Real

This story was incredibly good. Around chapter 70, I started worrying that the story might end abruptly because there were only 90 chapters, but I'm so glad it's not finished yet. I really hope new chapters will come out soon because I want to see more of Nomiya and the Three Musketeers. They were my favorite characters. I definitely didn't expect to cry as often as I did with this series, but the way they depicted each character's trauma and their resilience to overcome obstacles was so powerful. The Shiratori arc with Broom made me bawl my eyes out, just like the scene with Nomiya at tryouts. This has become one of my new favorite series. Also, the art is amazing. Nomiya looked hot as hell when he showed up on Takahashi and flaunted his six-pack, lol. I'm also very interested in where the storyline will go between Nomiya and the girl.

No Spoiler Review...

I haven't been interested in manga for quite some time. The reason is that there isn't much out there that feels fresh and pushes storytelling in a way that only manga can achieve...

When I started reading Real, I was genuinely surprised. The story itself is incredibly original and bold as it introduces us to the world of wheelchair basketball, something I had no interest in beforehand.

The allure of this entire manga for me lay in its characters and their exploration of what drives us to overcome soul-crushing obstacles. It's an incredibly sophisticated and touching story. Real takes an unflinching look at existential crises and how they both harm us yet make us stronger. You become deeply emotionally invested in these characters, and it's one of those stories that makes you feel like you're growing alongside them.

I utilize MAL to track series I plan to read or watch, making this my first (and likely only) review. REAL could warrant pages of commentary, but I'll keep it succinct.

If you're on the fence about diving into this series, don't hesitate. If even one person starts reading because of this post, mission accomplished. If you anticipate Slam Dunk or Vagabond, REAL is a blend of both yet uniquely distinct. We may never see its conclusion, but even so, it stands as one of the greatest stories I've ever encountered (and I've read quite a bit). This might seem an extreme stance, and not everyone will resonate with it as deeply as I did, but anyone who gives it a chance will find value in it. That's the highest praise I can offer.

Story: 10

Riveting, heartbreaking, funny, frustrating, thought-provoking—REAL has stirred nearly every emotion imaginable. The narrative revolves around three men connected by basketball, specifically wheelchair basketball. It's a delicate balance of despair and hope, characters striving to rectify past mistakes and find their place after trauma. The premise seems simple, but intricate subplots give the story depth.

Art: 8

It's not the best art I've seen; at times inconsistent due to the author's concurrent work on Vagabond. However, it possesses a unique charm. Inoue excels at capturing movement within panels, mastering subtle details that make static images feel alive. His prowess isn't limited to basketball scenes—he conveys emotions with striking realism, enhancing the narrative's impact. Character designs are perfect—a sweet spot between recognizability and realism. Each character's features and body language are distinctive, especially impressive given many are wheelchair-bound.

Characters: 10

The characters are the highlight. Three main protagonists, each meticulously developed, showcase unique growth. Supporting characters, meant to aid the mains, receive extensive development themselves, sometimes surpassing primary casts in other works. Everyone's flawed, often jerks, yet irresistibly endearing. Their motivations are clear, and witnessing their struggles makes you root for their triumphs.

Enjoyment: 10

Despite multiple reads, my interest hasn't waned. It remains as enjoyable now as years ago.

Overall: 10

In less than 100 chapters, REAL delivers one of the most comprehensive narratives in the medium. It's relatable on numerous levels, prompting introspection. In my opinion, it's essential reading for everyone, not just anime/manga enthusiasts.

As with Slam Dunk, I appreciated the realism of this work, but on the other hand, Real is less cheerful and lighthearted. Sport remains at the heart of the story, but not in the conventional sense; it serves more as a focal point for the characters' lives. The challenges and joy brought by basketball help the protagonists navigate through their difficulties. The characters are explored more deeply, and their thoughts are conveyed through both words and powerful illustrations. At times, the story hits hard, yet even in those sad moments, it truly boosts your motivation. It surprised me because initially, I thought the struggles related to disability would dominate the narrative, but it's much more about the universal problems everyone faces. Therefore, I believe it's very relatable, and anyone can enjoy and learn a lesson from it.

