Banana Fish

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During the Vietnam War in 1973, an American solider goes insane and starts gunning down his allies and friends. After killing off a majority, we see that he has gained a form of dementia, and keeps repeating one line, over and over: “banana fish”. This manga was created by Akimi Yoshida (who also made Kisshō Tennyo) back in 1985, and it's the most manly shoujo to date. In fact, Frederik Schodt, popular translator (whose works include Phoenix, and Rose Of Versailles) remarks that it's “...one of the few girls' manga [a]...male adult could admit to reading without blushing.” The series, Banana Fish –which ran until ... 1994 with a total of 19 tankobon volumes– now remains one of 50 best classic manga of all time.

It's very hard to say how the plot, narration, and pacing came about in Banana Fish. Even as you begin the manga, the overwhelming intensity is just there, even if any characters haven't been fully introduced. It is certainly not a straight-forward series: there is no “beginning”, no “rising action”, no “climax”. As it chronicles and documents the lives of NY gangs (and gang warfare), it does so extremely realistically. It can fluxuate between something that can only be described as “tension, strain, bombs, and anxiety” and a calm, relief-filled respite. This is easily the best part of Banana Fish: there is no filler, and the way it goes about presenting the story is invigorating and interesting. The plot is air-tight.

As a result of such an amazing plot line, we are also given the characters, along with the development that comes along. There is no “real” main character in this, as there are several ones that are heavily expanded on. But that's not the amazing part about it. All major main characters are introduced extremely early on (and no, there isn't a problem about memorizing names here!). There is no character in this introduced for the sake of plot. There is no Person XYZ who can offer a solution to the problems they face. Oh no. All major characters are given three dimensional personalities (along with some sort of backstory that is frequently talked about and expanded on) and they all have inner, realistic struggles which can apply to most of us. In short: yes, they're pretty great.

Ash Lynx, as an example, is the head of his gang. Blunt, rude, and often recognized as juvenile, we are led to believe that's all we should expect. But that's not so. Although he has killed, he is no heartless thug. It's important to note that, although he's got years of trauma under his belt, he is still the softest gang leader out there. The tough cynicism he takes on conceals a wish to be treated as a normal human being, for he has never wanted the life that Dino Golzine has given him. In contrast to him, we're introduced to Eiji Okumura (who is equally as interesting): a fresh-out-of-highschool althete who has travelled to New York to be a photographer's assistant. But that kind of description doesn't do him justice.

Although I won't say that every single one of the characters are memorable, but a great amount of the complex ones are.

The atmosphere and the setting in Banana Fish is spectacular. I, myself, haven't lived in NY, but the amount of time and research that went into understanding the city as a whole is great. It wasn't just some label stuck on the city to make it feel pretentious or whatnot, I mean, I'm sure some of us have read a manga that use NY as a foreign city to make it seem 'cooler', but this was not the case. Banana Fish made me feel like I knew NY (and I probably really don't, so that is just a testament to the incredible, “slummy” atmosphere Banana Fish created). It was the little things: actual street signs, large neighbourhoods, or building complexes in relation to certain areas. And it wasn't just NY that was researched, there was also the nature of drugs, which is a key plot point. The planning and effort were used to their fullest during the creation of this manga –brilliantly.

Despite how many times I've said how good this is, what really stands out is the fact that it was made for girls (as it was serialized in Betsucomi). Although Banana Fish can be easily treated as a seinen (or a mature shounen/josei) it is probably best read as shoujo. This manga is proof that, although most modern shoujo are bad, classics (or “hidden gems”) of shoujos still hold promise. Reading this can drastically change one's opinion on shoujo for the better, which is amazing on it's own. Not only that, but this manga holds tons of historical value to the 80's and 90's, as it was extremely popular in Japan. Back in 1998, the japanese magazine Comic Link hosted a poll for the "50 Best Manga", and unsurprisingly, Banana Fish ranked #1.

That kind of respect and praise definitely holds merit in the manga world today.

To be completely honest, there were some minor nitpicks I had when reading this, but by the time the final few volumes came around, the mangaka, an experienced professional, had not only noticed them, but also fixed/rectified them. And they weren't even “problems” per se; the criticisms I had were just some minor things I thought would give the manga that extra edge. And it did.

Certainly, there should be no disagreement. Banana Fish is a gritty, detail-oriented masterpiece, as well as a big milestone. Lines such as “Know how to use a M-16?” to “He's got a grenade launcher!” will not be found in shoujo today, which makes Banana Fish just that much better. There is a little something for every kind of manga reader to enjoy in this (and yes, I may be specifically looking at you fujoshis). So without a doubt, it gets a full 10.0/10.0 from me. Definitely, definitely check this title out; I really don't know what else could be said.

And finally: I will put a warning on this manga, as there is harsh rape and paedophilia portrayed; so caution to younger readers.

★★★★★★★★★★
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Through and through, this is a series that has been misrepresented in how it is advertised. Whether it's the slightly odd name "Banana Fish", the inappropriate shoujo/shounen ai genre label, or the old artwork and the age of the series as a whole, this manga has no shortage of deterrents to make people shy away from checking this series out;
A fact which truly saddens me.
"Banana Fish" is not as goofy as its name, nor sappy as the genres it's associated with, and the age of the series does not in any way detract from the impact it has on the reader. My hope in writing ... this review is that people who happen to stumble across the page for "Banana Fish" by chance will ignore all that may drive them away from reading this manga, and give it a chance.
Because this manga deserves it, it really does.

Story: 9
I'm sure everyone who's reading this review has at least skimmed the summary for the manga in question already, so I'll spare you all the repetition. What I will say though is that the story of "Banana Fish" is much more complex than any three sentence long summary could accurately summarize. It's long, and intricate, and quite frankly, has many times where it takes some energy to read. This is the one apparent weakness in the otherwise well executed carefully planned epic that is this series: pacing. Overall, the pacing works, especially during the high points of various action sequences, but in order to set up those action sequences there are sometimes chapters upon chapters of strategic exposition and planning, and it can drag quite a bit. Not to mention the series is 19 volumes long, and I would guess around 4-5 volumes of that is set-up material, which can be a bit of a chore to slog through to say the least.
I'll use this as a lead in to my second point: it drags like a shounen, mainly because this manga is much more like a shounen than a shoujo. One of the biggest issues with the lack of popularity of this series is that a manga containing 19 volumes of gangs, rifles, gore, drugs, guerrilla warfare, and an almost complete lack of women and romance is being advertised as a women's romance. That is not to say that women cannot enjoy this series, I myself, a female, adore "Banana Fish". However, I feel it necessary to stress that this is not a lovey dovey romance series like your typical shoujo, and if that's what you're looking for, you should pack your bags and look elsewhere. For everyone else looking for a solid, smart, and satisfying action story, look no further, but beware the pacing.

