Initial D, Vol. 1

Initial D (2-in-1) #1

by Shuichi Shigeno, Alessandro Colombo (Translator)

Takumi Fujiwara, liceale svogliato e dall’aria sonnolenta, trascorre molto tempo al volante. Ogni mattina consegna tofu per il negozio del padre, scalando con la sua Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86 le strade insidiose del Monte Akina. Giorno dopo giorno, senza nemmeno rendersene conto, Takumi ha assorbito tecniche di corsa che la maggior parte dei piloti impiega una vita ad imparare, ma non ha alcun interesse particolare per il mondo delle auto. L’amicizia col compagno di classe Itsuki Takeuchi lo coinvolge però nella passione per le gare clandestine su strada e Takumi sembra finalmente svegliarsi dal torpore di una vita priva di benzina. Nelle sfide locali di street racing irrompe così un nuovo misterioso e fenomenale pilota: la leggenda del “Fantasma di Akina” ha inizio e il mondo delle corse non sarà più lo stesso!

Genres: Manga, Sports, Comics, Seinen, Graphic Novels, Comics Manga, Graphic Novels Comics

440 pages, Paperback

First published November 6, 2020

About the author

Shuichi Shigeno (Japanese author profile: しげの秀一) is a manga artist, best known for the manga series Initial D. Shigeno has also created Bari Bari Densetsu, Dopkan, and Tunnel Nuketara Sky Blue ("First Love in Summer") all prior to the manga that would make him famous in 1995. In 1985, he received the Kodansha Manga Award in shōnen for Bari Bari Densetsu.

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

sucks that the book doesn't play eurobeat during the races but thats just one of the limitations of print ig

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was more invested in the subplot about Mogi engaging in compensated dating than the racing. Oops.

[Jose Gutierrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love the Anime and really wanted to get into the manga. I wish I could purchase all the individual volumes, but unfortunately they’re hard to find. Overall, great manga and would recommend to anyone who’s a fan of cars and Japanese drift culture!

[DeannaReadsandSleeps · Rating 5 out of 5]

just as fun to read as it is to watch. i freakin love initial d!!

[Gabriele Carli · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Quando un pilota viene sfidato a una gara, è buona educazione accettare, no?”

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Se non fosse per Dario Moccia, non avrei mai conosciuto Initial D, e nonostante io non sia un'appassionata di auto (e a maggior ragione di corse d'auto), questo primo volume deluxe mi ha appassionato, e infatti mi ha portato a una lettura lenta, per gustarmi ogni drift, ogni discesa e ogni dialogo. Un'opera che non vedo l'ora di continuare, per capire anche il mondo giapponese delle corse d'auto degli anni passati, e perché questo insolito protagonista, perennemente annoiato e assente che si emoziona per il volante, mi entusiasma.
(Peccato per le numerose critiche online, sulla traduzione anche, se non sbaglio. Io non ho trovato alcuna difficoltà nella lettura, inoltre ho letto che dai prossimi volumi gli errori saranno corretti)

[Alex Richey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is surprisingly technical. I appreciate the translation notes at the end that go into detail about the different car vocabulary. I'm super impressed with this story's pacing.

First book I ever did original cataloging for, so I'm treasuring this experience a little more for it. :)

[Moilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

ryosuke i keisuke to kraszi

[mei! · Rating 5 out of 5]

was vergeten hoe peak initial d is omg 😭😭😭

[kesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

i’m into cars but i’m also not into cars to the point where i’d throw money to mod out a shitbox i found on facebook marketplace - although, if i ever learned how to drive a manual, i don’t see why not >:)

initial d is a banger and i love reading ab normal ppl js doing shit. the races were exciting and the way they’re commentated is both technical and accessible – i could hear the engine and smell the rubber burned from the drawings alone. shuichi shigeno a real one ☝️i’m still getting used to their faces bcs they look so 👁️👁️ but that’s js a common characteristic of how classic manga is drawn

must-read if you’re into cars or if you want a break from the ads 😮‍💨

4/5 - fuck u cliffhanger, never revisited tf was going on w mogi and her dad/daddy? multi-storyline plots hit different

[doowopapocalypse · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC from NetGalley.

This manga is about one thing: having a sick-ass car and doing sick shit in it.

The AE-86 is the true star here, highlighting its real life abilities on the rally circuit to a different group of fans. And now that it’s 25 years old, you can actually get a legit one in the states.

[Sahaj Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought in Shibuya - was so stoked to have found this. Set in the best time to be a motorsports fan: 90’s to early 00’s jdm market was a great blend of cool, sleek, unique analog cars that had just enough technology to make the car modern but still feel alive. Planning out my own fd/r32/s14 drift build asap. Now how do I find volume 2 in the US 😅

[Dylan · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 25%
I don't know why I thought I would like this. I think I let the hype get to me, but this is just not a series for me. I could care less about cars or any of the characters.

