A really cute slice of life story is presented here. It vividly depicts the struggles of a clumsy and kind of dumb girl. She is constantly striving to get the guy she likes to notice her. This is a truly charming narrative that shows the simple yet endearing efforts of the girl. Despite her clumsiness and perhaps a lack of sophistication, her determination is palpable. The story offers a quick and light-hearted read, perfect for those moments when you want to unwind. What's more, it has a surprisingly in-depth cast of characters. Each character brings something unique to the table, adding depth and complexity to the overall story. It's not just about the girl's pursuit of love; it's also about the relationships and interactions among the various characters. This makes the story all the more engaging and enjoyable.

This manga is incredible!

It is a romantic comedy with very short chapters, yet they are extremely funny. You can't stop laughing. The plot begins when Tenma Tsukamoto enters her second year of high school. In the school, it is stipulated that each new year you are assigned a new group and new classmates. What makes this year different for Tenma is that she is in love with Ooji Karasuma, a guy with no expressions. And Tenma desires more than anything in the world to be in the same classroom and confess her feelings to Karasuma.

At the same time, within the same school and among the shadows, there is a secret admirer of Tenma. He is a vandal, an abuser, a troublemaker, that is, a first-class delinquent. But he is a delinquent in love and has certain problems when it comes to socializing. Thus, this story begins with an extremely strange love triangle.

As an extra note, it seems to me that the titles of each chapter are titles of movies, or that's the impression I get...

This work contains a significant number of references to Japanese mainstream culture. These are not overly esoteric or hard-to-grasp elements. However, if the reader has not perused a few mangas previously or at least heard of something like Initial D, they will likely miss out on a great deal of the humor that this entertaining story presents.

To illustrate with an example of a cultural reference, Initial D is centered around a super-fast car driver and his distinctive vehicle. In School Rumble, one day when one of the main characters is late for school, they hop on their bicycle and pedal as fast as possible to arrive on time. During their journey, they pass by the speedy Japanese magnet trains, and the final thing they pass to demonstrate just how fast they were riding is the black and white panda Trueno car from Initial D.

Just as an American would instantly recognize Spiderman if he were to appear in a Superman comic for some reason, the same principle applies here.

The references in this work are more than mere homages and serve a purpose within this romantic comedy. But then again, many people enjoy shows like The Big Bang Theory without having the slightest knowledge of science. So, it's the same situation. If you happen to come across this work, give it a try.

It was okay.

At first glance, this simple statement might seem rather unremarkable. However, upon closer inspection, it holds a certain degree of ambiguity.

Was it okay in a mediocre sense, just getting by without much excitement or excellence? Or perhaps it was okay in a more positive light, indicating that things were satisfactory and met the basic requirements.

The phrase "it was okay" can be used in a variety of situations, from describing a meal that was decent but not outstanding to a performance that was passable but lacked that extra sparkle.

It leaves room for interpretation and can mean different things to different people.

Overall, while "it was okay" may not be the most enthusiastic or effusive expression, it still has its place in our language and communication.

I truly have an immense love for this series.

When I was a younger child, I had the pleasure of watching the anime version of it. And now, as I am reading it once again, it feels as if a powerful wave of nostalgia has washed over me. It's like a precious gift that I really needed at this moment. The memories associated with this series come flooding back, bringing with them a sense of warmth and familiarity. It's amazing how something from the past can have such a profound impact on us in the present. Reading this now allows me to relive those wonderful moments and experience the magic all over again.

This very well could have been cutting-edge stuff when it originally came out.

However, as someone who's read an excessive number of solid gag and romance manga in the last few years, this volume 1 just felt like a tour of ancient tropes.

The characters were mostly one-note, lacking depth and complexity.

I had to struggle to finish this one, hoping to find some interesting hook at the end.

But unfortunately, nothing really stood out for me.

Personally, I'm not planning to pick up volume 2.

It seems that this manga didn't quite meet my expectations, especially considering the high standards set by other similar works I've read recently.

Perhaps it might appeal to those who are new to the genre or have a different taste, but for me, it just didn't have that something special to keep me engaged.

This Manga is incredibly wonderful, filled with great fun and a light-hearted spirit.

Whenever I'm in a bad mood, I frequently find myself irresistibly drawn to reading one or two of its chapters.

The reason is that the positive and upbeat atmosphere that pervades this Manga has an amazing ability to always manage to lift my spirits and pick me up again.

It's like a magical escape from the troubles and stress of the real world, transporting me into a realm of joy and entertainment.

The characters are charming, the storylines are engaging, and the art style is simply captivating.

Each chapter is a little gem that brings a smile to my face and makes me forget about my worries for a while.

Overall, this Manga is truly a delight to read and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a bit of light-hearted fun and a mood booster.

I absolutely adored this!

Why give it 5 stars? Because it truly made me laugh out loud.

Most of the scenes are extremely quirky, and I'm all in favor of that. I'm just easily amused by this type of story.

If you're seeking something light and funny to read, you should definitely check this out. It comes highly recommended if you're having a bad day or simply want to read something simple and enjoyable.

However, if you're looking for something that is both humorous and has a strong plot, I don't believe this is the right story for you. Based on what I've read so far, the plot is basically an endless love triangle where the characters try to make the other fall in love with them by doing crazy things.

You'll definitely have a great time with Tenma - I know I did.

School Rumble is a wonderful manga that delves into the theme of secret love in school.

Each chapter, while not directly connected, is filled with the same humorous charm. This unique style might not appeal to everyone, but it surely has its own allure.

Accompanying the main character on her journey is a joy, and one can't help but laugh at her attempts to impress her crush. The misadventures and the comical situations she finds herself in add to the overall entertainment value.