Art: 5
While the artist does significantly improve her craft over time, it is clear that the art for this series is not its strong point. The style is very dated and it takes a long time for the author to settle into their style, and even then, the art isn't exactly anything to write home about. From a character design standpoint, one can easily differentiate between the cast, with the exception of some of the adults, who can be told apart by facial hair alone. One thing I will give the artist credit for, though, is matching a more serious and harsh style to the equally harsh and action-packed tone, rather than using flowers and overly large eyes that would seem out of place within the series.
The most important thing with the art is mainly to learn to look past it, since it never distracts from the story, and the series has a lot to offer beyond some of its artistic shortcomings.

Characters: 10
The characters are easily the strongest point in this series. Whether it's the ice-cold genius gang leader Ash, or his innocent and quirky foreigner best friend Eiji, all the characters are very likable, well rounded, and most importantly, well fleshed out. I mainly judge good character development by whether or not the characters are round and dynamic (multi-faceted and developed) throughout the course of the series. In this regard, I really can do nothing but commend the author, since every character in the cast (which is actually quite large) changes and develops, for better or worse, over the course of the series. This includes protagonists, antagonists, minor characters, major characters.... There is not one person in "Banana Fish" that I could point to and say that they were the same person as they were 19 volumes ago. Even characters that get minimal screen-time show changes caused by the events of the story and their reactions to the actions of other characters. One character who does deserve special mention is undoubtedly the second main character, Eiji Okumura. The world of "Banana Fish" takes place in the gang culture of New York city, a setting that most people who pick up this series would not be familiar with. In this case, the Japanese foreigner, Eiji, serves as the eyes that help us relate to and understand the setting and characters, since he himself is as ignorant as we are. This combined with his charming personality and incredible character development over the course of the series makes him a relatable rock for readers who might feel estranged from this manga at first due to the setting. Overall, the characters were masterfully handled throughout "Banana Fish", and if you are on the fence on whether or not you should read this series because of the plot, I would definitely recommend the read for the characters.

Enjoyment: 10
Though the plot and characters of "Banana Fish" can be described as nothing short of amazing, these factors would mean absolutely nothing if the series was not thoroughly enjoyable as well. Fortunately, I can say that this manga is as enjoyable on a personal level as it is on an objective level. During my first read through of the manga, I marathon-ed it in less than 48 hours! While I have mentioned there are parts where the story can drag, that does not at all hinder it from being extremely engrossing. That being said, this series is long and complex, and takes a fair amount of investment in order to get the most out of it, and if you don't tend to enjoy long epics, this probably won't be an exception... By a long shot. However, this series can easily appeal to a broad audience (were it actually advertised correctly), and for that reason alone, I would recommend anyone who finds the series even a bit intriguing to give it a shot. One thing I will say, without spoiling anything, is that the ending receives mixed reviews, and if you're looking for a series where everything is happy go lucky and roses by the end, I would tread carefully with this one.
Regardless, "Banana Fish" is really quite fantastic both in concept and execution, and is definitely a series I would recommend you buy at the end of the day. Unfortunately, hard legal copies of this manga are hard to come by. Many libraries have disposed of their old copies due to lack of popularity, and small print runs have made this series a rarity on used bookshelves and often frighteningly expensive through online sales. Still, this series has left enough of an impact on me that I continue to collect used versions, and herald it as one of my all time favorite manga.

And that, my friends, is why you should give "Banana Fish" a chance.
Because this manga deserves it, it really does.
Who knows? Maybe a spike in popularity will encourage a new print run. It already happened before in 2006, why not again?

Overall rating: 9 (an overlooked classic that deserves your time)

This is hands down, one of my favorite manga of all time.

Story: 10/10
Part of the why the story is good comes from how it is told, there's no worthless filler stuck anywhere, it's pure story all the time. The story is always moving forward, there's not even chapter breaks. There are also some spin off manga (two of which I have read, the ones that Viz published in the back of the last volumes) that tie coherently within the rest of the story and help explain a few things that are in the "nice to know" type category. Another thing I found important is that ... I could see where all the plot points evolved from, I never felt any sense of deus ex machina anywhere.

Character: 10/10
Characters are just as strong as the story, Ash isn't the only main character, even if he is the most interesting of the main characters. The characters all feel real and realized including the way that they interact. Even bit characters who only show up twice in the series are memorable (like The Fly).

Art: 6.5/10
Easily the weakest aspect of the series. The art is never unclear as to the action, it's just not the best thing ever basically. A lot of the characters have a similar facial structure and for quite a while, I confused two characters with very similar mustaches and hair styles/color. My complaints here are mostly minimal though, artwork does improve during the series and it never takes away from enjoyment factor either. But this is not a series you read because the pictures are pretty to be sure.

Overall: 10/10
I rarely give out 10s, but this series made me feel so attached to it that I actually cried at the end of it for several reasons. The addition of the two side stories that Viz decided to publish only helped the series out. I think this is a must for fans of drama with some action series if slight yaoi undertones don't bother you (that are never shown onscreen so to say). It's epic to say the least, it might be classified as Josei, but I think that this is just as much for the Seinen crowd too.

this is my first review so don't be too hard on me. The only reason why i found out bout this was i heard it was being adapted in the summer of 2018.
...
[Story] 10
The story is amazing. There no fillers no unnecessary yaoi just you reading about the characters story and what happens next.The Plot has this beautiful flow to and keeps you hooked no matter what.

[Art] 8

The art has this nostalgic 80's vibe,very clean and simple. Its adds the feeling that this is happening in the 80s in New York. The only problem with the art is that some the characters look the same. The same mustache, same facial features, and etc. but other than the fact that some characters look the same to me the art is amazing.

