My half-time (well, volume 14 anyway!) report

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17 volumes in, GTO is now in my #1 spot and is the only manga to date that, at this moment in time, has had a 10/10 score given to it by yours truly.

I was worried during the Mayu stuff. The arm wrestling section was pointless and added nothing, only stretching out the story. But it didn't go on too long and right after I got what I wanted - development for the establised characters. First Miyabi had a few chapters and then Urumi had a few chapters. And, right after that, all out girl vs. girl warfare broke out at the school, with Miyabi revealing Urumi's darkest secret to everyone and Urumi answering with her own ace. Everything went REALLY insane after that, with Uchiyamada(sp?) finally losing it and stabbing Onizuka and Teshigawa(sp?) throwing Azusa in a suitcase. After the Mayu rubbish, it was refreshing to get so many fast-paced and involving chapters, one after the other. The only thing that let the chaos down was when Uchiyamada started ramblng at the end.

Urumi has now replaced Tomoko in my top character list. Tomoko was awesome when she was introduced but ever since her part in the Onizuka saga ended she's only appeared in a few panels, and when she has appeared she hasn't been funny. On the other hand, Urumi has developed into a brilliant character, complete with sexiness, smarts, a longing for Onizuka and an evil 'playfulness' that makes for lots of laughs.

With only eight volumes to go, I hope romance is in the air soon. Anko and Noboru haven't even been shown together since the school trip, which is a bit of a bummer, and I NEED to see Kunio get it on with the giant girl. I'll cry if the series ends before everyone couples up... :/

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Jul 18, 2009 2:00 PM

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Does the manga differ much from the anime? i mean, are there more couples in the manga? how does the manga end?

Jul 18, 2009 2:03 PM

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I changed my mind, dont spoil. I just read the "how does it end thread" it seems alot will happen.

But you can say if there is any more couple development without saying the names

Jul 18, 2009 2:22 PM

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I can't give an answer - I haven't watched the anime and I'm only up to 17/25 in terms of manga volumes.

Afaik, the anime covers only up to the 14th volume. I assume this means the recent Urumi vs. Miyabi war, as well as Urumi becoming closer (in a <3 sense) to Onizuka, didn't get included in the anime.

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Jul 18, 2009 3:36 PM

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wooh!

im gonna start reading it tommorow :D

Jul 18, 2009 3:56 PM

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Okinawa trip, personally, is the best arc of the manga. The exam one is also pretty good. Mayu arc was probably my least favourite, and the stalker was just like omfgtwisted, but still funny. The only arc I had the least laughs was Mayu's, but the hand wrestling was just madness, haha. GTO got its up and downs, but it would probably remain on my top 3 manga fav list. Hmm. Unlike so many mangas, GTO actually ends, and ends well.

Jul 18, 2009 4:19 PM

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As long as they dont pull of a school rumble ending im happy. The okinawa trip was the best part in the anime to. Btw, i heard they released a new GTO sequel manga recently, called 14 days or something.

Jul 18, 2009 4:52 PM

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Oh God, it can't even compare to School Rumble's horrible time skip. SR's just a walking disaster, showing everyone just how bad, how every mangaka should ignore, to NEVER pull off an ending like it. GTO on the other hand is sheer awesomeness. Maybe I'm just exaggerating since most mangas I've completed had mediocre-to-disastrous endings.

Jul 19, 2009 3:07 AM

#10

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Tachii said:
Okinawa trip, personally, is the best arc of the manga. The exam one is also pretty good. Mayu arc was probably my least favourite, and the stalker was just like omfgtwisted, but still funny. The only arc I had the least laughs was Mayu's, but the hand wrestling was just madness, haha. GTO got its up and downs, but it would probably remain on my top 3 manga fav list. Hmm. Unlike so many mangas, GTO actually ends, and ends well.

My favourite thus far is the recent Miyabi vs. Urumi all out war. Both characters got fleshed out more and, as well as being dramatic and just a bit insane, it was a whole lot of fun. I flipped through pages fairly fast when reading those chapters... It pained me that so much text was on each page when I wanted to see what was going to happen next constantly.

I liked the school trip, though I did want more out of it. Where was the OnixAzusa that the preview hinted it!? Also, it kinda bugged me how there's been no NoboruxAnko since the trip ended. It's as if the romance never happened!

I think GTO might be my very first 10/10 once I finish the series. I'm expecting a few bumps on the road to the finale but, if there's character development for the cast, I'm sure it'll be awesome.

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Jul 19, 2009 7:19 AM

#11

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Didn't like Urumi vs Miyabi as much as I wanted to. Mainly because it was just getting a bit too exaggerated and out of hand (for me). Heh, there wasn't much NoboruxAnko scenes after. But just those little bits are good enough imo. It's not like more could've been written, because then it can probably be a series by itself. OnixAzusa was like obvious since when they met (lolmoments). I knew it couldn't have gone anywhere else.

