Beck

Beck stands out as a rare gem in the niche market of manga. Among the vast array of translated manga, I can't think of another series that A) revolves around a band and B) captures the specific tone and atmosphere of underground music. It truly feels like a niche within a niche, even though it follows the typical shonen character arc.

The festivals and the creation of music with all the band members are where this story really excels. Between these significant moments and character goals, there's an assortment of side characters, love interests, and gang upheavals. Some elements work well, some feel like plot devices, and other times it seems like the author forgot about certain side character arcs and eventually decided to write their next part.

The anime covers approximately the first 10 or 11 volumes, which indeed represent the best parts of the series. There is a similar festival near the end where the quality almost matches the high standard set by the first third, leading to a very solid ending. The middle section is definitely challenging to get through because the band constantly faces situations where one member breaks off, does their own thing, and then they have to reunite, repeating this cycle about three times. From a storytelling perspective, it's a solid way to show characters overcoming struggles, but it felt overly planned and somewhat irritating.

Another aspect that felt rather weak, especially in the second half, was the romance. Of all the characters, Saku and Hiromi share the best relationship. Koyuki and Maho make a great couple, and one of the few in manga where I can genuinely feel their chemistry through the pages, particularly in a shonen story. However, their relationship isn't written well. The second half focuses on keeping them apart and falling into the same "will they/won't they" misunderstandings where they fail to communicate. While it leads to romantic reunions, it ultimately felt like their relationship was just a plot device. This is disappointing because I believe they're great characters together, but I couldn't handle the repetitive nature of their tumultuous love.

The music and festivals, however, are fantastic. The author excels at building tension and creating a ticking clock that makes each performance feel like it carries the weight of the world on the band's shoulders. I loved meeting new bands, and each musician had a unique performance style that made them memorable.

Overall, the manga felt down-to-earth, the music was great, but the romance not so much. There's a lot I didn't cover, but it is certainly an experience I would recommend.

This review is spoiler-free.

First of all, since I joined MAL, I never thought about writing a review, but BECK was different. This manga was mind-blowing in every aspect and even changed the kind of music I listened to before.

P.S.: Sorry if there are errors; English isn't my primary language.

- STORY

How can I describe the story in one word? REALISTIC (though some moments aren’t). When I started reading it, I wondered, “How can a 103-chapter manga with 65 pages each about a band be that good?” The answer is simple: after each chapter, you get goosebumps and want to keep reading because it makes you feel alive. Another reason why the story is so good is its realism. Everything that happens to them could genuinely happen in real life.

- ART

Harold Sakuishi's art style is unique and well-known. His art has elements of comedy and realism, perfectly fitting for BECK.

- CHARACTERS

The characters make this story exceptional. They’re perfect for this type of manga. The character development is amazing; they all seem like real people with real-life problems. These characters are the most realistic ones I’ve ever seen in a manga.

- ENJOYMENT

I enjoyed this manga so much that I didn’t want it to end. The first two-thirds of the chapters have a great comedic touch, but the humor rarely comes from dialogue—it’s the art that makes the comedy in this manga so good.

- OVERALL

This manga deserves more than a 10. I literally cried at the end of the manga—not because it was sad, but because it was over.

If you're looking for a beautiful and realistic music manga with a bit of comedy, BECK is for you.

I dove into the Beck manga right after finishing the anime. The anime was indeed good on its own, but it felt somewhat anticlimactic to me. Thus, reading the manga became essential.

Beck revolves around a group of boys who unite through their shared love for English rock music and form a band, aspiring to share the stage with rock legends. The story follows protagonist Yukio as he befriends guitarist Ryuusuke and gets drawn into the music scene. Together with other characters, they form a band named Beck. Subsequently, the narrative tracks Beck's journey to the top, facing constant hardships while developing their music, striving to create something both popular and personally fulfilling. This ongoing struggle propels the story forward, emphasizing themes like integrity and vision over commercial success. Throughout the manga, characters face decisions that test their resolve not to sell out, which drives their musical creation despite industry challenges hindering their rise to fame.

Despite the music-centric plot, Beck is fundamentally a slice-of-life manga focusing on the band members' interactions with various characters and environments. Their experiences and progress make the manga engaging. A significant subplot involves the romance between main character Kouyuki and Maho, evolving from friends to lovers due to their connection to Ryuusuke. This relationship explores complex themes poignantly, given its lengthy development over 5-6 years, resulting in a believable and nuanced romance rather than a cliché one.

The characters are both the strength and weakness of this manga. They are well-written with distinct personalities, making their irrational actions seem believable. Koyuki evolves from a bored teenager to a passionate man, while Ryuusuke grapples with personal dilemmas. However, some of Ryuusuke’s extreme behaviors were repetitive and lacked consequences, undermining his character development. The band's unwavering support for him, despite his childish antics, seemed unrealistic. Additionally, characters often failed to learn from past mistakes, leading to unnecessary conflicts for forced drama without payoff.