Yes, this is a manga about wheelchair basketball. I've enjoyed SLAM DUNK, but this manga goes far beyond just the sport itself.

The story takes you on a roller coaster ride. It doesn't aim to be a tear-jerker, but it honestly captures the highs and lows of life. The characters are incredibly lifelike; their mistakes linger with them, yet they keep pushing forward despite setbacks. This book is inspiring, though not in the conventional sports manga manner. It motivates you to become better and demonstrates that people can forgive themselves and move on.

The artwork is clearly a masterpiece, as expected from Takehiko Inoue's hand.

Real - Wheelchair of the Wicked

Real is an extremely underrated manga by Takehiko Inoue, a master in his craft. It began serialization in 1999, alongside the author's masterpiece, Vagabond, and currently comprises 15 volumes (as of this review).

The manga narrates the intertwined lives of three young individuals: Tomomi Nomiya, Kiyoharu Togawa, and Hisanobu Takahashi. Their lives are deeply influenced by basketball, drama, and immense tragedy.

Nomiya is a boy passionate about basketball but drops out of school after being involved in a serious accident; Togawa, a wheelchair user, shares the same love for the sport. He is highly competitive yet carries fears and regrets about his life. Hisanobu, on the other hand, is not a particularly kind person, serving as the captain of the basketball team at their school. Nomiya was once part of that team, but a calamity transforms his life entirely.

In the story, we witness how these three boys connect with the sport—expressing their love for the game and rigorous training—and how they strive to overcome adversity despite despair and unforeseen challenges.

At first glance, Real appears to be a generic manga like any other, featuring characters who are devoted to what they do and whose lives revolve around it. However, it stands out by delving into wheelchair basketball and society's perception of it. More importantly, it explores how people confront heart-wrenching problems and attempt to accept and surpass them along with their limitations.

This initial volume serves as an introduction to the narrative. Although analyzing it alone may not yield much, it sets the foundation for a touching, sad, and potentially terrifying storyline involving characters entangled in tragedy and drama. The plot begins with Nomiya, having dropped out of school after a motorcycle accident that left a girl paraplegic. Struggling with guilt and trauma, he must find his place in the world.

Despite his tough and cool demeanor, Nomiya grapples with misfortune and guilt over the girl's condition. Afraid of traffic due to the accident, he must also work to survive. Amidst all this, basketball becomes his lifeline, leading him to meet Kiyoharu Togawa, an exceptional player who excels even from his wheelchair.

Although Nomiya gets into several fights throughout the volume, basketball and his encounter with Togawa help him endure, despite lingering fears and traumas.

This volume also introduces some of Togawa's backstory. Having had one leg amputated due to illness, Togawa found solace in wheelchair basketball. Basketball becomes so crucial to him that he seeks not just to play but to win and be the best. Thus, he embodies a character burdened by past tragedies, now striving to advance further. Interestingly, he uses his personal drama to his advantage (details omitted to avoid spoilers).

Togawa's primary dilemma is finding teammates equally driven to win. We learn he left his previous wheelchair basketball team because his teammates were content merely playing without concern for winning. A poignant scene illustrates this, where Togawa hears from a teammate that they shouldn't worry too much since their lives wouldn't change significantly anyway. This contrasts sharply with Togawa's relentless ambition, despite his physical limitations.

We see traces of Togawa's past struggles, notably his reluctance to accept help, believing it burdens others.

The third figure in the plot's triad is Hisanobu Takahashi, described as hateful, bad-tempered, and lazy. However, the story takes a turn when, after stealing a bicycle, he gets run over and becomes paraplegic.

