Slam Dunk

The greatest sports manga ever penned.

Shining through its simplicity, Slam Dunk zeroes in on the fervor of its characters and Inoue's passion for the game. It delivers some of the most thrilling highs I've encountered across any medium, creating tension that genuinely made my heart pound—though perhaps this was heightened by my own love for basketball. These moments, coupled with relatable and realistic characters that were easy for me to connect with, weave together a highly enjoyable narrative and stand as the pinnacle of sports manga.

Though this manga showcases an earlier iteration of Takehiko Inoue's artistic style compared to his works like Vagabond and Real, it remains pleasant and fitting for its time. Personally, I felt it added to the charm.

I still recommend this manga even to those indifferent toward basketball. It transcends being just a basketball story; it motivated me significantly in my daily life, illustrating the rewards of effort in the most gratifying manner possible.

First off, let me clarify that Slam Dunk is nothing like Kuroko no Basket; they are worlds apart conceptually. Slam Dunk stands as possibly the finest sports manga ever published, and I'd argue it's among the best mangas in general. The anime adaptation is also one of the greatest I've seen.

The story might seem straightforward because, after all, it’s a sports manga. However, its execution is remarkable. Every chapter bursts with humor, action, drama, and comedy. While the anime was excellent and worthy of landmark status, there are elements not depicted in the series, making reading the manga essential. The Interhigh games are thrilling! If I could offer any critique to Takehiko Inoue—and this is admittedly selfish—it's that he could have extended the series. Its ending feels rather abrupt. You'll understand once you read it; I highly recommend it.

Back in the 90s in Japan, basketball was considered taboo in the realm of manga and anime simply because it wasn't widespread in Japanese schools. Every subsequent manga or anime about basketball has drawn inspiration from Slam Dunk. Its immense success set it apart and made it widely known across Japan.

The artwork is simply phenomenal, especially considering it was created between 1990 and 1994. It’s hard to find a more "realistic" manga from those years. The characters possess an almost lifelike quality, retaining manga characteristics but giving you the impression of seeing human faces beneath the tired and happy faces of these basketball players.

The character development in Slam Dunk surpasses most other titles on the market. This doesn’t just apply to the main characters but extends to the supporting cast and even rival team members. The depth of character development makes it tough to pick a favorite. Each character, even those appearing briefly, has a detailed and well-executed backstory. You’ll likely remember not only Shohoku’s players but also their rivals, notably "Sendoh."

In summary, Slam Dunk is one of the best mangas ever created. Once you dive into it, you'll agree with me. I guarantee you won't be able to resist finishing it within days, if not hours, because it's that good. If you thought the anime was great, try reading the manga, and I'm sure you'll feel the anime could have been even better. The Interhigh games are an exhilarating ride!

Story: 9/10
At first glance, Slam Dunk might appear to be a typical "underdog becomes a champion" sports manga. To some extent, it is. However, what sets it apart is the masterful execution of its plot and the way Inoue Takehiko-sensei narrates Sakuragi's journey. The author's deep understanding and firsthand experience with basketball add a layer of realism that makes the story more engaging. I personally witnessed how this manga significantly boosted basketball's popularity in Japan. Despite its conventional plot, Slam Dunk shines through its impactful storytelling and execution.

Art: 10/10
The art in Slam Dunk deserves nothing but praise. Fans of Vagabond or Real will recognize Inoue-sensei's exceptional talent. It's hard to believe that this manga was drawn between 1990 and 1996; the artwork is remarkably ahead of its time. The meticulous attention to detail in both animate and inanimate objects is breathtaking. What captivates me most is how Inoue-sensei captures the characters' expressions and body language. From the muscles on their bodies to the emotions on their faces, each page invites you to linger and admire. His firsthand knowledge of basketball enhances the depiction of players' movements during matches, making them feel authentic and dynamic.

Character: 9/10
The depth of character development in Slam Dunk is impressive. Sakuragi's transformation from a complete novice to a formidable player who embodies the spirit of competition is inspiring. When I realized he genuinely loved basketball beyond Haruko's admiration, it struck a chord with me. Sakuragi's resilience against adversity made me root for him every step of the way. Rukawa, on the other hand, served as an admirable yet envious figure due to his extraordinary skills. Their rivalry added layers to the narrative, showing the contrast between raw talent and seasoned expertise. Watching Rukawa evolve motivated me to strive for self-improvement. Lastly, Shohoku's team dynamics were heartwarming. Coach Anzai's unwavering support, Akagi's leadership, and the unique contributions of Miyagi and Mitsui created a cohesive and uplifting team environment. Each character plays a vital role in building the story and enriching the cast.

