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Slam Dunk [スラムダンク] #3
Slam Dunk, Vol. 3
Premiering the story of the Shohoku Prefectural High School basketball team, and their newest star player, Sakuragi Hanmichi, who's also the newest freshman delinquent! A novice on the court, and in love, Sakuragi learns to master the game and will play to bring the national championship to Shohoku and true love to his heart.
190 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 1991
22 people are currently reading
403 people want to read
About the author
Takehiko Inoue
315 books1,539 followersTakehiko Inoue (井上雄彦) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for Slam Dunk and Vagabond.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
April 29, 2023
Sakuragi is as funny as ever in this third volume as his enormous ego and his confidence despite his lack of skill create many opportunities for slapstick humor. In this particular volume, most of the humor comes from his inability to do simple layups. Despite this, he insists on trying to learn to do slam dunks. Oh, Sakuragi. . . never stop dreaming.
July 13, 2022
Was listening to New Power Generation by Prince while reading this volume! It was Rukawa's influence lol—that pretty boy has good taste in music!! It's a bop!! And you can definitely feel the wind of the 90s! Anyway, Sakuragi's first practice match is starting on the next volume. This series never fails to crack me up. I swear I just laughed out loud at all of Sakuragi's antics, making Rukawa and Akagi pissed at him. I really love this series 😭 Also, you just can't help but admire Inoue's art style!!
Anyway, he're the song!!
https://open.spotify.com/track/231Ymy...
Anyway, he're the song!!
https://open.spotify.com/track/231Ymy...
December 1, 2022
Love how Sakuragi Hanmichi is growing little by little. There are tons of feel good and over the top hilarious moments and it should be no surprise that the manga is quite informative about the sport itself.
February 25, 2019
I was a bit bored throughout this. still good though.
January 21, 2023
"i have to do a slam dunk"
June 3, 2018
4.25 stars
Sakuragi is SUCH a moron - How can someone so dense even tie his shoes in the morning?
full review
I had a copy of a Raijin release of Slam Dunk V 3. I didn’t even remember Gustoon! Entertainment until I found this in a box of books in the basement. As a subscriber to Raijin Comics, that’s just sad. I remember how exciting it was that a Japanese comics anthology was going to be released in the US. The hey days of Tokyopop, CMX, GoComi, and all of the other publishers who once released some great content, but then shuttered for various reasons, make me nostalgic. I still haven’t forgiven DC for closing CMX, and to this day rarely, if ever, pick up any of their mainstream comics. Bleh. So much for the glory days of manga. But things are looking up with Yen Press, Kodansha Digital Firsts, and of course, Viz, the company that picked up Slam Dunk after Raijin folded. But I digress. Sorry.
The rivalry between Rukawa, Akagi, and Sakuragi is heating up. Most of their conflict is because Sakuragi is such a volatile, immature kid. He also has the attention span of a small bug, unless he is showing off for Haruko. He burns with resentment when Rukawa is praised for his skills, because, darn it, doesn’t anyone know that Sakuragi is Basketball Man??
In this volume, Sakuragi has a dream come true. While practicing shooting lay-ups, Haruko shows up, and impressed with his dedication, offers to help him with his shooting. This was so funny, because 1 – Sakuragi is only dedicated to showing off, and 2 – Haruko is kind of clumsy, and promptly falls on her face. She may know a lot about basketball, but she isn’t really coordinated enough to actually play it, and that is too bad, because she really loves the game. Sakuragi, on the other hand, is just pretending to like the game, to attract Haruko’s interest.
Sakuragi continues to be his usual obnoxious self. He has no patience for learning the basics of the game, he wants to thrash both Rukawa and Akagi, and he can’t understand why the coach doesn’t recognize his brilliance. Yeah, this guy is a dunce, and I wonder how he ever learned to tie his shoes. Despite these character flaws, this is a fun read, though Sakuragi’s constant comparisons to other characters to primates is getting old, fast. He is a guy who only knows how to settle disagreements or slights with his fists (or head butts), and that gets tiresome.
Despite these gripes, I’m enjoying Slam Dunk, though I’m looking forward for the games to begin. Sakuragi still has no grasp of the basic mechanics of gameplay, and forget about knowing the rules – that’s beyond him right now. All he wants to do is dunk the ball, because it looks cool, but the chances of him being able to successfully pull that off right now in competition – not so likely.
