B.B. Explosion, Vol. 1

はじけてB.B. [Hajikete B.B.] #1

by Yasue Imai

For star-struck teenagers living in Okinawa, the first step to fame and fortune is an appearance on an American Idol-like TV show called Boom Boom. If they can wangle their way onto this weekly program, they have a shot to become Japan's next big thing.

But first, these pop-star wannabes must first enroll in the big city's actor's school where competition between classmates is spirited and ruthless!

With the help of her guardian angel, a gargoyle-like statue named Cesar, little Airi begins taking classes at the school. One way or another, she's going to make her dreams come true!

Genres: Manga, Graphic Novels

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1997

About the author

Native: 今井康絵

Reviews

[Starbubbles · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was disappointing. Airi comes off as flighty at best and the "issues" that come up seem to be little more then trifles. Everytime I blinked something new would happen, and the road to stardom seems to be paved in gold for this girl. I don't even understand her dream or what she is trying to do. Is she a talento? Is she trying to be a singer, dancer, backup singer/dancer, actor? I don't quite get why Tokyo is/was the line with her dad. Maybe he should have explained that she might not be ready for certain levels of celebrity. Or that the city is dangerous. I mean something. But no, she goes from practically being a groupie to being like one step under debut in less than a volume. I found the blurb on Trinna Robbins to be the most interesting thing in the entire book! It had strife, depth, and a real resolution that took actual effort and was made aware of it. If only the rest of this, this thing had that kind of quality.

[Shinyfox · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

A cute book but the main female character can get on your nerves. I'm not exactly sure what her aim is either. She originally went to this school to meet one of the big stars there. Then she started feeling guilty because everyone around her had big dreams and were at the school to further their careers and she... wasn't. So it felt a little forced, the way she suddenly decided that she wanted to be a star singer or... dancer? I don't even know what she's going for.

It's a cute book and if I come across the next book I would pick it up.

[ジェシカ · Rating 2 out of 5]

more of a 2.5
it was really nostalgic to see a manga that just looks like late 1990s serials from Nakayoshi or Ribbon; haven't read anything like this since I was 13
was very surprised by how much the manga was actually based on a real location and real people??? like the first love interest is a real Okinawan pop idol from Da Pump??? the performing arts school is where Namie Amuro got her start???

[Jennelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really cute manga. I rated this 3 stars here, but its a very high 3 stars, close to a 4 star. The only reason that I rated it as low as I did is just because everything comes so easy. There is little conflict and its all super easily overcome.

[Miss Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

once upon a time when a bb!miss susan was first getting into manga she visited her cousins in america. while there they took her to a bookstore. 'twas a glorious bookstore where the miracle of us pricing meant the shelves of manga she saw were cheaper than any she'd seen in her life. happy day! bb!miss spent every penny she had and left with no regrets

well. perhaps one regret. for there was an intriguingly brightly coloured series called b.b. explosion on the shelves that was new to her. it appeared to be s magical idol story? bb!miss was very fond of magical idol stories. but her funds were far too limited to spend on an untried series

years later miss susan, no longer a bb went to grad school in a far away city. and what should she spot on the local library but that long missed series? never one to waste a second chance, she picked up the book immediately

the art reminded her of marmalade boy, very generic in a way she probably liked better in the long lost days of her youth. the same could be said of the plot. neither of these points proved to be a deterrent as it turns out grad school is exactly the kind of atmosphere to make a girl appreciate a book that reminds her of being twelve years old. viva la nostalgia! 2 stars

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT! DON'T READ UNLESS YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK!

This book starts off with Airi racing to get home to watch her favorite TV show, Boom Boom, which her favorite singer, Issa is on. Little does she know, they are holding auditions to be on the show and she tries out just to meet him. She accomplishes her goal and gets on the show, having a journey of a lifetime (like going to Japan!).

I finished this book because around the end of the book she ran away from home to go to Japan. I was afraid she would get lost or something because she almost had no money left.

I picked this book because I usually don’t read manga.

I would recommend this book to anybody that likes singing shows (like American Idol) because they can kind of figure out how a contestant got to where they are right now.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series looks really cute and has a lot of fun characters. The bonus story at the end "Dear My Friend" was also really cute.

[Alicia]

I wasn't sure what was going on. I know she was at a dance school and in a contest, but that's about it.