It's great that GTO only touches a bit on romance, and not stress it too much (Onizuka seldom, if ever, expresses a serious interest for anybody, despite seemingly lecherous). Comedy and morality was always above it, and when romance did play a roll, it was executed well, love it for that.

Jul 26, 2009 6:42 AM

#12

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I'm up to the 24th volume of GTO.

Here's some GTO stuff I messaged to a dude (/lazy):

Teshigawa: At times I hated the guy. I felt sorry for him when his back-story was revealed, I started to hate him again after he shot Onizuka (though he did charge at him) and went insane at school, and then I went back to feeling bad for him once he understood everything, accepted his problems with studying were his fault for being too cowardly to stand up to his parent and tried to kill himself. He and Onizuka then came to an understanding (after another Superman show) and Teshigawa owned up to his crimes. (He didn't get away with what he'd done.)

The final volumes have focused a little too much on new characters for me, and the new headmistress stuff has gone a bit over the top. She has her own group of students known as "Angels"; a group that has the mission of destroying from within. It's like in fighting shounen titles where a group of elite baddies get revealed together...only in GTO the baddies are school kids. The first angel was developed fairly well, but there's no time for the others.

How dragged out the Miyabi story has gotten kind of irks me, too. At first I thought she was done after Onizuka saved her from being raped...but she came back with yet another student who hadn't been to school in forever. After that, she had more time during the Miyabi vs. Urumi story...but, right after that, she starts dressing like a pro and her past gets looked into. Way too much time was spent resolving the Miyabi issue.

I also think there's a plot hole: during volumes 16-17, Kikuchi said to the others that Miyabi's past with a teacher went deeper than they knew, and that'd he'd tell if they didn't tell anyone. This later makes no sense because all of the people in the room knew the same information already, according to what gets shown later. I may be missing something but it seems like an error made as a result of Miyabi's story getting stretched.

Another thing: the amount of students in Onizuka's class that hadn't gone to school for years. I hate how it saves mentioning them until Onizuka needs someone to save. There's another new character who hadn't gone out for two years that gets thrown in - a bit pointless when the series is near the end. Why more new students when Kunio hasn't had (and won't get any) time before the end? I really wanted to see him hook up with the giant girl - it was strongly suggested they would back when Kunio had time.

Once I'm done, I'll start the new GTO manga. Only six chapters are out and once I've caught up I'll have something to read weekly...or is the new series monthly? The chapters don't seem to be coming out fast.

Then, I'll get cracking with the anime. I could use a recap and it'll be fun listenting to the characters instead of just reading. Urumi looks weird with her eyes in colour - I'll have to get used to that.

It doesn't shock me that nipples and panty shots don't get the same treatment. It'll be a shame but TV series can only go so far. It's not as if I expect the anime to look anywhere near as appealing, anyway.

It bugs me that AnkoxNoburu got most of the school trip to themselves AND another four consecutive chapters after when every other romance got overlooked. Where's Kunio's romance? It'd would've been funny as hell as to see him, a 'tough' guy ruled by emotions, get put in his place by giant girl. It would've also meant seeing more of Kunio's mom, which would've lead to more lulz when he took giant girl to see her. Starting a plot thread and then just leaving ain't good.

Also, no OnizukaxAzusa? :( I wanted to see them together before the series end.

Looking forward to the end, knowing I have a 43 episode to get into and a new GTO manga. I'd also like to get into the original manga - Early Days - but Vol. 1 seems to be out of print in America, meaning no UK import store has it. ;_________;

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Jul 26, 2009 9:11 PM

#13

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I finished GTO just now, including the 43 page volume filler where Tohru managed to take the piss out of the more kiddy shounen titles out there, with various stories about a girl with superpowers given by coconut crabs. He's so awesome he can even afford to point at laugh at other shounen stories - I think I'm in love with the guy!

The ending was strong, as expected. Lots of drama, lots of tears, lots of insane faces and a happy ever after sort of ending. At times, it had me on the verge of tears, and since I'm a heartless bastard I have to be very invested in the characters to care like that.

The final chapter, and the huge amount of unresolved plot threads, didn't impress me, though. The lead up to the finale was excellent, but the actual end wasn't. The final chapter showed me nothing I wanted to see. No Onizuka back in class, no Onizuka losing his virginity and not even a scene showing Miyabi and Urumi finally making up. As much as I love GTO (10/10 in terms of enjoyment, easy), I can't give it 10/10 because so much lacked closure. It's as if Tohru wanted to leave the door as open as he could in case, seven or eight years later, he needed to make more money by cashing in on his prized asset... Not that someone so great would do something like that.

