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Friday, 27 January 2012 09:41

Manga Hermit: Rocky XXVI: The Japanese Man Cometh!

Written by Malkits

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Several days ago, I celebrated my 22^nd birthday, readers. And like most birthdays, it paled in comparison to previous ones while reminding me of how much older I’ve become.

Remember this place? Remember how awesome it was? Remember how after this, every other birthday sucked?

I’m only 22 though, and even though my diet is slowly but surely making its way to a prune based end – I still have time to make something out of myself. Climb mountains, travel the world, make new discoveries, moon the social elite – because we’re all aiming for that particular trophy : “Achievement unlocked – Bucket List completed.” I’ve still got time… until I turn 28. Then I’m screwed.

Okay, I’ve already nailed number 84 - ”Dedicate my life to comics.” I’ll most likely have number 324 - “Have a respectable career” when I turn twenty-six… Probably will have to write off number 1,986 - “Turn into a jet and fly into the sun like a boss” Achievement. Awww.

Iwamaki Rikitarou has hit that point, ladies and gentlemen. At age 28 he has achieved his true goal in life – absolute freedom! Freedom to live his life any way he wants it, any way he needs it! And yet, all that freedom is failing him right now. His girlfriend is fed up with his laziness and wants to leave him, his band mates don’t respect him and to top it off his dream of becoming a rock star is all but done. (Apparently all great rock stars die between twenty six and twenty eight. Go figure.) Cursing the world and the fate he has been dealt, Rikitarou does what any slacker does – gets wasted. And like most binge drinking runs, he gets into a fight where he is hopeless out classed. With his life flashing in front of his eyes, Rikitarou does the only thing any man with self worth can do…

Rikitarou uses… Sludge!...Gastro Acid!...Spit Up!...Mud Shot!...Gunk Shot!...Acid Spray! Dammit, Pokemon Attack moves have failed me!

Yep.

He vomits.

As a finishing move.

While this would be normally humiliating (and hilarious) to anyone else, one man thinks otherwise. Where we see the lamest win ever, one man sees the faintest flicker of potential. Of course, when you are Ooishi Raita, three time World Boxing Champ, you tend to notice things that the average person takes for granted. What does fate have in store for these two?

Written by Watanabe Jun in 2007, “RRR” (also known as “Rock n’ Roll Ricky” is a Seinen Sports manga that chronicles Iwamaki Rikitarou and his new life as a professional boxer!

The puking dude? Really?

Yes, really. Due to situations beyond his control, he is forced to give up his dream to become a rock star and takes a chance on the pro boxing circuit. Also, he has a kid.

You’ve lost us.

Sorry, guys but I would have revealed half of the story if I told you anymore than that. Suffice to say, “RRR” has only 60+ chapters currently scanlated on the internet, and I have yet to see any physical copies in bookstores. Yet, those 60+ chapters have shown great promise as a story filled with heart, determination, and comedy. Rikitarou is a character most can get to like right off the bat. Jun skillfully gives us a balance of childish antics and reactions, matched by mature moments and learning experiences. Aozora, Rikitarou’s kid, not only acts as a sort of foil to our afro-haired protagonist, but is a character in his own right. Though he matures a bit quickly, it’s interesting to note the growth between the two. Raita is the traditional “master” of the series: putting Rikitarou and his partner / soon-to-be rival Nobuya Mori through hellish-like training in order to be the best.

Jun’s art is very detailed, fresh and most of all - expressive. He has a great degree of skill when it comes to facial expressions and it shows in “RRR”. The character models are also drawn proportionately and realistically, though this should be a given since it’s a sports manga. The fight scenes are done brutally and beautifully. Each and every punch, every drop of sweat, every smear of blood is drawn as if Jun was standing right there as Rikitarou and Mori go though the challenges of becoming a pro boxer.

If you’ve got an itch for some brutal beat downs, look though a couple of pages of “RRR”. Now…to earn that projectile vomit achievement….

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