No. 5, Volume 2

ナンバーファイブ 吾 [Number 5] #2

by Taiyo Matsumoto

With No.'s 8 and 9 down for the count, No. 5 continues his ferocious battle against the Rainbow Council. Tiayo Matsumoto's vivid, imaginative artwork brings this heady story of betrayal and brutality to life.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, Fiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published May 30, 2002

About the author

See also: 松本大洋 and 松本 大洋

Although Taiyo Matsumoto desired a career as a professional soccerplayer at first, he eventually chose an artistic profession. He gained his first success through the Comic Open contest, held by the magazine Comic Morning, which allowed him to make his professional debut. He started out with 'Straight', a comic about basketball players. Sports remain his main influence in his next comic, 'Zéro', a story about a boxer.

In 1993 Matsumoto started the 'Tekkonkinkurito' trilogy in Big Spirits magazine, which was even adapted to a theatre play. He continued his comics exploits with several short stories for the Comic Aré magazine, which are collected in the book 'Nihon no Kyodai'. Again for Big Spirits, Taiyo Matsumoto started the series 'Ping Pong' in 1996. 'Number Five' followed in 2001, published by Shogakukan.

Source: Lambiek website bio .

Reviews

[Kurtis Burkhardt · Rating 1 out of 5]

Highllly overrated manga, crappy art style and If there was a story;It was pretty weak! 😤😁❤️

[ReadingFrog · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars.

[Damon · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend Doug recommended Matsumoto's stuff to me, and the first books I checked out (Black & White) were okay, but these (No. 5) are really amazing. This volume especially - it was equal parts surreal, exciting, and heartbreaking. I've heard this was supposedly the worst-selling Viz book ever, with both volumes combined selling less than 1000 copies?!? SO unless I learn Japanese or French, or someone scanlates it in English, it'll probably be a long wait for the rest of the story, but what's available so far is still well worth the read. Just be aware that you're starting a story you may never be able to finish - not something that sits well with obsessives like me.

[Lucas Maciel]

Tudo é uma aula, os diálogos fluidos, a disposição dos quadros, a dinâmica das cenas de luta, as perspectivas (!!!), até as alucinações criadas por dois dos personagens funcionam perfeitamente sem confundir o leitor, os personagens só faltam se mover nas páginas de tão gestuais e expressivos que são.

[yengyeng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed the wacky ride into Taiyo Matsumoto's weird and wonderful world inhabited by lion-sheep and hippotami. Now to get a copy of Number 5 Vol. 1 without breaking the bank.
Re-read in Jun 2011 and wondered what I was thinking?! This deserves 5 stars!!

[Anne Mey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un tome entre deux. Le premier installait bien le monde et l'histoire avec des pages fascinantes. Le 2 est en deçà avec un fouilli de choses. La rencontre avec le père est inattendue et l'un des seuls moments marquants. Les qualités sont là mais en moins extraordinaires.

[Weston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will they ever come out with the next volume in the series?