Cross Game 3

Cross Game - Omnibus edition #3

by Mitsuru Adachi, Lillian Olsen (Translator)

Drama with a light touch, Cross Game will change how you see Shonen manga.

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) T audience.

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.

It is time for Ko and the other mist Portables to either put up or shut up. If they lose against the varsity players, they will be kicked off the baseball team forever. But will a newbie like Ko be good enough to take on an elite squad of recruits?!

Genres: Manga, Comics, Sports, Slice Of Life, Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Fiction

370 pages, Paperback

First published April 12, 2011

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

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love, love, love this series--the sense of time passing, the way the characters and story look forward to the future (Koshien!) and also back to the past (Wakaba). Adachi is so good at creating and sustaining a mood, and he's also a master of the silent panel. (His use of silent panels actually reminds me a lot of Yotsuba&!.)

I could do without the panty shots, of course, but I sort of assume that's the price the series pays for running in Shonen Sunday.

[Coke Fernández · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10

[Princess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely everything about volume 6 and 7 five stars for both volumes .

[jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story and these characters. They are so real to me. I really like the addition of Azuma and his older brother. There is some emotional stuff near the end that I found so touching. And a new character! I'm eager to see where the story goes now.

[Rick Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's so great about Cross Game is that both the baseball and slice-of-life moments all work wonderfully in conjunction with each other. Though the portable team lost to the varsity team in the previous chapter, the portables continue to play against distinguished opponents, though they lose frequently. But it's clear how much the individual players are developing, especially in contrast to Coach Daimon's varsity squad who seem much more stilted following their regular season. Amidst this all, Ko and Aoba show some sparks of interest towards one another.

One can consider Cross Game to be a bit of a slow burn, but I really appreciate the time Mitsuru Adachi takes in developing everything in an organic fashion. I'd probably describe this series as a baseball soap opera, and I can't believe I'm enjoying this as much as I am since I'm not a fan of either baseball or soap operas. But that's what great writing and skillful cartooning will do - challenge readers to embrace something they never knew they wanted.

[Kellyanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 I would have given this five stars, but the panty and boob shot panels felt so unnecessary. I know the boys are going through puberty but there are less misogynistic/revealing ways to get that point across. It felt...sketchy.

That said, I LOVE Part 6 for the in-depth context given to baseball losses and for the fact that the principal and that awful coach (what? If he couldn’t be bothered to learn his players’ names, why should I learn his?) get their just desserts.

Ko and Aoba really need to clear the air regarding Wakaba. Ko’s hanging on to a ghost and it’s going to bite him in the butt one day (one could argue that it has already with his relationship with Aoba).

LOVE Azuma and Senda so much. Looking forward to reading the next volume!

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding series. I've read it once before, and I really enjoy the way Mitsuru Adachi manages in every volume to bring to light something more about humanity, and even when things are hard, always makes hope matter without making hope automatically the clear winner in every situation. Inspiring and encouraging without being saccharine.

[Child960801 · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is another big game between the varsity and the portable teams, but this time the stakes are the coaches jobs.

I'm enjoying this series. The first chapter in this book had several panty shots, which is not normal. Ratings must have needed a boost.

[Pturingan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This manga is so good. Beautiful art, plenty of likable characters and a moving story that is funny, sad, thrilling and hopeful all at the same time. You don't even need to know much about baseball to enjoy it.

[Ronin Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugh, annoying cousin got introduced. Please don’t be another love interest. Besides that, good volume!

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

4/5 stars

[David Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The slow reveal on the weird little old man with the moustache is priceless.

[Mateen Mahboubi · Rating 4 out of 5]

go portables go! What a great summer

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, Cross Game. The series that just gets better and better with each passing volume. In this collection of chapters, we see the showdown to end all showdowns between varsity and the portable team, with the jobs of each team’s coach – as well as the life of the portable team itself – riding on the outcome. We are also introduced to several new characters, including the dour Yuhei’s older brother and an unexpected rival for Aoba’s affection, one that might actually have more than a snowball’s chance in hell of being noticed by her. Yikes! This volume is a pitch perfect blend of baseball and character development that any likeminded Adachi fan will cheer for.

Read the rest of my review at Nagareboshi Reviews!

[Glasdow Teacosy · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories are paced in a way that only a mangaka confident he won't be cancelled can pull off. Adachi likes romances that take a long time to simmer. Here we see Ko and Aoba draw slowly closer in a believable way. Meanwhile obstacles are introduced, then dismissed in comical ways, as is the case of the snotty baseball club manager, Risa Shido. Adachi creates memorable characters, but unlike other authors, his supporting cast never overshadows the main cast. He truly is masterful in storytelling.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ko and Aoba are so great, I love this cast of characters so far and how they bounce off each other. I think Azuma is maybe the most surprising for me, I expected him to be the prodigy rival of sorts but he's been better than that. He's skilled and hard-working, he values winning but unlike the coach he doesn't dismiss the value in teamwork and other members. He's got his pride but doesn't let it blind him to the value of others. And he's quiet but observant and can see things nland feelings that others, like Ko and Aoba, are pushing under the surface.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Viz Digital - a little slower than previous volumes, but Adachi makes up for that with stronger character beats - Azuma's brother, plenty of reminiscing over Wakaba, and the continued development of Ko and Aoba's rivalry and burgeoning respect.

[Estara · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my impressions of the first four omnibi(?) at this review - has spoilers.

[Druin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continues to impress.

[Laurianne Uy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awwww, Azuma's become one of the gang now. Neat!

[Missy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is getting better, will see if I can find the episodes online.

[Taniplea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was easier to understand than last one and it had a bit more about Wakaba again.