Good grief that was emotional!!!! Shiratori's comeback. Quite a few flashbacks and an insanely tense wrestling match. And and and...Hanasaki has a confession. Just wow.
Veremos el retorno al ring del Escorpión Shiratori, compañero de Takahashi en la rehabilitación. Sin ser capaz de pararse por sí solo, de todas maneras participa en una última pelea con su gran amigo Matsuzaka.
Real, Vol. 13 continues where the previous tankōbon left off and collects the next six chapters (73–78) of the ongoing manga series.
Hisanobu Takahashi watches his friend and roommate from his physical therapy, Scorpion Shiratori makes his re-debut in the wrestling ring. He is nowhere near complete his physical therapy, but uses his outing to fight. Takahashi is in disbelief throughout the match – as how can someone who can’t walk wrestle. Throughout the match, he internally learns the meaning of strength and victory and as the tankōbon closes he approaches the Choufu Dreams and asks to join the team.
Tomomi Nomiya and Kiyoharu Togawa do not appear in the tankōbon.
This tankōbon is written and illustrated by Takehiko Inoue. It mainly centers on Scorpion Shiratori and his backstory is fleshed out. It is an interesting read on how he became the villain of the wrestling world – hated by most of the fans and loved by a few. Through watching the fight, Takahashi learns what true strength and the meaning of victory in defeat. The tankōbon closes with Takahashi hoping to join the Choufu Dreams.
All in all, Real, Vol. 13 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems intriguing and I cannot wait to read more.
It was surprising to find an entire volume of this wheelchair basketball manga devoted to a single pro-wrestling match. The story was emotional, the art was fantastic, and I was just in it. This was great storytelling. Because it was about more than just the match. The two characters at ringside had less to do within the volume but were also heavily impacted by everything going on. The whole story wasn't just an indulgence. It was necessary. And so very well done.
In a volume that centres around Shiratori's wrestling return many months after the accident that resulted in him being unable to use his legs, Inoue exhibits an incredible understanding of real-world pro-wrestling tropes.
Inoue seems to take inspiration from staples of the New Japan Pro Wrestling scene, with his Rising Suns resembling NJPW's Golden Lovers (Omega & Ibushi). Having Shiratori leaning into popular heel tropes as he riles up the crowd without actually wrestling, receives help from outsiders, and utilises poison mist in his attempts to grasp victory further showcases his great understanding of wrestling and the philosophy behind it.
Shiratori wrestling the entire thing with no legs reminded me of one-man matches I've watched online where the enemy is an inanimate object such as a blow-up doll. I even once watched a match where a wrestler took on a supposedly invisible man. Point is, sometimes it really only takes one man to carry a match, and that's the story here as Shiratori's once-partner alters his move set to accommodate for Shiratori's lack of legs.
I think the ending falls a bit flat - the two other tag partners did absolutely nothing but stand and watch for a while plus the TKO victory felt like a bit of a cop out considering how seldom used they are in actual pro wrestling, but everything leading up until that point was genius and showed Inoue is intimately familiar with not just basketball, but wrestling too (as if his slew of side characters with wrestling backgrounds didn't already show this).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
TW: Wrestling ( violence , blood ) , substances , depiction of abusive relationship , strong language
While I do sympathise with Shiratori , he can be too competitive. Yes, I know that he is (was?) a pro wrestler but he is too conceited. This is shown since the very beginning. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to be the strongest but he gets jealous easily; letting his frustrations out through violence. I’m not fond of wrestling ( except when I’m bullying my siblings when we were younger lol ) so reading this volume was interesting!!! Shiratori did amazingly despite being handicapped. KUDOS!
I don’t know what else to say except that I love this series with all my heart. REAL is a non-linear manga that can be quite philosophical at times. It’s a surprise each volume. Moreover, I love that the mangaka often uses metaphors to describe the characters emotions. Inoue is just intelligent and creative like that. One more to go until I wait for new updates. 😣😭
Also, I love that Hisanobu’s care towards Shiratori is evident. Its so cute that he’s anxious seeing him compete. Let me remind you that this man used to be self-centred so I am definitely enjoying this character development! This is the real Hisanobu. AAAAND MY BOY IS FINALLY JOINING WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL. IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT. IM CRYIN
This volume feels like the quiet breaking point of REAL not a loud climax, but a spiritual unsealing. Inoue turns silence into catharsis; the jar that rolls across the ground becomes a vessel for everything these characters have carried guilt, pride, and the fear of being seen. When Takahashi’s father bends down to lift it, there’s a tenderness that transcends words: a man finally recognizing the fragility of his son. His mother, his friends, and those who share his pain stand nearby, witnesses to the rebirth of empathy. And then, Shiratori the man who’s wrestled both literally and figuratively with himself opens the jar, setting that caged innocence free. The moment he cries in the ring, it’s as though he’s crying for everyone who’s ever hated themselves for being broken. REAL Volume 13 isn’t about victory it’s about release. It’s about learning that liberation isn’t walking again; it’s feeling again.
Un tome centré sur Shiratori. Je l’aime bien et je trouve ça intéressant de voir une partie de sa vie et des flashbacks de ce qui a fait de lui ce qu’il est dans le présent. Mais sans plus tbh, en même temps c’est pas mon personnage préféré donc bon !
« Si tu peux pas te servir de tes jambes, vas-y avec les mains. Pas de mains ? Avec les dents. Défends-toi avec tout ce qu’il te reste. »
Très beau tome honnêtement. C’est une belle leçon de vie. On a pas BESOIN de gagner on a juste a ne pas perdre. Toujours essayé. Pas besoin de faire beaucoup, mais juste assez et re essayer jusqu’à réussir. Parce que le parcours sera sûrement beau à voir.
El Escorpión Shiratori vuelve al ring y es realmente un tomo espectacular lleno de emoción, drama, tensión. Un poco suena a chiste, pero en serio, es muy bueno, Inoue es un maestro y termina desarrollando tres o cuatro personajes a la vez, mientras muestra un partido de lucha libre japonés, una genialidad total.
Takehiko Inoue way to conduce narratives and make you think and relate is fascinating. I can't believe I got so emotional and thoughtful with a wrestling fight. <3
The story of shiratory was great in a weird way , i don't know where it's going , he had a great arc and development, i hope things work up with his daughter later on , it's amazing how a side character got all of this depth
Real continues to deliver on so many levels. This particular volume was so distinguished in its development of characters. I can't wait to read Volume 14 later this spring!