Enjoyment: 10/10
My enthusiasm for Slam Dunk should be evident by now. The well-executed storyline, detailed artwork, and richly developed characters made this manga unforgettable. There were moments of excitement, intense focus, and eager anticipation. Alongside Vagabond, this is one of the two mangas by Inoue-sensei that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish.

Overall: 10/10
This review has already covered my thoughts extensively, but let me reiterate: Read Slam Dunk. You won't regret it.

Thank you for reading.

Heyo! This is a review of Slam Dunk, one of my all-time favorite manga series. Let's dive in!

I first read this manga when I was 12, and it was absolutely amazing. Recently, I decided to revisit it, and it’s just as incredible as I remembered.

- This manga is centered around basketball (I assume you all know that), but it's not just for basketball fans. Even though I had never played basketball back then, I enjoyed the series so much that it inspired me to start playing.

- Every game was thrilling and exciting. Each point scored made me react with something like, "adhsgcausjebgdnux..." It really drove my brain wild.

- The characters are genuinely cool. While some might fit into the stereotype of sports anime/manga characters, they were still used brilliantly throughout the story.

- The main characters undergo significant character development and have distinct personalities. The supporting characters may not get as much screen time or development, but they still have solid, well-defined personalities.

- The team is incredibly lovable. I felt sad when I realized I was on the last volume and wished there was more of the story. I truly loved the characters.

- The artwork in this manga is top-notch. Each character looks unique and gives off a different vibe even at a glance. Every play was illustrated beautifully—thank you, mangaka!

- This is one of those manga series that can captivate your entire family, including your 7-year-old cousin. (My dad recommended it to me, thanks Dad!) Watching the anime with your family is also a blast.

- This series is amazing, and I recommend it 1000%! Please give it a read!

Slam Dunk presents the sport of basketball authentically. Though there are no "Generation of Miracles," the series features some highly skilled players who give our favorite team a serious challenge. I was genuinely sad when it ended, craving more from the series, yet satisfied with how things concluded.

Their final game was incredibly intense, offering a realistic portrayal of facing a formidable opponent. You start noticing your weaknesses, making the battle tough, but pushing beyond your limits can help you overcome those barriers.

I don't want to spoil the ending, but the manga left loose ends, unlike typical neatly tied conclusions. This added to its realism, as if it's just the beginning for these characters.

The story begins with delinquent Hanamichi falling for a basketball fanatic who talks to him only because he is tall and seems perfect for the game. I gave up on the anime after 14 episodes, where all I heard was Hanamichi complaining about basic training, hating Rukawa, and playing just to be near a girl. Those episodes made me want to quit, especially when Hanamichi acted arrogantly during their first practice match. Without his voice, Hanamichi became more tolerable.

As the story progressed (at least in the manga), Hanamichi began to change. Eventually, he grew into a real basketball player, appreciating even the basics of the sport he initially joined for a girl. He learned to use his natural talents effectively and within four months, started resembling a genuine player. Also, thankfully, he got a haircut; his previous style was too flashy even for a delinquent.

I was somewhat disappointed with the development of Rukawa’s and Hanamichi’s relationship. I expected more, like a Kagami and Kuroko partnership, which didn’t happen. Their rivalry improved, though they still pushed each other’s buttons despite trusting each other as teammates—at least that’s what I hoped. At critical moments, their behavior could be frustrating.

I never became a Rukawa fan girl. His personality was off-putting, whereas Hanamichi, despite being annoying at times, was relatable with his fiery nature and desire to improve. I wanted to cheer him on and see him beat Rukawa.

I got really excited reading the games, though surprised by the lack of slam dunks given the title.

Hanamichi started basketball for a girl but fell in love with the sport instead. I'm grateful he didn’t confess, as that would have ruined the series for me, given it was his initial main concern.

Attention: English is not my first language

You know, I have a love-hate relationship with sports manga. I love the passion and emotion shown in these mangas, but unfortunately, they always end up repeating the same escalation problem, which manifests itself in two main ways:

A) Superficial drama. A complete storm in a teapot, which could be resolved with a simple dialogue.

What usually happens is that these mangas have been going on for a long time, and all the dramas have already been resolved very early on—a clear miscalculation. So the author always tries to invent new problems out of thin air instead of developing something he could have established at the beginning. And these new problems are almost always silly or too over the top, as the author is always trying to escalate the drama, making them more serious or urgent, resulting in the mentioned storm in a teapot.

B) Breaking of previously established suspension of disbelief. Characters start doing inhuman things when it's already been established that this wasn't a fantasy work.

Wanting to create new exciting moments, but being faced with the fact that there is an exact amount of what can happen within a game—with many of them the author having already reproduced in his work—many authors choose to just repeat what they have done before, but in a more exaggerated way to the point of defying the laws of the established reality (you don't have to follow the rules of real life, but you do have to follow the rules of the reality YOU created).

