Initial D, Vol. 8

Initial D (2-in-1) #8

by Shuichi Shigeno

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 con il 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! Per mettere alla prova il nuovo “potere” della 86 e la sua tecnica, Takumi si lancia contro Kyoichi Sudo in una sfida sulla discesa della Irohazaka. Soddisfatto dal risultato e più tranquillo, il ragazzo si convince sempre di più a unirsi alla squadra di Ryosuke per correre fuori dalla prefettura. Un giorno, però, davanti a lui appare un nuovo, temibile sfidante… con cui ha un misterioso legame che affonda le sue radici nel lontano passato.

Genres: Manga, Sports, Fiction, Cars

Kindle Edition

First published January 6, 2021

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

[Mike Reiff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like training downhill drift in winter, Shigeno takes a big leap forward in the aesthetic of the series here, and composes his best chase to date

But also has a dumb, exploitive and bone-headed return to the bad old days with Natsuki’s character. After a series of increasingly thoughtful female characters, especially in vol. 7, this is a major letdown.

[Maya · Rating 1 out of 5]

what is it with male authors and rape scenes. what is it with male authors/illustrators who feel the need to constantly draw a female character from a downward view. what is it with male authors writing a character only there for the pleasure of men. that is natsuki’s ONLY trait. maybe there’s two, maybe three. she loves takumi, men love her, and, even in the cold gunma winter, even while working with gasoline and oil, she wears short skirts. women exist for more than the pleasure of men and I KNOW this is a 90s manga and I KNOW there is a lot of sexism in manga, and media in general, but good lord this was awful.

[AJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

This could have been four stars easy if there was more containment to the street racing and growth of characters, professionally and personally. Instead it is so let down by the sexualisation and objectification of Natsuki. Both the story and the art. Hard pass.

[Terry Lakins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume is interesting because we a rivalry with a generational hook to it. It's a reminder that Takumi's dad is a big part of his life and why racing is such a big deal for him. More of the good stuff.

[K Scudd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shigeno’s favorite pen nibs were discontinued so he HAD TO draw a bunch of up-skirt shots.

(Apologies to my friends who have to read this review out of context.)

[Jairon De leon · Rating 3 out of 5]

a whole lot of nothing happened after the first and only race on a manga about racing.

[Al Capwned · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume takes its time to get really interesting but when it does, it's worth it.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sub plot is crazy, what happen to fast cars, lowkey like Fast and Furious

[Benjamin Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the part where the mr2 jumped