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Bakuman [バクマン] #1-20
Bakuman: Complete Box Set
Discover the mystery of manga-making in the bestselling series by Tsugumi Ohba, the creator of the hit series DEATH NOTE, available for the first time in a complete box set. The Box Set includes Volumes 1 through 20, plus the bonus mini-comic “Otter No. 11,” along with a full-color, two-sided poster.
In BAKUMAN。, 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? Also catch BAKUMAN。in the pages of VIZ Media’s Weekly Shonen Jump manga magazine.
In BAKUMAN。, 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? Also catch BAKUMAN。in the pages of VIZ Media’s Weekly Shonen Jump manga magazine.
3864 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2013
21 people are currently reading
316 people want to read
About the author
Tsugumi Ohba
364 books2,846 followersTsugumi Ōba (Profile in Japanese: 大場 つぐみ), born in Tokyo, Japan, is a writer best known for the manga Death Note. His/her real identity is a closely guarded secret. As stated by the profile placed at the beginning of each Death Note manga, Ōba collects teacups and develops manga plots while holding his knees on a chair, similar to a habit of L, one of the main characters of the series.
There is speculation that Tsugumi Ōba is a pen name and that he is really Hiroshi Gamō. Pointing out that in Bakuman the main character's uncle was a one-hit wonder manga artist who worked on a gag super hero manga, very similar to Gamō and Tottemo! Luckyman in all aspects. Also that the storyboards drawn by Ōba greatly resemble Tottemo! Luckyman in style.
There is speculation that Tsugumi Ōba is a pen name and that he is really Hiroshi Gamō. Pointing out that in Bakuman the main character's uncle was a one-hit wonder manga artist who worked on a gag super hero manga, very similar to Gamō and Tottemo! Luckyman in all aspects. Also that the storyboards drawn by Ōba greatly resemble Tottemo! Luckyman in style.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 3, 2020
Like I said some time, a long time ago, I'm only adding mangas when there's a reference for the full series or very few volumes, because otherwise my stats get messy. Also, I don't like reviewing them volume per volume as my opinion on them is on the whole thing rather than individual volumes.
That being said.
Bakuman.
Most people will know the authors better as the creators behind Death Note.
This is less fiction (still is) as it is a behind the scenes of mangaka's life, and more specifically the famous Shonen JUMP magazine. (Not much of a fan myself, but I know someone who is and for whom this appeared therefore better than it was for me...)
As a whole, I really enjoyed it, the story is fascinating, the actual facts on JUMP are interesting, but what I liked best are the characters which you get attached to easily. (Except for two that kept getting on my nerves, that is Iwase and then Nanamine. These two, I could have done without.)
However, there were bits I had a harder time going through, and I think it went good only because I had the whole series already to read instead of waiting for the next volume for a few months. More specifically, the very beginning as I feel like it only picked up a good pace once Niizuma and then the whole Fukuda clan were there. (Niizuma is my favorite character in the series by far, but the hilarious scenes brought by Hiramaru were priceless too.) But the part I really didn't enjoy was around volumes 14 to 18 with Nanamine. I found them super boring compared to the rest, although the topic they brought was interesting.
Also, one thing I want to point out is the lack of female characters. (And let's not talk about the live-action adaptation which succeeds in doing even worse by keeping ONE female character. The adaptation is good though, but yeah, this point was bothering me a lot.) There's basically 5 female characters in the whole thing (not counting those like Azuki's sis because they don't contribute much to the story), including one that could have been a male (Iwase) and the story would have been the exact same as she's just here as a "faire-valoir" and then gets dropped off almost entirely, and another that only serves in the "tragic backstory" part. Also not talking about the last volume that brings 10 at once just for the sake of it, and made it feel like the authors went "here, now we reached our quota".
Another thing that bothered me a bit was about all the mangas from the other authors. It was a lot of "it's more popular and better because we said so" rather than showing an actual potential manga. Like, for Ashirogi's mangas, they spent a lot of time talking about it so I could kinda picture something (I'd kill to read a TRAP or PCP manga) but most of the others, I could barely imagine what it would be like.
Still, despite what I didn't like about it, it's a series I'd definitely recommend. Especially for those who love all JUMP's huge hits (One Piece, Naruto, etc. or more recently Demons Slayer, you know them all).
That being said.
Bakuman.
Most people will know the authors better as the creators behind Death Note.
This is less fiction (still is) as it is a behind the scenes of mangaka's life, and more specifically the famous Shonen JUMP magazine. (Not much of a fan myself, but I know someone who is and for whom this appeared therefore better than it was for me...)
As a whole, I really enjoyed it, the story is fascinating, the actual facts on JUMP are interesting, but what I liked best are the characters which you get attached to easily. (Except for two that kept getting on my nerves, that is Iwase and then Nanamine. These two, I could have done without.)
However, there were bits I had a harder time going through, and I think it went good only because I had the whole series already to read instead of waiting for the next volume for a few months. More specifically, the very beginning as I feel like it only picked up a good pace once Niizuma and then the whole Fukuda clan were there. (Niizuma is my favorite character in the series by far, but the hilarious scenes brought by Hiramaru were priceless too.) But the part I really didn't enjoy was around volumes 14 to 18 with Nanamine. I found them super boring compared to the rest, although the topic they brought was interesting.
