[Manga] Bakuman

[Pegas]

It's in a spoiler tag because the summary basicly is the first chapter and since there's only one chapter out at the moment and so it actually contains spoilers :p.
It's not easy to become and live as a mangaka, Mashiro knows that from his late uncle. At his 9th grade, while trying to keep up with reality, school and then normal job, he left his notebook with a sketch of Azuki, a girl he likes. Tamaki, a first rate student found it and trying to convince Mashiro to draw a manga with his story. Mashiro doesn't like the idea and tries to decline. Tamaki, however, tries to stick to dream and found out that Azuki also wants to be a voice actress and already got a good reply from a production company. Tamaki, then, brought Mashiro to her house and telling her his dream.... Mashiro then tells her that he will write a manga with Tamaki and will ask Azuki to voice their anime. Out of confusion, Mashiro asks her if the dreams become reality, will she marry him? She says yes, only if their dreams become true, and not otherwise!! Now, lifes of wannabe mangakas begin!!!


Read chapter 1 at OneManga (http://www.onemanga.com/Bakuman/1/001/)

So it's from the creators of Death Note and I didn't like Death Note but since they are a lot of people that do I took a gamble and read the first chapter of Bakuman. And I have to say, it was pretty good. I had some good laughs and it looks like the story won't be bad either. I'm curious for the next chapter(s).

[KageNaruto]

I'm not a fan of it so far, found it quite average and mediocre.

[rkappiyo]

I know you qualified your opinion with a "so far"... but come on... you can't call anything mediocre after just one chapter. On the other hand, I do agree that the chapter in question wasn't the best one ever... but hey, I didn't like the first chapter of Death Note, either.

[KageNaruto]

If it only consists of one chapter, what I'm calling mediocre is that one chapter. I was fine with the first Death Note chapter, actually enjoyed it a bit. However this opening chapter I found rather stale and a little boring, especially from a mangaka who has such skill. Of course my opinion is open to change, usually in a series the first chapter is really suspenseful and hooking, or quite a drag.

Maybe it's just because the last slice of life I read was Himizu ( http://www.onemanga.com/Himizu/ ), and it's twisted look on the everyday life was so much more enthralling.

[KageNaruto]

Well, chapter two is out, and just like chapter one it did not draw me into the manga. I'm dissapointed.

EDIT: Wow, that was almost a pun aplicable to this series. Didn't even notice.

[Pegas]

Totally forgot this manga :p. Anyway, chapter 1 was better and I still don't know where they want to go with this manga. Going to read it for a few more chapters (and probably the whole manga since I've already started), at least if I don't forgot it.

[Hidden Ninja]

really you guys didnt like it? i thought it was quite brilliant in the dialogue aspect about intelligence. its something that is applicable in the rl but noone notices.

[Pegas]

I didn't didn't like it, but I thought the first chapter was better. It had more humor and a better pace, so also more story. While the talk about intelligence was very amusing (and basically the truth imo) it slowed down the pace. I also didn't come across some of the humor it had in chapter one.

[KageNaruto]

I thought the talk about intelligence was something common sense could dish out. If you're going to pack a manga with convos like that they better be astounding. I found this one mundane.

:P

[Toxic Anarch]

I agree with K.N.

This manga, so far, has been nothing special. Perhaps it is because of who the mangaka is that we expect it to be so great and thus set the expectations too high?

After reading the first two chapters.. I honestly can't find a long term reason for reading this manga except for possibly the romance.. but I would rather watch an anime for romance then read a manga.

I found "Shujin" quite annoying for the first chapter... and most of the 2nd chapter untill their "talk".

I suppose I'll read the next chapters... but really only because I can't find many other manga I'm interested in now besides Fairy Tail, Naruto, and BLEACH.

[KageNaruto]

You seriously can't find manga other than those 3? There's like a godpile of great manga just on onemanga. Browse through them randomly and see which summary catches your eye. I'm keeping up with like 50 series right now that I enjoy.

[Toxic Anarch]

I was into that one football one for awhile... but lost interest after awhile...

I guess I could go looking again though... I usually lose interest if the plot doesn't pull me in after a few chapters.

50?
..dude.. thats amazing >.<...

[Hidden Ninja]

yeah there really is alot out there. currently i am reading 83 different mangas. the only thing that sucks is that alot are still publishing or do not get released weekly. that happens alot. then again some are monthly. also there are alot of short completed works on onemanga.

also try to find a manga database which you can see reader's ratings.

[Pegas]

Third chapter is out (http://www.onemanga.com/Bakuman/3/01/).

While the story it self actually is quite interesting, I feel the execution of telling the story (yet) isn't what it is suppose to be. I don't think it's boring or bad or something like that... it's just missing something.

[Hidden Ninja]

i like it so far. to me its like a preface to everything. the first chapter was to get you interested, now we are going through the set up of what the story is going to be about. i enjoy the rl references that they use lol. to me, if it keeps it up, this manga is going to be very different from anything i have read.

