Slam Dunk, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

~ Takehiko Inoue (Author, Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although Inoue's imported teen sport-romance manga Slam Dunk—a big hit back in Japan—is ostensibly about the love of basketball, it really starts out as a chronicle of love and rejection in high school. The series' towering, red-haired hero, Hanamichi Sakuragi, is first shown in utter dejection, after having been rejected by 50 girls in a row (apparently, people are keeping count). But saving him from utter despair is the appearance of the angelic Haruko Akagi, who flirtatiously swoons over his stature and wonders whether or not he plays basketball. After some gentle considerations of whether he's interested (If only I could walk her to school!! Then I could die happy) Hanamichi sets about trying to get on the basketball team. Haruko disappears from the pages not long after she has conveniently set the plot device in motion, leaving Inoue free to depict Hanamichi's attempts be accepted by the arrogant upperclassmen who dominate the team. It comes as a disappointment to Hanamichi—a hot-tempered kid who prefers to pick fights and slam dunk than learn how to actually play the game,—that winning Haruko's heart is going to take some work. Inoue's pacing is frantic, if somewhat padded, but he manages to maintain a welcome sense of humor amid all the adolescent gamesmanship. (Aug.)
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Product Description

Basketball. The court, the ball, the hoop. The hopes, the dreams, the sweat. It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that--the best. They have one last year to make their captain's dream of reaching the finals come true--will they do it? Takehiko Inoue's legendary basketball manga is finally here, and the tale of a lifetime is in your hands!

 

Sakuragi Hanamichi's got no game with girls--none at all! It doesn't help that he's known for throwing down at a moment's notice and always coming out on top. A hopeless bruiser, he's been rejected by 50 girls in a row! All that changes when he meets the girl of his dreams, Haruko, and she's actually not afraid of him! When she introduces him to the game of basketball, his life is changed forever...

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC (September 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1421506793
• ISBN-13: 978-1421506791
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #662,501 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Most Enjoyable and Entertaining Manga Series I've Ever Read, March 28, 2009

By	thaKingRocka "The Most Casual Hardcore Player... (Bronx, NY) - See all my reviews

UPDATE: Before you even read this, please know that I have absolutely no love for basketball. I have very little love for sports, in general. Keep that in mind as I rave about Slam Dunk.

I read the entirety of the series about a year and a half ago. I borrowed it from a friend who purchased the Singapore English-language releases. The translation was good, but it did have a few odd moments. I'm hoping that Viz takes some time and care with this translation considering the fact that this title finished its run ages ago and there is no other possible reason for them to release it on such a ridiculously drawn out schedule. On the current release schedule, this title is poised to finish production about 7 or 8 years from now (31 volumes released quarterly). Let's hope this changes.

As for the story, Slam Dunk is top-notch. There isn't a single misstep in the entire run, and I enjoyed every moment of it. It was incredibly exciting, intense, funny, and addictive. I can't imagine how painful it would have been to wait months between installments, but don't let that stop you from getting into it.

Slam Dunk is an institution. It regularly receives honors as the most beloved manga series of all time in Japan, and for good reason. Those of you who are reading current Jump titles will see much that laid the foundation for current titles. The type of hero seen in this title was not entirely original as of its writing, but I feel that both Naruto and Ichigo owe a great deal to Sakuragi-kun.

Don't sleep on this series. It really is one of the most enjoyable titles you may ever read. It is everything a Jump title should be, yet it has a much broader appeal as men and women of all ages seem to absolutely adore it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars awsome slamdunk , October 14, 2008

By	Hanaruka "filmfan manga reader" (OR, USA) - See all my reviews

Slamdunk it's the absolute best and funniest sports manga around it will make you roar with laughter and tears as you find yourself growing to care deeply for this fool Hanamichi and his team and his comming of age love for the game Basketball ! I love Hanamichi and his foolishness but he's also one of the toughest dudes out there so theres fighting and hiliarity to be had in spades .