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ramreads's review against another edition
3.0
This was a relatively good start to the manga series Become You. Mostly slice-of-life with music themes and a small dash of fantasy (though I think so far that’s mostly due to the main character’s overactive imagination, but we’ll see).
The story follows a third year high schooler named Ashie Taiyou who wants to be a musician despite not being the best guitarist. Being the only member of the modern music club he tries to recruit fellow classmate Hikari who used to play piano but he isn’t interested. Ashie doesn’t give up though and as he grows closer to Hikari they both slowly open up about traumatic experiences they had in junior high. This first volume did a great job setting up the characters and making me intrigued by them, but I’m still not attached to any of them and the plot hasn’t fully revealed itself yet. I need a little bit more from this series before I’m truly invested in the story.
Ashie was a relatable protagonist. He wants to follow his dreams but is aware of all the obstacles he faces. He wants to be there for his friends but doesn’t know how. He wants to believe in himself but is also worried about what others think. He felt like a legitimate high schooler with these worries and I liked that disconnect from how high school boys are usually portrayed in manga (only caring about girls and being vulgar). This manga is being told by him in a way where it seems like he’s reflecting on his high school years. It sounds like it might be heading in a sad direction though I hope it’s not.
I’m intrigued by Hikari only because you don’t get to know much about him. He used to play the piano but stopped for some reason in his third year of junior high. He’s a grouchy loner who bounces back and forth between wanting to help teach Ashie how to play guitar and wanting to be left alone. He’s interesting because he’s mysterious but that’s the extent of his character in this volume.
Sakura is the only female character of importance so far and is already being relegated to love interest. She does photography, supports the protagonist, cries...and that’s about it. After reading manga for years I’ve come to terms with the fact that the number one importance of most female characters is for them to be love interests. I’ve accepted it but am somehow still disappointed every time. Perhaps her character will get more develop past being a love interest but I have very little hope (it’s practically nonexistent).
The art has a classic manga style with a realistic twist to it. It’s not anything incredibly unique that stands out. It works for the story and I liked that the characters looked more realistic.
I kind of regretted picking this up after I found out that the second volume hasn’t been completed yet. I’m not sure if it’s even been started on despite the first volume already being out for almost two years. The ending does leave me super curious as to what happens next, but I am wary of manga that have been out this long without any continuation whatsoever. I don’t like starting something that’s never going to get finished, so I want everyone who picks up this volume to be aware of this. If another volume does come out eventually I’ll be happy to pick it up!
The story follows a third year high schooler named Ashie Taiyou who wants to be a musician despite not being the best guitarist. Being the only member of the modern music club he tries to recruit fellow classmate Hikari who used to play piano but he isn’t interested. Ashie doesn’t give up though and as he grows closer to Hikari they both slowly open up about traumatic experiences they had in junior high. This first volume did a great job setting up the characters and making me intrigued by them, but I’m still not attached to any of them and the plot hasn’t fully revealed itself yet. I need a little bit more from this series before I’m truly invested in the story.
Ashie was a relatable protagonist. He wants to follow his dreams but is aware of all the obstacles he faces. He wants to be there for his friends but doesn’t know how. He wants to believe in himself but is also worried about what others think. He felt like a legitimate high schooler with these worries and I liked that disconnect from how high school boys are usually portrayed in manga (only caring about girls and being vulgar). This manga is being told by him in a way where it seems like he’s reflecting on his high school years. It sounds like it might be heading in a sad direction though I hope it’s not.
I’m intrigued by Hikari only because you don’t get to know much about him. He used to play the piano but stopped for some reason in his third year of junior high. He’s a grouchy loner who bounces back and forth between wanting to help teach Ashie how to play guitar and wanting to be left alone. He’s interesting because he’s mysterious but that’s the extent of his character in this volume.
Sakura is the only female character of importance so far and is already being relegated to love interest. She does photography, supports the protagonist, cries...and that’s about it. After reading manga for years I’ve come to terms with the fact that the number one importance of most female characters is for them to be love interests. I’ve accepted it but am somehow still disappointed every time. Perhaps her character will get more develop past being a love interest but I have very little hope (it’s practically nonexistent).
The art has a classic manga style with a realistic twist to it. It’s not anything incredibly unique that stands out. It works for the story and I liked that the characters looked more realistic.
I kind of regretted picking this up after I found out that the second volume hasn’t been completed yet. I’m not sure if it’s even been started on despite the first volume already being out for almost two years. The ending does leave me super curious as to what happens next, but I am wary of manga that have been out this long without any continuation whatsoever. I don’t like starting something that’s never going to get finished, so I want everyone who picks up this volume to be aware of this. If another volume does come out eventually I’ll be happy to pick it up!
lilacglow26's review
5.0
The only reason to get this manga 5 stars is not the art( which is very pretty), the story behind it though is the meaning behind it. I really enjoy the manga, however I regret reading it because I have to wait for it and I wanted to go the next volume.
steamy_earl_of_grey's review against another edition
2.0
Vastly disappointed in this book. From the back blurb it sounded like a good book, but it starts dropping you into a story that leaves you wondering by about the fifth page if there are missing pages because it just starts bad (storytelling wise, not actually story.) The backstory could use clarification other than the statements that are peppered throughout the conversions.
What it this volume supposed to be? A story about getting a band together? Two people becoming friends? A prelude to a romance? Please let me know when you find yourself Become You. I would be interested to getting to know you then.
What it this volume supposed to be? A story about getting a band together? Two people becoming friends? A prelude to a romance? Please let me know when you find yourself Become You. I would be interested to getting to know you then.
thenthememoriesfade's review against another edition
5.0
2nd Read (July 2020)
”I wish all the pain could disappear from the world. But without pain, people can’t recognized kindness.”
Ashie Taiyou is 17 year old high school student whose dream is to be a musician. He’s a member of the school’s music club where he plays guitar, but his bandmates decide to quit in order to focus on their studies as the university’s exams are approaching. While hunting for new members, he is going to cross path with Tsukimoto Hikari, a fellow classmate. Taiyou won’t stop asking him to join the club multiples times and from there, an unlikely friendship is going to start.
Taiyou and Hikari are the complete opposite, from their appearances but also their personalities. While Taiyou has light hair and has an easy-going personality, Hikari is the cliche dark-haired guy who sit in the back of the classroom and who barely talk to his classmates but can be quite blunt when he does. As Taiyou states about him, he’s pretty mysterious and he is keeping secrets. Moreover, Hikari is a music prodigy while Taiyou is struggling with guitar but he is working hard in order to improve and he isn’t the type who give up easily. And I think that’s the core of the manga, perseverance. Even though Taiyou is struggling and can lack confidence sometimes which makes him think that he is talentless, his true talent lies in his perseverance. All of those insecurities make him so believable.
Even though I liked both of the main characters, I related to Taiyou a lot more. Indeed, I daydream a lot and my insecurities and the lack of confidence I have in myself, make me my worst enemy just like him. Although, I am a big fan of blunt and introverted characters like Hikari, so that explains why I love him so much. I can’t wait to see their friendship evolved in the next volumes.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Takano’s manga if we didn’t have romance. In volume 1, the romance is not central to the story at all, which I guess is normal because it’s the introduction to the story and to the characters but I’m really curious as to how it is going to develop in the future volumes. Sakura is the typical childhood friend who lives close by and who the main character has been in love with for years. I loved their friendship even though I feel bad for Taiyou because it is a one-sided love. I hope that Sakura’s is going to be more present in the future because I’m curious about her and would like to learn more about her.
If you are familiar with Takano’s work, then you will know what to except: strong friendship, tormented pasts, heavy topics, overcoming hardships and incredible characterization. One of the recurrent theme in this one is dreams, which made me thought a lot about Takano’s previous work, Dreamin’ Sun where dreams were also an important theme and the main plot line was based around this. Of course, it goes hand in hand with the future, so you will find conversations centered around university, exams and career.
I can’t finish my review without talking about the art style. Takano’s art style is incredible, I don’t know what to say anymore because she is my favorite artist and I do think that the drawings were even better in this one than in Orange and Dreamin’ Sun. I guess I feel that way because a lot of them were focused on the Taiyou’s and Hikari’s faces in order to showcase their feelings and good, so good!
I can’t wait for the next volumes. And of course, Ichigo Takano is still my queen!
1st Read (October 2019)
Ichigo Takano is my Queen!
”I wish all the pain could disappear from the world. But without pain, people can’t recognized kindness.”
Ashie Taiyou is 17 year old high school student whose dream is to be a musician. He’s a member of the school’s music club where he plays guitar, but his bandmates decide to quit in order to focus on their studies as the university’s exams are approaching. While hunting for new members, he is going to cross path with Tsukimoto Hikari, a fellow classmate. Taiyou won’t stop asking him to join the club multiples times and from there, an unlikely friendship is going to start.
Taiyou and Hikari are the complete opposite, from their appearances but also their personalities. While Taiyou has light hair and has an easy-going personality, Hikari is the cliche dark-haired guy who sit in the back of the classroom and who barely talk to his classmates but can be quite blunt when he does. As Taiyou states about him, he’s pretty mysterious and he is keeping secrets. Moreover, Hikari is a music prodigy while Taiyou is struggling with guitar but he is working hard in order to improve and he isn’t the type who give up easily. And I think that’s the core of the manga, perseverance. Even though Taiyou is struggling and can lack confidence sometimes which makes him think that he is talentless, his true talent lies in his perseverance. All of those insecurities make him so believable.
Even though I liked both of the main characters, I related to Taiyou a lot more. Indeed, I daydream a lot and my insecurities and the lack of confidence I have in myself, make me my worst enemy just like him. Although, I am a big fan of blunt and introverted characters like Hikari, so that explains why I love him so much. I can’t wait to see their friendship evolved in the next volumes.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Takano’s manga if we didn’t have romance. In volume 1, the romance is not central to the story at all, which I guess is normal because it’s the introduction to the story and to the characters but I’m really curious as to how it is going to develop in the future volumes. Sakura is the typical childhood friend who lives close by and who the main character has been in love with for years. I loved their friendship even though I feel bad for Taiyou because it is a one-sided love. I hope that Sakura’s is going to be more present in the future because I’m curious about her and would like to learn more about her.
If you are familiar with Takano’s work, then you will know what to except: strong friendship, tormented pasts, heavy topics, overcoming hardships and incredible characterization. One of the recurrent theme in this one is dreams, which made me thought a lot about Takano’s previous work, Dreamin’ Sun where dreams were also an important theme and the main plot line was based around this. Of course, it goes hand in hand with the future, so you will find conversations centered around university, exams and career.
I can’t finish my review without talking about the art style. Takano’s art style is incredible, I don’t know what to say anymore because she is my favorite artist and I do think that the drawings were even better in this one than in Orange and Dreamin’ Sun. I guess I feel that way because a lot of them were focused on the Taiyou’s and Hikari’s faces in order to showcase their feelings and good, so good!
I can’t wait for the next volumes. And of course, Ichigo Takano is still my queen!
1st Read (October 2019)
Ichigo Takano is my Queen!
destdest's review against another edition
3.0
A good manga debut always has a way of drawing you in and making you want to learn about the characters. I think Taiyou’s adorable with his optimism and aggressive (almost stalkerish and obsessive) need for friendship. His backstory is a little wow.
Talk about 0 to 100!
These evil teachers be getting me, man. How are y’all still teaching?
Things seem overly melodramatic so far, but the gorgeous artwork and the sweet characters make me want to read vol 2.
3.5
Talk about 0 to 100!
These evil teachers be getting me, man. How are y’all still teaching?
Things seem overly melodramatic so far, but the gorgeous artwork and the sweet characters make me want to read vol 2.
3.5
mary_the_librarian's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this so much. I didn't know it was going to get so emotional, but boy, did it ever! I can't wait to see how all the relationships develop.
ruthsic's review against another edition
3.0
Warnings: self-harm
A new series from Ichigo Takano? Of course I was excited! And obviously, this one too pulls at your heartstrings eventually. Its about a teen boy, Taiyou, who wants to be a musician but is terrible at it, and also now doesn't have a band. He pesters his classmate, Hikari, to join him - the latter being some sort of prodigy who stopped playing music. Most of the story is about Taiyou trying to be better and him trying to make friends with Hikari. They have an awesome dynamic - like a friendly puppy and a grumpy cat; also I love how their names complement each other! We get Taiyou's backstory in this volume - about why he is so adamant about becoming a musician, and we get hints that there is something heartbreaking in Hikari's past, too. I still feel a disconnect between Taiyou's past and his current actions, but hopefully it will be resolved in future volumes. The artwork is the same as Orange - it is beautiful, but those eyes seem odd to me, I don't know why.
Overall - a nice introduction to another probably heartbreaking series.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Seven Seas, via Edelweiss.
A new series from Ichigo Takano? Of course I was excited! And obviously, this one too pulls at your heartstrings eventually. Its about a teen boy, Taiyou, who wants to be a musician but is terrible at it, and also now doesn't have a band. He pesters his classmate, Hikari, to join him - the latter being some sort of prodigy who stopped playing music. Most of the story is about Taiyou trying to be better and him trying to make friends with Hikari. They have an awesome dynamic - like a friendly puppy and a grumpy cat; also I love how their names complement each other! We get Taiyou's backstory in this volume - about why he is so adamant about becoming a musician, and we get hints that there is something heartbreaking in Hikari's past, too. I still feel a disconnect between Taiyou's past and his current actions, but hopefully it will be resolved in future volumes. The artwork is the same as Orange - it is beautiful, but those eyes seem odd to me, I don't know why.
Overall - a nice introduction to another probably heartbreaking series.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Seven Seas, via Edelweiss.
shellyzev's review against another edition
4.0
really liked this one! volume 2 comes out in August 2020 so I read this WAYYYY too early.
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