[Character]10
The Characters are the best part along with the plot. Ash inst the only main character its depends on the situation that takes place. Its crazy how much you feel for the characters and the feeling of knowing them. You get see the main character even the side characters have a enormous amount of character development and you start to understand why characters do what they do why they act the way they act.

[Overall]10

Overall this has quickly wormed its way into my heart and quickly ripped it out as fast as it claimed it. The story, the plot, the art ,and everything is just amazing.This is my new favorite manga and needs more praise and attention.

I was spurred on to read this after hearing about MAPPA's plans to adapt this earlier this year. I'm glad I did because this was a hell of a ride. It's certainly aged a bit in terms of the art and whatnot (hence the updating), but goddamn, the story and characters are timeless in their beauty.

[Story - 8]

While we start off with the pursuit of what 'Banana Fish' actually is, it's really a story centered around the push-and-pull between teenage hoodlums and their overbearing adult counterparts on both sides of the law. Considering this is set in 80's NYC, this lends itself to a ... lot of pulpy action and social commentary (whether by accident or by intention) regarding racial profiling, the sexual abuse of children, struggles in crime journalism, and so on/so forth.

The pacing's fairly solid: it doesn't take too long for the story to get moving along, but it does take a break in the back seat around the second act. However, this was only to allow the characters to get a breather from the grimness of their realities, and thus go under rather believable development thanks to (completely rational/logical) melodrama. Fortunately for the thrill-seekers, this second act isn't as long as the first act, so it takes very little time for the third act to begin. When it does, be prepared for WAY more twists and turns than before, with copious amounts of action and angst. This all pays off rather splendidly in the denouement, but even that stands by itself as a fitting conclusion for a tale of this caliber.

By itself, the manga is fairly strong, but there are a couple of drawbacks that are typical of this genre. It holds up to the test of time in some areas, but others do not; Some of the lingo/slang terms are rather stereotypical or callous, and both discussions & portrayals of rape can be awkward despite its universal depiction of the act as vile and inhumane. In these moments, the characterization (which will obviously be discussed below) helps salvage the title's reputation. Collectively, this title will be sure to stick around with you for a while thanks to its interesting take on themes, good pacing, and a splendid blend of crime action, mystery, and romance.

[Art - 7]

Admittedly, the art really sticks out as the defining trait of Banana Fish's age. Yoshida's art style certainly develops over time (especially in terms of character design and shading), but the minimalist aesthetic is a mainstay.

The action is alright most of the time (you can tell who's who + what they're doing, and it moves very fluidly), but there are certain pages that could have used a good re-draw to better clarify what exactly is going on. One could say the same for some of the settings, especially those that take place outside of NYC in the 'countryside'. While I do enjoy seeing settings represented in a 'minimal' manner, Yoshida's variant makes it hard to decipher just what exactly is going on sometimes.

However, character design is king here. From the teenage beauties such as Yau-Si and Eiji to the hardened looks of Max and Dino, Yoshida absolutely nails their designs in terms of conveying each character's core traits. Ash's look, however, is the most vital of these designs. His beauty is genuinely unmatched within the title (and perhaps amongst similar titles), which wonderfully contrasts his character forged from the consequences of having such looks. This is all further boosted by how timeless the fashion is; Sure, sometimes there are a couple of 'dated' looks, but this WAS published in the 80's. Otherwise, it's perfect for helping the designs convey the core traits, along with inspiring part of my wardrobe.

[Character - 9]

Characterization in this title is especially appropriate for this genre and demographic. The melodrama is perfectly......melodramatic, but within reason. The angst is heartbreakingly-convincing, and occasionally universal in nature. The humour, while occasionally crude, certainly lightens the mood and reminds you that not everything has to be so dour and grim in crime fiction.

Ash Lynx is easily one of the more compelling protagonists I've seen in recent complete reads. His arc of slowly opening up emotionally and recovering from the many traumas he's experienced is beautifully realized with confusing mixtures of rage, grief, and fear as his relationship with Eiji Okumura develops. By the end of the story, Ash is a completely different person than he was at the beginning, both for the better and for good reason. Eiji himself warrants some gushing for his arc of coming out of the shell of anxiety and growing into a fine young man. While he may not do a lot at first, he certainly rivals Ash in terms of Action Hero by the end of the story. His actions in the short story in Volume 19 is absolutely heart-wrenching in its frank portrayal of how people deal with loss, along with its consequences.

The antagonists, however, are hit-or-miss. Colonel Fox and Arthur are just glorified henchmen, while Golzine is irredeemable yet charismatic. Yau-Si is probably the only major antagonist I genuinely enjoyed: between his startingly-sympathetic monologues inspired by his tragic past to his cool and collected nature, he was probably the only genuine match for Ash in my opinion.

The supporting cast is all right for the most part: Max Lobo is a decent surrogate-father who helps Ash stay on track (and laugh) and Ibe is alright as a guardian but is there for the comedy really. Shorter Wong and Sing Su-Lin are great foils for Ash, yet are even greater for being completely different types of people. My favourite, however, would have to be Blanca: A KGB defector and probably the closest person besides Max that Ash has for a father, he embodies the effortless calm that Ash definitely aspires to be. While his time in Banana Fish is short, it is ultimately sweet for both the reader and the people around him.

[Enjoyment/Overall - 9/8]

This was a genuinely great read. It's not perfect, but those blemishes are (mostly) attributed to the time it was being published in initially. I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone looking to try reading older titles, especially those that prioritize amazing characterization.

*Spoiler Free!*

This is one of those reviews where I recognize the flaws in the series but can't help but ignore them for the outshining aspects of other qualities. Much like others, the anime that's airing in 2018 helped spark this manga's popularity. In actuality, I was going to skip the anime last season but I watched the first few episodes and it led me here. What a shame that I didn't know about this manga sooner!

DISCLAIMER: This manga/series in general isn't yaoi or even romantically driven. If that was your main concern, then you should be relieved. HOWEVER, know that this series does mention ... a lot of SERIOUS issues such as rape, child molestation, gang/government entanglements, and much more.

