Manga Rec #9 - Bakuman, Vol. 1 by Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata

Bakuman, Vol. 1 (Bakuman #1)

by Tsugumi Ohba, Takeshi Obata 

R to L (Japanese Style). Is becoming a successful manga artist an achievable dream or just one big gamble?

Average student Moritaka Mashiro enjoys drawing for fun. When his classmate and aspiring writer Akito Takagi discovers his talent, he begs Moritaka to team up with him as a manga-creating duo. But what exactly does it take to make it in the manga-publishing world? Moritaka is hesitant to seriously consider Akito's proposal because he knows how difficult reaching the professional level can be. Still, encouragement from persistent Akito and motivation from his crush push Moritaka to test his limits!

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I found this manga particularly interesting, because it shows you how hard it is to actually draw and publish your manga. It shows all of the dozens of special art utensils used to make even the smallest details, how hard it is to choose the right phrases to fit in the right spaces, how short a time they have to draw and write a story, how hard it is to keep your manga going and well-liked, how to best use the characters' expressions to tell a story... it's no easy feat being a mangaka. But when you love doing something and can get people to love what you do... it gets more manageable. ;)

This is a different manga from those I usually read, but the reason I got to like it so much is exactly because it is so unusual. Shounen is not really my thing, but Bakuman really gets to you. It was written by the same creators of the Death Note series, so you just know it's got to be good. LOL

Takagi and Mashiro are very cute young boys. Takagi is very creative, and can whip up great stories in minutes, but Mashiro's drawings can always get a little better. They decide to try and get their art published in the most famous japanese magazine for young audiences there is. It's no easy task, but they try anyway, and we have fun watching them try, seeing more about the other writers, their stress, their happiness while drawing, their depression caused for the lack of personal life... it's a very complicated life, but it's the one they chose.

I recommend this series to those who like great, well-thought of stories with characters that follow their dreams, even with all the hardships. The art is pretty good, too. And there are all kinds of funny moments. :)