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ă«ă©ăȘă±èĄă!
3
1
Finished
Aug 25, 2019
7.0/10
Average Review Score
100%
Recommend It
4
Reviews Worldwide
Let's Go Karaoke! is a short read with a strange kind of humor that I was definitely not expecting. We've got a dull and anti-social middle school kid who's as witty as he is immature, but in such a refreshing way that I love his reactions to the absurdity around him, and a yakuza who just goes with the flow while also being pushy, pestering the poor boy. I think the book did a great job showcasing yakuza shenanigans, reminiscent of the Yakuza games (now called Like a Dragon in America!). Anyway, the pacing is pretty impressive for a one and done volume. The developmentbetween the two, and the atmosphere surrounding them (Satomi's household, school, and the karaoke joint) add more depth to the small world they inhabit. The art itself is pretty weird, being a mix of (what I personally believe is) old-school bishounen style and sketchy indie manga. I personally like it and think it goes well with the kind of story being told. Seeing Satomi's deadpan face really does it for me lol. The final chapter is an "Extra" depicting Kyouji's past before he became yakuza. It's hands down my favorite chapter, and was an unexpected treat that ended the book nicely. Oh, BY THE WAY, this manga isn't BL! I've seen it around places and thought as much (didn't matter if it was or not to me, but was definitely given the wrong impression based on stacks, etc). There are little scenes here and there you could call "endearing," but you'd have to use your imagination real hard to think what most fujoshi would. But yes, no romance whatsoever!
Morioka Middle School's choir may have placed second in a national competition, but 39-year-old yakuza Kyouji Narita has judged them the best. The boss of his criminal family loves karaoke and tattoosâand he blends his hobbies by forcing every family member into a karaoke showdown, the loser receiving a hand-pricked tattoo of the boss' choosing. However, the boss is a complete amateur, and Kyouji is desperate to avoid becoming his next canvas. To learn how to outsing everyone else, Kyouji seeks help from 14-year-old Satomi Oka, the head of Morioka's choir. Satomi sees little reason in Kyouji's actions and the ridiculous competition; he has his own worries, being in the middle of puberty and dealing with a changing voice that seems to betray him more each day. But feeling somewhat sorry for Kyouji, Satomi cautiously begins coaching him, trying to make sense of his uncertain teenage years and his new, offbeat friendship with a gangster. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
It was a nice read, I'll definitely remember it! The characters were pretty nice too, I liked how goofy Kyouji was and how it contrasted with how emo Satomi acted. Although, the manga was a little bit strange... I'm sure it's not BL, but it sure does have some BL undertones... It was also strangely convenient how Satomi was just barely 18 during the time that they reunited, but I'll just pretend like I never suspected anything. The art is nice as well, it has a retro feel to it which I like. The humour was pretty enjoyable too. 8/10! Nice!
Karaoke Iko! draws its strength from its limitations and short format and it's one of the best one-shot mangas Iâve read so far. Itâs perfectly suited to this length. It jumps straight into the action without wasting a single panel. You never get the feeling that something is missing or that important parts were cut short due to the brevity. The manga offers a brief, spontaneous glimpse into the lives of two men who couldnât be more different, yet still end up becoming friends. The characters are well-developed and donât feel bland at all. Theyâre lively, and their relationship and reactions feel natural, especially because of,or perhaps thanks to, the ridiculous and funny situation they find themselves in. The art style is simple, and the expressive faces fit the tone and absurdity of the story perfectly. The cover is a bit misleading, as it gave me a very different impression of the storyâs vibe, but the actual comedy is lighthearted and genuinely funny. Definitely worth reading, especially since the short length and cheerful tone make it super easy to get into.
Karaoke Iko is a short gag manga about the Yakuza and Japanese music. It has good references to real bands and songs, such as Kurenai by X Japan (one of my favs). Thereâs also a slight BL tension between the main characters. The art and humor are fine, and the story is easy to follow. However, seeing the X Japan reference made me expect more Japanese music related references. Since the series is short, there arenât that many cultural gags. If it were a bit longer, it could have been quite good. If you donât want to spend too much time on a gag manga but stillwant to have fun, you can give this one a try. I also highly recommend checking out the bands and singers mentioned in the manga.