[Valleyman]

I actually really enjoy this manga so far too. I, like Hidden and KN, am keeping up with countless manga on various sites(ie OneManga Mangashare, MangaFox, Mangadownload, thespectrum, etc) and I have to say so far the story for this has intrigued me. I feel it's setting up to be a great story. It's true the way it's been set up seems kind of slow but I don't really find it boring. I think it's going to pick up after awhile.

[Hidden Ninja]

i think that is the problem with alot of manga. they get into the story too fast and then the fizzle out. this imo does the opposite.

[KageNaruto]

This chapter gave me this weird feeling like it was trying to "buy me in". And I did not buy it.

I just can't seem to like this series...

[darkproject]

So far it's nothing special to check out, it might not be special enough to ever check it, the story is soso, and the art gives me that Death Note feeling and gives me false hope...

[Hidden Ninja]

well it a completely different type of manga. if you are looking for dark twists with an evil main character you are definetely not gonna get it in this manga.

[Pegas]

Chapter 4 (http://www.onemanga.com/Bakuman/4/01/) is out and I must say, this was a good one. Looks like we're finally past the intro and I'm curious what happens next.

[Hidden Ninja]

the dialogue and interactions are one of the best i have seen. twists of fate, becoming a man, doing what is right. i have to say i am quite glad that so far that this manga has managed to steer away from the usual cliches. i wonder how long the series will run and old will the characters get.

[Pegas]

Chapter 5 (http://www.onemanga.com/Bakuman/5/01/) is out.

Can't say this one was as good or even better then the previous chapter. I still don't really know where they want to take it... guess we'll find it out when they go to high school.

[Hidden Ninja]

well i thought it was pretty good. so now these two are going to go to a shitty high school and i feel as if she is going to do the same so she can focus on voice acting. but the end was interesting. the guy who won the contest was only a year older. so im guessing they are going to cross paths soon and either they are going to be extreme rivals going to the same high school and maybe that guy will end up liking the same girl.

[KageNaruto]

well i thought it was pretty good. so now these two are going to go to a shitty high school and i feel as if she is going to do the same so she can focus on voice acting. but the end was interesting. the guy who won the contest was only a year older. so im guessing they are going to cross paths soon and either they are going to be extreme rivals going to the same high school and maybe that guy will end up liking the same girl.

So in other words, your predictions are cliches beyond belief..?

[KageNaruto]

Chapter 6 out.

Sort of meh, I thought both those manga ideas sort of sucked... >_>...

One thing that really annoys me is the use of intense effects in the background whenever somebody says something. Things like that are supposed to be used in intense action or during really dramatic and emotional events, but here they are used left and right. When you combine that with a sort of a slice of life story, you get this really big BS feeling. Well, that's my opinion.

[Valleyman]

I thought the thing about the baseball player was pretty good(I like sports stories).

Looks like they're getting ready to finally start a story. Starting to pick up..

[Pegas]

Chapter 7 (http://www.onemanga.com/Bakuman/7/) has been out for a week and chapter 8 (http://www.onemanga.com/Bakuman/8/) also is out.

Both chapters were nice (especially the end of 8), but I think the whole thing is just too vague. None the less I'm going to keep reading this serie just because I'm curious to what will happen to the relationships when they finally release their manga.

[Hidden Ninja]

tea tea tea!

at first i thought the editor was going to try to steal it as his own. i wonder if he is going to do that in the end....but to say in 3 years they will be better than the other guy is awesome. which if i remember correctly means that they will still be in HS and the dream of having a manga out before she can become a voice actor is possible.

also the end was really cute. what if my stomach rumbles lol.

@pegas: what do you find vague?

[Valleyman]

I liked this chapter. It was pretty cool how they weren't like awesome to begin with. I liked th ending too xD.

I can't wait to see how it builds.

[KageNaruto]

at first i thought the editor was going to try to steal it as his own. i wonder if he is going to do that in the end....

Since I get the feeling that this manga is trying to be realistic, I seriously doubt that will happen. Editors don't normally steal ideas (if ever), and if that were to happen you might as well throw in every other stereotype, and then this manga will go from "meh"(IMO) to horrid.

also the end was really cute. what if my stomach rumbles lol.


I found that lame, could have been a better line I think. I found Shujin cracking up in the back funny though.

[Hidden Ninja]

bah you just really hate everything!

nah just playing, i think my mind is on a stereotype track bc of all the stereotypical manga i have been reading lately.

[Pegas]

@pegas: what do you find vague?I'm just still wondering on what it's going to focus on in the future. Is it going to focus on the relationship or on creating manga's and the hardships that comes with it. Or is it going to switch on those topics which looks like the case for now.

Just like I said in my posts before, I still have no idea where this manga wants to go... .

[KageNaruto]

Lol @ Naruto.

Lol @ SFX while you draw.

No lol @ overall chapter.

[Pegas]

I found this chapter pretty good tbh, but then I'm also more a fan for the romantic story of this manga.

