GetBackers

I recall that they used to sell around a thousand volumes of this series at Borders. If I needed a reference point for discovering new things, the safest way to describe it would be "find me the OPPOSITE of Getbackers." This series is about as mindlessly churned out and cynical as a product can get. The art is very slick and professional, but it's mostly used to emphasize full-page "fanservice" (which nowadays refers to breasts and women's underwear). The plot doesn't really go anywhere most of the time, and it feels like things are made up as the story progresses, but without the grace found in even the most generic 100+ volume action series. The characters couldn't be more stereotypical. There's this "dark and mysterious" guy with a fedora and a black coat who uses small surgical knives. His name is... Raven or something? Raven McCrow? Am I describing a real character, or a character you made up for a role-playing forum when you were 11? FUCK GETBACKERS.

Story: 10

I absolutely love the story. What can I say? It has action, comedy, plot twists, and some serious themes. The supernatural powers are fantastic, and I appreciate the inclusion of historical aspects like WWII and witch hunting. The later arc involving tarot cards is also great. One main reason I don't recommend it to some friends who enjoy supernatural and action genres is the ecchi content. If you can't handle some ecchi, you probably won't enjoy Get Backers. No matter how great everything else is, if you can't get through the numerous panty-shots and gravity-defying boobs, you won't make it through this series.

Characters: 10

Holy cow, I love the characters. You learn about them throughout the series as if you were slowly becoming friends with them. While this is primarily a supernatural and action manga/anime, character development is its main component. The main characters, Ginji and Ban, may seem stereotypical at first, but they become more complex as you read on. Their relationship, in particular, grows more intricate. If you live for uncovering characters' dark pasts over time, then this is the series for you. If you want immediate gratification, though, this isn't the manga you're looking for.

Art: 7

I'll just come out and say it: the art isn't the best. It looks and feels old, which some people really enjoy, but I tend to avoid. Especially in the beginning, the proportions are strange—small heads on large bodies. Think CLAMP, but not as extreme. That said, I really enjoyed watching the mangaka improve. As I continued reading, I became attached to the art style. Later on, the proportions get better, Ginji and Ban look less young, and the art undergoes an impressive transformation. Overall, it's really endearing to me, possibly due to nostalgia since this is one of my long-time favorites. If you're put off by old-style art, this might not be for you.

Overall: 9

If I were judging purely based on my enjoyment, this series would be a 10, but I'm not. Just because it's my cup of tea doesn't mean it's everyone else's. This manga isn't perfect. So, if you don't mind old-style art with ecchi and moe elements, and you love a fantastic, involved plot with heavy supernatural and action elements, plus deep character development and past revelations, then this manga is for you. If any of those traits turn you off, you might want to look elsewhere.

I came to Getbackers from the anime. A shoujo girl at heart, I couldn't believe that my anime club was showing me this series about battling. And yes, it is a series about battling and retrieving, but at its very core, it's about relationships, friendships, and honor.

The story follows the Getbackers, Ban and Ginji. There's an underlying sense of the narrative moving towards a conclusion with some ultimate completion in mind. While there are a few episodic adventures, the stories are primarily multi-volume, intense, and detailed. You learn a lot about the characters, their histories, and their friendships. The stories related to Infinity Fortress are the most intriguing, and where I am in the manga, it feels like we're gearing up for something big!

The art isn't beautiful in a traditional sense, but it suits the story—the topic and the pace—and it is very detailed. You get a great sense of where you are, as the story covers many different settings. The characters are all quite distinct, no small feat given how many significant characters are involved. The facial expressions are excellent, and I love it when Ginji slips into chibi mode—it fits his character perfectly. The fight scenes are also well illustrated, especially considering all the different skills, methods, and magics involved.

Ah, characters! They can make or break a series. Here, the characters are wonderful. Ban and Ginji, our two intrepid heroes, are wonderfully portrayed, and I find myself cheering for them throughout. But they aren't the be-all and end-all. There's a whole host of secondary characters, all beautifully described—the Volts crew, the (evil and terrifying) Dr. Akabane, the other retrievers and transporters, the Infinity Fortress crew—the list goes on and on. Many of them are memorable in their own right and definitely contribute to a wonderful story.

Overall, I highly recommend this series. It is incredibly funny, cute, and packed with action.

