Cross Game, Vol. 7

Cross Game - Omnibus edition #7

by Mitsuru Adachi

Cross Game is a moving drama that is heartfelt and true, yet in the brilliant hands of manga artist Mitsuru Adachi, delightfully flows with a light and amusing touch. The series centers around a boy named Ko, the family of four sisters who live down the street and the game of baseball. This poignant coming-of-age story will change your perception of what shonen manga can be.

Genres: Manga, Sports, Comics, Slice Of Life, Shonen, Graphic Novels, Japan

376 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 10, 2012

About the author

Mitsuru Adachi (あだち充 in Japanese) is a Japanese manga artist. After graduating from Gunma Prefectural Maebashi Commercial High School in 1969, Adachi worked as an assistant for Isami Ishii. He made his manga debut in 1970 with Kieta Bakuon, based on a manga originally created by Satoru Ozawa. Kieta was published in Deluxe Shōnen Sunday (a manga magazine published by Shogakukan).

Adachi is well known for romantic comedy and sports manga (especially baseball) such as Touch, H2, Slow Step, and Miyuki. He has been described as a writer of "delightful dialogue", a genius at portraying everyday life, "the greatest pure storyteller", and "a master manga artist". He is one of the few manga artists to write for shōnen, shōjo, and seinen manga magazines, and be popular in all three.

His works have been carried in manga magazines such as Weekly Shōnen Sunday, Ciao, Shōjo Comic, Big Comic, and Petit Comic, and most of his works are published through Shogakukan and Gakken. He was one of the flagship authors in the new Monthly Shōnen Sunday magazine which began publication in June 2009. Only two short story collections, Short Program and Short Program 2 (both through Viz Media), have been released in North America, though Viz is scheduled to begin publishing Cross Game in October 2010.

He modeled the spelling of あだち (rather than 安達) for his family name after the example of his older brother, manga artist Tsutomu Adachi. In addition, it has been suggested that the accurate portrayal of sibling rivalry in Touch may come from Adachi's experiences while growing up with his older brother. Adachi did the character designs for the OVA anime series Nozomi Witches, so he is sometimes incorrectly given credit for creating the original series.

Reviews

[Rick Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume opens with the summer prefecural tournament which pits Seishu against their former head coach Daimon's current roster in the second round. Seishu climbs the tournament ranks with minimal challenges, in no small part due to Ko's heroics on the field - especially in one game where Ko nearly pitches no-hitter. Meanwhile, Aoba is inundated by romantic propositions once the team learns that Ko isn't dating her. Aoba pushes Ko to seek out Akane, telling him that Wakaba wouldn't want Ko to feel guilty about it. There's a lot of touching moments in this volume, but that bit of closure was the most potent.

Can't wait to read the final volume.

[Ronin Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good volume, I feel like the baseball part is either dragged out too much where it all blends together or it’s too short and I don’t know anything about what happened. I’m excited to read the final volume!

[Coke Fernández · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/10

[Lela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

This series is the best baseball manga ever. 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁 😁

[Ren (A Bookish Balance) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

This makes me want to rewatch the anime, I think it better conveys the subtleties of the characters emotions and the music really enhances the experience!

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is making me a nervous wrecking ahhhhh

[David Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in point and moving swiftly towards the end game.

[Estara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adachi-sensei keeps up his strong game, all kinds of tensions are ramped up, sportwise and romancewise. Ko and Aoba are more aware of each other than ever and Akane's sickness brings in a worrisome note as they reach the final four and have to face Ryuou before they can reach the final game at Koshien.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Viz Digital - I'm gonna be sad to see this series wrap up. It's featured strong character beats, great artwork, smirk-inducing meta-humor, great relationships, and has done what I previously figured impossible - captured the poetry and pregnantly powerful moments of baseball, creating tension and action and explosive moments without actual movement.

[Stewart Tame · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting closer to Koshien! I suppose there's no point in a lengthy review. This is Vol. 7 after all. Those of you who've read the previous 6 will want to read this no matter what I say. Those of you starting with 7 ... What the heck is wrong with you?! Go start with Vol. 1 like everyone else!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, the next volume is the series finale, isn't it? Koshien is so close now! All this emotional buildup is killing me! I'm sure the eighth and last Cross Game omnibus will have me crying along with the Seishu team.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cross Game is so understated that it's easy to overlook its greatness, but there are so many levels to Adachi's storytelling here. I heart these characters so much.

[Laurianne Uy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh gods, these characters continue to delight. I think I ship Azuma x Aoba even though she works great with Ko as well. XD

[Child960801 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tension ramps up as this will be Ko final chance to make it to the big game. Continues to be fun and exciting.