Sakuragi is SUCH a moron - How can someone so dense even tie his shoes in the morning?
full review
I had a copy of a Raijin release of Slam Dunk V 3. I didn’t even remember Gustoon! Entertainment until I found this in a box of books in the basement. As a subscriber to Raijin Comics, that’s just sad. I remember how exciting it was that a Japanese comics anthology was going to be released in the US. The hey days of Tokyopop, CMX, GoComi, and all of the other publishers who once released some great content, but then shuttered for various reasons, make me nostalgic. I still haven’t forgiven DC for closing CMX, and to this day rarely, if ever, pick up any of their mainstream comics. Bleh. So much for the glory days of manga. But things are looking up with Yen Press, Kodansha Digital Firsts, and of course, Viz, the company that picked up Slam Dunk after Raijin folded. But I digress. Sorry.
The rivalry between Rukawa, Akagi, and Sakuragi is heating up. Most of their conflict is because Sakuragi is such a volatile, immature kid. He also has the attention span of a small bug, unless he is showing off for Haruko. He burns with resentment when Rukawa is praised for his skills, because, darn it, doesn’t anyone know that Sakuragi is Basketball Man??
In this volume, Sakuragi has a dream come true. While practicing shooting lay-ups, Haruko shows up, and impressed with his dedication, offers to help him with his shooting. This was so funny, because 1 – Sakuragi is only dedicated to showing off, and 2 – Haruko is kind of clumsy, and promptly falls on her face. She may know a lot about basketball, but she isn’t really coordinated enough to actually play it, and that is too bad, because she really loves the game. Sakuragi, on the other hand, is just pretending to like the game, to attract Haruko’s interest.
Sakuragi continues to be his usual obnoxious self. He has no patience for learning the basics of the game, he wants to thrash both Rukawa and Akagi, and he can’t understand why the coach doesn’t recognize his brilliance. Yeah, this guy is a dunce, and I wonder how he ever learned to tie his shoes. Despite these character flaws, this is a fun read, though Sakuragi’s constant comparisons to other characters to primates is getting old, fast. He is a guy who only knows how to settle disagreements or slights with his fists (or head butts), and that gets tiresome.
Despite these gripes, I’m enjoying Slam Dunk, though I’m looking forward for the games to begin. Sakuragi still has no grasp of the basic mechanics of gameplay, and forget about knowing the rules – that’s beyond him right now. All he wants to do is dunk the ball, because it looks cool, but the chances of him being able to successfully pull that off right now in competition – not so likely.
December 6, 2024
Sakuragi deserves better than Haruko (me)
September 10, 2018
Slam Dunk may be an easy read for both manga enthusiasts and hardcore otakus, sure it is hiarious and serious where it needs to be, but it is characterization that gives the series an optimistic and upbeat feel.
Props to Inoue for creating a seemingly unidimensional Sakuragi, who despite his obvious arrogance, juvenile qhirks and disregard for respect is softhearted and deeply dedicated.
Props to Inoue for creating a seemingly unidimensional Sakuragi, who despite his obvious arrogance, juvenile qhirks and disregard for respect is softhearted and deeply dedicated.
September 23, 2025
sakuragi is so stupid i can't help but adore him
March 26, 2019
Наконец-то более активное продвижение в баскетболе.
Плюс респект за музыку Принса конечно же.
Плюс респект за музыку Принса конечно же.
January 31, 2024
i automatically love anybody who loves slam dunk & hate everybody who hates it. sorry, this is just 90% of who i am
May 12, 2022
no banco al protagonista.
December 15, 2023
Really love this! You don’t need to be a sport fan to enjoy this basketball manga! I most definitely am not! Great characters, and a lot of fun. I can also recommend the movie
May 30, 2018
Have you ever played basketball before? In this volume, Hanamichi challenged to do lay-up. Of course he was amateur for basketball. He did not do it well. However his friends, Haruko Akagi and Kaede Rukawa showed him how to do ray-up. Through steady training for ray-up. He finally was able to do it. I was deeply moved this scene. From now on, Hanamichi’s growth started. After that the rival high school, Ryounann appeared. Shouhouku matched against Ryounann. How is the result of this match? Can Hanamichi get a point from Ryuonann? I want to read next volume.