What I particularly like are the bonus chapters at the end and the explanations of Japanese idiosyncrasies. These elements provide additional depth and cultural context to the story.

It is highly recommended for all those who enjoy a good laugh and would love to follow the main character as she stumbles from one embarrassing situation to the next. It's a manga that will surely bring a smile to your face and keep you entertained from start to finish.

# Program BUBU

Program BUBU is an interesting and engaging initiative. It was first read in August 2009.

Since then, it has gained significant popularity and has been widely recognized for its unique approach and valuable contributions.

The program aims to achieve various objectives, such as promoting education, enhancing skills, and fostering community development.

It offers a wide range of activities and resources that are designed to meet the diverse needs of its participants.

These include workshops, training sessions, and interactive learning materials.

Program BUBU has also attracted a large number of volunteers and supporters who are committed to making a positive impact through this program.

With its continued growth and success, Program BUBU is expected to have an even greater influence on the lives of many people in the future.

I picked up this manga quite a few years ago, and to this day, I still have a deep love for the series.

What makes it so special is its unique combination of humor, a captivating story line, and characters that are highly relatable.

The humor in the manga never fails to make me laugh out loud, adding a light-hearted and enjoyable element to the reading experience.

The story line is engaging and well-developed, with twists and turns that keep me on the edge of my seat.

Moreover, the characters are so real and down-to-earth that I can easily identify with their emotions and experiences.

If you are a fan of romance comedy manga, then this series is an absolute must-read.

It will surely bring a smile to your face and warm your heart.

Give it a try, and I'm confident you'll fall in love with it just like I did.

In today’s episode of Elz Reviews: School Rumble, an oopsie occurred. Previously, in This Book Review, the first chapter was described as hilariously ending one’s life. The first two chapters were great, filled with super funny gags that introduced the main characters entertainingly. However, from chapter three onwards, the series took a turn. There are many more characters, but they are not properly introduced, making their interactions with the main characters unremarkable and unimpactful. This, combined with the fact that it wasn't as funny past the second chapter, led to a very mediocre volume. It did salvage some entertainment value, though, hence the 3 stars. The original note/minireview also shared the excitement of the first chapter and the journey to obtain physical copies of the first 11 volumes, as the series is no longer in print in English. Please consider liking the review and following for more. There are also links to other School Rumble reviews.

In today’s episode of Elz Reviews: School Rumble... Did an oopsie.

Previously, in This Book Review:

Holy shit. The first chapter ended my life. I was laughing so hard I was crying and I couldn't even try to keep reading because looking at the page just kept knocking me out. This first gag is so funny oh my god.

Oh… oh no… What happened? Three stars? Oof.

The first two chapters: Great. Good stuff. Super funny, loved it. The rest of the volume? Ehh. Not… Great... Kind of disappointing, not going to lie. This is the manga of the greatest anime of my youth, something filled with memories of laughs and gaffs and which created a rare opportunity to bond with my brother. So, what went wrong? To answer that, we must first examine what went right.

The first two chapters in this series are great because they are humorous introductions to two of the main characters in this series, quickly establishing their personalities and quirks in an entertaining fashion by incorporating hilarious gags. This makes readers care about and maybe even like said characters.

The problem is that this series has a lot more than two characters, and that from chapter three onwards it just runs with them without introducing them or giving readers any reason to care about them whatsoever. Suddenly, there are side characters interacting with our two main characters, and we can see that they know each other but since WE (the readers) don’t know who they are, their exchanges are rendered utterly unremarkable and unimpactful.

The above combined with the fact that this wasn't even funny past the second chapter is what led to this being a very mediocre volume. What I will give this volume is that it was at least able to salvage some degree of entertainment value, so it gets 3 stars instead of 2.

Characters we don’t care about. Not funny. Kind of entertaining. Sad!

------

Original Note/Mini Review (No spoilers) :

[I read the first chapter for free on Kodansha's website]

Holy shit. The first chapter ended my life. I was laughing so hard I was crying and I couldn't even try to keep reading because looking at the page just kept knocking me out. This first gag is so funny oh my god. I love how deadpan-ish it's delivered: It tells you- or you see what's happening and there's no reaction which just makes it funnier for some reason. (Straight Man? I don't know her.) SO good, holy shit. After I finished reading the chapter, remembering the gag would make me laugh out loud again and again. This happened at least four times over the ret of the day. I think I'm going to need to start collecting these volumes.

I watched the anime of this with my brother waaaaaaay back in the day, when I was like sub-10-years-old or something, and we both loved it. (The anime has a great English Dub btw, would recommend.) So I had to try out this first chapter.

*Edit*: I now own physical copies of the first 11 volumes!!!! Plus a few in Japanese, since this series stopped serializing (physically, in English) at volume 16 (which was put in a bind-up along with volumes 14 and 15). These were a journey to get my hands on, I tell you.

First of all, I found out that these bad boys are NOT IN PRINT (in English) anymore!! You literally cannot buy new physical copies of this series! How sad. You can buy English e-books of the whole series, but that's just not the same.

Second of all, because of this, half of the English volumes are set to ridiculous prices, like from $20-$60+, when these originally sold for 13 bucks a pop. Luckily I was able to get the books of the first half of this series for reasonable prices, however shit gets crazy after volume 11. I'm basically forced to e-book it after that, le sigh. Until then... I've got 11 volumes to read!!


Please consider giving this review a "Like" if you've made it this far, it helps me out a lot! And follow me if you want more!

\\nClick to read my other School Rumble reviews:
Volumes: 1* | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

*Current review