Initially, Nomiya's drama dominates the plot, but later, Takahashi's tragic situation takes center stage. We witness him grappling with unimaginable circumstances profoundly affecting his psyche.

Real essentially portrays an intense drama impacting the characters while basketball remains their soul, providing strength to fight. Despite his injuries and limitations, Togawa plays for fun and money, Nomiya strives to move forward, and so forth.

Though originally intended for a Japanese audience, Real offers a universal perspective on how we often view people with disabilities—with pity and as incapable. An illustrative example occurs when Togawa plays basketball, and everyone underestimates him, assuming he is weak due to his wheelchair. Yet, he proves to be more athletic than many non-disabled players.

This may be the crux of the manga. It prompts us to reflect on ourselves, our perceptions of paraplegic individuals, and how we would react in similar situations. By presenting characters learning or adapting to certain conditions, the story places us in challenging scenarios, evoking empathy and sadness while also instilling fear.

Real subtly addresses uncomfortable truths we often overlook. It makes us ponder things we usually avoid, which is one of the manga's greatest strengths.

In conclusion, remember this story has a strong introduction that smooths the rough edges of the narrative. From the start, it is evident that Real speaks profoundly, tackling essential and uncomfortable points. The character development hints at increasing intensity.

Real is almost essential reading for comic book enthusiasts, prompting reflections on life, despair, happiness, fear, and most importantly, not judging people based on their differences. We must cultivate empathy and offer help, recognizing that those individuals are waging a monumental battle for survival.

Takehiko Inoue rose to fame in the '90s with Slam Dunk, a wildly popular basketball manga. Following that success, ESPN sponsored him to create another basketball manga, Buzzer Beater, which didn’t quite hit the mark. The next year, he switched genres and began drawing Vagabond, an epic samurai tale. But after several years of drawing samurai doing slam dunks, he realized his passion for basketball was still strong. So, sitting before his editor, sweating and trying to pitch his new sports manga, he desperately needed a fresh angle.

“It’s about bask..bas…” His gaze darted around the office.

“Baske…ba…baaaa” His eyes shifted from the nervous newbie mangaka to the experienced editor-in-chief picking his nose to the new sub-editor who only had one leg and was thus...

“Wheelchair basketball! My new manga is about wheelchair basketball!”

I was initially concerned that Real might patronize its disabled characters. Sometimes stories focusing on disabilities portray characters as faultless heroes, as if glorifying their achievements could counterbalance societal disrespect. However, this is not the case with Real. The characters are downright horrible people. There are three main characters, two of whom use wheelchairs. One is an arrogant, self-absorbed bully. The non-wheelchair user is a temperamental, antisocial idiot. Even the aspiring wheelchair basketball star is an angry, whiny twit.

This approach makes the characters feel like genuine human beings with real personalities, dreams, and flaws, but it also means watching them can be challenging at times, especially at the start. Real follows these characters as they learn and grow through interactions with others. To achieve this growth, they’re pushed to rock bottom. A high school dropout loses his driver’s license and cripples the girl he picked up, haunting him as he tries to rebuild his life. A top-tier student gets paralyzed in a traffic accident and realizes his previous relationships were meaningless. An aspiring wheelchair basketball player struggles to form a team due to his relentless ambition.

In true US Marine style, breaking them down allows the story to rebuild their lives. It’s grueling to read at first. Every breakthrough is followed by a setback. The team reunites but immediately loses their first match. Someone lands a job, but the company goes bankrupt. Yet, each knockback teaches them something, inspiring them to push further. This is a feel-good story about triumph over adversity, evident from its focus on wheelchair basketball. By making the characters relatable and knocking them so low, their eventual breakthroughs become even more rewarding.

The artwork is fantastic. Inoue opts for a realistic drawing style, fitting the story well. Characters sweat profusely, making basketball matches look like everyone got bukkake’d before playing. Inoue often draws shirtless characters to showcase muscles, and he has no qualms about depicting genitals, which is a bit odd. This is relevant, though, since body image is a major theme. Shots of an Australian wheelchair basketball player with huge biceps and stick-thin legs illustrate how characters come to terms with their bodies.

