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Shonan Junai Gumi
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Design - 6.0 |
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Story - 6.7 |
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Character - 7.7 |
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Value - 7.0 |
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Enjoyment - 7.3 |
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Average - 6.9 |
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| Average |
6.4 |
| Design |
5 |
| Story |
6 |
| Character |
8 |
| Value |
6 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
| Shounan Junai Gumi is quite the disappointment, mainly due to the high expectations that I had for it. Although there are some pretty classic displays of bravery, loyalty and strength, Shounan Junai Gumi remains your typical high school delinquent fight manga. After reading/watching GTO and reading Bad Company (the prequel which was made after this series), I was hoping for the same great humor and gripping story. However, reading through this manga, I felt that I could have sent my time a little more wisely. Shounan Junai has its good points, was fun along the way, but does not hold up as a memorable or moving manga.
The general story begins with Onizuka and his bud Ryuuichi, two boys who want to score with any girl and to lose their virginity as soon as possible. They contrive all sorts of various outlandish plans in pursuit of their goal – from changing their image to foolishly believing the rumors that winning some contest will lead to the prized booty, etc etc. Many times, they get very close but through some odd turn of events or a noble change of mind, they fail and then they have to try again some other time. The humor mostly relies on the extremities to which they will go to achieve their goal as well as the front they put up (to keep up their tough guy image based on their fighting strength). However, when they actually are in such a situation that leads to potential success, they either mess it up or decide to abstain. The other part of this story relies on rivals from other schools who want to take down the legendary Onibaku duo. As various people who fight dirty pop up to challenge Onibaku, Onibaku is always taken down but never out, as they always get up through will power and superhuman strength. This is very similar to the last few volumes of GTO where fight scenes are more plentiful.
Onizukia is still his familiar self from GTO- a delinquent that nevertheless has a set of values that he abides by. Although he has no qualms in kicking his foes’s ass or causing massive destruction and mayhem, he will not take advantage of a girl who is down on her luck or not completely willing. Also, he is always there to help out his friends who either have love troubles or have some sort of threat looming over them. Supposedly, this is what makes the viewer view him in a more sympathetic light. Perhaps if I had read this before GTO, I would have been more receptive to this form of Onizuka’s personality, but the fact that Onizuka is some pubescent boy who is guided by raw animal instinct makes him less interesting than his GTO future counterpart. Shounan Junai Gumi is just not that interesting – while GTO had the goal of reforming the students, helping them accept their families and themselves, etc, Shounan Junai Gumi just has the goal of being strong and having sex. Of course, they try to do this all in some humorous, crazy way but there just isn’t anything memorable or brilliant. Overall, the humor is easily forgettable, the art sucks, the storyline is basic, the characters are static, and in general, nothing stands out.
It doesn’t help that the drawings are hideous. Short of being stick figures, it would be difficult to make the designs any simpler or basic. Although “Kyo Kara Ore Wa” has similar art design to this manga (or arguably worse), “Kyo Kara” at least has a hilarious background situation (two honor students decide to transfer to a new school, set on changing their image to a more tough-guy, and bad ass one) and a good sense of comedy that makes the art forgivable.
In the end, I feel safe to say that one can pass on this manga without missing out on too much. Only the true hardcore fan of the manga-ka’s works can even hope to enjoy this. Besides, we know that in the end of all this adventure: Onizuka isn’t going to get any play, he remains a virgin and he builds up a legendary reputation as being a tough fighter. We know this because few people would consider looking at this older work without the prior experience with GTO. We already know who Ryuuichi will end up with, and that Onizuka will not have any long-term relationship that persists into his future life. Perhaps later on, we will discover what motivates Onizuka to be a teacher, but this isn’t a main emphasis thus far. However, I would like to commend Onizuka’s passion and spirit in general – if only the manga’s background story was more entertaining could I have enjoyed his adventures a little bit more.
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Ric |
(2009-07-26 05:10:53) 2006-06-22 08:49:07 |
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| Average |
7.0 |
| Design |
7 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
7 |
| Value |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
| The prequel to GTO s great but not quite as good. The art is isn't quite as good and while this is one of the most funny manga I've ever read it doesn't has the impact in the stories that GTO did. It's mostly Eikichi and Ryuji trying to get laid but it is hilarious. If in the mood for for a great comedy than Shonan Junai Gumi is great. It is almost as good as GTO though. With more reading though it is starting to get a little stale. Still good but the manga goes on for much longer than needed as it is longer than the GTO manga.
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| Average |
7.4 |
| Design |
6 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
8 |
| Value |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
| The prequel to GTO. I've read the first 5 volumes and so far it was very funny. It has the same humour as GTO, with just the design being inferior. Despite this some facial expressions are very funny.
It follows the story of Enichi and Ryugi, two highschool students who're still virgins and would sacrifice anything for getting rid of their virginity. They're also fiercesome fighters and almost unbeatable. What follows from this is one of the most hilarious mangas. Except for their problem they have to struggle with various notorious gang members. The fights are bloody and only then the manga turns serious.
a must read if you liked GTO.
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