Asadora!, Vol. 5

あさドラ! [Asadora!] #5

by Naoki Urasawa

Asa and Nakaido fly out to take a closer look at the mysterious creature that has appeared off the coast of Japan. As the creature threatens them with its sharp teeth and spiky tail, Nakaido works to decipher his mentor’s notes and find its weakness. But their attempts to take down the beast are in vain when it makes its way for land!

Genres: Manga, Comics, Graphic Novels, Seinen, Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, Young Adult

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 2021

About the author

Urasawa Naoki (浦沢直樹) is a Japanese mangaka. He is perhaps best known for Monster (which drew praise from Junot Díaz, the 2008 Pulitzer Prize winner) and 20th Century Boys.

Urasawa's work often concentrates on intricate plotting, interweaving narratives, a deep focus on character development and psychological complexity. Urasawa has won the Shogakukan Manga Award, the Japan Media Arts Festival excellence award, the Kodansha Manga Award and the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize. In 2008 Urasawa accepted a guest teaching post at Nagoya Zokei University.

Series list (not including short stories collections):
- Pineapple ARMY (パイナップルARMY) 1985-1988, written by Kazuya Kudo;
- YAWARA! 1986-1993;
- Master Keaton (MASTERキートン) 1988-1994, written by Hokusei Katsushika;
- Happy! 1993-1999
- MONSTER 1994-2001
- 20th Century Boys (20世紀少年) 1999-2006
- 21st Century Boys (21世紀少年) 2007
- PLUTO 2003-2009, based on Tezuka Osamu's Tetsuwan Atom
- BILLY BAT 2008-2016
- Master Keaton Remaster (MASTERキートン Reマスター) 2012-2014
- Mujirushi (夢印-MUJIRUSHI-) 2017-2018, collaboration with Musée du Louvre
- Asadora! (連続漫画小説 あさドラ!) 2018-ongoing

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thrilling showdown between Asa Asada and the kaiju is undercut by frequent shifts to supporting character scenes that -- while well done -- seem increasingly full of unnecessary noodling around. And two subplots with teenage girls involve an attempted gang rape and sexual exploitation by disgusting old men that have them choosing her clothing and tossing out the crusty old The Glasses Gotta Go trope, so, y'know, ewwww.

[Matty Dub · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could easily be a 5 but goddamn Urasawa does weird shit in this one. Asa is more heroic than ever before, she finally faces the monster and she's brilliantly fearless, it's great! But.. while she's saving the Olympics, Yone is getting taken advantage of by two old creepy "talent agents", she's objectified and sexualized is such a creepy way, she's a freaking teenager ffs! And poor Miyako, we only see her long enough to be saved from being gang raped by a troupe of female wrestlers. These are some dark fucking things happening in an otherwise light series and it really cast a creepy shadow on everything. I'm super disappointed, I was so excited to share this book with my daughter but now I'll have to wait until she's at least old enough to understand just how disgusting men can be. I'm pissed!

[Skye Kilaen]

Hoping we don't have to spend more time on storylines where teenage girls are being objectified and almost assaulted. That was not what I was expecting from the first few volumes of this series. :(

[Frédéric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asa confronts the kaiju. The ongoing subplots (Yone, Miyako, Hasuga) are very well written in their own right, but this confrontation is so intense that it completely overshadows them.

A lesson in drawing and storytelling, this confrontation between a marine kaiju and a single-engine light aircraft, over the sea and at night. It sounds crazy when you put it like that, but it's simply breathtaking.

[Jenny Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love the interplay of all the different story threads. They are easy to keep straight as well, which some authors fumble. Urasawa doesn't. Also interested to learn more about the kaiju, with its "back fastener".
Check out my YouTube channel for bookish videos and monthly wrap ups!

[Mark Schlatter · Rating 3 out of 5]

The action is this volume was quite strong, and I like how everyone is getting their own separate storyline with arcs of tension. BUT the storyline with Yone is so skeevy, I am regularly uncomfortable when I read it.

[Kesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darker than expected. Miyako and Yoneko experience horrible things ..
The female wrestlers Susie and Ginko are the only one's bringing some light heartedness to this fifth volume of Asadora.

[Keiko the manga enthusiast ♒︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asa, the "winged" goddess—that was pretty intense in all angles, including the subplots!! But with some scenes that do not cut out right and left bitter taste in my mouth.

[Met · Rating 1 out of 5]

Già dallo scorso volume e qui ancora di più ho l’impressione che Urasawa stia raccontando l’aria fritta. Non ritrovo le stesse atmosfere thriller dei suoi lavori precedenti, o almeno non forti come quelle. Asa è anche un personaggio interessante, ma sono tentato di fermarmi qui con la lettura…

[Ignacio · Rating 4 out of 5]

¿Se puede intercalar un vuelo en una situación a vida a muerte con una audición ante gente de los bajos fondos sin perder el agarre ni quedar ridículo? Urasawa lo consigue. 'nuff said.