[Zachary Stivers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish there was Eurobeat in it

[William Crettenden · Rating 5 out of 5]

good 👍 😃

[Kyle Breton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Initial D anime is great so the manga is just as good!

[Siobhain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initial D was one of my first Manga although I confess I could only find up to volume 3 back then. When I learned that Omnibus’ were due to be released I was excited since it would give me a chance to collect the series properly.


This omnibus features a new translation but of course the classic tale of racing that helped start the craze in Japan. The art work is so detailed and suits the story well. Of course it does have a bit of an older vibe to it but I am glad they haven’t tried to update this. The story is easy to follow and engaging as well. I will definitely be adding a physical copy to my shelves in the future and highly recommend to fans new and old.

[Kurokosworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Kodansha for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 🙌

4/5 ⭐️

I’m very excited to be able to read a new translation of a classic and beloved series. This was my first time experiencing Initial D, and I’m glad I decided to take a dive into this work!

I enjoyed Takumi as a protagonist, and I love that he has unintentionally & uniquely been building impressive driving skills while having minimal knowledge about cars and the racing scene. I like that it got right to the action with the immediate introduction to rivals, providing drama and eventually motivation for our protagonist. Even with the fast pace of the story, we get to see the camaraderie Takumi and the Akina Speed Stars have for each other. The art is a bit static compared to other series that were released around a similar time, but the expressions are charming and the art definitely shines most in the racing scenes.

I was curious and decided to compare the translation & other changes between this omnibus and the version digitally released previously. While there are some things that I think worked a little better in the old version, the new translation in the omnibus far exceeds the previous one and is much smoother.

For those curious, here are some main changes between both versions in volume 1:
- The map of turfs unfortunately was omitted (at least for the ARC; will confirm later if the released version includes one). However, a good portion of the pages in the beginning are colored, and SFX is now translated alongside the original text.
- Names were returned to Japanese. Example: Natalie is now Natsuki.
- Both versions have their fair share of slang, but the new version flows much better and is more concise.
- Some art that was modified/censored previously is now uncensored (for better or for worse).

My major gripe is Natsuki’s current arc, and it definitely shows as a product of its time. Her “arrangement” with a faceless “wealthy” man is slightly less overt in this version with its dialogue, but still rather icky. I was also not a fan of her sexualization, which includes a (now uncensored) panty shot and an imagined nudity scene. Why was the inclusion of a high school girl having sex with an ex-boyfriend and showing bare breasts necessary when it could’ve been portrayed in other ways? While I’m sure this all relates to an important starting point in her arc that will lead to more development later, it very much leans into the character trope of sexy girl that exists to eventually pair up with the male protagonist, combined with random fanservice that seems out of place in a fun sports/racing manga. But alas, it was the 90s.

This series is still a very engaging read despite that, and as someone who knows nothing about cars I’m very thankful for the described terminology in the translator’s notes at the end to help understand what everything means. The bonus comic was also very cute.

I was a little sad that the ARC provided was not complete due to space limitations, and I wish it had at least covered up to all of Volume 1 (10 chapters) instead of stopping at Chapter 7. Regardless, I had a great time with what was available, and now I have a reason to grab a full copy for myself!

For the shelf collectors, Initial D Omnibus Vol 1 is a great addition to a collection, for both old and new fans alike. This is the first time it has been in paperback since its TokyoPop days if I recall correctly, making it very accessible to add to a shelf without paying insane resale prices. Prior to reading this I was only familiar with the music, but I’m now a fan and definitely will be looking forward to future releases!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember watching "Initial D" when I was in high school (and had read a couple of Initial D manga before), so when I saw that there was an omnibus of the first two books, I was intrigued. I loved the anime and I enjoyed this omnibus.

The storyline was intriguing and fun. While I'm not the biggest racing fan, I found the anime's depiction of it to be exciting and engaging. The same can be said about racing in the manga. At times, it gave me some nostalgia - not just for the anime, but also playing video games such as Need for Speed. The manga doesn't just cover this though. It includes a lot of good character moments.

I thought that characterization was solid generally, though I had one issue with it that I discuss further on in this review. I like the main character, Takumi. He comes off as nonchalant, calm, and disinterested. His responses about cars gets him ridiculed. Yet, he is very good at racing and his personality and approach to driving makes it more interesting. His best friend, Itsuki, can be annoying at times and insecure. But I like the dynamics between him and Takumi and it leads to a cool plot point towards the end of the book. The Takashi brothers are the first antagonists of the book and they also have a cool dynamic, particularly with the differences in personality. I am intrigued most by the cerebral Ryosuke Takahashi. I'd like to see a race between him and Takumi one day. Last, but not least, I like Bunta and Yuichi. The former is Takumi's father. He also comes off as nonchalant but is very skilled also - and the way he has taught his son driving was pretty cool and fascinating. Yuichi is the owner of the gas station that Takumi and Itsuki work at. He is not only insightful but also, I like how he's a good boss and the way he uses to motivate Takumi towards the end of the book.