February 3, 2021
hanamichi, our arrogant loudmouth, is equal parts quick-tempered and juvenile. but beyond these imperfections of character, he is also unwavering in his commitment and unafraid of failure. he is red bull personified. his passion and energy alone could light a city.
January 2, 2018
Great manga so far, has a good story and great humor. Exactly what is needed for a great sports manga like "hajime no ippo" 👌
December 7, 2019
3,5 stars
January 14, 2020
In this volume, Hanamichi practices common shoot(lay-up). But for him it’s too difficult. And he practices so much and finally he could it. He is a hard worker and earnest person so I could learn the importance of constant efforts.
August 23, 2020
Seamos honestos: Hamachi es divertido, pero también es un castre y nada más retrasa al equipo.
March 13, 2021
I had to laugh out loud three times. Also the first match is starting in the next volume .. let's see what Sakuragi will be up to.
March 1, 2019
4.5 / 5 ⭐️
January 22, 2024
Another fun installment. It is still refreshing to see a protagonist who breaks the mold in terms of sports stories in not being the typical eager-to-make-good talent. Sakuragi still possesses an over-the-top arrogance that almost precludes him from improving, and he still has an almost total cluelessness as to how the game of basketball is even played. And yet... by this point in the tale, he finally seems committed to basketball, despite his ongoing ignorance os its rules, and one can see that little spark of an athlete lodged deep within, slowly being drawn out by the basketball enthusiasts around him. We're already three volumes in, and the first scrimmage game is about to begin, and yet Sakuragi still has a long way to go. But there are plenty more volumes to come, so there's no need to rush things along.
June 25, 2007
okay... so im giving this whole series 5 stars, not for it's literary content (it is manga afterall!) but for the nostalgia it brings me and its humor.
i read this whole series as it was being published back in the early-mid 90s, when i was in junior high and high school. I read the korean translation as it was a huge hit in korea at the time. i remember going to the local bookstore every two months for the new copy. the lady at the bookstore always saved one for me.
during my last trip back home to korea, i tried to bring back the whole set (i forced my parents not to throw them away) but couldnt fit it in my luggage. i only brought back books 1-3 and read them all in one evening. mom is supposed to mail the rest to me and i'm eagerly waiting for them.
im not sure if this series is translated in english and honestly, im not sure if it would translate well (lost in translation goes both ways) but i really enjoyed this series as a kid and so far books 1-3 have held up for me and i cant wait to re-read all 35 books.
i read this whole series as it was being published back in the early-mid 90s, when i was in junior high and high school. I read the korean translation as it was a huge hit in korea at the time. i remember going to the local bookstore every two months for the new copy. the lady at the bookstore always saved one for me.
during my last trip back home to korea, i tried to bring back the whole set (i forced my parents not to throw them away) but couldnt fit it in my luggage. i only brought back books 1-3 and read them all in one evening. mom is supposed to mail the rest to me and i'm eagerly waiting for them.
im not sure if this series is translated in english and honestly, im not sure if it would translate well (lost in translation goes both ways) but i really enjoyed this series as a kid and so far books 1-3 have held up for me and i cant wait to re-read all 35 books.
December 23, 2021
I was so excited when this volume finally came back to my classroom library. It had been “missing” for months, and I had been waiting for weeks. When I saw it, I grabbed it off the shelf along with 4 and 5. If only 6 had also been available.
In this volume, we see the relationship grow between the main character Hanamichi Sakuragi and his main motivation to play basketball (at first) Haruko Akagi. In this volume, Sakuragi is still not fully playing basketball. His next step in developing is the humble lay-up, the one thing that Haruko Akagi does well. And while she has the hots for Sakuragi’s rival stud freshman Kaede Rukawa, at the end of the day, Haruko loves basketball, she loves her brother’s team (her brother is the third-year captain), and, deep down, she knows she is responsible for Sakuragi’s presence on the team.
This is the final volume of initial world-building and characterization. By the end of this volume, we finally see Sakuragi get some real playing time on the court.
