Initial D, Vol. 2

Initial D

by Shuichi Shigeno

Showdown on the Mountain With news of the phantom EIght Six spreading like wildfire over the prefecture, more and more racers want in on the action … but the Eight Six driver, Tak, might not really want any of the action, at least, maybe not that kind of action. His romance with Natalie grows all the more ambiguous even as he anticipates a date with her, a semi-romantic excursion to the beach on a Sunday afternoon. Of course, Tak'll need some wheels to get there, and his dad won't let him borrow the car unless he lines up again K.T. (one of the best drivers in the rival racing gang of the Red Suns) in a race down the serpentine roads of Mount Akina. The Akina Speed Stars are counting on him, his best friend Iggy is counting on him, his old man is counting on him, and, most of all, Natalie is counting on him. But once Tak gets a taste of how sweet victory really is, his indifference to driving just may turn into a passion for it.

Part of the comiXology Originals line of exclusive digital content only available on comiXology and Kindle. This title is available as part of comiXology Unlimited, Kindle Unlimited and Prime Reading.

Genres: Manga, Comics, Graphic Novels, Japan, Fiction, Seinen, Sports

225 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2002

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

[Nicolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to love Initial D., the cars, and the racing this is indeed a true shonen manga.

However, I reached a point where I could live without it and I've always found the translation iffy. So this is going to the Culling.

[Natalie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

November 2023
Kindle edition
KU manga

Tak seemed to be having fun and finding his feet racing. Thanks to his friends setting him up. The brothers are a little obsessive and the father is the quiet mentor sitting in the background. Started getting bored but then another cliffy and onto the next.

[Soul · Rating 5 out of 5]

incroyable l'après course avec les frères des redsuns et tout le teasing avec le course contre la GTR. Le tome se termine sur la tension maximal juste avant de démarrer la course, comment ne pas acheter le prochain tome...

[niezrównany ogórek]

w takim momencie skonczyc..

[Ben Zimmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has surprisingly little actual racing for a series that's about racing.

[izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this, I swearr. AND WHAT ABOUT THIS ENDINGG. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE TAK BEATING THAT DUMB GT-R

[Noah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initial D Vol.2 is a Graphic Novel by Shuichi Shigeno. It starts off where the last book left off, where Takumi, the main protagonist, about to face off against the Akagi Red Suns second best driver, Keisuke Takahashi. The race then starts, and it goes through the entire race, of Takumi chasing Keisuke, until Takumi passes him, and wins the race. After that, A new Challenger, Takeshi Nakazato, goes to the gas station to try to find Takumi, and challenge him to race him, but instead, he finds Itsuki, and Itsuki lies and tells him that he was Takumi's partner in racing and that Takumi would definitely race him. Then Takumi finds out and struggles to choose to race him or to not race him. Itsuki thinks that Takumi will not want to race him, so he plans to go and meet Takeshi Nakazato, and tell him the truth. A week passed by, and Itsuki gets ready to say the truth, then Takumi shows up, and both Takeshi and Takumi get ready to race. Personally, I absolutely loved this book, and it was well written, with lots of action, drama, and a great storyline. The story had great transitions from the mini-plot of Takumi's race with Keisuke, to the upcoming battle with Takeshi Nakazato. Its illustrations were great since it was a graphic novel, and its artwork was unique, and also traditional to the manga style. I would recommend this book to someone who likes racing genre books, and mangas.

[Nicko · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Maybe 4.5 stars*

I really enjoyed this. Better than the first volume. Whether Shuichi knew it or not, I thought he was firing on all cylinders here. I loved exploring Tak’s purpose. Making him question what he really loves. He’s got the talent and the rare skill, but, does he love it? What does he even love? This volume doesn’t answer that quite yet but I appreciate framing Tak’s circumstances about how he became such a good driver and having his friends and circle around him question his purpose. Shuichi is also expanding his world here with introducing a new racing team from the “prefecture”.

He also really knows his car stuff — that shines throughout the volume. I don’t know anything about cars or the material or science that is talked about in this book but you can tell that Shuichi is putting it in there for all the people that do. He also does a good job at conveying what the gist is of what they’re saying (e.g. the GT-R’s weakness is its weight).

