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Reviewed by Barb Lien-Cooper We get a lot of review manga in this house. Some of it we’re really happy to see (Yotsuba, Naruto, Vagabond, Pluto, Hunter X Hunter, etc.), some of it, not so much (those will remain nameless). But every time a Viz package comes in the mail, we both have the same look of expectation in our eyes. We both mentally think to ourselves, “Please, please, please, may Real be amongst the review copies.” Real is the one of the only manga that my husband (as he always gets to it first) drops everything for in order to read it. He eats it up, gets a happy grin on his face, then waits impatiently for me to read it. I always hesitate for a minute. I’m not into sports manga and I’m not into slice of life anything, so I always wonder, “Why do I love this series so much?” I hesitate, then I do the same thing. I try to delay the pleasure of reading the book. I try to savor it. But then I just gobble it up, ending up with the same happy grin on my face, knowing in my heart that I’ve just once again read something really, really, truly special. Real is about wheelchair basketball. Don’t let that be a turn-off to you. There’s nothing depressing about the series, although it can, at times, be harrowing. What’s more, there’s nothing artificially “inspiring” about the series. In lesser hands, such a series could be a strident, message-filled mess. In Takehiko (Slam Dunk, Vagabond) Inoue’s hands, however, it becomes about as real as real can be. Real isn’t per se about the competition or the sports. Instead, it’s about (and I’m quoting here) “Strength in the face of adversity.” It’s about finding your dreams, finding a new goal, finding a new reason to live after your hopes and expectations have been dashed. It’s about finding purpose, which is something we all need to do with our lives. Rather than just being about pain, it’s also about finding one’s way after one’s way has been blocked. This is a series for older teens and adults who want something they can believe in. I can’t recommend it enough. Perfect art, great storytelling… I’m out of words. Just read it. Interested in writing for MangaLife? We're always looking for talented reviewers and columnists, so drop us a line! Charles Webb Editor-in-Chief, MangaLife.com |
1 September 2010
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