In this volume, we see the relationship grow between the main character Hanamichi Sakuragi and his main motivation to play basketball (at first) Haruko Akagi. In this volume, Sakuragi is still not fully playing basketball. His next step in developing is the humble lay-up, the one thing that Haruko Akagi does well. And while she has the hots for Sakuragi’s rival stud freshman Kaede Rukawa, at the end of the day, Haruko loves basketball, she loves her brother’s team (her brother is the third-year captain), and, deep down, she knows she is responsible for Sakuragi’s presence on the team.
This is the final volume of initial world-building and characterization. By the end of this volume, we finally see Sakuragi get some real playing time on the court.
July 12, 2021
At the time of this review, I have read volumes 1-17 back-to-back. As always, I will try to only focus on the current review.
Captain Akagi has so much patience when it comes to Sakuragi! I think part of the reason that he has much patience as he does for Sakuragi is because Akagi now knows that Sakuragi is serious about basketball now. Remember, Sakuragi said this: "Because I'm a basketball man." I think without that Akagi would not continue to work with Sakuragi. Near the end of this volume, we see the Shohoku face another team in practice game. This matchup reminds me of when Karasuno faced Bluecastle the first time in Haikyu. Pages 128-129 reminds me when Kageyama introduces Hinata to the concept of decoy. Sakuragi's and Hinata's reactions were practically the same. Yet, Hinata and Sakuragi are quite different when it comes to their skill level in their respective sports.
Verdict: With the matchup, I am seeing the appeal of this series.
Captain Akagi has so much patience when it comes to Sakuragi! I think part of the reason that he has much patience as he does for Sakuragi is because Akagi now knows that Sakuragi is serious about basketball now. Remember, Sakuragi said this: "Because I'm a basketball man." I think without that Akagi would not continue to work with Sakuragi. Near the end of this volume, we see the Shohoku face another team in practice game. This matchup reminds me of when Karasuno faced Bluecastle the first time in Haikyu. Pages 128-129 reminds me when Kageyama introduces Hinata to the concept of decoy. Sakuragi's and Hinata's reactions were practically the same. Yet, Hinata and Sakuragi are quite different when it comes to their skill level in their respective sports.
Verdict: With the matchup, I am seeing the appeal of this series.
January 17, 2023
davvero, che emozione!
mi ha fatto venir voglia di provare ad eseguire un terzo tempo.
sakuragi deve imparare ancora tante cose, spero che smetta di comportarsi come un bambinone (in questo volume l’ho trovato un po’ troppo, devo essere sincera) e capisca se è degno o no di considerarsi un vero basket man
mi ha fatto venir voglia di provare ad eseguire un terzo tempo.
sakuragi deve imparare ancora tante cose, spero che smetta di comportarsi come un bambinone (in questo volume l’ho trovato un po’ troppo, devo essere sincera) e capisca se è degno o no di considerarsi un vero basket man
January 25, 2023
This manga is proving to be funny as hell, even in volumes that are a bit slower like this one.
Our basket man Sakuragi is learning how to be part of a team, putin in the work, but of course he has to cause havoc first. LOL
Then, we get a cliffhanger, just as the team is about to play their first game... things are getting pretty interesting.
Our basket man Sakuragi is learning how to be part of a team, putin in the work, but of course he has to cause havoc first. LOL
Then, we get a cliffhanger, just as the team is about to play their first game... things are getting pretty interesting.
September 14, 2023
More comedy gold. But also really educational - I never knew jersey numbers start at 4.
This is what I love about manga, the best ones somehow manage to teach you about whatever it is they are using as the foundation for the story while being able to be funny, sad, terrifying... Whatever genre they choose to be. It's remarkable.
Now for the first game to begin in book 4!
This is what I love about manga, the best ones somehow manage to teach you about whatever it is they are using as the foundation for the story while being able to be funny, sad, terrifying... Whatever genre they choose to be. It's remarkable.
Now for the first game to begin in book 4!
March 15, 2023
Got a glimpse of Sendoh! I’m excited for the next volume.
It’s still a good volume with Sakuragi’s and Rukawa’s at antics + the (ever supportive) gang.
It’s also nice seeing Sakuragi’s development in basketball.
It’s still a good volume with Sakuragi’s and Rukawa’s at antics + the (ever supportive) gang.
It’s also nice seeing Sakuragi’s development in basketball.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews