Sakigake!! Cromartie Koukou

Story - 9

Similar to most slice-of-life or school-themed manga, there isn't a continuous narrative. Each brief "arc" brings in fresh characters and situations that maintain the manga's novelty and excitement. Every new chapter is both humorous and captivating, compelling you to continue reading.

Art - 10

In any comedy manga, the artwork, particularly the characters' expressions, plays a crucial role. Cromartie is no exception. The distinctive way Eiji illustrates faces significantly contributes to the series' humor.

Enjoyment - 10

A comedy manga as funny as this one, with something new in every chapter, is highly enjoyable. From recurring jokes to fresh ones, this gag manga stands out as one of the best.

Overall - 9.5

This manga is simply hilarious and absolutely worth reading. There's not much else to say.

Despite this being a comedy manga about incredibly foolish tough guys engaging in absurd jokes, penned by someone whose music preferences might align with Araki's, I couldn't help but be occasionally reminded of Blue Spring while reading it.

It starts off really well with numerous unexplained hilarious incidents, like the school having a mute Freddie (Mercury) character, but that initial charm fades as the series progresses. At 17 volumes, Cromartie missed its chance to end gracefully. The over-repetition of jokes, an ever-expanding cast, forgotten plot points (whatever happened to the sumo club members?), and even an entire volume dedicated to a Planet of the Apes rip-off!

I truly commend the author for managing to produce 17 volumes of gags in a setting devoid of any plot or sense of direction. That’s no easy feat. But at the same time, there was quite a bit of dull content along the way.

When I was halfway through this series, I wrote, "The wide array of characters combined with the nonsensical nature of this manga allows for a good variety of jokes. I can read almost a full volume in one go without getting tired, unlike other comedy series which tend to repeat the same jokes with only a few different characters." I suppose I had The Way Of The Househusband in mind for comparison. In truth, I'm generally not a big fan of comedy.

But the thing is, while that was true at the beginning, I’m not so sure it held up towards the end. It did start to feel like the same jokes were repeating over and over again, especially with Fujimoto. Somehow, the mascot trick still worked even then and Banchou-san remained delightful, but it didn’t save the series.

Overall, I quite enjoyed the uniqueness of Cromartie High School. The occasional jokes that made you wonder, "Wait, is this a commentary on the series itself?" and other meta moments were great (I loved the story about the second masked guy showing up!). The decision to completely abandon the main plot in the first few chapters was very powerful. And the chapters about the author himself always brought a fun change of setting.

I'd say it's worth checking out!

Cromartie Koukou is a high school in Tokyo known for its extremely lenient admission standards. How lenient? A real-life gorilla and a middle-aged man who bears a striking resemblance to a deceased rock star are among the students. And these aren't even the worst cases; Cromartie boasts some of the most dim-witted and hardcore delinquents in all of Tokyo.

It’s a great setup for a gag manga, but where's the straight man? Enter Kamiyama, an utterly ordinary character who makes the questionable decision to enroll at Cromartie. Eiji Nonaka, the mangaka, has crafted a compelling setting and leverages both his unique premise and impressive artwork to deliver laughs.

At Cromartie, students vie to reinforce their school's reputation as the toughest around. Gorillas fill classrooms, aliens invade, and no one seems to know where the teachers have gone. Amidst this chaos, Kamiyama approaches every situation with a calm demeanor, attempting to bring order to his unruly classmates.

If you enjoy comedy, you’ll find yourself laughing heartily, and if absurd humor is your thing, you'll absolutely adore it. I always looked forward to the final page of each chapter for the punchline and the perfectly illustrated reactions.

The first few chapters are packed with fun and laughter, but eventually, the quality of the humor and the number of laughs start to dwindle. By the time the series reaches triple-digit chapters, the quality has plummeted. For the next 100+ chapters, the manga runs on fumes, eliciting only a dry chuckle every few chapters.