I like the details that Shuichi Shigeno uses to describe the various driving tactics. Perhaps it is the more nerdy part of me, as well as my growing interest in cars, but I was fascinated and I had fun googling the various terms used. It was a fun way to learn, though I didn't realize that there was a glossary of sorts at the end. My Google searches seemed to match the glossary so that was neat. With that said, I cannot say how accurate the tactics are. But it was fun geeking out over that.

Nevertheless, the book did have some downsides. I am not a fan of the depiction of Natsuki Mogi. It seems pretty shallow so far and objectifying also. Moreover, while I like the art overall, it isn't my favorite.

Overall, I like the Initial D omnibus. The plot and characterization of many of the characters were good. I also enjoyed the depiction of driving and racing tactics. However, I'm not a fan of Natsuki's characterization so far and the art isn't my favorite.
I do plan on reading the next omnibus and seeing how the story unfolds.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been aware of Initial D for decades, but it was always somewhat inaccessible. I mean, not really, but like the anime wasn't on [adultswim], I don't think. I believe TokyoPop handled the original English publication of the manga? I think my local library didn't have it. Anyway, I always assumed the cars would look weird in the anime (they're CGI, I think?), and the idea of high-speed racing in static manga panels seemed silly.

Well, I finally got into the manga, and a big thing to note is the races feel tense enough despite the lack of actual movement in the illustrations! Otherwise, the manga feels like a battle series and/or even a hot-blooded mecha series, just with cars instead of superpowers or robots. It's technically seinen rather than shounen, but that doesn't have significant impact on thematic material other than the fact that the main girl does compensated dating.

Takumi is an interesting protagonist because he's new to the world of drifting, but has been drifting for five years without knowing it's a "thing"; he just wants to deliver his father's tofu quickly across the mountain roads, and his father - a racer in his own day - kinda-sorta tricks our hero into learning how to drift. This omnibus collects two volumes of the original manga, ending just before Takumi's second major race, being the first time he actually actively chooses to become a "racer," so the narrative pacing is maybe a bit "relaxed" in its character development. (This also has the unfortunate consequence of leaving this 2-in-1 volume on a rather big cliffhanger of sorts, as we have to wait until the next collection for the big race...).

[Angel 一匹狼 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is surprisingly fun and engaging, Shigeno throwing the reader into the world of the manga right away and making it a pleasure to read about cars, and driving, even for someone like me who has no driving license (on the other hand, don't ask me how much of what the manga shows is realistic). The story is as simple as they come: Takumi a high schooler who just got his driving license, works in a petrol station and has a friend who is crazy about cars and want to race down this famous mountain. Takumi is a little aloof and doesn't seem to much care about what his friend says even if, we pretty soon discover, he is amazing at driving down that same mountain. The volume (well, what we get here is less than half the first Omnibus 1, so it would be a little bit less than a traditional manga volume) shows what seems to be the 'driving force' behind the story: different drivers, races, and that amazing AE-86 Trueno. And if soccer or other sports manga can go on forever, maybe Initial D can maintain the interest through its 48 volumes. For now, it already has the head start.

Downsides: those faces. I don't know if Shigeno changes much his style as the story progresses but the faces are meh at best; they seem to be plastered on the page. And also Natsuki, the female character, who seems to be just one more of those female characters in shonen manga.

At the end, it also has some explanations about Japanese relationships, places and driving stuff.

8/10

(English translation by Kevin Steinbach)

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy*

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Takumi Fujiwara frequently navigates the challenging roads of Mount Akina as part of his tofu delivery job. Unbeknownst to him, he's honed racing skills that most drivers only acquire after years of experience. However, his friends are oblivious to his talents, as they're engrossed in the local street racing team, the Akina Speed Stars. When the renowned Red Suns challenge the Speed Stars, the spotlight shifts to a mysterious car, the Trueno Eight-Six, tearing through the mountainous terrain. The identity of the driver and their willingness to accept this perilous challenge remains a mystery.I fondly remember watching the manga film with my friends decades ago. We'd all fantasize about owning and racing those cars. Seeing it again recently transported me back to those youthful days, offering a delightful trip down memory lane. I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting this story and reliving those moments.Many thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics.

[Josh Boucher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim. I don’t know why, but the best I can figure is that the cover and other aesthetics reminded me a lot of my own childhood and playing hours and hours of need for speed v-rally.

I was pleasantly surprised. This was fantastic. Shuichi Shigeno’s art is stellar — the style was striking, the speed evident, the cars and the car-related settings looked so good. I love the style the characters are all drawn in.

