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Feb 20, 2020
One Pound Gospel is an often overlooked manga created by world-renowned Rumiko Takahashi, who's best known for Ranma 1/2 and InuYasha--both of which were part of what got me into anime and manga as a teenager, so I almost felt obligated to give One Pound Gospel a try. Unlike most of Takahashi's manga, One Pound Gospel is pretty short, clocking in at only four volumes. It ran from 1987 to 2006 (presumably released at a snail's pace) and was licensed in the US by Viz Media. It was adapted into a single-episode OVA that covers the first couple chapters of the manga.
The story revolves around
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Kosaku Hatanaka, a boxer who struggles to maintain his weight (anyone who's familiar with boxing or wrestling knows that staying in the appropriate weight class is an imperative aspect of the sport), and his relationship with a nun by the name of Sister Angela. Right off the bat, if you're not familiar with this manga, the combination of boxing and romance with a nun might make you wonder if this manga is anything like Nacho Libre, but rest assured, this manga is nothing like Nacho Libre (thank god).
There isn't necessarily a major overarching story--the manga is mainly made up of slice of life stories that all follow a very similar formula: Kosaku struggles with losing weight, some drama occurs with Sister Angela, and Kosaku faces off in a boxing match against a formidable opponent. Because each of the stories follows a very similar formula, the story lends itself to repetition pretty quickly, which is unfortunate when considering this series is only four volumes long. And because this is a romantic comedy written by Takahashi, you can bet your sweet bippy there are lots of misunderstandings and situations that could easily be solved with simple communication.
The artwork is vintage Takahashi, and I don't mean that offensively. She's always had a very charming art style, and like a lot of her older works, the art improves as the series goes on. There are some very noticeable bumps in the quality of the artwork because this manga went on hiatus a couple times (based on the gaps in the releases between volumes two, three, and four, I would assume it was on hiatus at least twice) and resumed when Takahashi really found her groove with her art style.
The main cast of characters is likable enough, but not also not terribly interesting. With such a short series, significant character development can't really be expected. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the characters is Sister Angela's internal conflict of either continuing her life as a nun or giving that life up in order to pursue her own personal desires, but other than that, there just isn't a lot of substance here.
One Pound Gospel does have its moments of charm and fun, but due to the repetitive story structure, it does struggle to hold one's attention at times. Those who aren't into boxing may ask, "Is this manga still enjoyable if I don't like boxing?", and to that, I will say this: it's no Hajime no Ippo--that's for sure. What I will say is that it's enjoyable in short bursts, and the story, repetitive as it is, does eventually lead to a conclusion that I felt pretty satisfied with.
If you're a fan of Rumiko Takahashi and want to read everything she's created, this is definitely worth a look. It's reminiscent of Maison Ikkoku in a lot of ways, and it's overall pretty benign. In terms of Takahashi's more overlooked works, it's a hell of a lot more enjoyable than Mermaid Saga. If you aren't a fan of Takahashi's works, however, this manga is hard to recommend. The boxing isn't exciting enough to capture the attention of those who are looking for something to supplement Hajime no Ippo or fill the void left by Ashita no Joe. It's also worth noting that the fourth volume of this manga is surprisingly hard to track down and appears to be out of print (and also difficult to find online scans of), so if you're not a Takahashi fan, then it's not worth the hassle.
Overall, One Pound Gospel is a flawed but charming manga that I, for the most part, enjoyed my time with. However, due to its repetitive nature and surprising inaccessibility, it's hard to recommend to anyone other than die-hard fans of Rumiko Takahashi.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 31, 2017
Sometimes, a good manga can take a subject you have no interest in and still make it fun and interesting. Does Cross Over do that for basketball? Not really.
Most of you are probably familiar with the now infamous Kouji Seo (lol, Fuuka) due to his other popular romance series such as Suzuka and Kimi no Iru Machi. Cross Over differs from those two in that there's a much larger emphasis on sports. Romance isn't at the forefront of this manga. (Don't worry, though--there are still plenty of ecchi scenes for all the fanservice lovers.)
The story is pretty standard for a sports manga. It's an
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underdog story, and I'm sure you've seen similar stories in plenty of other series. An unoriginal story isn't necessarily a bad thing, of course--there are plenty of series with unoriginal stories that still manage to be entertaining and fun. However, the biggest problem with Cross Over's story is that it shifts focus in the last three or four volumes. I won't spoil anything, but this shift in focus really takes away a lot of the momentum that builds in the beginning of the story for the sake of some cheap drama. It also causes this manga to drag a bit more than it should, which is sad considering that it's only seven volumes long.