Iggy is an idiot lol. It’s not that I dislike him, but, he’s easy to not like. He’s certainly good comic relief. Curious to see how his arc grows. I also love Tak’s relationship with his Dad, Bunta. It’s not your typical one and they hardly speak.

[Aleena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume features the fd3s (mazda rx7), the r32 (nissan skyline), teasers of the rest of the speed star's s13 (nissan silvia) and 180sx (also a s13, but older) and of course the ae86!!!! (toyota trueno). I realized that I probably sounded like a robot when saying all the series codes without using the model names. The characters don't use the model names so be warned: you may have to google some things. Takeshi Nakazato is one of my favorite side characters, seriously A tier cause of his growth through the series! Keisuke Takahashi is a pretty cool charcter too, but he's your average pretty boy. All of my friends love him for some reason but he is a good character, not in this volume though.

[Kris Mariela · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's great and all that Tak is a good friend to Iggy. I actually like this story because his dad lets him decide for his own in terms of racing. He's pretty chill with the whole thing. I also like that he trained Tak without him knowing.

What I don't like about this is that it lacked human connection. I mean, they are supposed to be people, but the relationships and interaction are weird and sometimes cold.

Anyways, I look forward to the race between the Trueno and the GT-R. Tak VS. Zack. I can't wait! ✨

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just the one, and I as a car enthusiast love it. It is really fun to read and get into the story. Takumi’s AE86 is just amazing. If you like cars and Anime or Manga, definitely read this one. Can’t wait to read the next volume.

[AsianMerr · Rating 3 out of 5]

We got the conclusion of the first race and the lead up to the next one. Tak gets glazed throughout the volume and it was kind of annoying. I’m sure he’ll win this next race but I’m ready to have him lose once and for them to do a different track after this.

[keikii Eats Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

19.41

[Sacha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incroyable

[Raquelle Element · Rating 4 out of 5]

Him getting in the car and his monologue while passing out was super funny. The action continues.

[Kurtis Burkhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite anime’s, story could definitely use a lot of help but the racing’s really exciting and love some of the main characters 😻👍🏎

[Giselle Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addictive. Couldn't stop reading

[ferdi 🍉 · Rating 5 out of 5]

finally! we get to meet myogi night kids’s nakazato! watching the anime, he was honestly my favorite character. his theme song (“back on the rocks”) also fits him and his gtr perfectly 🤩

[Andy Leavy]

Racing is not something you can easily translate to still image and still keep it exciting but Initial D is a creative book and pulls off the high-octane action perfectly.

[Lindsay · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Ugh. I was hoping the weird grooming thing was a one time thing, but it's not.

[Greta K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpectedly kind of awesome. I am a bit baffled by the random sex trafficking (?) subplot in the middle of all the usual 90’s sports shounen stuff though lmao. Curious to see where that goes.

[Francesca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leggerlo con in sottofondo "GAS GAS GAS" di Manuel fa il suo effetto

[giulia · Rating 2 out of 5]

★★½

[Maddi :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tak is still annoying

[Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

[Prathamesh Nalawade · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read if you are a true car fanatic!

[Cris Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as addictive as euro beat mixes. It's really cool to see the impact this publication had in the development of a subculture.

[Racheal Hadman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

I absolutely adored the anime. So I thought it was time for me to be the actual Manga and I still love it

[z3r0 c00l]

01/02/22

[Jordan Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 2nd volume of Shigeno’s seminal classic picks up right where the first one left off and continues the rise of Tak and his shockingly fast Toyota Trueno AE86.

Personally, I’m ready for this story to progress a bit beyond the constant panels of downhill racing and Japanese pretty boys constantly whining about how they don’t understand why Tak’s car is so fast, but this is manga afterall and we all know it takes like 45 issues for anything of substance to happen.

Still, it’s entertaining enough. The artwork remains decent and reading a Japanese comic that doesn’t involve tentacle porn or magic powers is a nice change of pace. I’m not saying it’s terrible but I have no idea if I’ll ever get around to the thirst volume any time soon.