Also, one thing I want to point out is the lack of female characters. (And let's not talk about the live-action adaptation which succeeds in doing even worse by keeping ONE female character. The adaptation is good though, but yeah, this point was bothering me a lot.) There's basically 5 female characters in the whole thing (not counting those like Azuki's sis because they don't contribute much to the story), including one that could have been a male (Iwase) and the story would have been the exact same as she's just here as a "faire-valoir" and then gets dropped off almost entirely, and another that only serves in the "tragic backstory" part. Also not talking about the last volume that brings 10 at once just for the sake of it, and made it feel like the authors went "here, now we reached our quota".
Another thing that bothered me a bit was about all the mangas from the other authors. It was a lot of "it's more popular and better because we said so" rather than showing an actual potential manga. Like, for Ashirogi's mangas, they spent a lot of time talking about it so I could kinda picture something (I'd kill to read a TRAP or PCP manga) but most of the others, I could barely imagine what it would be like.
Still, despite what I didn't like about it, it's a series I'd definitely recommend. Especially for those who love all JUMP's huge hits (One Piece, Naruto, etc. or more recently Demons Slayer, you know them all).
March 11, 2015
First of all, the reason the review is on the boxset is because this is a Manga (The Japanese equivalent of a comic book) it has fewer words and is significantly shorter per book in compression with a novel, so to compensate for that I read the entire series and my review is a general review of the series as a whole.
ACTUAL REVIEW:
The setting is Japan during current times and the protagonist is Mashiro Moritaka. Mashiro is a highschool student who excels in drawing and is a fan of Manga and anime (a TV show based off a Manga, may be completely orignal on rare occasions) His dream is to become a mangaka, a person who creates Manga either a writer or illustrator or both. He specifically wants to become a mangaka for a weekly magazine called "Shonen jump" the most popular Manga magazine in the world (this is also true for real life) Unfortunately for Mashiro, 3 things are denying him from achieving his dream:
1. He is still in school, publishing a Manga in "Weekly Shonen jump" (the standard Shonen jump magazine) means he needs to create an issue of Manga every week on a strict time limit and have enough time left to fix issues if the editor in charge of him finds any.
2. His uncle, Nobuhiro Moritaka. Nobuhiro was a mangaka for "Shonen jump" himself, he knew that Manga wasn't a stable job, if your series loses fans and drops in the weekly rating poll done by fans, the editorial board can cancel your series and demand you deliver them 3 more chapters to wrap up the story and put it to a stop. Nobuhiro had a popular series in Shonen which was even turned into an anime, but eventually the weekly schedule and the pressure from getting canceled everytime his rating was lower then last week were to great for Nobuhiro which eventually committed suicide. This event left a mental scare in mashiro's mind and has kept him away from becoming a mangaka.
3.He can't write (as in being an author)/ create a story. As important as it is to have good drawing and art style in your Manga, it all doesn't matter if its completely boring... Mashiro isn't an author and therefore can't become a good mangaka.
One day, a classmate finds a notebook Mashiro left behind, a notebook full of random sketches and drawings. Takagi Akito, Mashiro's classmate and a personal Manga/Anime fan himself. When Mashiro goes back to his classroom at the end of the schoolday after remembering he forgot his sketch book there, Mashiro an Takagi meet. Takagi complements Mashiro's drawing saying that with a bit of practice he could become professional, Akito also reveals himself to be a fantastic author who can't draw anything but wants to become a mangaka. With some talking and convincing, Takagi semi-gets Mashiro to agree, the final push to make Mashiro chase his dream still wasn't there, and Takagi noticed this. To force Mashiro into a place where all he could care about was Manga and becoming a Mangaka for "Shonen jump" Takagi gives Mashiro some intel. He tells Mashiro that Azuki Miho's dream is to become a voice actress. Azuki has been Mashiro's crush ever since he remembers himself, and this information pushes Mashiro to an edge, he realizes that if he becomes popular enough and make his dream come true his Manga will become and anime and anime needs voice actors, and if Azuki chases her dream and becomes good at voice acting she could voice the heroine in his very own show. Filled with excitement and unexplained feelings he and Takagi head straight for Azuki's house. Mashiro rings the bell and Azuki comes to the front door to great him, Mashiro doesn't exactly understand why he came to her house to announce this and together with the fact that he is standing in front of his crush he kinda panics. He mumbles about how he is going to chase his dream and make an Manga so popluer it'll eventually be an anime and that he'd like her to be the heroine in his anime. This also inspires Azuki who says she'll be delighted to do so and promises she will also begin to chase her dream. Hearing this makes Mashiro lose his nerve and he exclaims: "So when are dreams come true, will you merry me?" This makes everyone silent, Takagi surprised by the sudden proposal and so is Azuki. Mashiro realizes what he had just done and as he's about to take what he said back she responds "Yes" Azuki reveals that Mashiro was her crush for a long time as well and that she agrees to the proposal of getting married once their dreams come true. This was the final push Mashiro needed to convince himself to become a mangaka and leave all his worries behind, his grades in school, his uncles suicide, and now that he has Takagi by his side the writing is no longer an issue. Together they go forward towards achieving their dreams and fighting the hardships along the way.
