to go through bouts of inarticulateness and planning out a week's worth of posts makes my brain go D: Anyway, here goes:
Manga Rec Post #1:
Real by Inoue Takehiko
What Is This?: Basically, a sports drama focusing on wheelchair basketball. Wait--don't skip this post yet! Let me tell you more about it.
What Is It About: Real revolves around the lives of three teenagers: Togawa Kiyoharu, Nomiya Tomomi, and Takahashi Hisanobu. Togawa is an ex-sprinter who now plays wheelchair basketball after he loses a portion of his right leg due to osteosarcoma. Nomiya is a high school dropout looking for his place in society. Takahashi was once the popular leader of his high school's basketball team who now finds himself a parapalegic after he is hit by a truck while stealing a bicycle.
These teens lives are entertwined at times, with Togawa befriending Nomiya after he beats Nomiya in a basketball match, Nomiya being a former classmate of Takahashi, and Takahashi trying to overcome the hopelessness he feels about his situation like Togawa once did. While Real is, at its core, a sports drama, Inoue Takehiko puts much emphasis on character development and the reality of living with a physical disability.
Why It Is Interesting: As a fan of Inoue Takehiko's previous works, I knew Real would have both great art and intriguing main characters (and side characters), but I was curious how he would deal with the issue of disability. Instead of just the disabled cast being portrayed as weak or pitiful or deserving of protection, everyone is flawed in this series. There are no miracles, everyone must face their fate.
And despite its serious subject, Real is balanced by its comedic moments, mostly in part by Nomiya. He is the lovable loser and I find myself wanting him to succeed even if his good intentions don't go as planned (ex. picking a fight with Takahashi after he goes to apologize to him). The supporting characters provide much to the storyline, particularly Azumi, Togawa's potential love interest.
Where Else You Can Find It: While licensed in the states by Viz Media with volumes one through four currently out, scanlations can still be found online at mangafox.
I probably won't be doing a week's worth of recs, though, since I only have four posts *tentatively* planned out. "Tentative" being the key word. Anytime I try to plan things out I tend to spend more time sitting with a blank WordPad file in front of me rather than typing. My mind goes blank, all those thoughts I had floating around before go flying out the window.
Real by Inoue Takehiko
What Is This?: Basically, a sports drama focusing on wheelchair basketball. Wait--don't skip this post yet! Let me tell you more about it.
What Is It About: Real revolves around the lives of three teenagers: Togawa Kiyoharu, Nomiya Tomomi, and Takahashi Hisanobu. Togawa is an ex-sprinter who now plays wheelchair basketball after he loses a portion of his right leg due to osteosarcoma. Nomiya is a high school dropout looking for his place in society. Takahashi was once the popular leader of his high school's basketball team who now finds himself a parapalegic after he is hit by a truck while stealing a bicycle.
These teens lives are entertwined at times, with Togawa befriending Nomiya after he beats Nomiya in a basketball match, Nomiya being a former classmate of Takahashi, and Takahashi trying to overcome the hopelessness he feels about his situation like Togawa once did. While Real is, at its core, a sports drama, Inoue Takehiko puts much emphasis on character development and the reality of living with a physical disability.
Why It Is Interesting: As a fan of Inoue Takehiko's previous works, I knew Real would have both great art and intriguing main characters (and side characters), but I was curious how he would deal with the issue of disability. Instead of just the disabled cast being portrayed as weak or pitiful or deserving of protection, everyone is flawed in this series. There are no miracles, everyone must face their fate.
And despite its serious subject, Real is balanced by its comedic moments, mostly in part by Nomiya. He is the lovable loser and I find myself wanting him to succeed even if his good intentions don't go as planned (ex. picking a fight with Takahashi after he goes to apologize to him). The supporting characters provide much to the storyline, particularly Azumi, Togawa's potential love interest.
Where Else You Can Find It: While licensed in the states by Viz Media with volumes one through four currently out, scanlations can still be found online at mangafox.
