Gravitation Volume 1

Gravitation doesn't disappoint its readers and viewers. Gravitation focuses on the two-man band Bad Luck with Shuichi Shindou and Hiroshi Nakano. Shuichi struggles to write his love lyrics until a specific cynical author Eiri Yuki enters his life. I love how Yuki and Shuichi are complete polar opposites drawn together by some critique of some "garbage" lyrics. I enjoy the anime and manga; however, I noticed several differences between the two. One thing to note, Shuichi and Hiro had their band name Bad Luck from the first episode, whereas Shuichi didn't know what to call their band until later in the book. The band mates, Shuichi and Hiro, are more flirtatious in the manga than in the anime. Also, Shuichi's sister Maiko is implicated more in the book. Maiko is pretty demanding of her brother and supervises what he does. Overall, the characters' hair seems more fluffy and wilder in the manga than in the anime; although, it does make Yuki and Mika look like siblings. The anime is more realistic when Mika takes Shuichi away to talk. She takes him from his class in the manga, but she pulls him from his concert practice in the anime. Yuki does smile more often in the manga, but his personality is just as confusing as ever. He loves Shuichi one moment, then hates him the next. Surprisingly, Shuichi's date with a girl doesn't go to plan. Instead, he can't stop looking for Yuki. I find it funny how Shuichi wanted to date a young woman that gave him support but ended up dating a man that criticized his lyrics. It's ironic how Shuichi's mother and sister love reading Yuki's books. N-G's president Tohma Seguchi and Bad Luck's future producer and manager, Sakano, almost seem like friends rather than boss and employee depicted in the first volume. Kanna, Yuki's editor, is integrated more into the manga and even talks to Shuichi. Also, because Shuichi makes a big fuss about one character that comes in the scene later, I assumed that Shuichi and Hiro were in the 20-24 age range, coming straight out of college or something. I couldn't believe they were actually 18 years old. Maki Murakami's long notes were nice to read, but I would have preferred them to be at the end of each track rather than the middle because it interrupts the flow of the story. So it's best to read them after each track ends. Also, I love how each chapter is called track one, two, and so on. Also, I couldn't believe a gay manga and anime were originally made in the late 1990s. Gravitation can be described as an oldy, but goody. I was young when it first came out, so I couldn't enjoy it back then. But now that I'm old enough, I can fully appreciate the work that went into this series. I cannot wait to see Shuichi's and Yuki's relationship flourish. I'm certain Shuichi will aggravate Yuki a lot before he paves an entrance into his heart.

This is a fun series and is interesting mixing in the dynamics of relationships dealing with people with PTSD and those in love for the first time. Some scenes with implied child rape and abuse so be warned! Overall good story

GRAVITATION is the story of Shuichi Shindou, high school senior and aspiring musician, whose talent and self-worth become completely hung up on his infatuation with the mean-and-nasty romance novelist who insulted his lyrics. The plot follows Schuichi's pursuit of the novelist, his insane musical career, and the way the two affect each other; veering from side-spitting comedy to gut-wrenching drama and back again without batting an eyelash. There are dozens of characters, a confusing array of interlocking subplots, the author admits she is making it up as she goes along, and the story always seems on the verge of running completely out of control. Yet somehow it all ties together triumphantly in the final volume. Despite being extremely funny/silly/insane, it is also a story with substance, strong characters, and a meaningful payoff. There are a few difficulties I should warn you about. Many of the characters are frustratingly hard to tell apart, and Shuichi keeps changing his darn hair, which can make it hard to find him in the mega-cast. The art often makes it hard to decipher what is going on, or who is doing what. The musical industry machinations are particularly hard to keep track off without a scorecard. MEANING that if you are so eager to find out what happens next that you barrel through the story (like I did) you will miss half the plot. So do yourself a favor and buy the books two or three at a time, and pace yourself. Or at least make note of everyone's names: The character list at the beginning of each volume just covers a few of the major players, and is completely inadequate to the task of helping you figure out what is going on. The art improves greatly as the series progresses, so re-reading Book 1 immediately after putting down Book 12 (which I did three times consecutively) requires a brief period of adjustment. It is a series that takes a little effort, but in the long run I found this to be a part of its charm, and it is definitely worth it. The series earns its 16+ rating mostly through serious adult themes, frank (but not graphic) sexual content, violence, irresponsible use of firearms, and the potty mouths of youth.

