In the latest issue of Shonen Jump, the duo behind Death Note released a debut chapter of a new series titled Bakuman. The Death Note manga was rather awesome and I enjoyed it until L died and the 2 brats took over, so I decided, why not check out the pair’s new work?
There’s zero killing intent in this manga, at least for how it’s portrayed now. Everything appears to be normal as well, and this means no Death Notes, Shinigamis or evil masterminds.
The first chapter introduces the protagonist, Mashiro Moritaka, a 9th grader who feels that his future is dull, and is unsure of what he plans to do with it. One thing about him, however, is that he’s quite an artist. Alright, maybe not an artist, since there are just too many varying definitions of what an artist really is, but he can draw quite decently. He has a crush on a classmate, Azuki Miho, and sketches her in his notebook instead paying attention to lessons.
Well, what he’s doing is totally normal, just like what probably 80-90% of students would do. I would do that do too, but sadly, there isn’t anyone in my class I have a crush on, I can’t draw anything surpassing the stickman level, and I have the laptop powered on right in front of me during all lessons. So, I surf the internet instead and do other stuff to kill time instead.
Later on in the chapter, Takagi Akito, the ace student of Mashiro’s class, took a peek at Mashiro’s notebook containing sketches of his crush when he accidentally left in school. After which, Akito waits for Mashiro to return to the classroom for his notebook, and requests for him to be his partner-in-crime to work on a manga. Takagi writes, while Mashiro draws. Apparently, Takagi thinks that this combination will produce results.
Why so serious? It’s not like it’s a Death Note
Mashiro has a differing opinion, and starts rambling on the statistics of a mangaka actually being successful and achieving fame. He also mentions that being a mangaka is like gambling. Thus, he rejects Takagi’s offer and heads home with the intention of studying for his tests, but ends up gaming anyway.
It turns out that Mashiro’s uncle was a mangaka before he passed on, hence explaining why he has such an insight of the manga industry. Just when he gets frustrated after some thought-processing, which includes recalling what his uncle once told him, Takagi rings him up and they end up meeting before the gates of Azuki’s home.
Takagi then rings the doorbell, and this eventually leads to Mashiro declaring that he’s going to start a manga together with Takagi confessing his love and making a promise of marriage. That promise will only be valid if Mashiro’s manga becomes successful enough to spawn an anime adaptation in which Azuki will star as a seiyuu in. After all, it’s Azuki’s dream to be a seiyuu, but I don’t think she agreed to the proposal soley because of her ambition.
And so, Mashiro begins on his journey to become a mangaka in order to win Azuki’s hand in marriage.
In just this chapter, there are a couple of references to other manga series, and even to the creators of Death Note themselves. References are always welcomed, especially in works geared towards the anime and manga fan crowd. Hopefully, there’ll be more interesting references in the next chapter as well.
Bakuman’s a nice change from all the conspiracy and killing in Death Note. Manga drawing in a manga’s a fresh idea, at least for me, although I’m sure there are a couple of series out there that have manga drawing as their plots. However, what I’m wondering is if Bakuman’s plot runs parallel to the real life co-operation between Obata Takeshi and Ooba Tsugumi. If it’s really as I’ve stated, this could prove to be a unique attraction.
On an unimportant note, Takagi really reminds me of Iron Clock from Air Gear, but I’m guessing that it’s just the glasses, and maybe a little of the hair.
It’s only 1 chapter, so it’s quite impossible to fairly judge the quality of a manga series just from it. However, it has really hooked my interest, so I’m definitely adding Bakuman to my weekly manga dosage.
Takeshi Obata rulez!!
“It’s not a Death Note” xD Looks interesting, although it seems that romance is gonna play a much larger role in this title, and I’m not so into that.
And is it just me, or does Takagi look like a younger, blond Yamamoto?
Yea its definetly a interesting read im thinking there will be some action as far as killing or just overall plots and schemes through the manga that the two boys create just a thought though
I’m no Death Note fan (dropped the manga a few volumes in, and barely touched the anime adaptation), but I’ve been keeping tabs on Obata’s work since Hikaru no Go. Odds are I’ll end up following this one just because he’s doing the art.
Plus, I find the theme quite interesting. Fiction that delves into the world of anime and manga is guaranteed to get at least a passing glance from me.
“It’s not a Death Note, is it?” lol That got a laugh out of me. This certainly looks interesting, through.
oh man if this is another form of death note, having to draw that someone would be a long process ^^;
To be honest, I’m somewhat disappointed. There aren’t many manga writer’s that can put together complex murder-mysteries like Ohba Tsugumi and this appears to be an over-the-top parody kind of thing if the above excerpts are anything to go by.
Although I enjoyed Death Note, I agree with Diego that Obata is a great artist and I hope his talents don’t go to waste. Hikaru no Go was one of my first manga and among the most memorable.
But I’ll still be checking it out. As it is the first chapter, there’s still a pretty good chance there will be interesting developments soon enough.
Hey! i just finish reading the n#1… and its certainly not as the others author’s mangas, but i like the story, and i think that in a world full of otakus and mangas, it connects very well both sides.
i think that the way they put the story for us, its quite interesting, and not only for the joke about “death note” (even as there IS a refrain to one of the creators), but its pretty fine about the fact that they’re teenagers dreaming about it, they barely know each other, but they decide to walk thogheter the same path to his dreams.
and as aaaaaaaaaaaalways… it haves to be a lovestory too°!
so.. anyways… totally recomendable!.
see ya!
Sounds interesting. I think I’ll pick this up~
Oh gawd, I laughed at the Death Note relation joke. XD I recently read the first chapter and thought it has an interesting plot. Kinda reminds me of the creators, but I don’t know how they made the character developement.
Overall, hopefully the romance won’t go overboard and stick to the mangaka dream idea.
love the drawing style….
I’ve been reading the manga and even though there’s far less mind-bending manipulation or killing, Bakuman’s pretty good. I love Ohba and Obata, so I definitely had to give it a chance. Even without all the action, the characters are memorable (gotta love Takagi’s headphones, and wheneve Mashiro daydreams about his future with Azuki he becomes utterly adorable. Plus, it’s worth sticking around just to meet the super-weird Eiji Nizuma who’s almost up to par with L for a weirdest-character-ever award. So totally agreeing that this one is worth keeping up with!
As everyone I really liked the ‘its not a Death Note is it?’ joke, it was mostly funny because you know they’re the mangaka of Death Note. I like Death Note and I have fallen in love with this one too. But that’s not only because of the characters and story but because my serious dream is to become a Mangaka myself. So I’m actually learning while reading. If there’d ever be a ‘weirdest character ever award’ I think Eiji would indeed win. At first I though he was really anonnying, because he said ‘Will you then give me the right to end one manga I hate.’ I though that was just awful of him, but ever since Moritaka en Shujins meeting with him I really like him. [the reason I hated him can also be because I'm jealous, even though he's just a character, he makes me realize that there are people like him and that makes my chances very small] He’s just so funny and stupid, he’s a genuis but at the same time he’s kinda insane. What really made me like him was that he said he was a fan of ‘money and intelligance’.
xD When I first read that, I just threw my hands in the air going, “They did NOT just put in a Death Note joke!” xD
But the series is really ineteresting. I find it amazing that Ohba could come up with two series that are so different, genre or otherwise. The characters are totally lovable and I’m spazzing when something ‘intense’ happens. And I love Takagi’s headphones.
And I thought it wouldn’t be possible to come up with characters who are weirder than the Death Note ones, but then comes along Eiji. The only thing that really sums up his persona is, “WTF?”
i love you takeshi youre an inspiration to me