I have no problem mixing fantasy and real sport, but be consistent. Inazuma Eleven, the anime/manga where the fate of the world is decided by football, is much more faithful and consistent within the rules and tone previously established. And tone is also something very important because, in my opinion, those reality breaks are made using such silly ideas, but taken so seriously, that it just looks ridiculous, sometimes to the point of being cringe. It's like they copied an idea from Inazuma Eleven and translated it into a more serious tone, which doesn't erase the silliness of the idea but creates a weird discrepancy of tone.

But I am happy to inform you that this does not happen here in Slam Dunk. Firstly, because the personal drama is not the main focus of the work nor are they resolved early on. Takehiko Inoue, the author, managed to develop and have their climax only at the end without dragging too much—sometimes not that amazing, but somehow uncommon in Manga. And also: superficial drama is not something you will find here.

And for the performance escalation issue, Takehiko not only demonstrates his basketball knowledge but also his ability to implement them in the games.

Rebound
Accidental, Purposeful AND Technical Fouls
Offensive charge
Injuries
30-second shot clock violation
Jump ball
3-point shot
Free throw
Wrong Pass (to the enemy)
Invalid pass
Extended game
Illegal defense
Jump shot
Layup shot
Alley-oop
Screen out
Mid-air dunk
And obviously, the slam dunk

All that can happen in a game, Takehiko uses to create exciting games; The Last game is simply the best game in any sports manga I've ever seen. Again, the amount of combinations that can occur in a game and keep making them interesting is definitely limited, but not low. Unlike other authors, Takehiko shows that his knowledge is not something superficial that even an amateur would know. You not only have fun but also learn.

Another thing that Slam Dunk doesn't do is create players who are just one-trick wonders. When talking about basketball Mangas that have this escalation problem, it's always common to have some characters with extraordinary skills, whether it's making 3 points or jumping high, who end up not doing much more than that during the course of the work, with the only difference being the increasingly exaggerated execution (the escalation).

To me, these characters don't look like professional players, but like these showmen who make videos that go viral on the internet but hardly can put their skill into real games. And in Slam Dunk, although there are characters with certain strengths, they are not limited to just that—in fact, the author even makes us get used to these strengths in order to then make the character accomplish something outside his specialization in a fantastic way and decisive for the game, which again, in my opinion, is better than doing the same old thing in an over-the-top way. And I also think it gives a real sensation that they're real basketball players and not just showmen.

Another strong point of the manga is its art in the final stage of the manga. Here, you can slowly see Inoue's journey into becoming one of the greatest manga artists.

I also think I couldn't not talk about the influence of this manga. Slam Dunk is a manga that was so copied that probably a lot of new readers will think this is just another generic sports manga in the beginning. Seriously, the influence of Slam Dunk is something that should be more debated. Even if today's sports manga author wasn't inspired by Slam Dunk, he probably was inspired by another one who was. The impact of Slam Dunk even transcends manga and made a cultural change in Japan. Takehiko Inoue even received a commendation from the Japanese Basketball Association, for his services to the sport, in 2010.

The only negative points I can point out without giving away any spoilers are:

1) By the end, the manga will give you a feeling of an abrupt ending and that more could be told. It's a realistic ending considering what happens, but not very well delivered;

2) Sakuragi, the main character, is used as comic relief in excess, which ends up erasing a little of his evolution as a player and as a person;

3) Misused characters like Haruko and Ayako. This could also be partly to blame for the abrupt ending, which robbed them of their chance to be used more, but only partly, as they could play a more decisive role during the run, not just at the beginning, like in Haruko's case. In Ayako's case, she is ALMOST useless from start to finish.

This is my second sports manga, the first being KnB, and this one absolutely nails it. The story isn't about winning the high school championship, and there are no superpowers involved. Of course, they exaggerate some movements, but not excessively so. This manga feels incredibly real, and as a basketball fan, I deeply adore it.

CHARACTERS. The main character's development is outstanding. I really love Hanamichi's personality. He transforms from 'playing basketball for Haruko' to 'playing basketball because I love the game.' Hanamichi is very entertaining as the protagonist, with his unique traits, way of speaking, expressions, and more. Besides Hanamichi, there are numerous great characters like Rukawa, Sendoh, Miyagi, Mitsui, Gori, Uozumi, and many others (too many to list).

The ART is breathtaking; I'm at a loss for words. This is my first manga by Inoue, and honestly, I fell in love instantly. I was skeptical at first, but after reading the first page, my mind changed completely xD.

I enjoy this manga so much that I've read it five times already. I never get tired of the story or the characters. If enjoyment could be rated on an 11-point scale, I'd give it an 11 xD.