My advice is to begin reading the manga, but if you hit a ten-chapter stretch without any laughs, it's best to let it go. The humor won’t pick up again. If I had stopped at around chapter 110, I would have given it an 8. However, having persisted until chapter 223, my rating stands at 6.0/10.

Cromartie High remains one of my all-time favorite manga/anime, easily making it into my top five. This opinion isn't groundbreaking; you'll find plenty of fans online or at conventions who share this view. As I often say in my reviews, especially for personal favorites like comedy, shounen, or motivational series, "Comedy is subjective!" If someone's sense of humor doesn't align with the series, their experience will vary. While this isn't a novel perspective, I bring it up because I find it absurd that despite the anime receiving global acclaim, the manga doesn't get nearly as much appreciation. So today, I aim to convince you that while both formats are great, the manga is infinitely superior—a funnier and more complete package than its anime counterpart. And yes, I’ll also explain why this remains one of my personal all-time favorite series after all these years.

Okay, I admit my introduction was a bit intense, not about my love for the series but regarding how others treat the source material. Let's be clear though, the manga itself is far from unpopular. According to various sources, it boasts "4.5 million copies in circulation, won the 26th Kodansha Manga Award for the shōnen category in 2002, and was one of the Jury Recommended Works in the Manga Division at the 7th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2003." Saying the manga doesn't get the praise it deserves seems far-fetched now. Especially given its influence spawning both an anime and live-action adaptation. But what makes it so beloved, and why do I consider the manga superior?

A brief synopsis: A smart boy named Kamiyama finds himself enlisted in the most badass school of delinquents, and hijinks ensue. The manga offers more depth, which is why I picked it up initially. With only ten episodes, the anime felt criminally short. Thankfully, the manga has 338.3 chapters plus a short-lived official spin-off focusing on the teachers. It has everything the anime does, but it also features unique elements such as art, multimedia use, unpredictable plots, genius paneling for comedic timing, lore, insight into Nonaka, and unforgettable characters. Let’s dive into each aspect.

The artwork enhances the jokes and situations beautifully. Initially, characters have broad builds, stoic faces, eccentric features, and super angular yet thick outlines that become more refined over time. Many characters share a similar tough-guy face, even Maeda’s mom! Despite the nightmares she might cause, the illustrations enhance the humor and are visually stunning, especially character portraits. One chapter had Kamiyama posed by a motorbike-erized Mechazawa that reminded me of a Dean Martin film poster. This led me to believe Nonaka was heavily inspired by 1950s western pop-art and comics. As the series progresses, characters develop distinct visual designs. Volume covers are uniquely stylized too. For example, volume one looks like a communist propaganda poster, while volumes four and five parody Warhol’s style. These varied styles make the manga visually mesmerizing, with volumes thirteen and the final one being my favorites.

The manga also provides insights into Nonaka himself. Throughout the series, we get glimpses into the man behind the creation. These 'bonus' chapters are hilarious and offer insight into maintaining relevance in the manga industry. They paint a realistic, stressful picture but also show Nonaka’s resilience. He demonstrates that even during hard times, it's important to learn, grow, and find humor. These bonus chapters are some of my favorites, showing Nonaka finding light amidst darkness.

Lastly, the manga excels with its vast array of characters, situations, and lore absent from the anime. Situations like Takenouchi’s time in America, Kamiyama’s backstory, the Sumo Club, Planet of the Apes, and introductions to the staff enrich the series. If you loved the anime’s humor and are curious about the lore, you’re missing out by not reading the manga. I couldn’t stop reading because of how much fun it was. Whether it’s boke-tsukkomi routines, character design juxtapositions, insane predicaments, running gags, deadpan humor, or introducing new characters seamlessly, this manga nails every comedic style. It’s timeless and layered beyond surface impressions.

In conclusion, Cromartie High remains one of my favorite manga/anime, easily top five material. It’s funny and layered, offering more than meets the eye. I may have Mechazawa on my sweats, a plush Mechazawa, and a huge Cromartie High poster, but trust me, I’m just someone who appreciates media that can make me feel warm anytime. Promise!