The quote I choose is the one I mentioned earlier: "so when our dreams come true, will you marry me?" It's the trigger for EVERYTHING in this series, which is why everything I wrote before in the review has to do with this quote, Mashiro would have never chased his dream, the same dream that was denied from the various reasons I mentioned, the same dream he couldn't achieve without Takagi being a good author and meeting Mashiro, the same dream which would have never happened if Mashiro wouldn't have gone to Azuki's house and rang the bell. The quote has to do with all of them in a direct way, at least that's how I see it from my prospective, which is why I choose this quote. "So when are dreams come true, will you marry me?"
ACTUAL REVIEW:
The setting is Japan during current times and the protagonist is Mashiro Moritaka. Mashiro is a highschool student who excels in drawing and is a fan of Manga and anime (a TV show based off a Manga, may be completely orignal on rare occasions) His dream is to become a mangaka, a person who creates Manga either a writer or illustrator or both. He specifically wants to become a mangaka for a weekly magazine called "Shonen jump" the most popular Manga magazine in the world (this is also true for real life) Unfortunately for Mashiro, 3 things are denying him from achieving his dream:
1. He is still in school, publishing a Manga in "Weekly Shonen jump" (the standard Shonen jump magazine) means he needs to create an issue of Manga every week on a strict time limit and have enough time left to fix issues if the editor in charge of him finds any.
2. His uncle, Nobuhiro Moritaka. Nobuhiro was a mangaka for "Shonen jump" himself, he knew that Manga wasn't a stable job, if your series loses fans and drops in the weekly rating poll done by fans, the editorial board can cancel your series and demand you deliver them 3 more chapters to wrap up the story and put it to a stop. Nobuhiro had a popular series in Shonen which was even turned into an anime, but eventually the weekly schedule and the pressure from getting canceled everytime his rating was lower then last week were to great for Nobuhiro which eventually committed suicide. This event left a mental scare in mashiro's mind and has kept him away from becoming a mangaka.
3.He can't write (as in being an author)/ create a story. As important as it is to have good drawing and art style in your Manga, it all doesn't matter if its completely boring... Mashiro isn't an author and therefore can't become a good mangaka.
One day, a classmate finds a notebook Mashiro left behind, a notebook full of random sketches and drawings. Takagi Akito, Mashiro's classmate and a personal Manga/Anime fan himself. When Mashiro goes back to his classroom at the end of the schoolday after remembering he forgot his sketch book there, Mashiro an Takagi meet. Takagi complements Mashiro's drawing saying that with a bit of practice he could become professional, Akito also reveals himself to be a fantastic author who can't draw anything but wants to become a mangaka. With some talking and convincing, Takagi semi-gets Mashiro to agree, the final push to make Mashiro chase his dream still wasn't there, and Takagi noticed this. To force Mashiro into a place where all he could care about was Manga and becoming a Mangaka for "Shonen jump" Takagi gives Mashiro some intel. He tells Mashiro that Azuki Miho's dream is to become a voice actress. Azuki has been Mashiro's crush ever since he remembers himself, and this information pushes Mashiro to an edge, he realizes that if he becomes popular enough and make his dream come true his Manga will become and anime and anime needs voice actors, and if Azuki chases her dream and becomes good at voice acting she could voice the heroine in his very own show. Filled with excitement and unexplained feelings he and Takagi head straight for Azuki's house. Mashiro rings the bell and Azuki comes to the front door to great him, Mashiro doesn't exactly understand why he came to her house to announce this and together with the fact that he is standing in front of his crush he kinda panics. He mumbles about how he is going to chase his dream and make an Manga so popluer it'll eventually be an anime and that he'd like her to be the heroine in his anime. This also inspires Azuki who says she'll be delighted to do so and promises she will also begin to chase her dream. Hearing this makes Mashiro lose his nerve and he exclaims: "So when are dreams come true, will you merry me?" This makes everyone silent, Takagi surprised by the sudden proposal and so is Azuki. Mashiro realizes what he had just done and as he's about to take what he said back she responds "Yes" Azuki reveals that Mashiro was her crush for a long time as well and that she agrees to the proposal of getting married once their dreams come true. This was the final push Mashiro needed to convince himself to become a mangaka and leave all his worries behind, his grades in school, his uncles suicide, and now that he has Takagi by his side the writing is no longer an issue. Together they go forward towards achieving their dreams and fighting the hardships along the way.
The quote I choose is the one I mentioned earlier: "so when our dreams come true, will you marry me?" It's the trigger for EVERYTHING in this series, which is why everything I wrote before in the review has to do with this quote, Mashiro would have never chased his dream, the same dream that was denied from the various reasons I mentioned, the same dream he couldn't achieve without Takagi being a good author and meeting Mashiro, the same dream which would have never happened if Mashiro wouldn't have gone to Azuki's house and rang the bell. The quote has to do with all of them in a direct way, at least that's how I see it from my prospective, which is why I choose this quote. "So when are dreams come true, will you marry me?"
May 31, 2024
Absolutely the most satisfying, exciting story! This is the third time I’ve read it from start to finish and it never gets boring. The characters make it hard to put down because they are all so motivated by their friendships with each other and in the end too - that’s how they succeed! :)
PS- Hattori is still my favourite 😍
PS- Hattori is still my favourite 😍
December 15, 2019
I know that working in the manga world can be harsh; I’m even aware of how it’s literally killed people. That’s why I never read through Bakuman (published in English by Viz) until just now. And wow… where has this been all my life?!