Here are my top three unresolved annoyances:

1: Onizuka and Azusa

From the start, it was clear they'd get together at some stage. Onizuka would never get with a student once he decided to be the best teacher ever - it would've went against everything he was working towards - so she was the only ever real option.

Towards the end, Azusa gets shown confessing her love (to a pillow), dressing up for him and buying contraceptives...but nothing was shown beyond that because of plot reasons. And, in the final chapter, they weren't even shown together. Incredibly disappointing.

Leaving the main romantic thread of the series without a finish is poor, even if Tohru did plan to continue the story way back when he ended GTO.

2: Miyabi and Urumi

They were once friends. They then became enemies. And, finally, they became friends again...without there even being a scene showing them forgive and forget.

There wasn't even any dialogue between them after their little war. They sat in the same room together, and Urumi visited her at hospital, but still no dialogue. I can only assume Tohru forgot to have Miyabi apologize for what she did because when Urumi saw another person again who had revealed her secret, she tried to set her on fire.

3: Kunio and Giant Girl

Yes, I know this isn't that important but it really bugged me. REALLY.

There was at least one chapter dedicated to this relationship. Maybe more. But, after the school trip, I don't think Giant Girl even appeared in a panel, or at least not together with Kunio. It's like Tohru couldn't be arsed with romance after AnkoxNoboru and decided to not bother finishing what he started. And that REALLY bugged me when I could see lots of laughter if the relationship had been took forward; more than in he case of NoboruxAnko.

To be honest, I'd expect only an amateur to forget or just not bother to conclude subplots. You'd think Tohru would've planned ahead, mapping out the relationships of all the main characters in advance, but it's more like he did most of it on the fly. The Miyabi reveal plot hole adds more substance to that theory.

There are other examples, too. Mayu's inclusion in the story was pretty pointless to begin with. He was pretty much just thrown in to stretch out the middle, him being a repeat of Miyabi getting Urumi to try to get Onizuka fired. That's why his arm wrestling story was the wekest in GTO. But the way Tohru hinted at his back-story - even in the final chapter - and then revealed nothing left a bad taste in my mouth. Assuming he decides to explain in the sequel, is it really acceptable for him to cover something he should've seven or eight years earlier?

...I'm being really negative here, aren't I? The reason is simple: I wanted to give GTO top marks. It's easily the most enjoyable manga I've read. But a story with so much unfinished business isn't perfect, and I can't bring myself to give a 10/10 score to something with so many subplots left hanging. It's still my new #1 but I'm afraid 9/10 is all I can give it.

I don't think I'll ever score a manga 10/10 - there's always something holding me back. I can't see anything coming closer than GTO...

Anyway, the good: tons of memorable characters; amazing, highly detailed art; the hottest school girl drawings ever; a brilliant combination of drama and comedy and one of the most involving stories I've ever come across, as well as one of the most meaningful. In short, a hell of a lot of awesome.

Tomorrow (well, in the morning, when I get up with two hours sleep clocked) I'll start the anime. I think I'll leave the new manga until I'm done with the old GTO - that way more chapters will be out when I start it. Looking forward to more of Onizuka. :D

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Jul 31, 2009 6:06 PM

#14

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The problem you are having is that you are nitpicking way too much! We can all expect what's going to happen between Onizuka and Azusa. I find that I don't really like explicit endings for this sort of genre. All it needs is a hint, and there was the hint.

I remember when I finished it, I thought it ended great. Miyabi and Urumi ended pretty well, as I remembered. The only thing that took me by surprise was how Urumi acted by sending that picture when they were childhood friends, I thought for sure Urumi would go crazy instead.

Kunio/Tall girl - Hmm, what can I say? I didn't really expect anything more than was depicted. Kunio, to me, didn't seem to really like her, maybe eventually he will, but then a time skip would be needed then, I guess, for developments.

But I'll just like to say, as much as GTO was focused on these side characters, the main "plot" is focused on Onizuka and their interaction with them. You would find that that none of the relationships were explicitly concluded, the closest thing would be that Noboru x Anko are dating each other, because it isn't what the story is all about. GTO was more focused on his interaction with them, with romance as a sub-genre. To want those couples together at the end would be wishing for an all-around happy ending, and I didn't feel that GTO had the feel for it.

Instead of nitpicking myself, I highlighted all of GTO's plus points rather than some minor inconsistencies when I finished it. Because let's face it, any manga that can go more than 100 chapters would have SOME inconsistencies and holes. I think the manga really focused on getting some messages across the viewers. Almost the end of every arc, GTO would say some REALLY wise statement to sum up everything. Was GTO even about the story and the romance? To me, it was all about learning something new, and I sure did learn something new and remembered quite a few memorable quotes.