As the game against Sannoh heads into the second half, Shohoku struggles to keep up. Sannoh’s coach Domoto isn’t about to let Shohoku think they can stage an upset and lets loose his team’s explosive offense. With Shohoku on the ropes and Sakuragi upset by a substitution, the players start feeling completely outmatched, and even Akagi begins having doubts. But Coach Anzai hasn’t given up yet, and he begins priming Sakuragi on the sidelines for a comeback!
This Sannoh-Shohoku match is still early, and with a predictable stroke, Sannoh once again proves its superiority and championship experience, continuing to become a legitimate pain and huge challenge for Shohoku. As usual, the action is both fast-paced but feels a bit stretched-out by now. With four volumes left, I doubt if anybody would take a break reading Slam Dunk.
'Shohoku in Trouble', the title claims, and indeed the team is in that position. The volume never loses sight of what it's trying to achieve, with hilarious moments that mimic life to tense moments that will leave the readers biting their nails.
Este tomo tiene una de las mejores portadas de toda la serie, unos flashbacks muy interesantes, escenas graciosas como siempre y un interesante repaso -muy por arriba- de Kaede Purple el proto-piloto previo a Slam Dunk. Aun así me gustó un poquito menos que el tomo anterior y el siguiente, sólo por eso le amarreteo caprichosamente una estrellita.
*This review is for the series as a whole with 4.5 out of 5 stars*
I’ve posted 2 articles about Slam Dunk early this year so I’m sure you guys already have an idea how I adore this series. The anime series was incredible but its manga counterpart is beyond incredible, it was AHA-mazing!
I’m not a sporty kind of girl and I don’t think I’ll be anytime soon, but I think what’s great about reading books and watching shows is that you learn and (kind of) experience a lot of things you don’t normally do in real life. And because of Slam Dunk, I learn to appreciate sports stories and eventually love them.
When I started reading this manga, it felt so nostalgic. It’s not so different in the anime so while reading it, I keep on picturing out all those episodes which I think made my reading experience even more enjoyable.
Slam Dunk showcases a great team work. What I learn to appreciate about sports stories/shows is that it’ll give you a lot of lessons about what it means to be a great sportsman. And Slam Dunk absolutely slammed dunk that part!
I usually watch the anime series first before reading its manga counterpart and as for Slam Dunk, I’ve watched it quite a number of times already and I don’t think I’ll ever stop watching it, *wink. Even after watching the anime, I can still feel the tension, the suspense, and the excitement while reading this manga.
As you can read on its title, this manga centered around the sports basketball and through it weaved a really good story everyone of us will enjoy and appreciate whether you’re into sports or not. Another thing I love about reading manga is that it will never ceased to make you laugh with its funny scenes and Slam Dunk had it big time! I lost count how many times I laughed my heart out reading this masterpiece.
The drawings were really so good too plus those facial expressions were epic, especially Sakuragi’s, haha.
This story has a main character but I love that it didn’t just center around him but the author also gave its other characters a chance to share their own story. I love the character development as well especially Sakuragi’s.
And speaking of Sakuragi, I didn’t eventually like him at first. He’s definitely trouble and I didn’t quite appreciate his annoying antics and his excessive bragging. But all throughout the story, you can’t definitely help it but like his character. As I’ve said above, Sakuragi’s character development is definitely one you should see. From being this good for nothing delinquent, he became a true sportsman. I just absolutely love his improvement not just in basketball but eventually as a person. It’s definitely hard for me to explain but I just LOVE Sakuragi. Ofcourse he can still be an airhead sometimes but I can see now that it’s one of the things that makes him quite likeable, haha.
Slam Dunk has some pretty amazing group of characters and as I’ve said in this article, they come in varieties so I’m sure a lot of readers can find some characters they can relate and love.
The anime series left off the national championship and let me tell you guys, it was already good as it is. It was full of intense scenes with a right blend of humor but the national championship parts were sooooooo good I can still feel its intensity even after finishing this manga. Actually, I cried pretty hard when they won! You should definitely read it!!!