Bakuman stars Moritaka Mashiro, whose uncle died from overworking during his manga career. However, when he leaves his notebook at school one day, a starving writer named Akito Takagi sees it, and says that they should make a manga together. He refuses until the girl he likes, Miho Azuki, who’s trying to become an anime voice actor, promises to star in the anime of their manga. And just like that, boom! End goal established!
Despite my dislike of slice-of-life manga, I have to admit Bakuman does pretty much everything right. The story is fun and engaging, plus the characters are very expressive and have great personalities (more on that later, though). Despite the fact that Mashiro’s uncle died from overwork, which is a real life problem in Japan’s society, the manga is pretty lighthearted for the most part.
Naturally, the big appeal of Bakuman is its theme: manga publishing. This is one time where I’ll admit that I enjoyed something because I related to the characters, even though I hate factoring that into the actual final score of the story. Since they’re publishing manga, the characters of Bakuman spend a lot of time talking about all the topics that I think about everyday: tropes, marketing, mass appeal, and taking risks.
The cast is also surprisingly good. One of the biggest problems I have with slice-of-life is that writers seem to think that characters need to have dull expressions and no interesting personality quirks in order to seem more “human,” which isn’t really true. The characters in Bakuman are “human” done right. While Mashiro is a bit generic, he’s at least very expressive, along with everyone else. I knew that Takagi was going to be my fav the moment I saw him; he’s just so aloof yet driven. They work with one of two editors at any given time: Akira Hattori and Goro Miura. Although the latter is inexperienced as an editor, they both genuinely care about Mashiro and Takagi’s careers.
There are also a number of rivals in Bakuman. My favorite is Eiji Nizuma, who is a true prodigy, but is a total eccentric. He doesn’t seem to take his job seriously, or even know how Jump works, and he just draws whatever he wants and leaves the pages neatly lying on the floor. He also walks in Jojo poses, which you need to see in order to believe. Along with him are the brash Fukuda and the terminally antisocial Hiramaru, among other people. Although they’re competitors, they’re also good friends, and their chemistry with each other brings out the absolute best in all of them.
My least favorite characters are probably the two main characters’ love interests, the aforementioned Miho, and Takagi’s girl, Kaya Miyoshi. They’re good girls (Miyoshi’s the better of the two, though), but they kind of exist just for moral support. Sure, Miho has plot relevance, but you don’t really get to see her progress that much; you only see the results.
Now for the art. Holy crap. I think that is the best art Obata has ever provided. Sure, Bakuman isn’t as detailed or complex as Death Note or *shudders* Platinum Freaking End, but it brings the atmosphere of Bakuman and it’s characters to life. Also, he has to draw his own characters’ manga, which each have their own styles. This really showcases what an absolute mastermind of art Obata is, and I have the utmost respect for him. If you’re a fan of more chill, CGDCT-type stuff, then Bakuman’s cartoony art style will likely be a turn-off for you.
My one real complaint with Bakuman is the fact that the protagonists want an anime so badly. I get that there’s a specific context behind why they want to get an anime of their manga, but as someone who’s seen so many great works get horrible anime adaptations, I couldn’t help but cringe, especially since their storytelling style is just the kind of unconventional stuff that can only work in the manga medium. This whole thing is a big nitpick of mine, which is why it won’t affect the final score at all.
~~~~~
Final Verdict: 9.75/10
Bakuman is the best manga by the Ohba-Obata team. Yeah, I just said that. Everything about it is top-top-notch. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves manga in general, and heck, probably those who love anime too.
Bakuman stars Moritaka Mashiro, whose uncle died from overworking during his manga career. However, when he leaves his notebook at school one day, a starving writer named Akito Takagi sees it, and says that they should make a manga together. He refuses until the girl he likes, Miho Azuki, who’s trying to become an anime voice actor, promises to star in the anime of their manga. And just like that, boom! End goal established!
Despite my dislike of slice-of-life manga, I have to admit Bakuman does pretty much everything right. The story is fun and engaging, plus the characters are very expressive and have great personalities (more on that later, though). Despite the fact that Mashiro’s uncle died from overwork, which is a real life problem in Japan’s society, the manga is pretty lighthearted for the most part.
Naturally, the big appeal of Bakuman is its theme: manga publishing. This is one time where I’ll admit that I enjoyed something because I related to the characters, even though I hate factoring that into the actual final score of the story. Since they’re publishing manga, the characters of Bakuman spend a lot of time talking about all the topics that I think about everyday: tropes, marketing, mass appeal, and taking risks.
The cast is also surprisingly good. One of the biggest problems I have with slice-of-life is that writers seem to think that characters need to have dull expressions and no interesting personality quirks in order to seem more “human,” which isn’t really true. The characters in Bakuman are “human” done right. While Mashiro is a bit generic, he’s at least very expressive, along with everyone else. I knew that Takagi was going to be my fav the moment I saw him; he’s just so aloof yet driven. They work with one of two editors at any given time: Akira Hattori and Goro Miura. Although the latter is inexperienced as an editor, they both genuinely care about Mashiro and Takagi’s careers.