I could discuss the story, the characters, or even the art, but I believe my colleagues here have already covered most of what I could say. However, there is one aspect that truly drew me to this manga, and that is the vast array of subjects it brings up. As I am re-reading the manga, I am making a list of all these mentions.

Do you want to learn about art? There's an arc dedicated to Van Gogh and Venus de Milo (and if you're curious enough, you'll find references to Cezanne and Gauguin as well). Interested in classical music? Mozart is mentioned, along with the legendary violin made by Stradivarius (which, after some research, isn't as remarkable as portrayed).

The manga also includes biblical references and discussions on witch hunts. There is an overwhelming amount of information here, covering the most random topics. If you are a curious person who enjoys learning new things and is willing to do further research on everything mentioned in the manga, I highly recommend giving it a read.

This manga initially seemed a bit off with the oddly drawn Ginji in the first few chapters, but the story progressively gets better and better. I believe it surpasses the anime, as is often the case with most manga. The Eternal Bond arc didn't intrigue me at first because I wasn't interested in Shido's story and thought it wasn't important enough to warrant such a significant arc. However, I was proven wrong by the intricate details and new characters that turned out to be crucial to the storyline.

It truly stands out as one of the best manga I've read so far. At first, it appears to be set in a fictional world like many others, but similar to the original Full Metal Alchemist anime, it eventually ties back to our everyday world.

(Spoilers ahead!) This manga not only emphasized the importance of friendship but also seemed to reflect the mangaka's perspective on developed nations versus third-world nations. The world that created Get Backers' world represented developed nations, while the Get Backers' world symbolized third-world nations. Akabane from the real world tells Ginji that everyone lives without problems or poverty, whereas Ginji's world faces immense hardships daily. Yet, the real world has high suicide rates, while Ginji's world sees very few suicides. Ginji then reflects, "Even though we struggle every day, we never considered ourselves unhappy." This reminded me of my experience moving from a third-world country to the US, where despite daily struggles, suicide rates are lower compared to the comfortable yet troubled lives in America. (End spoilers)

The manga is fantastic, with a mature plotline that goes beyond just battles. It incorporates various information, myths, theories, and general knowledge throughout the arcs, showcasing the mangaka's extensive research and knowledge.

If you're not prepared for an influx of significant facts all at once, look up some background histories of the characters before reaching the final volumes. The mangaka gradually provided character histories but seemed to rush near the end, cramming all the sad stories together, which was overwhelming.

The art wasn't impressive at first but improved significantly over time, becoming extremely detailed. After reading Shaman King right after, I felt the stark difference in detail levels. Kudos to the mangaka for the excellent artwork.

For those who appreciate a bit of fan service: this manga is perfect since the mangaka enjoys drawing female characters unclothed during fights, while male characters only lose their sleeves or parts of their shirts. If you're into that, you'll enjoy it.

Overall, it's one of my all-time favorite manga. :D

Get Backers is an excellent manga. Unfortunately, the anime adaptation failed to capture the essence of the manga. The final arc is one of the best I've seen, introducing wonderful new characters, providing backstories for familiar ones, featuring epic fights, and culminating in a great ending that explains the world they live in and what the characters seek and enjoy. Overall, it's an enjoyable manga that highlights the bonds of friendship and trust. Give it a shot!

I'll skip the summary since we can all read the above. Anyway, this is one of the best manga series I've ever read, a solid 10 out of 10. The story has many connections to real life, including references to the Christian Bible and Jesus. It also delves into the tale of God and his archangels in one part and makes connections with World War II in another. There's even a witch hunt and numerous other elements that add depth to the narrative.

The artwork is very unique. It’s not like the beautiful paintings you might see in series such as Ai Yori Aoshi; instead, it features very detailed sketches. Many settings are in slums and alleyways, which are notoriously difficult to draw in detail, yet the artist did an amazing job.

The characters are top-notch. You have the two main characters, Ginji and Ban. Ginji is your typical hero—very friendly, always happy, loves making friends, but he’s pretty stupid, which actually makes him really popular with readers. On the other hand, Ban is cool, smart, and above all, cocky and arrogant. From my point of view, Ban is the coolest character I've seen in all the mangas I've read—a true god among men.

To all those who watched the anime, I'd say the manga is many times better.