Dive!! Volume 1 by Eto Mori and Ruzuru Akashiba
Format: Digital
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Series: Dive!! #1
Genre: Sport, Comedy
Age group: Shounen/Seinen
Pages: 160
Published by: Shogakukan (13/06/07)
Summary:
Tomoki is passionate about diving and is a member of the Mizuki Diving Club. However he'll need more than passion when his team's lackluster record leaves them being potentially shut down. With a new coach from the U.S. and a deadline to qualify for the Olympics in one year, Tomoki and his teammates compete for glory with the fate of their diving club riding on their shoulders.
About the book:
I actually really like the idea of the plot, how they have a year to get to the Olympics! It builds excitement for the reader and encourages us to root for Tomoki or even Yoichi. Alot happens in this volume including tense moments such as Yoichi's accident with the diving board and it even shows us the relationship between Tomoki and his girlfriend as well as the backstory to how they became a couple.
The pacing was too quick in my opinion, the plot of this singular volume was enough content to cover at least 2 or 3 volumes, if fleshed out properly. The quick pacing led me to be a bit confused at times of what was going on and characters were being introduced too quickly and I just had no idea who anyone was until almost the end of the volume.
I don't feel a strong connection with any of the characters as they haven't been developed much outside of them being divers. However, within the sport, as an athlete myself, I did connect with their passion and drive to do and be better at diving, as well as not giving up even if things aren't going well. Characters weren't fleshed out properly to the point where I couldn't tell them apart for over half the volume, other than Tomoki- the main character.
The art was pretty cute, there's... a lot of muscular teenage boys in speedos if that appeals to you? Although Shibuki looks more like an adult than a teenage boy (which I'm fairly certain he's meant to be).
Overall, I would recommend this manga to those who enjoy sport manga or just want a different and unique sport to most sport manga. So far, it doesn't develop the world or characters much but if you are just looking for something relaxing to read, Dive!! would be a good choice
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