Although the ending felt short which ofcourse makes you want to ask for more, I guess it was still a pretty good and hopeful ending, not just for team Shohoku but for the other teams as well. Besides, after that intense match with Sannoh, I don’t think Slam Dunk failed me.
So if you’re looking for an intense sports shonen manga to read, Slam Dunk should be on top of your list.
Slam Dunk, Vol. 27 continues where the previous tankōbon left off and contains the next nine chapters (234–242) of the on-going manga series.
This tankōbon continues the second round of the National Tournament with Shohoku High School and Sannoh Industry Affiliated High School.
In two and a half minutes, Sannoh presses Shohoku's defense, most notably Hisashi Mitsui and Ryota Miyagi, and extends the lead over Shohoku to fourteen points. In a timeout, Coach Mitsuyoshi Anzai makes Miyagi the only inbounder from Shohoku, to counterattack Sannoh. Although Miyagi successfully passes the ball, Kaede Rukawa and Hanamichi Sakuragi are unable to score due to Masashi Kawata's blocks.
With such a big difference in points, most people from the audience leave, thinking that Sannoh has already won. After Shohoku's last timeout Anzai replaces Sakuragi with Kiminobu Kogure but only to advise him. Anzai tells Sakuragi to get rebounds to help Shohoku get back in the game, and all of the first year players support him. Sakuragi then returns to the game, with a renewed vigor, but with Sannoh so ahead, it might be difficult.
This tankōbon is written and illustrated by Takehiko Inoue. For the most part, I like the direction where the narration is taking me. The match between Shohoku High and Sannoh Industry Affiliated High takes a turn for the worse for Shohoku, because the slight lead that Sannoh had was extended exponentially to the point where it seems inevitable for Sannoh to win. However, during the last pages of the tankōbon, a renewed spirit of Hanamichi Sakuragi might change things.
All in all, Slam Dunk, Vol. 27 is a wonderful continuation to a series that seems intriguing and I cannot wait to read more.
At the time of this review, I have finished the series, except for volumes 22 and 24, which I am not sure if I will go back and read.
The use of rain here really shows how much in dire straits Shohoku is even though it is classic to the point of cliche plot device. It is used in movies many times. Page 52 about a gap of 20 was in my mind with Kuroko's Basketball and it seems to hold true, especially when looking at the games Teiko Middle and the individuals of Generation of Miracles did in high school. Ayako re-energizes Miyagi with some well-placed words. Page 75 was so hopeful for Akagi. Page 88-oh Akagi if you were real and knew what type of characters would come after you then this player would be a fluffy kitten. Yet, in this time, yeah that player is a monster. Page 111-Oh, really?! [Knowing face].
"The game isn't over until the moment YOU give up." wise words from Coach Anzai, which came after another great line: "AM I the only one...who thinks we can still win? I mean Coach Anzai said there are no absolutes in battle about a decade before Kuroko's Basketball Emperor said that his will was absolute. Who is the wise one? I let you figure that one out, due to spoilers (knowing face).
I have to give credit where credit is due. Sakuragi is definitely an original! That stunt he pulled on pages 184-185 makes him a unique character. Sure, I can find similarities between him and some other characters, but he puts those traits into a unique combination that forms him. That is actually a great point that we should each take with us when we fall into the trap of us comparing ourselves to others. In other news, on page 185, Sakuragi made a declaration of war.