[Gabe · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can tell Urasawa is trying his best to be progressive with how he frames his female characters, but he still isn't fully immune to that pesky male gaze that pretty much undermines anything interesting he tries to say this volume.

Not to mention we've officially reached the point in the story where he has to juggle multiple plot lines, which he has a very shaky track record of being able to pull off.

I'd like to hope he's learned his lesson from all his previous series and tries to wrap things up before he writes himself into a corner, but I have a feeling that won't be the case. Art's still as solid as it's always been, but the story is starting to wear in the bullshit department.

[Baylor Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main plot with Asa continues to be thrilling & satisfying, but the C & D plots are just odd and concerning. These two side-plots literally both feature high school girls (Asa’s friends) being preyed upon by creepy & dangerous men. Why?? I can only hope these plots are ascending towards a redemptive, empowerment arc, but I fear they are just the indulgent inclusion of a weird author.

[ej · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 tw s*xual h*rrassment n nearly sa - had to knock a star off for the incessant fuckery that was sorta played off as a “joke”… urasawa i will take away your pen there’s no point to put that shit in n handle it so loosely - also the sexualization in general just… put the pen down

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Urasawa is so good. And the real kicker is that he continues to be good. Like, how does a dude who exclusively writes kick ass manga keep it up after 30-odd years?? I don't know, but this series is just so wildly readable. Also we get to spend some time with a ladies' wrestling league, and there's a sweet faceoff with asa and the big not-godzilla guy.

My only lament is that Urasawa is currently writing this series so the wait for more volumes is extra long (but I will wait! In the meantime VIZ please publish Billy Bat or Yawara or any of the other Urasawa titles we don't have over here!!!)

[Jelka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Asa in this volume. And the way uncle came to the rescue…. So good.

Now, Yone‘s and Miyako‘s plotlines… I hope it’s not just creepy objectification of female characters but set up for something more. Until now I was really pleased with the portrayal of the female characters in this manga.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Urasawa-sama's storytelling so much. His pacing, his caricatures, his story ideas, they all blend to create something greater than the sum of their parts. It may not be as groundbreaking as Monster or 20th Century Boys, but it's still a whole lot of fun. Highly recommended for serious manga fans.

[Lia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monsterya apa, masih misteri yaa

[Lightwhisper · Rating 5 out of 5]

No puedes parar de leer, una gran aventura, como se fuera Godzilla.

[Unna Ketola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tosi mielenkiintoista luettavaa nuorten elämästä sodanjälkeisessä Japanissa, joka hakee paikkaansa maailmankartalla Tokion olympialaisten avulla. Ja aina välillä paikalla on myös Merihirviö. Kaikilla hahmoilla on omat sivujuonensa jotka on tasapainotettu hyvin

[Rachel B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bravo asa pour ton premier vol de nuit !

[kuusela harry-pekka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much side character fokus in a strange juxtaposition with the big story. Maybe that is the quirky point.

[Mateen Mahboubi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not thrilled with the tone of the creepy dude stuff. Asadora and her flying adventures are captivating enough to sustain this story we don't need this other stuff and even if side plots are included, there are better ways of presenting them.

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Yone storyline is really pulling the rating down

[Doc · Rating 5 out of 5]

And I saw a beast coming out of the sea.

Another fantastic issue of Naoki Urasawa's latest masterpiece. With leaving Miyako behind to face the incredible threat of the monster that took Asa's family five long years ago and Yone having her own crisis with a man claiming (and hopefully truthful about) being an agent that can help her become a star we find all three of these friends in their own dire peril as those nearby come to help things from getting to dark and gritty. In the mean time old man Kasuga is unaware of the threat just off the coast as he attends the bedside of a man he ran over recently so he doesn't even realize the potential threat until he returns to Asa's home to see if he can get food for the elderly mother of the man.

Plenty of action and close calls burst from this book as Asa faces off against the beast from the waves all while doing everything she can to prevent it from reaching land and causing harm like it did 5 years ago. The thing about this series is it is not just about the big monster now fully realized with a face full of glowing orbs that might be eyes of some sort but also about the human elements of eh heroes and the people around them as they live their lives and do the best they can for each other and unlike those that just want to see a giant monster wreak havoc on the populace I am happy to see some of the normalcy still found outside of the manacling shadow from beyond. :)

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asadora is THE pilot, and I love her.

[Emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I think this was my favorite book in the series so far! There was so much going on. The side stories with Yone and Miyako kept me glued to the page, and the big confrontation with Asa was jaw-dropping. I just found out that book 8 is in production, and I'm so excited to see that the series is still ongoing!

[Michael Lieto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was GREAT

Easily one of my favorite series currently running. Great characters and a LOT happens in this volume. Can’t wait for more!