The art is highly detailed, making the characters feel real. Each character has unique features, and as the series progresses, their tired appearances reflect their growing dedication. Performances are vividly illustrated, capturing the essence of live shows. Full-page artworks are especially detailed, enhancing the storytelling.

In conclusion, Beck is an immensely enjoyable manga for all ages. It narrates a coming-of-age tale about discovering passion and pursuing dreams while staying true to oneself. It surpasses the anime by offering deeper character development and a satisfying ending.

Beck is, at its core, about five guys in a band and their friends navigating the journey of growing up. Sure, there are other elements like romance, guns, and obviously music. However, the manga shines brightest when these aspects take a backseat, allowing the characters to hang out in a run-down bar or restaurant, trading playful jabs. As with many struggling artists, Beck's members find themselves at the bottom rung of society. Despite facing more obstacles than a chiropractor deals with, it never feels like they're stagnating. Each chapter follows the pattern of "five steps forward and four steps back," and while the plot may stretch believability at times (gangs seem to be everywhere), the characters retain their authenticity. You grow to love them so deeply that what they do becomes almost secondary. It's just such an enjoyable experience.

Beck is a standout story with characters that are somewhat memorable. Each character's motivations and identities are quite clear from the start, but their names don't stick with me. This, however, is really the only significant drawback to an otherwise excellent narrative with an amazing atmosphere.

While Beck isn't a masterpiece, it deserves a spot on any manga enthusiast's "TO-READ" list. It vividly portrays the struggles of aspiring artists through a credible storyline and anchors itself in realism. Unlike other manga I had primarily read before, Beck expanded my horizons within the medium.

Prior to this manga, I never thought one could experience music through the strokes of a pen and emotions drawn onto a page. Since then, I have come to understand this possibility.

8.4/10

Beck is a story about five guys discovering their purpose in life.

Every day, as we live our lives, there are moments when it feels pointless or we feel lost. Some days, you feel like you can achieve anything you set your mind to. But when confronted with an insurmountable obstacle or impending tragedy, how do we truly feel?

We can't help but feel anxious, nervous, and helpless. It's only human.

Beck captures these feelings in each panel, much like a camera seizing a moment. When we feel like giving up, there's always someone out there struggling just as much, if not more. Koyuki, Saitou, Saku, Ryusuke, Taira, Maho, and Chiba are so well-developed that every reader can relate to at least one aspect of each character. Despite their flaws, they all accept each other’s imperfections.

However, the author seems to leave us with one resounding message: It all comes full circle.

So hurry and read this manga; you might just find a piece of yourself and grow to appreciate your life even more.

Once again, before I dive in, Beck was written and drawn by Harold Sakuishi and published in English by Tokyopop around 2000.

First off, I'd like to mention that I've never read or watched a music anime/manga, so I had nothing to compare it with. Keeping that in mind, let's get started.

-STORY-

To be honest, the story wasn't particularly good or bad; it was grounded in reality and real people. Sometimes it drags a bit, making you feel like you're going nowhere. Despite that, I really enjoyed the struggle, pain, loss, and joy Beck goes through as they learn more about themselves and each other, whether through music or otherwise. If you're under 13, maybe you shouldn't watch it (depending on your maturity level) because it contains a lot of blood, weapons, and sexual references. Sometimes these elements aren't needed, but I think they were part of the humor the artist was aiming for. Saying that, I did enjoy the drama.

-ART-

At the beginning, I have to say I didn't like it very much; it had a stiffness to it which improved without me even realizing. It reminds me a little of Hajime no Ippo (Fighting Spirit), which also got better over time.

-CHARACTERS-

I know I scored this section low, but I can't say why exactly. All members of Beck have their own hardships they need to overcome, whether it's school, personal issues, music, or relationships with each other. They do break down every wall and end up trusting each other, realizing that without each member, nothing would have happened or could ever happen. But this took all 34 volumes to achieve, and although it was right for the style he was using, I wished for results quicker.

-ENJOYMENT-

What can I say? Beck (even though, as I mentioned earlier, it sometimes brags) is a great manga, and I can see why it was made into an anime. It's funny and filled with drama, keeping me hooked for hours. Heck, I even reread the last four chapters. Once the art style became more natural and easier on the eyes, it became very likable and one of my personal favorites. Although sometimes it can feel repetitive and boring, I continued until the last volume and was very happy with it. Also, if you're watching because you've seen the anime, the manga has more backstory (as is usually the case) and goes way past the band's reunion. :)

I hope you read and enjoy it.

P.S. I did this a bit impulsively and wrote this close to 1 AM, so I'm sure there are a lot of mistakes that I will take care of once I've had at least 7 hours of sleep. Night night.