There are also a number of rivals in Bakuman. My favorite is Eiji Nizuma, who is a true prodigy, but is a total eccentric. He doesn’t seem to take his job seriously, or even know how Jump works, and he just draws whatever he wants and leaves the pages neatly lying on the floor. He also walks in Jojo poses, which you need to see in order to believe. Along with him are the brash Fukuda and the terminally antisocial Hiramaru, among other people. Although they’re competitors, they’re also good friends, and their chemistry with each other brings out the absolute best in all of them.
My least favorite characters are probably the two main characters’ love interests, the aforementioned Miho, and Takagi’s girl, Kaya Miyoshi. They’re good girls (Miyoshi’s the better of the two, though), but they kind of exist just for moral support. Sure, Miho has plot relevance, but you don’t really get to see her progress that much; you only see the results.
Now for the art. Holy crap. I think that is the best art Obata has ever provided. Sure, Bakuman isn’t as detailed or complex as Death Note or *shudders* Platinum Freaking End, but it brings the atmosphere of Bakuman and it’s characters to life. Also, he has to draw his own characters’ manga, which each have their own styles. This really showcases what an absolute mastermind of art Obata is, and I have the utmost respect for him. If you’re a fan of more chill, CGDCT-type stuff, then Bakuman’s cartoony art style will likely be a turn-off for you.
My one real complaint with Bakuman is the fact that the protagonists want an anime so badly. I get that there’s a specific context behind why they want to get an anime of their manga, but as someone who’s seen so many great works get horrible anime adaptations, I couldn’t help but cringe, especially since their storytelling style is just the kind of unconventional stuff that can only work in the manga medium. This whole thing is a big nitpick of mine, which is why it won’t affect the final score at all.
~~~~~
Final Verdict: 9.75/10
Bakuman is the best manga by the Ohba-Obata team. Yeah, I just said that. Everything about it is top-top-notch. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves manga in general, and heck, probably those who love anime too.
April 7, 2024
Bakuman had a Slice of life subject, the main characters Moritaka Mashiro and Akito Takagi's dream was being the best mangakas in Japan, but it was a shonen manga so the execution of the story was not very realistic after all, but the emotional side of the story, things like Taro Kawaguchi were used so well that you look over some of the over the top parts of the story.
Hiramaru sensei was my favorite character. Hiramaru sensei and his editor Yoshida's comedy rutin was hilarious most of the time. Nakai sensei was really funny as well, i was really cracking up as Nakai sensei got really round because of the pizzas, he ate as the story moved forward. I think the relationship between Mashiro and Miho was something only a Japanese would think normal, pure and wholsome. HA HA It was something i didn't understand, everyone in the manga was so moved by how Mashiro and Miho didn't see each other in their 8 years releationship because of their promise and how ''pure'' it was... Japanese people really have a weird understading of ''pure''... HA HA If you have a girlfriend and if you do nothing with her, it is such a ''pure'' relationship for Japanese people... HA HA This is what i understand from the manga. Then again what is the point of having a girlfriend, if you do nothing with her ???? HA HA I don't know how much of the manga's story was from Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata's real life, but as far as Obata said there was alot of reality in the manga.
Eiji Nizuma was a really funny character as well. Story never went back to Shiratose character, i wonder if he could make it as a successful mangaka... And Nakai sensei didn't really have a conclution, i wonder if he could get in shape and find a wife. HA HA
Hiramaru sensei was my favorite character. Hiramaru sensei and his editor Yoshida's comedy rutin was hilarious most of the time. Nakai sensei was really funny as well, i was really cracking up as Nakai sensei got really round because of the pizzas, he ate as the story moved forward. I think the relationship between Mashiro and Miho was something only a Japanese would think normal, pure and wholsome. HA HA It was something i didn't understand, everyone in the manga was so moved by how Mashiro and Miho didn't see each other in their 8 years releationship because of their promise and how ''pure'' it was... Japanese people really have a weird understading of ''pure''... HA HA If you have a girlfriend and if you do nothing with her, it is such a ''pure'' relationship for Japanese people... HA HA This is what i understand from the manga. Then again what is the point of having a girlfriend, if you do nothing with her ???? HA HA I don't know how much of the manga's story was from Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata's real life, but as far as Obata said there was alot of reality in the manga.
Eiji Nizuma was a really funny character as well. Story never went back to Shiratose character, i wonder if he could make it as a successful mangaka... And Nakai sensei didn't really have a conclution, i wonder if he could get in shape and find a wife. HA HA
Want to read
March 24, 2025I'm going to make a compromise between my desire to log manga and my lack of desire to add every individual volume by adding only the box sets I can find, or using the last volume to review the whole series.
I have read Bakuman before (I think like 4 times?) in High School, so this is a re-read. Below are my thoughts for each volume as I get through them.
Volume 1: A nice opener. Obata's art style is always very pleasing, and there's lots of meta references here. Though, maybe its more the characters talking rather than the authors, but there's lots of references to gender roles and political topics that place and date this series. Still, an exciting opener like, and I'm stil interested in getting through the rest!
I have read Bakuman before (I think like 4 times?) in High School, so this is a re-read. Below are my thoughts for each volume as I get through them.