The story was engrossing. Takumi is a young man who doesn’t give a crap about racing cars down the local mountain, but all of his friends and coworkers care a lot. It turns out that racing certainly gives a crap about him.

At one point, Takumi’s dad tells Takumi’s supervisor and coworker Iketani about skill, that: “No one teaches it to you. You find it for yourself, hone it, make it your own.” Turns out, that’s exactly right.

I don’t really care that much about cars, and I know even less. But this was blood-pumping at times and 100% worth a read.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm just starting to get into reading manga and kept hearing about Initial D. I am also trying to learn more about the drift scene in Japan, so reading this book was very informative.

This manga follows Takumi, a tofu delivery driver, and his innate talents honed by driving up and down Mount Akina daily delivering food for his family's business. Takumi has little knowledge or interest in the drift scene, but is pulled into the world of drifting as the discovery of the mystery AE86 driver comes to light.

I cannot wait to see where Takumi's story goes in the next installments. I did thoroughly enjoy the omnibus version, combining multiple volumes of this story. The art and storyline were so complimentary.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Wafflepirates · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*

I've never read Initial D before, but I've heard so many great things about it and that so many fans were excited for the re-release, so I decided to give it a try. The story is ultimately not for me, I didn't really enjoy it and the car stuff confused me, but I do understand the appeal. The art is charming and solid, and the characters have potential. The focus seems to be on cars and the one in particular, so I can't say much there, but there are other aspects of the story that is hinted at that will be interesting in future installments. I know this is a new translation as well, I don't know how it compares to the original, but I do think that it was done really well and there was a good amount of culture notes to describe what was going on.

[Chadwyck Byer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up on several recommendations and so glad I did. I loved it! While at its most basic it is about street racing, there is so much more going on. Yes, the driving panels (especially the two page spreads) are incredible I also really enjoy the internal monologue that Takumi has with himself. He has normal problems like girls, money, work, and school. He seems spaced out so often but he is in his own head while those around him are just obsessed with cars and racing.

I thought the omnibus was great quality. The color pages were nice and then the paper quality was just fine. I’ve seen some people complain about thin pages but they didn’t seem that way to me. The pages turn easily for the enlarged size. I was also a fan of the glossary of terms at the end of the volume. Good stuff all around!

[Conni Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a 90's manga. The art style was so nostalgic and round and fun. I also love the trope of 'Character B is extremely obsessed with Topic X, and Character A knows nothing about it and is apathetic towards it, but actually Character A is way better at Topic X then anyone else.' Very Takumi coded. I do love that he seems so ambivalent to this thing (racing) that he's impossibly good at, but doesn't care about it at all. He doesn't even know he's a good racer. It's hilarious. We love a one-brain-cell king. Also Takumi really drinks his Respect-Women juice in the first half of this manga, and for that, he is a darling.

I want to see what happens next! I want to see the big race. I want to know Natsuki's secret. I can't wait for more!

[Ije the Devourer of Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a racing fan but I did enjoy this manga because the story has an oblivious hero who surprises himself and his friends when he realises that he is actually a seriously talented racer.

Takumi Fujiwara learnt his driving skills by driving his Dad’s car to deliver tofu and when he realises that he can give other street racers a run for their money he slowly but surely rises to the challenge and the possibility of being something other than a gas station attendant.

This is a new omnibus version that collects volumes one and two of this popular series. If you like your street racing series then these omnibus versions are an opportunity. This series isn’t really my thing but I did enjoy the artwork and the unassuming hero, also great to have two volumes in one.

Copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Matthew Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initial D is an action racing series about a street racing scene in Japan. The main character Takumi is a reluctant hero who initially viewed driving as a chore even though he has OP skills. I won't go over all the points I covered in my review of the anime. https://www.serializd.com/review/2488...

Some differences I noticed were that Takumi is a bit more lively when we can see his inner thoughts. He feels like less of a blank space.

The relationship between Mogi and "Daddy" is much more explicitly spelled out in the Manga as a sexual Enjo kōsai https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enjo_k%... and it's still disturbing.

The humour is great in the Manga with thought bubbles and author's comments in the margins.

The Manga lacks the Eurobeat soundtrack but you can supply it in your head while reading.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the stars are for the new edition! The translation is much improved if only for the discarding of the anglicized names from the Tokyopop release. The larger format also makes those expertly drawn cars drift right off the page. Unfortunately, it also throws a bigger spotlight on the woefully inconsistent character art, but you get used to it…eventually. One caveat if you’re coming here from that’s earlier print edition or even Kodansha’s digital release from a few years ago is the series does return to its seinen roots including stronger language and brief nudity—the excessive smoking is unchanged.

The story remains light on plot and heavy on misogyny, so there is that. If you really enjoy JDM and tense mountain racing venues, then Initial D is likely your jam.