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Review: Eyeshield 21, Vol. 1: The Boy With the Golden Legs

Eyeshield 21, Vol. 1: The Boy With the Golden Legs Eyeshield 21, Vol. 1: The Boy With the Golden Legs by Riichiro Inagaki
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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I almost dropped this after reading the first 2 chapters because it was so generic, but decided I should at least finish the volume. You know, since it's supposed to be a pretty good sports manga/anime and all. Also because I've dropped too many manga after reading only the first chapter or two, and a series really does need more of a chance than that.

Eyeshield 21 is a sports manga about American football.

AMERICA! FUCK YEAH
USA! USA! USA!

I don't really care too much about the sport myself. I had some fun playing it in grade 10 but that is the cap of my interest in it. But like I said in the introduction paragraph, this here is a bit of a modern classic in the sports manga genre, so being the sports lit connoisseur that I am you know I had to give it a go.

Just like what I got from the first two chapters, it's still a pretty generic sports manga, but it does also have some interesting elements that keep me wanting to read more. The main character is actually pretty interesting--besides being generically wimpy--and the supporting cast is also pretty fun. I enjoyed how the MC actually wanted to be the team manager instead of a player, but because of the evil insane captain of the football team he's forced to play instead. That's technically a spoiler I guess, but in actuality it's extremely obvious that of course the super fast MC would play. I also like how they made his identity a secret, because that will definitely cause some juicy misunderstandings and awkward scenarios.

If the American football aspect wasn't American enough for you, the art makes it feel even more American because of Yusuke Murata's cartoony style. I'm actually so torn on the art. The cartoon-yness has me shook but at the same time I love it. Especially the cartoony way the bodies are drawn. I read manga and expect to see a specific style of art, so when that expectation is subverted it's jarring, and not in a good way. But by the time I got to the end of the volume I got more used to it. I'm actually now looking forward to reading more of this series specifically so I can see more of the art.

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