Synopsis

All Hanamichi Sakuragi wants is for one girl, any girl, to return his affections, but so far, all he’s experienced is rejection. That is until he meets Haruko Akagi, who he immediately assumes is his exact type of girl. She’s friendly, cute, and doesn’t seem to be afraid of Sakuragi. The only catch to his dream girl is that she loves basketball and athletes. So, to gain affection from Haruko, Sakuragi pretends to be an athlete who loves basketball and will try out for the team. Awkward first encounters and hilarity ensue in volume one of Slam Dunk. 

Review and Recommendation

I had been holding out on reviewing Slam Dunk because it would only be fitting to read a book referencing basketball during basketball season. I’m not the biggest fan of anything related to sports. However,  Slam Dunk is considered one of the most popular mangas ever, so I decided to give it a shot. Volume 1 of Slam Dunk is hilarious and relatable. I remember those awkward teen years when I would change my hobbies and personality to fit the idea type for my crush. Sakuragi is no different, and he takes it a step further by getting himself into basketball in some very intense ways. He comes off as very unlikable because of his hot temper and violent tendencies, which adds to his comedic errors throughout the story. The book is not just a laugh fest, however, and has a profound message about humility and understanding the basics before letting your talent shine in the game. My favorite part of the book is when the author interrupts the story and interjects his opinions of Sakuragi. I feel there is something for everyone in this manga. So, if you’re a sports fan, a hopeless romantic, or someone who needs a good laugh, I recommend you read Slam Dunk Volume 1. 

Cautions

*Spoiler Alert* (A spoiler alert is being issued because there are mentions of specific plot points that relate to the rating of this review.) 

Based on the rating at the back of this manga, Slam Dunk Volume 1 is recommended for teens and older. I agree with this rating because it has several panels of realistic violence, such as rooftop fighting and fighting in hallways. There is also mild nudity and crude humor. For example, Haruko plays basketball with Sakuragi, and as she trips, her skirt goes up and shows her underwear. There is also a panel when Sakuragi accidentally pantsed the captain of the basketball team, and part of his naked butt is shown.