Volume 1: A nice opener. Obata's art style is always very pleasing, and there's lots of meta references here. Though, maybe its more the characters talking rather than the authors, but there's lots of references to gender roles and political topics that place and date this series. Still, an exciting opener like, and I'm stil interested in getting through the rest!
January 12, 2020
ไม่มีการ์ตูนญี่ปุ่นเรื่องไหนเขียนแฉระบบสำนักพิมพ์ที่ตัวเองเขียนลงได้อยู่ได้ชัดเจนยังกับไปนั่งทำงานอยู่ด้วยแบบเรื่องนี้อีกแล้วล่ะค่ะ 55
พออ่านจนจบกลายเป็นเราชอบมิโฮะที่สุด อยากอ่านเส้นทางนักพากย์ของเธอต่อไปเรื่อย ๆ น่ามีเขียนคู่ขนานไปพร้อมกันกับผลงานอาชิโรกิ มุโตะมากกว่านี้ อาจเพราะเป็นเรื่องของนักพากย์ด้วยมั้งคะ เลยออกแอคชั่นเห็นชัดกว่าเขียนการ์ตูน แต่เรื่องนี้ชื่อ Bakuman อะนะ แค่นี้ก็ออกมาเยอะมาก ๆ แล้ว แถมเด่นมาก 3 เล่มสุดท้ายด้วย จบไปอย่างสวยงาม แก้เฮิรตซ์กับฮิคารุที่เพิ่งอ่านจบแต่ไม่จบได้ดีเลย
มี Ebook ไทยซะที อ่านสะใจมากกก เพราะเรื่องนี้ตัวหนังสือเยอะ อ่านเล่มเล็ก ๆ แล้วปวดตามากค่ะ ขยายตัวอักษรไม่ได้ด้วยสิ 55
พออ่านจนจบกลายเป็นเราชอบมิโฮะที่สุด อยากอ่านเส้นทางนักพากย์ของเธอต่อไปเรื่อย ๆ น่ามีเขียนคู่ขนานไปพร้อมกันกับผลงานอาชิโรกิ มุโตะมากกว่านี้ อาจเพราะเป็นเรื่องของนักพากย์ด้วยมั้งคะ เลยออกแอคชั่นเห็นชัดกว่าเขียนการ์ตูน แต่เรื่องนี้ชื่อ Bakuman อะนะ แค่นี้ก็ออกมาเยอะมาก ๆ แล้ว แถมเด่นมาก 3 เล่มสุดท้ายด้วย จบไปอย่างสวยงาม แก้เฮิรตซ์กับฮิคารุที่เพิ่งอ่านจบแต่ไม่จบได้ดีเลย
มี Ebook ไทยซะที อ่านสะใจมากกก เพราะเรื่องนี้ตัวหนังสือเยอะ อ่านเล่มเล็ก ๆ แล้วปวดตามากค่ะ ขยายตัวอักษรไม่ได้ด้วยสิ 55
February 5, 2019
To be able to create a typical "Shonen" story while not including any of the typical action synonymous with the category is a talent this duo are well known for by now but still you would be hard pressed to find anyone else able to make a story about two teenagers creating manga this exciting that it feels like a typical "Shonen" story.
Definitely recommend this, however I find the tv series even more interesting as they took some liberties by bringing to life some of the stories created by the people in the series.
Definitely recommend this, however I find the tv series even more interesting as they took some liberties by bringing to life some of the stories created by the people in the series.
January 9, 2021
What a great series to binge. I could not put the volumes down as I fell in love with the series positivity and enthusiasm. The characters were all endearing and had their own goals to pursue, probably my favorite part of the manga. Overall, entertaining and well done from beginning to end. It never bored me at all. If I wasn't a Tsugumi Ohba fan before, it would be a lie to say I am not one now.
September 17, 2022
Interesante obra para los que tengan curiosidad sobre cómo funciona el mundo de las revistas de manga, el oficio de dibujante, etc. como era mi caso.
Ha envejecido bastante mal en cuanto a estereotipos de todo tipo pero en especial de género. Peca de romantizar, hasta casi ser una burla, el ser un mangaka. Por lo demás un shonen atípico curioso y entretenido.
Por cierto #muchotexto , quedáis avisados.
Ha envejecido bastante mal en cuanto a estereotipos de todo tipo pero en especial de género. Peca de romantizar, hasta casi ser una burla, el ser un mangaka. Por lo demás un shonen atípico curioso y entretenido.
Por cierto #muchotexto , quedáis avisados.
October 2, 2025
Este manga ha sido el que más me he tardado en leer de todos los que he leido (casi dos año). Y tiene que ver con el hecho de que aunque sea ilustrado esta rellenisimo de texto en cada panel.
En lo personal esta historia sirve bastante para saber como se elabora un manga y como funciona la industria donde se distribuye, y me ha servido para aprender tecnicas de dibujo. Así denomino esto una historia educativa más que puro entretenimiento.
En lo personal esta historia sirve bastante para saber como se elabora un manga y como funciona la industria donde se distribuye, y me ha servido para aprender tecnicas de dibujo. Así denomino esto una historia educativa más que puro entretenimiento.