Everything about this was just incredible; it was one smooth, hilarious, and touching ride, one after the other.

Art: Each character looks unique, making them easily recognizable (unlike some mangas where characters only get a hairstyle change and are called different). The art gets better and better, with quite realistic drawings compared to other mangas. The people look pretty real, and the guys look damn cool when they're supposed to be. The girls are pretty cute too.

Story: Read to find out, don't want to give spoilers. Nothing feels extra in this; everything fits together perfectly. Be prepared to laugh a lot and feel inspired by the characters' perseverance.

Character: If someone asks me who my favorite character is, I find it hard to name just one. Their interactions are funny to watch, and even the loss of a single character from the Shohoku team would surely be sorely missed. The whole Shohoku team combined is my favorite character.

Tensai Basket Man Sakuragi
The price of freedom is the burden of responsibility. If that's true, then Sakuragi has wings to spread but remains tied to his duties. His fiery passion stems from his drive to energize and keep Shohoku High School on the court while being unique and humorous. Chef's kiss!
He plays a crucial role in contrasting the temperament and morale of his team, successfully lightening the serious atmosphere of high school basketball. Witness the rookie introduce new basketball moves and learn them in such a short time. The character growth is sporadic and justified.

Rukawa adds a profound tone to the already thrilling manga, keeping you on edge until the buzzer. Personally, his serious demeanor blends well with Sakuragi's light comedy. He directly points out Sakuragi's mistakes and may come off as reserved or selfish, yet this adds depth to the story and introduces other critical points beyond the scope of this review. It must be noted that Mangaka Takehiko Inoue seems to lighten the mood when necessary to cover up the substantial depth and reality of these characters, balancing each other out uniformly.

Slam Dunk serves as a baseline inspiration for newer series from an artistic and design perspective. The excitement of an underdog team with memorable characters and remarkable execution makes it arguably one of the best sports manga; its cultural impact is widespread. Coincidentally, Slam Dunk draws parallels to the Chicago Bulls - MJ and Dennis Rodman (Rukawa and Sakuragi respectively). However, it's critical to mention that Inoue has made it uniquely his own piece. Combine that with the consistency of the art: A must-watch for anyone craving quality adrenaline.

EXTRA NOTE:
If you're used to watching anime, the Slam Dunk anime is good, featuring amazing soundtracks - ZARD/WANDS/ZYX. I agree that the anime has pacing issues, but if you've read the manga, the anime has its highs and lows and can be a great refresher.

Slam Dunk stands out as one of Japan's best-selling manga and ranks first in the sports manga category on MAL. I went into it expecting a pleasant read but ended up with one of my all-time favorite series.

Story 10

We're introduced to Slam Dunk through Sakuragi Hanamichi, an unexpected protagonist with no clear ambitions or career prospects. Unlike typical shounen protagonists who chase grand dreams from the start, Sakuragi joins the basketball club merely to impress a girl. This originality sets Slam Dunk apart, making it relatable even after 15 years, as many struggle to find their passions.

The pacing is superb; you can't predict how long matches will last, keeping the story engaging. Chapters flow smoothly without feeling overwhelming or boring. The final match left me more excited than any other series, culminating in a brilliant emotional climax where the outcome remains uncertain until the end.

In summary, Slam Dunk's storytelling is as perfect as it gets for a sports manga.

Characters 9

Sakuragi Hanamichi is an ideal protagonist. Initially portrayed as unlucky and only interested in girls and fighting, he transforms during high school, gradually falling in love with basketball. His development was compelling, making his journey more engaging than any other shounen protagonist. His humorous nature adds levity to dialogue-heavy scenes.

The rest of the main team has solid character arcs, each overcoming personal barriers. While substitute players weren't explored as deeply, it didn't detract much. Characters from opposing teams had interesting backstories, though I wasn't as invested in them as I was with Sakuragi's team. Nonetheless, the protagonist's growth is excellent, and the supporting cast is strong too, especially Anzai-sensei.

Art 9

Inoue-sensei's realistic art style shines in Slam Dunk. Though not my absolute favorite style, it excels in paneling and balance between text and visuals, pulling readers into the world immediately. Action sequences during matches are dynamic and captivating.

Even compared to modern manga, Inoue-sensei's art stands out significantly.

Enjoyment 10

You don't need to be a basketball fan to enjoy Slam Dunk. Techniques and strategies are explained well, enhancing understanding and enjoyment.

I immensely enjoyed Slam Dunk, giving it a full 10 out of 10.

Overall 9.5≈10

Slam Dunk is a classic and the best sports manga I've read. It's an inspiring story about finding passion, recommended for everyone, regardless of interest in sports.