The best part of this manga is undoubtedly its artwork. Kouji Seo is a talented artist. The basketball scenes are drawn really well, and they're easy to follow. The characters are also drawn well, and I really enjoyed their designs. And yes, there is a short-haired love interest of sorts, as there always is in Kouji Seo fashion.
The characters are pretty standard for shounen manga. The protagonist wants to be the best, blah, blah, blah--you know the drill. The protagonist still manages to be somewhat likable despite that, but the same can't be said for the some of his teammates. There are some teammates who are, how do I say this, annoying douche bags. I believe the mangaka's intention was to leave room for some character development, and, to be fair, some character development does come as the story progresses. However, due to the shift in story focus, some of the character development just makes you think, "Oh, my god, who freaking cares?"
Did I enjoy my time with Cross Over? Sure. The most enjoyable parts of the manga are probably the basketball games. (You would sure hope so when this manga is centered completely around basketball.) They aren't anything spectacular, but they are entertaining. This manga does have its fair share of boring bits, though. It also gets pretty frustrating to read near the end due to the story's shift in focus.
Overall, Cross Over isn't great. It's not bad, but it's not great. If you love Kouji Seo's works and want to read everything he's done, then this might be worth your time. If you're looking for an exciting, riveting sports manga, however, this probably won't do much for you.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jun 9, 2016
I'm a sucker for detective anime, so when I found out Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo got a sequel, I was all over that. Is Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo Returns as good as the original? Not really. But it is a decent series in its own right.
The story is very episodic in nature, so there's no need to watch the original series before this. The original series is very episodic in nature as well, so the only thing that really connects the two series is its cast of characters. There is no major overall plot, but a series like this doesn't really need one.
The animation isn't
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anything special. It's basically an updated, cleaner version of the original series. There isn't anything particularly impressive about the animation, but the animation still gives the viewer a clear idea of what's happening and doesn't look inherently bad. It just isn't anything special, but at the same time, it doesn't need to be.
The sound isn't anything special either, but it fulfills its purpose. There are some recycled tunes from the original series, which is a nice little touch. The opening and ending themes aren't terribly memorable, but they aren't bad by any stretch of the imagination. The soundtrack does do an adequate job of setting the mood for the mysteries, and the voice acting is pretty solid.
The series has two main characters and a couple of recurring characters. None of them go through any arcs or development, but given the episodic nature of this series, character development isn't really necessary. We do get introduced some intriguing characters in the mysteries, however. When the mysteries unfold and the motivations become clear, they are often times heartbreaking.
Overall, I would say I enjoyed my time watching this series. The cases are generally pretty interesting, and it's always fun trying to guess who the culprit is. I will say this, however: The cases in this series aren't quite as intriguing as the cases in the original series. The cases in the original series are much darker and result in a lot more death. This series does have some dark cases (especially near the end), but the cases in the original, in my opinion, were far more interesting.
If you're a fan of Kindaichi, then definitely give this a try. It's not as good as the original series, but it's still a decent series on its own merits. If you haven't seen the original series but enjoy detective anime, then you'll still have an enjoyable time with this series. Just don't expect anything spectacular.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 5, 2015
Mermaid Saga is one of Rumiko Takahashi's earlier works that has been forgotten as the years go by. When you go back and read it, it's kind of easy to see why it was forgotten. It's not a particularly bad manga, but it's not particularly good either.
This manga doesn't have much in the way of a plot. It centers around two people who are cursed to live forever, and that's really all there is to the main plot. The meat of the manga doesn't come from its main story, but rather its short story arcs, which all together make up a "saga," so to speak.
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Some of these arcs do have some interesting moments, but for the most part, they're forgettable, and some these arcs rely a lot on shock value.
I adore Rumiko Takahashi's art style. A large chunk of this manga came out early in Takahashi's career, and this was a time in which her style hadn't quite found its groove just yet. By the end of the manga, however, the art improves drastically. In fact, this is usually the case with most of Takahashi's older works, such as Maison Ikkoku and Urusei Yatsura. The improvement in the art isn't gradual like it is in the other series I just mentioned, however. This manga was on hiatus for a number of years, and when Takahashi finally finished it, the change in art was very sudden. It's difficult to judge the art because for most the manga, the artwork is only okay, and it's really only great for the last few chapters of the manga. The artwork is never unpleasant to look at, however, and it always carries the Takahashi charm.
This series only has two main characters, and neither of whom is very interesting. Both characters also seem to be lacking in the personality department. They aren't characters you're going to hate, but you also won't like them. You do see their relationship grow a bit, but you still don't get an emotional attachment. There are some semi-interesting characters among the story arcs, but they aren't really memorable either.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with Mermaid Saga. Kind of. It has some mildly entertaining moments, but it's never exciting, and there are some admittedly boring moments. It's not a bad manga, but it's not really a good manga. I personally wouldn't recommend this manga to anyone except for Rumiko Takahashi fans. Even then, I'd actually suggest watching the Mermaid Forest TV series over reading the manga. It tells the same story, but it's more entertaining in anime form. Really.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Apr 26, 2015
Gun Blaze West is a manga that had potential to become something special, but because of its cancellation, it never got a chance to take off, thus making it difficult to judge the manga. It's fun while it lasts, but it's definitely a manga that won't leave you satisfied. If you've ever read Zombie Powder by Tite Kubo, you know what I'm talking about. Gun Blaze West to Nobuhiro Watsuki is more or less what Zombie Powder is to Tite Kubo.
The story isn't exactly original. Its plot is akin to popular shounen manga such as One Piece and Naruto. It's the "I'm gonna be the
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best" plot we've all seen a billion times before. For a lot of long-running shounen manga, this isn't necessarily a bad thing because subplots will make up for a lack of intriguing plot. However, in this manga's case, there aren't enough chapters to properly get into any interesting subplots. I will, however, give this manga credit for its unique setting. It utilizes a Wild West theme, and it really helps this manga stand out a little.
The artwork was good, but I can't say I liked the particular style that Watsuki went with for this manga. I personally liked his artwork in Rurouni Kenshin much more. That said, it's still a decent-looking manga. Its style didn't really click with me, but there's no denying that the artwork was done well. The action scenes and backgrounds look good, and the character designs are alright.
It's difficult to judge the characters because they never really had a chance to be fleshed out completely. Viu Bannes is a likable protagonist, but he's also a walking cliche. He's determined to be the best and he's partially motivated by a childhood tragedy. Sound familiar? Of course it does. Mr. Bannes isn't all that different from characters such as Monkey D. Luffy and Naruto Uzumaki. The other characters aren't terribly interesting, but they, too, are likable, even if we don't get a chance to see the characters develop.
I can't deny this manga was enjoyable. The Wild West theme makes for some very entertaining action scenes. The story may not have a chance to go anywhere interesting, but the potential it sets up is what makes this manga so enjoyable to read. Overall, I'm not sure if I'd recommend it to everyone, but if you're a fan of Nobuhiro Watsuki and enjoy shounen manga, then go for it. If not, then steer clear. It's a fun read, but its untapped potential makes it hard to recommend.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Apr 15, 2015
This is probably my favorite anime series of all time. Of all time. I'll try to not let that influence my review, but seeing how I can binge-watch this series for unhealthy amounts of time, that might be difficult.
Detective Conan is a detective-themed mystery anime that pulls you in with its intriguing story but forces you to stay with its well-crafted cases. The main story develops pretty slowly, but when it does develop, it's fantastic. In the meantime, the individual cases and mysteries will keep you watching for hours. And you'll never stop. Never.
The animation style might turn you off because its style is
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different, but give it time. You'll learn to like this anime's unique animation style. Granted, there are some odd and occasionally ugly character designs, but for the most part, everything looks pretty good.
Detective Conan's soundtrack consists of a lot of old school detective-themed music, and it works well to set the appropriate tone for the cases. A lot of the same tunes get recycled, but it's never too much of a problem. The opening and ending themes are decent overall. There are a few excellent tracks that stand out, but many of the openings and endings elicit a "meh" response. The Japanese voice acting is excellent, and the English dub actually has really good voice acting, too. Sure, FUNimation changed the names of the characters in the English dub, but at the end of the day, that's only a nitpick.
Detective Conan offers a great cast of characters. The main characters are likable with distinct personalities. Each case introduces different characters in order to properly set up the mysteries, and these characters get fleshed out surprisingly well, which gives the viewer a good sense of the dynamics among the characters during the case, which is crucial in guessing who the murderer/kidnapper/robber/whatever is.
I already mentioned that I binge-watch the crap out of the series, so you may be wondering, assuming you're still reading this review, "What makes it so addictive?" I shall tell you: It's all in the cases. I already mentioned they're well crafted. What makes the cases so good? It's all in the intriguing subplots involved withe cases. Viewers are given plenty of clues to pick up on in the cases, and if you pay close enough attention, you miiiight just be able to solve the case before Conan.
Overall, I obviously recommend Detective Conan. I mean, it is my favorite anime after all. But don't take my word for it: watch it and decide for yourself. It's a long freaking series, but when you're binging on several episodes at a time, you'll be glad it's so long. True story.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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