January 29, 2021
Easily one of my new favorites. I really loved how this is a relatively simple concept about two boys trying to make it in the manga industry. Great characters and great energy carry this series hard, way over the author's previous work Death Note. I love this series and have almost nothing to complain about.
September 10, 2019
Anyone into manga should read this to better understand out the whole creation process works.
Also recommended for newcomers
Also recommended for newcomers
November 24, 2019
Great manga with incredible insight into the world of manga creation and publishing. Would recommend to anyone interested in manga especially shonen jump.
Want to read
April 6, 2025Bakuman Manga Series
Volume 1- 5 stars, 2020
Volume 2- currently reading
Volume 1- 5 stars, 2020
Volume 2- currently reading
August 17, 2025
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
ABSOLUTE MANGA
✨✨✋🥹🤚✨✨
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
ABSOLUTE MANGA
✨✨✋🥹🤚✨✨
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
May 22, 2024
Valoro la serie completa. Un manga de metacontenido envuelto en una comedia romántica.
He tenido una sensación de claroscuros durante la lectura. Considero que tiene escenas y momentos realmente interesantes que dejan recuerdos difíciles de borrar. Sin embargo, debido a mis ideologías, he sufrido en el permanente retrato del machisimo y clasismo propio de la cultura nipona.
En el dibujo, creo que se amolda perfectamente al estilo que pedía la obra, destacando su limpieza, el diseño de personajes, y su composición. Por la parte de la historia, me ha parecido un gran trabajo la construcción de las personalidades de cada personaje, considerando esto como uno de los principales atractivos de la obra. Aunque, se me ha hecho largo los arcos antes de la recta final de la orbra, teniendo que forzarme un poco a continuar para poder terminar la obra.
Una historia ligera desde el punto de vista de la adolescencia, perfecto para amantes del manga, centrada en un (algo cuestionable) romance y con buenas pinceladas de humor.
He tenido una sensación de claroscuros durante la lectura. Considero que tiene escenas y momentos realmente interesantes que dejan recuerdos difíciles de borrar. Sin embargo, debido a mis ideologías, he sufrido en el permanente retrato del machisimo y clasismo propio de la cultura nipona.
En el dibujo, creo que se amolda perfectamente al estilo que pedía la obra, destacando su limpieza, el diseño de personajes, y su composición. Por la parte de la historia, me ha parecido un gran trabajo la construcción de las personalidades de cada personaje, considerando esto como uno de los principales atractivos de la obra. Aunque, se me ha hecho largo los arcos antes de la recta final de la orbra, teniendo que forzarme un poco a continuar para poder terminar la obra.
Una historia ligera desde el punto de vista de la adolescencia, perfecto para amantes del manga, centrada en un (algo cuestionable) romance y con buenas pinceladas de humor.
February 10, 2016
The fact that I managed to devour Bakuman's complete collection of twenty volumes within a single month is a testament to the quality of this series. Not only do these books contain an addictive continuous narrative, they are also populated with a cast of truly engaging characters who exhibit the full spectrum of human attributes and endearing qualities. The insight to the world of Japanese manga publishing is fascinating, and references to fiction within fiction, through the titles created by characters in the story, are a joy to stumble upon. Many of the clever series outlines are worthy of a full series themselves, yet they are not too focused upon so as to detract from the main story; rather they serve to add some believability and depth to the world we are presented. I found myself laughing through numerous pages, being warmed by the heartfelt camaraderie between characters and thrilled by suspense in rivalries and obstacles which the main characters face. The quality of Takeshi Obata's artwork verges on the unbelievable at times; he portrays the emotions of characters and situations with such fluidity and skill that scenarios feel real and part of our world. At times he also expertly injects such exaggerated caricatures of his characters that they are hilarious in of themselves, yet the timing and use of these amidst other panels accentuates the characters' very real feelings and truly communicates the sense of story; aiding the visual style not exclusively for comedy, but also in a range of situations.
Bakuman will undoubtedly be compared to Death Note, as it is the second series collaboration by the same team of writer and illustrator. The two works are so completely opposing in style and content that such a comparison is useless, yet I feel that while Death Note was nearly perfect, this newer series is so well fleshed out, clever and entertaining that it is even better. For one thing, the lighter style of story which is employed throughout Bakuman is one that doesn't rely so much on twists and reveals. It will be a pleasure to re-read again and again. (Especially those parts featuring the hilarious Hiramaru...)
Bakuman will undoubtedly be compared to Death Note, as it is the second series collaboration by the same team of writer and illustrator. The two works are so completely opposing in style and content that such a comparison is useless, yet I feel that while Death Note was nearly perfect, this newer series is so well fleshed out, clever and entertaining that it is even better. For one thing, the lighter style of story which is employed throughout Bakuman is one that doesn't rely so much on twists and reveals. It will be a pleasure to re-read again and again. (Especially those parts featuring the hilarious Hiramaru...)
