Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Book Review: Slam Dunk Vols. 7 & 8 by Takehiko Inoue

Slam Dunk Volume 7 by Takehiko Inoue

Ryota Miyagi, the new hot-head player for the team, looks like he will another problem child like manga protagonist Hanamichi Sakuragi. Worse yet, they seem diametrically opposed to each other. That lasts until they discover they have more in common--romantic failure and unrequited love. They are ready to team up just in time for a gang of thugs to brawl with them in the high school gym.

This story started well but the teen violence at the gym was a lot to take. I found it a little unbelievable and very unlikeable. Hopefully the fight ends by the next issue.

Mildly recommended.

Slam Dunk Volume 8 by Takehiko Inoue

The big brawl morphs into a backstory for the leader of the thugs, Mitsui. He was an up-and-coming player who could have played for any team but wanted Shohoku because the coach inspired him. A persistent injury kept him out and he takes his anger out on the team. Once the coach finally makes it in to the court, Mitsui breaks down and asks to be back on the team. Can Shohoku have three hotheads on one team?

While the backstory made Mitsui more sympathetic, it wasn't enough for me to justify or excuse his bad behavior. Also, it feels like adding more drama for the sake of adding more drama, not as a natural outcome of the storyline. This manga is skating on very thin ice, I'm not sure I'm going to stick with it.

Not recommended.

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