BAKUMAN by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata

Official description

“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!”

Reflection

A sticker on the front cover states that the manga is “From the creators of Death Note,” and they make sure you know it. Not more than 20 pages into the manga, someone brings up Death Note. And again a few pages later. And again in the second half of the book. But this was more than just a Death Note lovefest.

While reading through Bakuman, I felt as though Ohba and Obata were allowing me to peer into the obstacles they had to overcome — everything from telling one’s parents of the desire to become a mangaka to learning how to use a G-Pen. Exploring the step-by-step process of creating manga was entertaining in itself. Even deciding the genre of Mashiro and Takagi’s manga was covered.

Bakuman has one similarity with Death Note. Both main characters are observant and intelligent (remind you of anyone?). Takagi cleverly uses his cunning to persuade Mashiro to draw manga. However, Mashiro’s transformation from a reluctant partner of Takagi’s to workaholic manga artist is what was really captivating.

Artwork. Nothing much to write here except that the style is similar to Death Note. But with much less blood and violence. If you’re not familiar with Death Note, Obata’s art is crisp, if a little over dramatic sometimes.

As expected from a manga about manga, several prominent series are mentioned: Dragon Ball, One Piece, Naruto, Bleach and Gin Tama, as well as some obscure manga unfamiliar to most American manga readers. Speaking of which, has anyone heard of Beet the Vandel Buster?

The flow of the story fits quite well in the first volume. At first, two classmates who barely know each other gradually take to each other and by the end, are working furiously to complete their final draft to submit to — who else — Shonen Jump. There’s a romantic subplot, and while I loathe those, this one is fairly important in spurring Mashiro’s development.

Bakuman is not going to be a blockbuster like its evil brother, but it doesn’t have to be. I appreciate Ohba and Obata going in a totally different direction with their latest work.

Other works by the same mangaka: Death Note, Hikaru no Go (Obata)