March 20, 2016
The fact that I managed to devour Bakuman's complete collection of twenty volumes within a single month is a testament to the quality of this series. Not only do these books contain an addictive continuous narrative, they are also populated with a cast of truly engaging characters who exhibit the full spectrum of human attributes and endearing qualities. The insight to the world of Japanese manga publishing is fascinating, and references to fiction within fiction, through the titles created by characters in the story, are a joy to stumble upon. Many of the clever series outlines are worthy of a full series themselves, yet they are not too focused upon so as to detract from the main story; rather they serve to add some believability and depth to the world we are presented. I found myself laughing through numerous pages, being warmed by the heartfelt camaraderie between characters and thrilled by suspense in rivalries and obstacles which the main characters face. The quality of Takeshi Obata's artwork verges on the unbelievable at times; he portrays the emotions of characters and situations with such fluidity and skill that scenarios feel real and part of our world. At times he also expertly injects such exaggerated caricatures of his characters that they are hilarious in of themselves, yet the timing and use of these amidst other panels accentuates the characters' very real feelings and truly communicates the sense of story; aiding the visual style not exclusively for comedy, but also in a range of situations.
Bakuman will undoubtedly be compared to Death Note, as it is the second series collaboration by the same team of writer and illustrator. The two works are so completely opposing in style and content that such a comparison is useless, yet I feel that while Death Note was nearly perfect, this newer series is so well fleshed out, clever and entertaining that it is even better. For one thing, the lighter style of story which is employed throughout Bakuman is one that doesn't rely so much on twists and reveals. It will be a pleasure to re-read again and again. (Especially those parts featuring the hilarious Hiramaru...)
Bakuman will undoubtedly be compared to Death Note, as it is the second series collaboration by the same team of writer and illustrator. The two works are so completely opposing in style and content that such a comparison is useless, yet I feel that while Death Note was nearly perfect, this newer series is so well fleshed out, clever and entertaining that it is even better. For one thing, the lighter style of story which is employed throughout Bakuman is one that doesn't rely so much on twists and reveals. It will be a pleasure to re-read again and again. (Especially those parts featuring the hilarious Hiramaru...)
Read
October 4, 2016September/October 2016: 5 Stars
(I decided to add the 20 volumes all under one review so as to 1) save time, and 2) not go over my reading challenge all in one go).
It's been a couple (or more) years since I first read all 20 volumes of Bakuman, and it was even better than I remembered. From beginning to end, Ohba and Obata keep the readers engaged with their brilliant characters and even more brilliant plotlines. Obata's art, which I've always admired, is so skillfully applied that the series flows perfectly. Moments of humour make you laugh out loud, triumph make you cheer, and overwhelming success flood you like a tidal wave. Obata has harnessed his skills with the experience of a master.
Ohba's storytelling is fantastic. He made me care for the characters, and gave them each a distinct voice. His twists surprised me every time, even though this wasn't my first read of the series.
This series is quite honestly what gave me the kick I needed to follow my dreams of being an illustrator, but I feel that the lessons taught in every volume of Mashiro and Takagi's story extend far beyond visual arts. Themes of dedication, hard work, and motivation apply to anyone looking for a reason to follow their dreams. For that reason, and many others, I'll always hold "Bakuman" close to my heart.
(I decided to add the 20 volumes all under one review so as to 1) save time, and 2) not go over my reading challenge all in one go).
It's been a couple (or more) years since I first read all 20 volumes of Bakuman, and it was even better than I remembered. From beginning to end, Ohba and Obata keep the readers engaged with their brilliant characters and even more brilliant plotlines. Obata's art, which I've always admired, is so skillfully applied that the series flows perfectly. Moments of humour make you laugh out loud, triumph make you cheer, and overwhelming success flood you like a tidal wave. Obata has harnessed his skills with the experience of a master.
Ohba's storytelling is fantastic. He made me care for the characters, and gave them each a distinct voice. His twists surprised me every time, even though this wasn't my first read of the series.
This series is quite honestly what gave me the kick I needed to follow my dreams of being an illustrator, but I feel that the lessons taught in every volume of Mashiro and Takagi's story extend far beyond visual arts. Themes of dedication, hard work, and motivation apply to anyone looking for a reason to follow their dreams. For that reason, and many others, I'll always hold "Bakuman" close to my heart.
February 1, 2021
A Complete review of the Bakuman Manga Box set along with images from all angles can be found at:
https://www.bookreviews.tv/bakuman-ma...
Review of other manga box sets can also be found at:
https://www.bookreviews.tv
https://www.bookreviews.tv/bakuman-ma...
Review of other manga box sets can also be found at:
https://www.bookreviews.tv
January 2, 2017
A new year. Starting off by rereading Bakuman because it's just amazing. Sure it's a bit sexist at the start but they're 14 or something. they grow up. It's about chasing a dream. living the dream. Challenging yourself. Supporting friendly rivalry. Being happy with a life you've built with passion and drive and luck. A good message for a new year.
November 1, 2019
One of the best series by Ohba out there, even trumping Death Note if you ask me. It puts you into the mind of the manga writers and gives a very descriptive reveal of their lives, their troubles and the hardwork they put in.
Read
February 6, 2016goooooooooooooooood
December 1, 2017
This series is on par in terms of quality to Ohba's other stories - but funny. I loved the main characters and their plights and journeys, their relationships, and their goals.
December 26, 2024
Love these series. For a romantic slice of life the story is paced so well you don't notice it's gone. I've read them long ago, but i do come back to it once in a while.
May 27, 2019
Probably in my top 10 manga series. When you have the same creators of Death Note working together on another project, you better believe it’s going to be a masterpiece!
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