[Gisela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main plot line stuff: great! All the weird, creepy, sexually exploitive stuff happening to Asa’s friends on the side: not great!

[Skjam! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: This review contains SPOILERS for earlier volumes of Asadora!

It is 1964, and the Tokyo Olympics are about to begin. But there has been a sighting of “that thing”, a gigantic creature of unknown origins, in the vicinity. If it can’t be driven off, the Olympics will have to be delayed or cancelled. The one person in a position to do anything is seventeen-year-old pilot Asa Asada, who has encountered “that thing” before during a typhoon. She takes off in a Piper Cub with Keiichi Nakaido, a college student whose deceased teacher left notes on possible weaknesses of the monster. Meanwhile, two of Asa’s classmates face their own troubles.

This is the latest manga series from Naoki Urasawa, who’s produced such hits as Twentieth Century Boys and Monster. He’s known for having multiple subplots and intriguing characters, and trying out different genres. In this case, it seems to be a kaiju (giant monster ala Godzilla) story, but there’s other things going on.

Asa’s mentor, Haruo Kasuga, was a fighter pilot during World War Two who fell on hard times after the war. He kidnapped Asa as a child, but a typhoon happened, the two had to work together to survive, and became friends. Now he runs a small aviation business. Mr. Kasuga isn’t available for the mission as he’s taking responsibility for an auto accident caused by a tabloid reporter who’s been stalking Asa.

Asa’s friend Yoneko “Yone” Nakajima has been scouted by an entertainment agent, who turns out to be underprepared for the interview, as the only dress he has in stock is embarrassingly undersized. (He has also fallen on hard times.) Yone’s “guardian” Eisaku Noro shows up to protect her interests, but it turns out he’s been in the entertainment industry himself, and Yone is in for more embarrassment.

Miyako, Asa’s other school friend, was tailing Yone because she wants to break into show business herself, but got lost in a bad neighborhood. Miyako is threatened by a gang of juvenile hooligans, but before anything truly bad happens is rescued and introduced to the world of professional wrestling.

Back in the main plot, Asa confronts “that thing” and we learn that she may have a prophecy about her.

While most of the immediate plotlines are resolved by the end of the volume, we’re still in the early part of this manga, so there’s sure to be some major twists ahead.

Urasawa’s art remains impressive, the characters are easy to tell apart (important in a large cast), and the writing is intriguing. The subplots are just as important to the characters experiencing them as the main kaiju invasion is to the story.

The period setting also allows for interesting detail. The slang term “transistor glamour” is used for an attractive petite woman because at the time transistor technology was the new hotness. The agent is floundering because entertainment trends are changing in ways he doesn’t understand. The war generation is hitting middle age, though some appear to have aged more rapidly than others.

Content note: Yone dons a couple of “fanservice” outfits at the request of the agent and her guardian, and isn’t comfortable with this. Miyako is threatened with sexual assault.

It’s not clear exactly where the series is going from here given Urasawa’s love of twisty plots, but past experience leads me to believe the journey will be interesting and fun. Recommended to manga fans who are willing to wait for answers.

[Gigli · Rating 5 out of 5]

»»» A compra:
Depois de ler de uma assentada os 2 volumes anteriores corri a comprar este e ainda apanhei uma promoção da fnac online. Dias felizes!

»»» A aventura:
Asa e as suas amigas estão todas perante o perigo neste volume, perante monstros diferentes.
Asa pilota sozinha o pequeno avião e com a ajuda do jovem cientista que a acompanha tenta destruir o monstro que viram sair do mar em plena tempestade.
Yone vê-se no centro das atenções indevidas do produtor discográfico e, estranhamente, também do tio do jovem cientista, que é enviado para assegurar que ela está bem.
A outra amiga de Asa e Yone, Miyako, tenta descobrir o que Yone anda a fazer às escondidas, mas acaba atacada por uns delinquentes no meio da rua, sendo salva por um inesperado grupo de mulheres praticantes de luta livre.
Quando Asa percebe que pode não conseguir regressar a casa porque o avião não está preparado para voos noturnos ela tem que reunir todas as suas forças para pelo menos tentar… mal sabendo que Kasuga de tudo fará para que ela regresse sã e salva a casa.

»»» Sentimento final:
O mais estranho volume até agora, mas, mesmo assim, impossível de parar de ler.
Tudo é empolgante e mesmo as ações das amigas de Asa acabam por ter um cunho educativo, sobre os perigos de andarmos por aí sozinhos.
Mais uma vez as cenas do avião no meio da tempestade são fabulosas.

»»» Nota final (capa e outras considerações):
--- [Capa] –Excelente capa, das três amigas que enfrentam diferentes dificuldades neste volume.
--- [Ilustração] – Sublime como sempre – as cenas de Asa no avião no meio da tempestade em pleno mar são do melhor.

»»» Uma espreitadela: