Cross Game, Vol. 2

After reading through the first three volumes (bundled as one), the second collection did not disappoint. There is a good amount of sports drama and comedy. Unfortunately the collection was only two volumes, because the end of volume 5 left me wanting more.

This book was awesome as always. I really like this series. Go portables!!! I hope they win the next game.

came in top-notch condition!

I love the series and I wish H2, Touch, Rough, Katsu, Mix and all of Adachi's works were brought over.

This collection contains volumes 4 and 5 of Cross Game (as originally published). It is a direct continuation of Cross Game 1 (volumes 1-3). Cross Game unfolds its story gradually, with a lot of layers and nuanced characters. So while you would pick enough to follow things in this collection, you really should start at the beginning. Oh, and MAJOR things happen in the first volume. Really. Go read that first. ** This review contains no spoilers for Cross Game 2 but will have them for Cross Game 1. ** Ko's been working hard to improve his pitching by emulating Aoba, who actually doesn't like him much. Ko and his friends are in their first year of high school and have been relegated to the practice squad by a cutthroat coach who only cares about making himself look good and winning, in that order, and has recruited the varsity team personally from all over. But catcher Akaishi has been keeping the practice squad's capabilities a secret, and now the varsity team has a scrimmage game against them... I've never been much into playing or watching baseball, but have loved a lot of movies and stories focused on it when done well. Cross Game is no exception. The flow of the game throughout these two volumes is done very well, and the importance of the action and situation at each point clearly defined. But what makes this series exceptional is that it never forgets it's about the characters first, and the game second. Ko and Aoba are compelling main characters and anchor a phenomenal cast. The plotting and dialog let a staggering number of characters convey subtle personality traits very quickly and the way the art compliments that with facial expressions and little touches is amazing, particularly since the style is a bit "simplified." Another incredibly realized balance is how the overtones of humor, loss and adversity are all managed without things ever getting ridiculous, melodramatic or overbearing. Wakaba's absence and it's effects on those who cared about her is felt (as it should be), but it's done naturally and appropriately and compliments the story rather than overwhelming it. That's hard to do and my respect for the skillful execution here grows the more I read. Cross Game 2 continues the high standards set by Cross Game 1. Yes it's a slowly unfolding story. Yes it's about baseball. Yes you should read this series even if you normally don't care for either of those things. Highly recommended.

The story begins to flesh out, now introducing a clear set of protagonists in the varsity team to go up against the main crew of the portables. While this release contains two volumes, the material covered doesn't come off as incredibly dense. On the contrary, the first volume covered in this release covers a majority of a baseball game against the new rivals, establishing just who we should be rooting for and who we should be looking out for. The game is played out in typical shonen style, with the action happening alongside non-participants, who are happy to walk readers through just exactly what is going on. Scenes with Aoba and the old man watching the game are reminiscent of Trixie and Speed's family watching on the sidelines during a race in "Speed Racer," though on a slightly less campy level, if only for the fact that the author throws in some self-aware jokes throughout the manga every now and then, almost mocking his own readers for anticipating some of the trite manga plot points we've grown to expect--which can either be a good or bad thing depending on your preferences. Character interactions between Ko and Aoba this time around are very minimum, though with the way Aoba is always used as eye-candy for each chapter cover page, readers can only assume that something will happen between the two eventually. Whether or not such will happen sooner or later, though, isn't left clear. If anything, signs point at this shonen keeping focus on the baseball, while giving back seat to the romance. As for Ko's two portable friends, I've yet to truly see them as good guys, since we've yet to have any explanation as to their own stories during the time skip. Still, it's the things that are left out that make me anticipate the next volume.

This is an extremely hard book to find and you shipped it in a plastic bag that offers no protection. Book is scuffed up probably from getting tossed around during shipping. Why it was shipped in a plastic bag baffles me.

Book came slightly damaged, But the story is a great one!