The visual metaphors and panel composition improve throughout the series. While I admit it took time to get used to his style, Inoue excels at using visual cues to depict characters’ thoughts. A standout moment was when the hospitalized character remembered a pre-accident basketball game against a wheelchair user and realized there’s a sport for him. The panels flow beautifully, showing his mind wandering until his eyes widen in realization. Visual metaphors increase, helping readers understand disability's impact. A memorable scene showed someone sprinting in a race, seeing their leg crash into imaginary mud and snap off.

Real took time to hook me due to its grueling start, but once the characters started growing, it became highly absorbing and rewarding. With 11 volumes out at the time of writing, it doesn’t seem like it will continue much longer, as the characters have overcome their worst problems. Plus, it’s about wheelchair basketball. Damn, wheelchair basketball! How awesome is that? Go read Real; it’s pretty great.

Spoiler-free Review

The Art:

The art in this manga is strictly realistic, setting a serious tone throughout. It never feels exaggerated, pretentious, or outright wacky. Emotions are depicted naturally and realistically without forcing them onto the readers. From the cover, Inoue's incredible artistic vision brings characters to life with vivid facial expressions. The main characters are portrayed in a raw, realistic manner, especially in private situations and intense emotional states. This creates a deep, almost intimate connection with the reader.

The Story:

Though wheelchair basketball is central to the plot, it primarily serves as a catalyst for events and character development. Most of the real drama unfolds outside the court, in the lives of the main characters as they navigate challenging, awkward, and far-from-fairy-tale-like situations. Themes such as ambivalence, acceptance (of others and oneself), regret, true friendship, starting over, and love are masterfully explored. This story starkly reminds us of the cruelties of real life, with little to no plot armor. There are no magic dragon balls, no sugar coating, no miraculous healing tears, no flashy power-up sequences, and no superhero magic powers. The only heroes here are personifications of real-life, flesh-and-blood individuals. The only powers exhibited are those of the human spirit in all its magnificence.

This story is not as dark, depressing, or gloomy as one might assume from its cover or synopsis. In fact, it’s heartwarming and inspiring. The unpretentious darkness has a natural "real life" feel to it, a darkness we are all familiar with because it surrounds us. But this story isn't about darkness; it's not an emo manga. It's about the radiant light that contrasts it, celebrating the beauty of life!

I recommend everyone give this manga a try, as its quality is world-class.

What this manga centers around can be succinctly described in two words: wheelchair basketball. But that barely scratches the surface, much like calling nights dark.

If you've seen the film "Murderball," then this series essentially offers the manga version of what that documentary presents, focusing on disability-related issues but from a Japanese viewpoint. By the way, if you haven't watched "Murderball," you really should!

Takehiko's brilliance is immediately evident in his art. It's uniquely his and unquestionably excellent and recognizable—my personal favorite among manga artists. What makes his work so superb and endearing are his characters. In any of his series, be it Slam Dunk!, Vagabond, or this one, the characters feel real. They possess very specific personalities, mannerisms, dialogues, and other traits unique to them. This might seem obvious, yet it adds a remarkable realism and depth, allowing readers to relate to and understand the characters with an incredible clarity that I consider genius.

Every page, even those without a single word, vividly communicates the experiences and environments of the characters within them, along with the thoughts and minds of these common yet distinct people you'll have the gratifying experience of encountering in this manga.

Fun. Emotional. Endearing. Memorable.

Great, great manga. Another masterpiece from Takehiko Inoue.

This is not a new Slam Dunk. It deals with much heavier and mature themes, delving into them to an unprecedented level. The love of basketball here serves as both a backdrop and a crucial element.

It's a backdrop because the story, at least up until now (volume 14), isn't about basketball itself, but rather about people grappling with the various impacts of physical disability.