[Hidden Ninja]

good chapter. the references they make are pretty cool and if you aren't paying attention you will miss it. now more plot is being unveiled and we can pretty much guess who the snobby mangaka kid is going to hate.

[Narusukashi]

Pretty interesting manga so far. It's pretty new compared to the others I read, and I suppose I like the romantic aspect of it since I can somewhat relate. But yea, that kid in the end is interesting. Looks like he will be the competitor to the main characters ( I forget their names lol )

[DonEmu]

Argh, the series still hasnt found its footing yet. I was just frustrated reading it. It feels like the first release isnt done yet. So annoying, you feel like so much has happened but nothing at all has happened. Definitely expected better work from the mangaka.

[KageNaruto]

I think that may also be my main problem. As well as the fact if you base a manga solely on real life (and it's not your typical romance manga) it has to have some really interesting twists and have an incredibl story. It doesen't seem like this will have either, so it can't become more than average.

[KageNaruto]

First chapter that I really liked. I think it's because the characters are now actually going through develoment (at least one of them), before it seemed like they were going in a striaght line the whole time.

Lol at those two girls in Shujin's house... I didn't even know what to think at first.

[Hidden Ninja]

yeah i agree, this chapter really set it off for me. before i was enjoying the chapters, but this one had alot to offer imo.

[Pegas]

Well, after the first 8 pages or so I was like "Meh, still 10 pages of this?" but then all of a sudden there's some character development and before I knew it I was at the end.

But there are 2 thing I don't get:
- Isn't Shujin supposed to be in hell now? I mean, he was the perfect student and he got suspended but above all... his mother is a teacher herself! That guy should be going through hell with his mother as the devil... .

- Is Shujin gay or something? There are 2 nice to even hot girls in his house and he dares to say "I didn't want them here". Granted, his working on his dream but what kind a guy would he be if there isn't a hot chick or 2 in that dream of his :p.

[DonEmu]

Shujin has already started showing interest in that other girl. The friend of the chick his partner likes.

Plus, no matter how hot a girl may be, a biya**h is still a biya**h.

Well the most recent chapter was better than the last ones. Some developments. I liked the fact that the art was criticized though the writing was awesome. Sorta adds another little dimension. And there was some character development, but still, the pacing of the manga is far too strange.

[Pegas]

Shujin has already started showing interest in that other girl. The friend of the chick his partner likes.

I know and that girl was there. It's the one with long gray hair. So she's hot and not a biya**h :p.

[KageNaruto]

Because some people aren't braindead to their natural instincts while succumbing to the stupidity a consciousness creates within the human mind?

[Hidden Ninja]

im actually glad he ignored them. i mean they are supposed to be of superior intellect and be extremely focused and dedicated. to get distracted to something like that would be going completely against what they stood for.

[KageNaruto]

Why do all scenes with Monkeyman get boring after 2 pages?

The girl fiasco sure was funny though. What a little bitch, that "intellectual" one.

[Hidden Ninja]

eh well it wasnt suppose to be funny or anything with that guy, but i like how amped they are. also the whole first half was hilarious and getting the beat down.

[KageNaruto]

eh well it wasnt suppose to be funny or anything with that guy


Funny =/= only form of entertainment. Tons of serious or normal scenes can keep you hooked, but whenever they go to him so far in this manga I end up saying to myself, "alright, move on now" after a few pages.

[dharq]

This latest chapter wasn't too bad, imo. I just get tired of the pacing in this one. Talk about being too much like a novel... It's almost like this is an autobiography at times.

[DonEmu]

Am I the only one still reading this?

Well I am still going into it, mostly cause I just wanna see how things turn out. Seems like they are starting to rebel against the "monkeyman", and are going to try Mainstream again. Good for them...

[Hidden Ninja]

i am reading it and i like it alot. i just forgot to comment on it over here. i am glad to see that they failed in a sense. the manga would have been moving to fast if they had came in first imo.

[DonEmu]

There should have been some emphasis on the guy that came in second though. What kind of manga was that? Was that also a battle manga, if so then they have a pretty long way to go.

[Nova]

I think maybe it was Niizuma. I remember them saying that Niizuma had entered two earlier in the series.

[Pegas]

Haven't stopped following it, I'm just not in the mood for manga like that. I'll catch up someday :p.

[mandelak]

since im up to date with ten ten, i thought i'd start on something else. this was just a random manga i chose to start reading and i like it. im only on chapter 2 though.

[Hidden Ninja]

another good chapter out. seems both groups have managed to piss off their editors.

[KageNaruto]

I am sooo bored. Why do I bother? It's just the author that keeps me going.

[DonEmu]

Maybe they should stop wasting their time with this and write "Crow" that the so called prodigy did. I can't see how this manga is gonna make it any longer in the ratings. Unless they were going for a cult hit with "Bakuman"

[KageNaruto]

Maybe they should stop wasting their time with this and write "Crow" that the so called prodigy did. I can't see how this manga is gonna make it any longer in the ratings. Unless they were going for a cult hit with "Bakuman"

Haha, zing!

Full of win Don, full of win.