STORY: 8/10

The story starts off strong in terms of its foundation, "Banana fish." Pondering what that is and how it's much more trouble than it's worth. The first few volumes are heavily focused on that but slowly drift off into other subplots and arcs that have "banana fish" as a drifting concept. It slowly becomes more of a character driven story in my opinion. But not in anyway like a slice of life. There's still heavy themes of the things mentioned in my disclaimer. This is not for the faint of heart. Especially with the rising mention of rape in modern media and organizations like THORN that are trying to safe/prevent child sex trafficking. Lighthearted moments exist of course. Some are pretty funny or heartwarming. But the story is written to always juxtapose that happy narrative with the harsh reality that is Ash Lynx's life.

I'd also like the comment on how well written the series is wrote as a whole. I tried to do research on the Mangaka but unfortunately I haven't found much of anything that's in English. She captured 80s America pretty well. The Mafia and gangs were a huge thing. She seems well educated as an American myself. I love that the settings takes place somewhere else other than Japan. And my god, I don't know if it was the translator, but some of the symbolism and foreshadowing that's expressed throughout among characters is so beautifully written. I adore it so much. Despite this however, like I mentioned, she does trail off onto other subjects. By the end the reader forgets it was about Banana fish to begin with.

ART: 7/10

I grew to really love the style (and frankly I like 80s style), but it is not the best in the beginning but gradually develops over the course of the manga. Not too much to say here. I liked it and the art got better.

CHARACTER: 10/10

This is the main reason why I ignore all the flaws in writing and art style. The characters. I absolutely adore all of them or hate the ones you're supposed to hate. We have true villains in this story. I have no empathy for some of them. I'll try to express how well these characters are written without spoilers to the best of my ability.

Eiji and Ash. These two single handily are the greatest contrast but perfect match. They both come from different worlds. Eiji is from a good family in Japan and Ash is from America but doesn't come from good graces. Somehow they're always sticking together and developing more and more. They both bring the best out of each other. Honestly, their moments in the manga are some of the purest and raw with helps juxtapose the extremely dark narrative. It makes their moments precious. I think that's what she was going for with her writing. I can't say too much more, but I promise they're the icing on the cake or your favorite book at the library.

As for the rest of the cast, Yau-Si is another well written character. You just want to hate him but somehow you can't truly. He's done terrible things but he has had terrible things happen to him. He's very much like Ash in that emotional travesty part, but this helps pan an interesting dynamic between the two and the rest of the cast. There's a lot of characters and I couldn't possibly comment on all of them but damn, they're great. Never forget our man Shorter <3 He's the best friend to Ash and that's all I'm going to say haha

ENJOYMENT & OVERALL: 10/10

I really want to convince more people to read the manga. I can't stress how much I underestimated this series. I didn't think I'd feel so shattered after finishing. I never thought this manga with a silly title and odd presence would make me read for hours. I didn't think I'd love these characters so much. Please give it a try, ESPECIALLY if you were like and were drawn in from the anime. There's so much greatness in this series and it will forever be one of my favorites. Don't be fooled !

First time reviewing a manga so bear with me.
In all honesty I never once thought I'd be able to read manga and let alone a manga with these tags.

I started watching the anime that is currently airing and it's by far one of the best anime series I have ever watched.

I wanted to see what happened after the episode I was currently at while reviewing this manga so I started reading it from where the episode ended since I didn't want to wait a week without knowing what was gonna happen.

I got so caught up in it that I read it through to ... the end.
It appears the anime is following the manga but for everyone's sake, I hope it doesn't end up like the manga, that was so heartbreaking.
The most heartbreaking and tragic story I've heard of in anime.
It really was such a nice manga but the ending of it..
No. It was way too savage for me but a lot of people probably likes those sorts of endings.

I can't really explain in details what I think about the story and art and character and so on.

Sexual assault, child photography/rape, sex trafficking, trauma, violence, death, murder, guns, firearms, gang warfare, drugs, and racism are mostly a few of the topics Banana Fish addresses.

I'm always wanting to talk about Banana Fish, but I'm not sure where to begin without having a nervous breakdown. From child prostitution and pornography to sexual assault, drug abuse, and gang warfare, Akimi Yoshida is not unafraid to touch mature and controversial issues. It also focuses on the results of sexual violence, such as the long-term effects of Ash's abuse on him and his relationships. Each chapter takes you on an emotional and disturbing ride that is both ... impactful and deeply moving.

Ash is amazing, as well as intelligent and attractive. Math, science, and economics are just a few of his topics where he excels. And, it was heartbreaking to know that all that had happened to Ash was revealed. It was disheartening that his father, who was responsible for Ash's safety, had failed to protect him. He was raped when he was seven years old. So what does his father do? "Listen, if any weirdo catches you and tries anything funny. You just keep quiet and let him do what he wants, but when it's over, you just make sure the bastard pays you." Those were excessively harsh words, and it is horrible to instill that concept in a seven-year-old child. He was repeatedly sexually abused at the age of eight. Later on, he killed someone for the very first time. He was only eight. He was scared, terrified, and even hurt, but his father's negligence caused Ash to get hurt and did he come in with a toxic mindset. Later on, he was kidnapped. Those cruel abusers took everything from Ash. His innocence, happiness, and freedom were all taken away from him. They made him think about himself a lot. Ash believes that he does not deserve love and to be loved. He belitles himself. He's only seventeen years old. He should have a normal life, but it was forcibly taken from him. It's also upsetting because there are so many people around Ash who are completely aware of what's going on or what Golzine and his subordinates are doing to him, but they refuse to help. Max is the first adult to show concern for Ash. When he burned the images of Ash, I was overcome with emotion since he clearly cares about him as if he were his son. It was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. My heart bleeds because he told Ash that it's fine to enjoy his life free of the burden of his past.

Over time, I believe freedom and Eiji became synonymous with Ash. Eiji gave him moments of serenity, tranquility, and humanity, allowing him to be a seventeen year old boy rather than the monster Ash had always believed himself to be. It was the kind of unconditional love Ash never felt he deserved or could ever have, but desperately needed and desired, perhaps even without recognizing it: to love and be loved unconditionally, not as a monster or a lynx, but as a human. Terible heartache when Ash put a gun in his hand and didn't hesitate to shoot himself for Eiji. I sobbed uncontrollably because Ash has always prioritized Eiji's safety over his makes me painfully sad. I believe he decided not to see Eiji and instead returned to the library, his favorite place, where he could be free of violence and crime and immerse himself in books like a normal teenager. He died with a smile on his face while reading Eiji's letter. He's not alone because Eiji's soul was with him. I hate that when people think Ash found freedom in death, since I don't believe that. When he died, he was already free in my eyes. Thanks to Eiji, for loving him for who he was, for loving both his light and his darkness, for saving his humanity from fading away by giving him these moments of tranquility. Eiji was Ash's ultimate freedom, which he had never expected to find or have. And, before I literally break down away from my sanity, one of the most heartbreaking and painful things isn't Ash's passing away. It was Ash suffering and going through inhumane treatment.

Banana Fish is quite a unique manga for me to read. Just reading the summary of the manga would be something that would push a lot of people away, because of just how intense and HEAVY it sounds (It is REALLY heavy and I actually went into the manga blind, so I did not read the summary thank gosh). Despite all that, I really enjoyed reading it. The story even though very dark and intense, there is the mystery of the "Banana Fish" that the readers have no clue about, and just the fact that there is no filler makes the mood of the manga ... so INTENSE (there is rarely any breaks before the next arc). The characters on the protagonist's side are very lovable and likable and his enemies, are one of the most disgusting and hateful beings ever in any manga I have read. The art is something I did not mind (even though many people disliked it). THE ENDING was something I despise (and why I did not give it 10/10). Even though I give it praise, this is a manga I would NOT recommend to most people. The story is very heavy for most people I know, and it most likely will trigger some people with its topics it covers. The genre is another thing I have trouble describing. It is labeled under SHOUJO but I disagree, it's hard to say what genre it is. Women might not like it because it is just so different than the normal shoujo and men would not like the homosexual themes in the story (yes there are themes like that and generally men don't read stories with those themes). However, it is not BL (at least to me). For the general audience, there is WAY too much sexual violence towards teens in the story to be recommendable.
I absolutely love this manga but it's just not everyone's cup of tea to read (the manga is outdated, it was published in the mid-80's).
However to me, it is a masterpiece (until the ending) and I give it a 9/10. Something only I and some people would enjoy.

"Dont give me your stupid advice...! Just leave me alone... I’m happy, goddammit! I know there’s at least one person in this world who cares about me. Who doesn’t want anything from me. Do you have any idea what that’s like? I never did... not once in my entire life—until now. And that’s worth more to me than anything else."


I would easily have rated this series a 10, but why did I rate it 9, you say?

This is my answer: because this series didn't give Ash a freaking break!!

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

Don't get me wrong. I loved this series soooo much this has actually managed to be ... on my favorite list. This series was by no means bad. Far from it, to be honest. This was absolutely great! It always gives me the anxiety about Ash's life it was supposed to deliver. But the pain and the heartbreak I personally went through reading this series, reading every suffering Ash had to go through, cut off a single score out of my rating.

How can I begin to comprehend how Ash was able to live through all the crap that was thrown at him? Trouble after trouble, which he always literally put his very life on the line every single time. When I thought he already got away from one life-threatening situation, another one still able to pull him back. Every. Single. Time. I was like "GIVE HIM A GODDAMN BREAK ALREADY! LET HIM BREATH FOR A MINUTE!! LET HIM REST!!" He has no time to let his guard down.

Eiji was the only one who was able to calm Ash down. He looked and acted his age when he was with Eiji, even felt human with him around. He was able to relax, even for a bit, because of Eiji. But that's just it! It was just A BIT OF TIME! I personally think it wasn't enough to compensate all the pain Ash had gone through. I know Ash even once said that meeting Eiji was worth more than anything else. That he was more than willing to risk his life to protect Eiji. Even showed us a lot of foreshadowing, including the time when he asked God to take his life instead of Eiji. I know that, but damn, I can't still accept his fate. If only after all the crap in his life, he get the happiness he so much deserved at the end, or even if he still meets his end, he still somehow get decent breather throughout the series despite his plenty of sufferings, I could have lived by it. Yeah, Ash did a lot of terrible things in his life to survive but who could have blamed him? He was the actual victim here. I still hate how Ash only got a tiny bit of happiness through Eiji and it didn't even last long enough. And you thought that showing us a smiling and almost fulfilling face of Ash while clutching Eiji's letter with his bloody hands, it would make up for his early demise, you're definitely wrong! It actually made it worst for my heart! Goddamn! And seeing Eiji still couldn't let go of Ash even after 7 years, that was pretty depressing and tragic.

I know this review ended up as a rant. But nevertheless, it's just not possible to rate this series less than 9. This is still absolutely one of the best!

PS: I don't like the old art of this series. I honestly don't see why Ash was called a pretty boy in the manga because the old art ruined it. But then, when the art style improved I guess around volume 6 or 7, damn! Ash was indeed a beautiful life force! And knowing that his final character design was inspired by the late River Phoenix, I can't think of any other way to portray his physical appearance.

EDIT: Okay, after a month of not getting over this series, I decided to change my rating from 9 to 10. I mean, after gathering my thoughts all this time, the ending was freaking sad and devastating but it was actually fitting for this series. I realized how this kind of series couldn't have the happy ending every one of us wanted for Ash and Eiji. I now believe that the ending, as depressing as it was portrayed, was still a suitable ending for this masterpiece.

Banana Fish is a manga, that I couldn't stop criticizing every time I've read a volume because there were some reacurring things happening that annoyed me. But at the same time, I couldn't wait to read the following volume the next day... The story begins with our main characters trying to solve the mystery that is Banana Fish. But as the story progresses, it becomes a much grander story with things involving crime syndicates or government corruption and especially how they relate to our main character Ash. In fact, Banana Fish doesn't get brought up that much in the later chapters and the aforementioned things ... become even more important. So to get the negative things out of the way: I didn't like some of the repetitive scenarios our main characters, especially Ash, found themselves in. To understand this criticism, I have to mention that there are 5 main villians in the manga: Dino Golzine, Blanca, Yut-Lung, Colonel Reed and Arthur. And out of the bunch, only Arthur (and Yut-Lung...kinda) want to actually kill him (but can't). So that leads to:

1. Villians are hunting ash but want/have to capture him alive
2. Ashs friends get captured so Ash gives himself in to get them free
3. ???
4. He breaks out
5. Repeat

That formula is very much present throughout the whole manga... And don't get me wrong, even though they are essentially the same scenario, the manga offers unique problems that Ash etc. have to face and I think it's done incredibly well most of the time... But still, it's kind of a headscratcher how the villians always find themselves in the same situation over and over and over again.

Another writing choice that became kind of annoying was THE CONSTANT MENTION OF ASH’S OTHERWORDLY ABILITES, OH MY GOD. I was actually laughing my ass off after the manga mentioned three times that Ash has an IQ of 180 (which was already insane), the manga one-upped it and raised it to "over 200" after a certain point. But besides intelligence, Ash has "SWAT level aim" that makes him pretty much unbeatable (unless you're the Seme-GOAT Blanca). Additionally, he knows more about politics than any journalist, knows as much about science as professors in specialized fields, can out-tactic an actual high ranked military member in warfare etc. etc. ... Fact is, Ash is kinda perfect at everything he does and while there are many good explanations given in the series on why he is so amazing at all the stuff he does, it still is kinda ridiculous at times. Like one example was how all of Arthur’s men shit their pants immediatly after Ash got his gun back during the raid... BUT FOR GOOD REASON, because Ash was able crush them like kids with a single revolver... But to end it on a positive note: I still liked the depiction of Ash's intelligence as it was done in clever and (mostly) believable ways. Like when he found the impostor in the hospital by the smell or when he dropped on the floor to find out if it was soundproof. So in the end, I still enjoyed his magic.

But enough hating because the thing that made me love this manga are the characters + Dynamics!

Ash: Ignoring the aforementioned criticisms, Ash is a vulnerable child who wants to flee the life he was forced into and brought him nothing but pain. And seeing Ash's mask slip as he is usually extremely durable mentally, makes the moments of him cracking even more significant and emotionally powerful. Perfect examples are all the intimate convesations with Eiji, Max or Blanca and the amazing backstory of him meeting Shorter in the cell showing the parallels between early Ash and Ash at the end of the manga. Seeing his growth and internal struggle of identity, needs and morals was a huge reason why I wanted to keep reading.

Eiji: He is the safe haven for Ash and the reason why he hasn't fully gone rogue. What's interesting about Eiji is that he, in max lobos words, isn't that interesting. And Eiji really is a normal boy caught in a world full of trouble... So what makes him special? It's his care and understanding for everyone around him. While Eiji is an innocent boy, he has the ability to figure out the more overlooked internal struggles that people face, which is a part of the criminal lifestyle that nobody else presumably cares about. So in other words, Eiji is the human part that is missing in the rest of the cast. But he also never gives up on anybody and is bold enough to face any danger, despite being a weakling (physically). Another thing that makes Eiji such an important, and oddly enough devisive, character, is that he kinda works as a catalyst that makes everyone else start questioning their own character and morals.

SUPPORT HERO: It's kinda tough to sort everyone together and I would love to talk about all of them more but going into details would give away so much of the things that makes these characters special. So MAX in the beginning was the one that understood Ash the most. He was responsible for a lot of introspection and analysis before Eiji took over his role more (and Max's decline in screentime). Calling him a father figure for Ash would not be a stretch considering their relationship (and the manga being self aware about it). Still in the end it was always fun to watch his journey to hunt Banana Fish and he was the type of guy you wanted to root for (I would also put Charlie and Jenkins sort of into that category). CHUN is burdened with the huge task of leading one of the biggest street gangs in the manga and he serves as a contrast to Ash, as someone who is not getting everything right with lots of mental pressure put on him at such a young age. IBE is... kinda boring? He is the only character that I wasn't that interested in as his only journey was to think about Eijis well-being and becoming Max's sidekick. Oh also SHORTER is the truest homie ever.

SUPPORT VILLIAN: When BLANCA came into the manga, I was super excited as he was finally the one that could make the untouchable Ash less immortal. What I love about him are his unpredictable moves (we learn about his intentions more), as well as his menacing presents while being level headed. I put ARTHUR and COLONAL REED in the same category as they are both not that interesting on their own but are perfect conflict creators. Although with Arthur, I liked his self-serving and snake-isch personality, which differs him from a lot of the other gang leaders. YUT-LUNG is a smart and mysterious character, with lots of unresolved trauma that is challenged by Eiji especially. One of the most well-writen and complex characters in Banana fish, easily.

MINI SPOILER:

I wasn't sure what to think about GOLZINE at first because he was supposed to be the big baddy, but was pretty much outclassed all the time... But then I realized that this was probably part of his character, as Golzine is an ego driven man that wildly overestimates his own intelligence and abilities. And even in the end, I was asking myself if he saved Ash because he secretly cared about him or if he still believed in the delusion that makes him think that Ash is his creation that he needs to protect. Very satisfying ending to his character.

ART: The blood looks funny but anything else looks super good going from character design to the environment. The manga truly makes you feel home in NY despite me having no idea what it looks like there.

FAZIT: Banana Fish has arguably the best supporting cast ever, combined with the best pacing ever but there are a few persistent quirks that annoyed me.

EDIT:I totally forgot to talk about the ending, which is one of my favorite things I've ever read. It's bittersweet, incredibly beautiful and gives us a final picture of the psychology of all the characters that we followed for so long...

Banana Fish was a manga that I couldn't help but judge HARD due to recurring annoyances, yet I eagerly anticipated each new volume. It begins with the main characters investigating the enigma of Banana Fish but evolves into a larger narrative involving crime syndicates and government corruption, particularly concerning Ash. As the story progresses, Banana Fish itself takes a backseat, with other elements becoming more prominent.

One recurring issue is the repetitive scenarios, especially involving Ash, where villains hunt him but must capture him alive, leading to a cycle of capture and escape. Additionally, the constant emphasis on Ash's extraordinary abilities, such as his intelligence and ... combat skills, becomes excessive and somewhat absurd, despite occasional clever depictions.

However, what truly captivated me were the characters and their dynamics. Ash's vulnerability and inner turmoil, particularly in intimate moments with Eiji, Max, or Blanca, added depth to his character. Eiji, despite being seemingly ordinary, stands out for his empathy and unwavering support for others, serving as a catalyst for self-reflection among the cast.

