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| Takagi (Left) and Mashiro (Right) |
The manga, Bakuman, is a shounen manga that debuted in 2008 and ended in 2012. It was serialized in Shounen Jump; a popular comic magazine company in Japan. This series was awarded best manga series in 2011 and 2012. Due to its popularity, Bakuman was given an anime adaptation which is currently airing in 2013. The author, Tsugumi Ohba, has also written the popular Death Note. He is the reason why I have read all 176 chapters of Bakuman and will continue to support his work in the future.
Link to read Bakuman online:
http://www.mangareader.net/219/bakuman.html
This story is fictional and based on two junior students, Moritaka Mashiro and Akito Takagi. One day, Moritaka Mashiro has forgotten his notebook in class and his classmate, Akito Takagi asks Mashiro to become his manga artist to his stories whilst seeing his drawings in the notebook. Mashiro declines the offer, due to his memories of his late uncle, a mangaka, who died from overwork. Takagi plans to meet up Miho Azuki, Mashiro's crush, and tell her the that both of them will become manga artists. In response, Azuki also reveals her plans of becoming a voice actress. Mashiro proposes to her and should marry each other when Azuki becomes a voice actor for the anime adaptation of their manga. Mashiro and Takagi start creating their manga, under the name Mugo Ashiro, in hopes of getting serialized in the weekly Jump.
As expected, the art of Bakuman does not resemble any western comic books. Like most Japanese manga, large eyes and hair styles play a huge role in defining a character. As seen in the picture above, both Mashiro and Takagi have weird hair colour and styles that isn't normal in today's society. However, the characters designs still remain simple and isn't detailed to the extreme. Thus, allowing anyone to relate with Mashiro and Takagi. Also, as you continue to read Bakuman, the art style has rapidly improved over time.
Bakuman isn't your typical shounen manga; it does not involve alot of action and is mainly based on two friends writing a manga of their own. However, this does not mean Bakuman isn't a shounen manga. It is able to give the sense of thrill and excitement like other mangas but in a different approach. This can be seen through all the hardship and laughters between Mashiro and Takagi. The journey that Mashiro and Takagi go through can also inspire ordinary people like you and me to work hard and obtain their dream in life.
The pace of this manga is quite slow when compared to western comics due to Japanese culture and traditions. However, this slow pace helps with character development. It is evident that Mashiro and Takagi slowly mature into adults throughout the manga. Since this is a weekly manga, arcs happen often in Bakuman; each arc shows is filled with sadness or happiness which help the characters evolve. After each milestone, both Mashiro and Takagi meet new people who help them achieve their goal. Thus, creating a mood of seriousness and goofiness at times due to the personality of the main characters.
Like other Japan manga, Bakuman is to be read right to left with panels separating actions and the sense of time. Circle speech bubbles are often used and place near the appropriate characters to show who is talking. Small pictures of a characters face are sometimes placed in speech bubles to show who is talking in a panel filled with text.
Even though Bakuman isn't your typical shounen manga, it still remains popular within this category. The story is quite good due to the main idea of fulfilling your dreams as a backbone. Many will find this manga boring at first but the great personalities of Mashiro and Takagi allow us to relate to them easily. Thus, letting them to grow on us a bit and accepting them for who they are. I would highly recommend this manga to anyone and the anime adaptation is worth the watch too.
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