It is crucial because it is through the rediscovery or cultivation of their love for basketball that the characters rebuild themselves from trauma and find new meaning in their experiences with physical disability.

Real essentially explores this: how disability, with all its specificities, challenges, and implications, can also be an opportunity for reclaiming the past, reworking one’s identity, and discovering potential and what truly matters in life.

The protagonist trio showcases such diverse characteristics, each dealing with their physical disability in unique ways. What they share in common is that their stories converge from the (re)discovery of basketball as a pivotal turning point.

Unmissable.

A story about wheelchair basketball, brimming with depth and emotion, follows the lives of three protagonists striving to find their footing and live as they wish. The hardships they endure are deeply moving, making it one of my favorite incomplete masterpieces. Real always stands out as unique; one can learn from, forget about, love, and even hate these characters because, cliché as it may sound, they feel "real."

I know it won't be finished anytime soon, but the reasons I love it will always remain. Nomiya, Togawa, and Takinashi offer different perspectives on the story, and I truly appreciate the variety each character brings to explore the challenges of being incomplete, of being a real-life person. This is beautiful.

Real will always deserve a 10/10 rating, even if it never reaches its conclusion.

A manga centered around wheelchair basketball. This showcases one of the greatest strengths of the manga form: its variety. There are manga on any subject, topic, or issue imaginable. There is a manga for everyone. Real is for everyone, especially those with mature tastes. It's important to note that this manga emphasizes characterization over battle royales involving hoops.

Takehiko Inoue's Real is his most mature and accomplished work. You won’t find constant court action here with secret techniques powering up players. This is a story about three young men, the issue of disability in Japan, and of course, basketball.

Nomiya is a rash, outspoken school dropout searching for purpose in life. Everything about him suggests he should be a hooligan, but beneath that rough exterior is a decent person wanting to make good use of his life. He acknowledges who he is, which is a very mature act. He seeks redemption through the girl whose disability he caused due to a traffic accident.

Togawa is already in a wheelchair and an avid basketball player. His arc follows a predictable path similar to Slam Dunk, aiming to be a better player by setting sights on a rival as a benchmark for his skills. How he ended up in the wheelchair is more intriguing than what he does in it, yet his predicament remains engaging. You root for him to succeed.

Takahashi is introduced early on as an antagonist, making Nomiya’s life miserable by disregarding sportsmanship, causing Nomiya to become an outcast among his school team. He’s your typical teenager with all the ugly egotistical traits. Unexpectedly, he becomes the reader’s guide to understanding disability, allowing Takehiko Inoue to explore the horror of losing control over one’s body and senses. This character’s arc is the most compelling, as Inoue transforms the hateful bully from the first volume into a relatable person by the fourth.

Reading this manga, I kept looking for where Takehiko Inoue might go wrong or fall into convention. But he doesn’t. There’s no typical genre formula for the basketball games, nor a beat-by-beat rundown of disability like you’d expect in some shonen tales with commentators explaining everything. This is simply a tale led by three main characters dealing with their realities, differentiating between reality and fantasy whether in societal status or relationships, uncovering truths, and discovering them in the first place.

It explores how to deal with the harsh reality of being abandoned by so-called friends when you lose the ability to walk. How to continue living in your new state, bearing that crushing defeat, the humiliation and loneliness that come rushing in when almost everyone in your life outcasts you.

Real is Takehiko Inoue's best manga to date. It doesn’t rely on basketball games as a crutch, nor does it revel in clichéd manga tropes. It’s simply a compelling story set against a backdrop rarely seen in manga, kudos to the author for tackling it responsibly and creatively.

Real isn’t for everyone, as some are accustomed to associating manga with certain tropes. This certainly isn’t Slam Dunk part two. But if you have an open mind and want to dive into the plights and trials of three young Japanese men facing life’s challenges, drawn exquisitely by one of manga’s most skilled artists, then read Real.