Banana Fish

Through and through, this is a series that has been misrepresented in how it is advertised. Whether it's the slightly odd name "Banana Fish", the inappropriate shoujo/shounen ai genre label, or the old artwork and the age of the series as a whole, this manga has no shortage of deterrents to make people shy away from checking this series out; A fact which truly saddens me. "Banana Fish" is not as goofy as its name, nor sappy as the genres it's associated with, and the age of the series does not in any way detract from the impact it has on the reader. My hope in writingthis review is that people who happen to stumble across the page for "Banana Fish" by chance will ignore all that may drive them away from reading this manga, and give it a chance. Because this manga deserves it, it really does. Story: 9 I'm sure everyone who's reading this review has at least skimmed the summary for the manga in question already, so I'll spare you all the repetition. What I will say though is that the story of "Banana Fish" is much more complex than any three sentence long summary could accurately summarize. It's long, and intricate, and quite frankly, has many times where it takes some energy to read. This is the one apparent weakness in the otherwise well executed carefully planned epic that is this series: pacing. Overall, the pacing works, especially during the high points of various action sequences, but in order to set up those action sequences there are sometimes chapters upon chapters of strategic exposition and planning, and it can drag quite a bit. Not to mention the series is 19 volumes long, and I would guess around 4-5 volumes of that is set-up material, which can be a bit of a chore to slog through to say the least. I'll use this as a lead in to my second point: it drags like a shounen, mainly because this manga is much more like a shounen than a shoujo. One of the biggest issues with the lack of popularity of this series is that a manga containing 19 volumes of gangs, rifles, gore, drugs, guerrilla warfare, and an almost complete lack of women and romance is being advertised as a women's romance. That is not to say that women cannot enjoy this series, I myself, a female, adore "Banana Fish". However, I feel it necessary to stress that this is not a lovey dovey romance series like your typical shoujo, and if that's what you're looking for, you should pack your bags and look elsewhere. For everyone else looking for a solid, smart, and satisfying action story, look no further, but beware the pacing. Art: 5 While the artist does significantly improve her craft over time, it is clear that the art for this series is not its strong point. The style is very dated and it takes a long time for the author to settle into their style, and even then, the art isn't exactly anything to write home about. From a character design standpoint, one can easily differentiate between the cast, with the exception of some of the adults, who can be told apart by facial hair alone. One thing I will give the artist credit for, though, is matching a more serious and harsh style to the equally harsh and action-packed tone, rather than using flowers and overly large eyes that would seem out of place within the series. The most important thing with the art is mainly to learn to look past it, since it never distracts from the story, and the series has a lot to offer beyond some of its artistic shortcomings. Characters: 10 The characters are easily the strongest point in this series. Whether it's the ice-cold genius gang leader Ash, or his innocent and quirky foreigner best friend Eiji, all the characters are very likable, well rounded, and most importantly, well fleshed out. I mainly judge good character development by whether or not the characters are round and dynamic (multi-faceted and developed) throughout the course of the series. In this regard, I really can do nothing but commend the author, since every character in the cast (which is actually quite large) changes and develops, for better or worse, over the course of the series. This includes protagonists, antagonists, minor characters, major characters.... There is not one person in "Banana Fish" that I could point to and say that they were the same person as they were 19 volumes ago. Even characters that get minimal screen-time show changes caused by the events of the story and their reactions to the actions of other characters. One character who does deserve special mention is undoubtedly the second main character, Eiji Okumura. The world of "Banana Fish" takes place in the gang culture of New York city, a setting that most people who pick up this series would not be familiar with. In this case, the Japanese foreigner, Eiji, serves as the eyes that help us relate to and understand the setting and characters, since he himself is as ignorant as we are. This combined with his charming personality and incredible character development over the course of the series makes him a relatable rock for readers who might feel estranged from this manga at first due to the setting. Overall, the characters were masterfully handled throughout "Banana Fish", and if you are on the fence on whether or not you should read this series because of the plot, I would definitely recommend the read for the characters. Enjoyment: 10 Though the plot and characters of "Banana Fish" can be described as nothing short of amazing, these factors would mean absolutely nothing if the series was not thoroughly enjoyable as well. Fortunately, I can say that this manga is as enjoyable on a personal level as it is on an objective level. During my first read through of the manga, I marathon-ed it in less than 48 hours! While I have mentioned there are parts where the story can drag, that does not at all hinder it from being extremely engrossing. That being said, this series is long and complex, and takes