Slam Dunk vol. 21

The Shohoku vs. Ryonan match is over.  FINALLY.  This particular game ran over five volumes for thirty-six chapters.  Think about it:  When this was originally serialized back in Shonen Jump, it took 2/3rds of a year to tell this story.  That’s almost as long as it took to serialize this story in English.  I could go on about how this also ties into why I prefer to read nearly all American comics in collected form, but I will say that — true to the series — the match was wrapped up in thrilling fashion.  Mitsui’s collapse may have been a “cause for concern” but it only heralds Sakuragi’s second wind as the gifted newbie makes a series of stellar plays that keep Ryonan from scoring.  He also sets up the beautiful, momentum-destroying moment from perpetual benchwarmer Kogure that seals the deal for Shohoku.  The game continues after that, but the dreamlike silence with which it’s conveyed only makes the joyous eruption of cheer at the end of the ordeal that much more satisfying.

Now, Shohoku’s victory shouldn’t come as a spoiler.  Aside from the fact that there are ten volumes left, I don’t think that this became one of the biggest-selling manga of all time by having the main team face off against their rival and LOSE.  No, their victory and subsequent trip to the regionals (and the crying of many manly tears) was assured.  Fortunately Takehiko Inoue doesn’t waste any time setting things up for the next series of matches, as he re-introduces some of key players from Kainan and shows us the star players from the other teams in the tournament.  Those scenes, along with Rukawa’s heart-to-heart with Coach Anzai, help keep the momentum going and give us a reason to be invested in the next arc.  Can Inoue top himself with the space he has left?  You can damn well believe that I’m going to stick around and find out.