And here comes Shohoku's inevitable downfall. While the first half of the game gave them a lead, here is the point where Sannoh starts kicking butt. Their players are on fire, they've figured out their game plan, and they're systematically suffocating our Shohoku boys with each and every play. As they try and come up with new ways to fight past it, only for Sannoh to start ripping them down again, the audience (and the players themselves) start to lose faith in Shohoku even putting up an entertaining match (let alone winning). Probably the most interesting character to watch this volume is Akagi, as you see his college hopes and his lifetime of preparation slowly fade from his grasp as the usually commanding pillar of the team starts to crumble. Though our main character Sakuragi and Coach Anzai get some great moments together as... well, to put it bluntly, Sakuragi is too stupid to lose focus like his teammates and Anzai knows how to use this to the team's advantage. At least, Anzai hopes he does. Sakuragi's re-entrance into the game and renewed focus is one of my favourite moments in the series and a fantastic not-quite-culmination-but-getting-there for his character arc. Really, most of this volume is watching Takehiko Inoue use Sannoh to slowly dismantle the entire Shohoku team so that (hopefully) they can rise up stronger than ever.
I think think that this book was good for telling me a lesson of not giving up even it's hard to do. This book is about a boy called Mitsui coming back to his old school which he went straight to the basketball court which a basketball team Shokoku was practicing and they started fighting and blood were everywhere. The boy called Mitsui was in this school before but he broke his knee in a basketball game and other teammates started to improve better than Mitsui did so he gave up on his basketball life. But when his old coach Anzai came into the court he was crying because Coach Anzai had taught him to not give up. This story starts off by fighting but it ends with a lesson that effects me.
“The game isn't over until the moment you give up.” -Coach Anzai
Sannoh is grilling Shohoku during this extremely tough game. Shohoku players are overwhelmed by the strength they're facing that they became incapable of securing one good shot; overthinking is paralyzing their abilities as awhole. Luckily, Coach Anzai's hope in the possibility of winning is still there, and Sakuragi is the only one who can make that a reality. I felt the intensity of the game to the point of holding my breath whenever a ball is going in. Such a good volume!
Shohoku is in a rough spot right now, the second half started and Sannoh shoews why they are the champions.
Very fast-paced volume, the whole thing takes a couple of minutes of the game but still, the pressure Sannoh puts on Shohoku is to much. But there's always hope, that ending was really good.
I've never dislike him but reading the manga made me LOVE (since early on) Anzai-sensei, probably my favourite character of the series. Inoue gave more importance to the character since they got into the Nationals, put him on the front line, best decision ever.
Shohoku are broken down to bits here. Everyone, I mean, EVERYONE loses hope here. But we're not done yet. Anzai sensei just shows a glimpse of the white haired demon and Sakuragi understands that the game is not over yet. Sorry, really emotional here so being cringey, but man Sakuragi I hope you fucking beat the balls out of everyone. GO SHOHOKU FUCKING GO. Never fucking die.
Anzai being proud of Mitsui brings back memeories. First, when Coach Anzai gave him hope in Junior High. Second, when he begs Coach Anzai to let him come back. And now, Coach Anzai beaming at him for a job well done. Yep, insert my tears. But wait, Sakuragi scores with his face! Hilarious. Then the bench warmers giving confidence to Sakuragi...i am proud of you guys!
Sometimes the work happens off the court, on the bench. In this volume, Coach Anzai benches Sakuragi after Shohoku's lead has slipped away. Sakuragi is upset but Anzai has a plan. As the game unfolds, Coach asks Sakuragi to watch and to learn. Could Sakuragi's teammate rival be the spark to Sakuragi to bring Shohoku back to life?
Shohoku's team is struggling now against Sannoh, who score almost entirely through fast-break counters. Now they will need an ace up their sleeve to turn it all around. Personally I hope it will be Sakuragi who leads Shohoku to victory.
One of the more iconic of sports manga. It's the first series where I actually both read the manga and watched the anime. It has flawed protagonists, growing up pains, colourful characters, and beautiful meaningful relationships, all neatly wrapped around the context of college basketball.
OMG, Sakuragi, may be dummer than he appears to be😁 Last page of the volume, There down about 30 points with 10 minutes to go and he jumps up on a table,announces to the crowd "Sannoh will be defeated by me tension Sakuragi" 😱😍😆Or just VERRY confident
Finished in the blink of the eyes! I don't know what to write for this review, but alright, I'll just say that I love Anzai sensei and his confidence so much.