a fair amount of investment in order to get the most out of it, and if you don't tend to enjoy long epics, this probably won't be an exception... By a long shot. However, this series can easily appeal to a broad audience (were it actually advertised correctly), and for that reason alone, I would recommend anyone who finds the series even a bit intriguing to give it a shot. One thing I will say, without spoiling anything, is that the ending receives mixed reviews, and if you're looking for a series where everything is happy go lucky and roses by the end, I would tread carefully with this one. Regardless, "Banana Fish" is really quite fantastic both in concept and execution, and is definitely a series I would recommend you buy at the end of the day. Unfortunately, hard legal copies of this manga are hard to come by. Many libraries have disposed of their old copies due to lack of popularity, and small print runs have made this series a rarity on used bookshelves and often frighteningly expensive through online sales. Still, this series has left enough of an impact on me that I continue to collect used versions, and herald it as one of my all time favorite manga. And that, my friends, is why you should give "Banana Fish" a chance. Because this manga deserves it, it really does. Who knows? Maybe a spike in popularity will encourage a new print run. It already happened before in 2006, why not again? Overall rating: 9 (an overlooked classic that deserves your time)

this is my first review so don't be too hard on me. The only reason why i found out bout this was i heard it was being adapted in the summer of 2018.[Story] 10 The story is amazing. There no fillers no unnecessary yaoi just you reading about the characters story and what happens next.The Plot has this beautiful flow to and keeps you hooked no matter what. [Art] 8 The art has this nostalgic 80's vibe,very clean and simple. Its adds the feeling that this is happening in the 80s in New York. The only problem with the art is that some the characters look the same. The same mustache, same facial features, and etc. but other than the fact that some characters look the same to me the art is amazing. [Character]10 The Characters are the best part along with the plot. Ash inst the only main character its depends on the situation that takes place. Its crazy how much you feel for the characters and the feeling of knowing them. You get see the main character even the side characters have a enormous amount of character development and you start to understand why characters do what they do why they act the way they act. [Overall]10 Overall this has quickly wormed its way into my heart and quickly ripped it out as fast as it claimed it. The story, the plot, the art ,and everything is just amazing.This is my new favorite manga and needs more praise and attention.

Banana Fish is a work that gets better the closer you are to “I basically only read shoujo manga”. It is certainly more unusual in its genre, but it’s an “uniqueness” that starts to pale once it’s being compared to more varied works. First thing that is obviously different from a regular shoujo manga is the artstyle. It’s not frilly and sparkly, it’s clean and readable, overall looking more “mature”. Well, “mature” being a double-edged sword as it also ends up looking as some BL works. That said, it is certainly a change for better over the standard. Both at that time and the current. Still,it does get a bit stale and uninteresting, there are some panels that are nice but there isn’t a single panel or page that will make you go “wow”. Being a dialogue heavy piece it doesn’t waste that much resources on the illustrations which is a pity. Now for the story itself, I can’t really say there was a part that piqued my interest. In a core, it’s just a basic “you took something important from a mafia, now you become an outlaw as they try to get it from you and get their revenge". In a fact, it’s exactly that, but also most of the cast is gay. Not explicitly *shown*, but the dialogue makes sure to mention it. Or at least allude to it, in cases of more minor (pun not intended) characters. Anyway, it drags on way too long with little points of interest, would I not have a no drop policy I would have long dropped this before getting in the half of the manga. Sure, it does have themes usually not seen in shoujo manga such as drugs, prostitution/sex trafficking or actual murders, but that those themes alone does not make it good. It’s how those themes are treated that decides it. It also isn’t “mature” just because of those themes. At first I wanted to at least commend it for not fetishizing the rape (that much) and for a more serious portrayal of it. That was until the “I just got gangbanged, come here my ex-husband, let’s make out” scene. Also, the Dino ex machina in the final fight and the finale after that felt really underwhelming. One of the main reasons why the story is not entertaining is because the protagonist just isn’t interesting. Sure, he has some childhood trauma, but other than being raped he’s pretty much a Gary Stu. Stunning looks, charismatic personality, great combat ability both hand-to-hand and armed and most of all, a fucking genius. Literally. Dude has an IQ over 180, which is something very few people have. Does it actually have an impact on the story though? No, not really. It’s just the author flexing on the reader with this random revelation, but nowhere in the story Ash feels as an actually genius. Not dumb? Sure. Clever? I guess. But he is simply not written as a genius. And no, “but it gets cancelled out by his personality” doesn’t count as an explanation. Overall, I would recommend just watching the anime instead as it has better pacing and cuts out some parts (which is actually an improvement in this case) and the MAPPA animation does great service to the watchability of it.

I was spurred on to read this after hearing about MAPPA's plans to adapt this earlier this year. I'm glad I did because this was a hell of a ride. It's certainly aged a bit in terms of the art and whatnot (hence the updating), but goddamn, the story and characters are timeless in their beauty. [Story - 8] While we start off with the pursuit of what 'Banana Fish' actually is, it's really a story centered around the push-and-pull between teenage hoodlums and their overbearing adult counterparts on both sides of the law. Considering this is set in 80's NYC, this lends itself to alot of pulpy action and social commentary (whether by accident or by intention) regarding racial profiling, the sexual abuse of children, struggles in crime journalism, and so on/so forth. The pacing's fairly solid: it doesn't take too long for the story to get moving along, but it does take a break in the back seat around the second act. However, this was only to allow the characters to get a breather from the grimness of their realities, and thus go under rather believable development thanks to (completely rational/logical) melodrama. Fortunately for the thrill-seekers, this second act isn't as long as the first act, so it takes very little time for the third act to begin. When it does, be prepared for WAY more twists and turns than before, with copious amounts of action and angst. This all pays off rather splendidly in the denouement, but even that stands by itself as a fitting conclusion for a tale of this caliber. By itself, the manga is fairly strong, but there are a couple of drawbacks that are typical of this genre. It holds up to the test of time in some areas, but others do not; Some of the lingo/slang terms are rather stereotypical or callous, and both discussions & portrayals of rape can be awkward despite its universal depiction of the act as vile and inhumane. In these moments, the characterization (which will obviously be discussed below) helps salvage the title's reputation. Collectively, this title will be sure to stick around with you for a while thanks to its interesting take on themes, good pacing, and a splendid blend of crime action, mystery, and romance. [Art - 7] Admittedly, the art really sticks out as the defining trait of Banana Fish's age. Yoshida's art style certainly develops over time (especially in terms of character design and shading), but the minimalist aesthetic is a mainstay. The action is alright most of the time (you can tell who's who + what they're doing, and it moves very fluidly), but there are certain pages that could have used a good re-draw to better clarify what exactly is going on. One could say the same for some of the settings, especially those that take place outside of NYC in the 'countryside'. While I do enjoy seeing settings represented in a 'minimal' manner, Yoshida's variant makes it hard to decipher just what exactly is going on sometimes. However, character design is king here. From the teenage beauties such as Yau-Si and Eiji to the hardened looks of Max and Dino, Yoshida absolutely nails their designs in terms of conveying each character's core traits. Ash's look, however, is the most vital of these designs. His beauty is genuinely unmatched within the title (and perhaps amongst similar titles), which wonderfully contrasts his character forged from the consequences of having such looks. This is all further boosted by how timeless the fashion is; Sure, sometimes there are a couple of 'dated' looks, but this WAS published in the 80's. Otherwise, it's perfect for helping the designs convey the core traits, along with inspiring part of my wardrobe. [Character - 9] Characterization in this title is especially appropriate for this genre and demographic. The melodrama is perfectly......melodramatic, but within reason. The angst is heartbreakingly-convincing, and occasionally universal in nature. The humour, while occasionally crude, certainly lightens the mood and reminds you that not everything has to be so dour and grim in crime fiction. Ash Lynx is easily one of the more compelling protagonists I've seen in recent complete reads. His arc of slowly opening up emotionally and recovering from the many traumas he's experienced is beautifully realized with confusing mixtures of rage, grief, and fear as his relationship with Eiji Okumura develops. By the end of the story, Ash is a completely different person than he was at the beginning, both for the better and for good reason. Eiji himself warrants some gushing for his arc of coming out of the shell of anxiety and growing into a fine young man. While he may not do a lot at first, he certainly rivals Ash in terms of Action Hero by the end of the story. His actions in the short story in Volume 19 is absolutely heart-wrenching in its frank portrayal of how people deal with loss, along with its consequences. The antagonists, however, are hit-or-miss. Colonel Fox and Arthur are just glorified henchmen, while Golzine is irredeemable yet charismatic. Yau-Si is probably the only major antagonist I genuinely enjoyed: between his startingly-sympathetic monologues inspired by his tragic past to his cool and collected nature, he was probably the only genuine match for Ash in my opinion. The supporting cast is all right for the most part: Max Lobo is a decent surrogate-father who helps Ash stay on track (and laugh) and Ibe is alright as a guardian but is there for the comedy really. Shorter Wong and Sing Su-Lin are great foils for Ash, yet are even greater for being completely different types of people. My favourite, however, would have to be Blanca: A KGB defector and probably the closest person besides Max that Ash has for a father, he embodies the effortless calm that Ash definitely aspires to be. While his time in Banana Fish is short, it is ultimately sweet for both the reader and the people around him. [Enjoyment/Overall - 9/8] This was a genuinely great read. It's not perfect, but those blemishes are (mostly) attributed to the time it was being published in initially. I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone looking to try reading older titles, especially those that prioritize amazing characterization.