I was never really sure about whether or not I wanted to pick up Gravitation. I'd heard excellent things and awful things about it. Finally I picked it up in the bookstore, flipped through it, decided it looked good enough to buy, and wow, am I thankful I did. This may appear to be a dull rock 'n' roll manga, but the focus isn't really on the music at all - it's just the thing that allows for the larger plot between Shuichi and Yuki. And while it is shounen-ai, which will doubtlessly turn some people away, it's still a wonderful manga. The artwork is nothing to gape at - at times it's rough, sketchy, and really not much to look at. There are times, though, when you can see the potential for brilliant artwork, and there are a couple of occasions when it reaches that point. (The hair flair is especially noteworthy!) The characters are incredibly distinctive and have expressions that convey an equally incredible amount of emotion. Quite frankly, the artwork is the only reason - the one and only reason at all - that I considered giving this four stars instead of five. The plot is twofold: the more minor plot of the struggle of Shuichi and his best friend, Hiro, in getting their band to go big, and the main plot involving Shuichi and Yuki's hot-and-cold relationship. While there are plenty of laughs to go around, there are a few angsty and serious moments as well, which all balances out nicely. The story moves fairly quickly, but it's not difficult to understand, either, and each page makes you want to turn to the next. The characters are, simply put, amazing. You can't help but fall in love with the way Shuichi blindly wears his heart on his sleeve and adore Yuki's alternately hostile and almost-nice nature. Each character is distinctive and fresh, and even the most minor ones stick in your mind. More than anything, though, watching the interactions between Yuki and Shuichi is an absolute blast because of how they alternately come together (less common) and conflict (more common). It's left unflipped in its original format, and, surprisingly enough, the translation isn't half-bad - it reads like the vernacular. The rating is, at 13+, surprisingly low - most shounen-ai manga with any action automatically ranks a 16+. It's rated for kissing, of course, along with swearing, smoking and drinking. At the rate it's going, though, I'm sure the rating will rise. Gravitation is something that you like more and more with each reading. I don't really know why I like it as much as I do, given that it doesn't seem like it would be all to magnificent. Nevertheless, it is a wonderful manga and, at least from the first volume, ranked itself among my favorites, and I, for one, cannot wait to get the second volume.

I first fell in love with the gravitation series through the fansubbed anime. The characters were great, and the story was awesome (not to mention the music). When I found out that the manga was being translated, I was thrilled. However, the manga is very much NOT the anime.When you read this manga, you have to keep a few things in mind. First of all, the characters in the Anime and the characters in the manga vary greatly. Sure, Shuichi is still spastic and cute, but his personality is very much different. Plus, the Anime left out a few characters the managa has, including Shuichi's sister. The characters use a very american vocabulary, though outdated, so you'll kinda have to pretend that the story takes place a few years back. One of my favorite things about the manga is the fact that sex isn't so taboo (as it was in the Anime). The characters interact in a very real enviroment, and are always throwing jokes around (the kind that actually make you laugh out loud). I think the manga is much more real than the anime ever was. If you're a huge fan of the Anime, you may not be too thrilled with the manga. If you want to enjoy this, you'll have to read it as a SEPERATE story, and not the anime in a book. As a stand alone (no anime involved), this series is amazing. The characters are well developed, the humor is great, the story is believeable (and not your typical shounen-ai), but.. the art is a bit lacking. You'll really have to focus on the story and look past some of Maki's artistic errors (such as characters viewed from the side). I would definately reccomend this manga to anyone looking for a funny, romantic, real story. Of course, you've got to be cool with the boy x boy theme.

First off- from the translations I've read, and from my own translations-- I believe Murakami does use "outdated" slang such as "dude". When I first got the Japanese mangas a year or so ago, that was the FIRST thing I noticed-- that Yuki was much looser in the manga, using "surfer" slang such as that ^^ I don't think you can blame all of that too much on Tokyopop.I believe the translation stayed true to the story. There are some changes, but they are quite logical in my opinion. They're catering this manga to the U.S.-- of COURSE there'll be changes. It's quite illogical to compare their translations to fan translations too-- I love fans who translate, fansubs are good, fansubs are FANTASTIC. But one must admit that the Japanese language, when translated line per line (which is what most fans translators do)-- sometimes, there are things that won't make sense. Companies work to translate a manga or an episode as a whole, making sure the first volume or episode is still going to make sense compared to the last episode, etc. When I first picked up the Tokyopop manga myself, I was saying things like "Oh, I hope they didn't change this and this and this"-- and when I finished reading, I was not disappointed at all. I thought it was still funny and quite witty. So, I very much recommend this to people-- it is a GOOD read.

Murakami-san has created one of the most amazing manga stories in recent years. Aside from it having excellent artwork throughout, she puts alot into the characters which allows the reader to easily associate with one or more of them.The story itself follows Shuichi Shindou and his best friend Hiroshi Nakano as they attempt to get their band, Bad Luck, into the mainstream. Along the way, Shuichi falls in love with a narcisistic novel writer, who eventually returns that love. It's not an easy, happy life though, there's always a new problem in their personal lives or those of their friends to complicate things.It's nice to see the North American audience realizing that same sex love is not the repulsive thing that many think it to be, and it can be very sweet and romantic. That is what Maki Murakami accomplishes with this series. If you are open-minded enough to appreciate love in all it's forms, then this is for you.I have spent the past three years working on translating the Japanese manga for the series, so I can safely say that you will not be diappointed with this series!! From beginning to end, you will fall in love with at least one of the characters.