The supporting characters, such as Max, Chun, and Shorter, each contribute uniquely to the narrative, with Blanca and Yut-Lung standing out as compelling villains with complex motivations. Even Golzine, initially overshadowed, reveals layers of ego and delusion that make his character satisfyingly nuanced.

The artwork, while occasionally humorous in its depiction of blood, excels in character design and setting, immersing readers in the world of New York City.

In conclusion, Banana Fish boasts a remarkable supporting cast and pacing, despite persistent quirks. The ending, in particular, stands out as a bittersweet and beautiful conclusion to a captivating story.

Rash but skilled and street-wise Ash "Lynx" was picked up off the streets by Mafia Lord Dino Golzine, treated as a "pet" and was the now the leader of many street gangs around New York, Manhattan. Ever since his older brother Griffin was mentally destroyed by a powerful drug, he had been trying to track down the ones responsible. Not long later he comes across a mystery powder from a dying man who mentions the mysterious name "Banana Fish", something he had heard his broken down brother mutter repeatedly. Meanwhile, the timid Eiji Okumura a young journalist assistant is out helping to do a feature ... on street gangs and ends up caught in the feud when Ash is attacked. After being saved and learning that Ash is determined to bring down Golzine alone, Eiji decides to help him. However, Ash and his new friends end up being caught up in something bigger than they had bargained for as they uncover the truth behind Banana Fish, the key to destroying Golzine. Soon, Ash and Eiji find themselves growing ever more dependent on each other as they face many hardships.

After watching this show, I'm sure American Anime fans will be able to do some "Anime pilgrimages" of their own and go about location spotting in their own country. I watched this show out of curiosity and heard some good things about it. The American background scenery is pretty good to look at and art quality stays consistent. The second OP art particularly well done with a great combination of 2D and 3D art. The 3D hardly stands out like a sore thumb unlike Cloverworks. Plenty of attention to detail too. This is one of the rare shows that actually got the technical details of "hacking" right where they consulted the Japan Hackers Association instead of just using screens of random code.

It's not a bad show. You watch the drama unfold as Ash struggles to free himself from the mafia world and discovers how much Eiji's support means to him but it gets quite repetitive along the way. Early on in the show the pacing is quite good as the gang gets closer and closer to what Banana Fish is but afterwards, it's pretty much the same scenario. Ash tries to push Eiji away, does something crazy, shows his vulnerable side and Eiji returns to console him for a bit of "boys love" scenery. Rinse and repeat. Sure, there's a large scale gang war going on but it just feels dragged out and used as an excuse to squeeze in as many characters as possible, similar to the way shows aimed at the male audience is filled with girls. Action scenes are short but intense enough to watch and there's a bit of humour here and there to lighten things up. Fortunately, things do pick back up towards the last third of the show.

The show is based on a Manga serialised in the Betsucomi magazine aimed at high school girls which is probably why this show is filled with bishounen "pretty boy" character designs. There's sensual fan service similar to your harem show for guys, just less frequent but more... intense. As mentioned earlier, Fujoshis will probably feel right at home with the gay male romance and BL scenes such as hints of sodomy. It actually makes use of this to highlight how bad sexual harassment is for women too. However, there's also mild moments where dominance, rape, child slavery along with sexual abuse is mentioned with the odd image and obscured camera angle. It focuses on these issues a lot so if you're uncomfortable with all this you'd probably want to avoid this gangster drama and conspiracy show.

The following review is in English and Spanish (translated with the support of DeepL)

The version read is the Spanish translation by Deco Woo and Lyrica-chan of “Heart of Gold”

While quickly assumed, the viewer should think more about the interesting decision to set the story in New York. The author, Akimi Yoshida, did a great job in depicting the location, to the point that it doesn't even seem foreign or exotic to the reader, that's how natural the narrative feels. Beyond being part of a Japanese fascination with the United States characteristic of that time, well demonstrated in the cartoonist's interests, for example in her first ... work (California History), it would be a decision that would highlight the work in multiple streams.

It's not the space of this review to address what it meant for the definition and evolution of Shojo to Shonen or Boys Love, I just want to emphasize that part of that historical importance lies in the decision to place the story in the capital of the world because it allowed her to use elements that otherwise would not be there, the most important is the strong presence of gangs.

The gangs are the backbone of the narrative, each one is ethnic, marking a clear differentiation between them that give the guideline to establish relationships in declared conflict or tense peace, being an ideal scenario in which to address the main values of the work: Loyalty, duty or tolerance.

The “street” aspect of the city is built, which is only the basis of a broad framework with police, special forces, mafia or press, with diffuse relationships between them. New York is consolidated not only through the appearance of the tourist spots, but among the forces that seek to control the city in their own way, constituting that real, dangerous and invisible aspect for the ordinary citizen.

Corresponding to the darkness of this presentation, the different situations related are born in this moral corruption such as drug distribution, child trafficking, murder or blackmail. An atmosphere that to be explored in its different facets should have characters corresponding to what wants to be told, and indeed, Yoshida did a fantastic job defining the characters that rule or seek to control the city, they are not only despicable, they have complexity in that evil.

And in highlighting the conceptualization of the characters, the main duo, Ash and Eiji, can't be omitted. Ash's character building alone is admirable, there is a dichotomy between who he seems to be and who he is, which unfolds along the story. I could write multiple adjectives and admirations, however, I consider it more valuable if the reader discovers his multiple facets, as Eiji does.

Eiji at first seems to be the observation from the viewer, but like Ash, he also evolves, in a reverse sense it could be qualified to some extent. The chemistry between the two is the unconditional platonic complement to each other, a relationship in which weakness and strength coexist, resonating with the other themes of forgiveness, acceptance of the past and love.

If there is a lesson that perhaps encompasses the different reflections of its development it would be: The past does not define who you will be in the future, there is freedom in deciding what you want to be and how you want to act, to escape the cycle you are confined to you need courage to love and accept the love of others; a warm message in the midst of its dark presentation of corruption, power and subjugation.

Its main negative aspect is related to the pacing of the story and a narrative whose last quarter feels unnecessarily drawn out, with a repeated “X rescuing Y” dynamic, with Y now being captured to be rescued by X. It brings other consequences, especially in the appearance of new characters with no greater transcendence than being an obstacle, contributing little to the thematic idea compared to the others.

Likewise, its ambition works against it at certain points, with the mention of so many dynamics and conspiracy within a conspiracy, facts of importance at the beginning are barely mentioned towards the end, and others become a mere formality to get to another development or revelation.

It has a very recognizable drawing, and again, with importance at the time by the transition of a more dynamic and action-focused style than the usual similar works of other authors. While most of it's made up of panels positioned for action or conversations, there are the occasional exceptions solely dedicated to reflecting the character's emotion through their expression or positioning.

I must also highlight her character design, it reinforces that New York ethnic variety that has so much importance within the story. And clearly, Ash's physical characterization is vital to his conceptualization as a character, especially when contrasted with Eiji's common and integral appearance.

Banana Fish deserves its historical recognition, it is a solid story with an engaging setting and a multitude of secondary characters with unique motivations and personalities. Although it lasts longer than it should, redounding in the chain of events and learned reflections, once you reach the last panel you know you will remember such a unique story, the lesson that no one but yourself should dictate the future that awaits you will resonate with you.

Español

La siguiente reseña está en Español e Inglés (traducida con el apoyo de DeepL)

La versión leída es la traducción al español por Deco Woo y Lyrica-chan de “Heart of Gold”

Si bien es rápidamente asumido, el espectador debería pensar más acerca de la interesante decisión de ubicar la historia en New York. La autora, Akimi Yoshida, realizó un gran trabajo en la representación de la locación, al punto que ni siquiera al lector le parece extraño o exótico, así de natural se siente la narrativa. Más allá de ser parte de una fascinación Japonesa por Estados Unidos característico de  ese momento, bien se demuestra en los intereses de la dibujante, por ejemplo en su primer trabajo (California History), sería una decisión que destacaría a la obra en múltiples corrientes.

No es espacio de esta reseña abordar qué significó para la definición y evolución en el Shojo a Shonen o Boys Love, sólo quiero recalcar que parte de esa importancia histórica reside en esa decisión de situar la historia en la capital del mundo porque le permitió utilizar elementos que de otra forma no estarían, la más importante es la marcada presencia de bandas.

Las bandas constituyen la columna vertebral de la narrativa, cada una es étnica, marcando una clara diferenciación entre sí que dan la pauta para establecer relaciones en declarado conflicto o tensa paz, siendo un escenario ideal en que abordar los principales valores de la obra: Lealtad, deber o tolerancia.

Se construye el aspecto “callejero” de la ciudad que es sólo la base de un amplio entramado con policías, fuerzas especiales, mafia o prensa, con difusas relaciones entre los mismos. New York se consolida no sólo a través de la aparición de los puntos turísticos, sino entre las fuerzas que buscan controlar la ciudad a su manera, constituyendo ese aspecto real, peligroso e invisible para el ciudadano corriente.

Correspondiendo a la oscuridad de esa presentación, las diferentes situaciones relatadas se encuentran nacidas en esa corrupción moral como son la distribución de drogas, tráfico de menores, asesinatos o chantajes. Una atmósfera que para ser explorada en sus diferentes facetas debía contar con personajes correspondientes a lo que quiere ser contado, y efectivamente, Yoshida realizó un fantástico trabajo definiendo a los personajes que gobiernan o buscar controlar a la ciudad, no son sólo despreciables, tienen complejidad en esa maldad.

Y al destacar a la conceptualización de los personajes no puede omitirse al dúo principal, Ash y Eiji. Por sí sólo la construcción de Ash como personaje es admirable, hay una dicotomía entre quien parece ser y quien es, la cuál se desenvuelve conforme al desarrollo. Podría escribir múltiples adjetivos y admiraciones, sin embargo, considero que es más valioso si el lector descubre sus múltiples facetas, a la par que lo realiza Eiji.

Eiji en principio parece ser la observación desde el espectador, pero al igual que Ash, también evoluciona, en un sentido inverso podría calificarse hasta cierto punto. La química entre ambos es el complemento incondicional platónico hacia el otro, una relación en que conviven debilidad y fuerza, resonando con las otras temáticas como el perdón, aceptación del pasado y amor.

Si hay una lección que acaso englobe las diferentes reflexiones de su desarrollo sería: El pasado no define quién serás en el futuro, hay libertad en decidir qué quieres ser y cómo quieres actuar, para escapar del ciclo del que estás confinado necesitas valor para amar y aceptar el amor de otros; un cálido mensaje en medio de su oscura presentación de corrupción, poder y sometimiento.

Su principal aspecto negativo está relacionado con el ritmo de la historia y una narrativa cuyo último cuarto se siente innecesariamente extensa, con una repetida dinámica de “X rescatando Y”, quedando Y ahora capturado para ser rescatado por X. Acarrea otras consecuencias, sobre todo en la aparición de nuevos personajes sin mayor trascendencia que ser un obstáculo, poco aportando a la idea temática a comparación de los otros. 

Así mismo su ambición resulta en contra en según qué puntos, con la mención de tantas dinámicas y conspiración dentro de una conspiración, hechos de importancia al inicio apenas son mencionados hacia el final, y otros se convierten en mero trámite para llegar hacia otro desarrollo o revelación.

Tiene un dibujo muy reconocible, y nuevamente, con importancia en su momento por la transición de un estilo más dinámico y enfocado a la acción que el acostumbrado de obras similares de otras autoras. Si bien la mayoría está constituido por paneles posicionados para la acción o conversaciones, en ocasiones se presentan las excepciones únicamente dedicadas a reflejar la emoción del personaje por medio de su expresión o posicionamiento.

También he de destacar su diseño de personajes, refuerza esa variedad étnica neoyorquina que tiene tanta importancia dentro de la historia. Y claramente, la caracterización física de Ash es vital para su conceptualización como personaje, especialmente cuando es contrastada con el aspecto común e integral de Eiji.

Banana Fish merece su reconocimiento histórico, es una sólida historia de atractiva ambientación con una multitud de personajes secundarios con motivaciones y personalidades únicas. Pese a que dura más de lo que debería, redundando en la cadena de sucesos y aprendidas reflexiones, una vez alcanzas el último panel sabes que recordarás tan única historia, te resonará la lección sobre que nadie más que uno mismo debe dictar el futuro que le espera.