Cross Game 4

Cross Game - Omnibus edition #4

by Mitsuru Adachi

Reads R to L (Japanese Style), for audiences T

With Ko in his second year of high school and Aoba in her first, the regionals for Summer Koshien are about to begin! The third round pits Seishu up against mighty Ryuou Gakuin—one of the teams favored to win the whole shebang. Do Ko and team have what it takes to even advance that far in the tourney? But first, Aoba’s cousin enters the picture, and he might shake things up on a different front.

Genres: Manga, Sports, Comics, Graphic Novels, Slice Of Life, Young Adult, Fiction

376 pages, Paperback

First published July 12, 2011

About the author

Mitsuru Adachi (あだち充 in Japanese) is a Japanese manga artist. After graduating from Gunma Prefectural Maebashi Commercial High School in 1969, Adachi worked as an assistant for Isami Ishii. He made his manga debut in 1970 with Kieta Bakuon, based on a manga originally created by Satoru Ozawa. Kieta was published in Deluxe Shōnen Sunday (a manga magazine published by Shogakukan).

Adachi is well known for romantic comedy and sports manga (especially baseball) such as Touch, H2, Slow Step, and Miyuki. He has been described as a writer of "delightful dialogue", a genius at portraying everyday life, "the greatest pure storyteller", and "a master manga artist". He is one of the few manga artists to write for shōnen, shōjo, and seinen manga magazines, and be popular in all three.

His works have been carried in manga magazines such as Weekly Shōnen Sunday, Ciao, Shōjo Comic, Big Comic, and Petit Comic, and most of his works are published through Shogakukan and Gakken. He was one of the flagship authors in the new Monthly Shōnen Sunday magazine which began publication in June 2009. Only two short story collections, Short Program and Short Program 2 (both through Viz Media), have been released in North America, though Viz is scheduled to begin publishing Cross Game in October 2010.

He modeled the spelling of あだち (rather than 安達) for his family name after the example of his older brother, manga artist Tsutomu Adachi. In addition, it has been suggested that the accurate portrayal of sibling rivalry in Touch may come from Adachi's experiences while growing up with his older brother. Adachi did the character designs for the OVA anime series Nozomi Witches, so he is sometimes incorrectly given credit for creating the original series.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's getting harder and harder to write up a review of Mitsuru Adachi's awe-inspiring baseball manga Cross Game, but not because it's getter worse, oh no; it's because it's a series that is just constantly quality stuff on a very consistent basis at a level I don't see much shonen manga these days being able to match. So what can I even contemplate on saying about this latest batch of chapters, released in svelte omnibus format by Viz Media, other than what I've been saying for the last three volumes? Well, if there's one thing you can never fault CG for doing, it's for not having anything happen.

And volume four is certainly an eventful one for Ko and friends, especially since the introduction of Mizuki Asami, Aoba's cousin, who makes no short business in restarting his old friendship with her. Oh, and did I mention this is a baseball manga? Cause there is a lot of that as well. So if you're in it for the heartfelt drama, the madcap humor, the constant in-jokes about Mitsuru Adachi's lack of discipline as a manga-ka, or those sweet baseball games, you won't end up disappointed with this one.

You can read the rest of my review at Nagareboshi Reviews!

[Rick Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable installment of the fantastic slice-of-life baseball manga. Aoba's cousin, Mizuki, starts going to the same high school and shows romantic interest in her (the casual acceptance of this plotline by most characters was a tad odd). Ko continues to develop as a baseball player while still remaining aloof to the interpersonal relationships around him. Ever since the Portables won against the varsity squad they've established themselves as a formidable team, with Ko as a main centerpiece to the team's success. It's fun seeing how everything ties into each other and the quaint storytelling style always makes for a leisurely read. Mitsuru Adachi knows what he is doing for sure, and he executes every aspect of Cross Game with great precision.

[Pturingan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm giving this 5 stars not for this volume but for the whole series so far. I don't know what else to say that hasn't been said elsewhere. There's just the right mix of humor, drama, romance, sports action and even some bizarre fourth-wall breaking. It's a coming of age story that's told over several years in the lives of the characters and there's exciting moments and there's quiet moments and they all add up into a very memorable story.

This is the midpoint of the series and obviously I don't know how it will end and it's hard to imagine how Mitsuru Adachi can keep up the level of excellence in the story but I'll certainly stick with it until the end.

[Ren (A Bookish Balance) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 stars

Love seeing some development on the romance front, and unlikely friendships/friendships involving a character who is difficult to get close to are always my favorite. The character relationships are truly the highlight of this manga. The fan service still has me rolling my eyes though.

[Greta K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah the slowed burn is starting to come together nicely. Also realized that this is probably the first sports manga I’ve read that feels relatively calm and not like it’s constantly going out of its way to stir up excitement, which I appreciate (as much as I also enjoy over-the-top sports manga lol).

[Child960801 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The high school team has their first real game and then their second.

[Alex Richey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really feeling the tension in this one!!! I legit ordered the rest of the series in one go because I don't want to put these down. :D

[Coke Fernández · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10

[Ronin Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

An alright volume, nothing special. But that’s alright! I noticed a lot of really gorgeous background art in this volume, so it makes up for the lack of emotion.

[David Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Down from 5 stars only because I’m not loving the mountain climber cousin side storyline.

[Mateen Mahboubi · Rating 3 out of 5]

slightly subdued volume. not sure how much I care about the mountaineering cousin.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is such a great read. The story, even with its random 4th wall breaking, is entertaining and engaging. The characters and their interactions are interesting to watch. And as strange as it sounds, the tragedy of Wakaba's death that is ever hanging over the protagonists' head gives the story a somber and bittersweet edge, which makes it even more fastinating to watch how everything plays out. Plus, I find the subtlety and the quiet vibe really captivating. Can't wait for the next volume!

P.S. Being "King of Polar Bears" sounds like a pretty sweet gig to me...

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Viz Digital - Still very strong - Wakaba's ghost hovers over Ko and Aoba still, the baseball action remains tense and thrilling, and the character arcs are unfolding steadily and naturally. The only hinky part: Aoba's new suitor is her own cousin, which makes it hard to take him seriously without being creeped out (and he's a decent dude otherwise).

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, Cross Game continues on with the gentle character humor that makes this series so endearing and fun, but at the same time infuses a life goes on feel that somehow makes you nostalgic for a time which you never experienced.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The character interactions in this series are always so pitch perfect--Adachi never hits the wrong note. Of course that's how Ko would react to what Azuma says; of course that's how Aoba would react to her cousin, etc. Am looking forward to reading vol. 5!

[Glasdow Teacosy · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a three and a half star volume for me because the story was a bit ho hum, but there were many examples of Adachi's phenomenal paneling and illustration. A favorite, minus the fan service, was pages 192-193.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This barely gets 5 stars, i almost docked it a star for the audacity to make incest at the heart of its love triangle what the heck. Also the repeated fanservice stuff.

But the relationship/rivalry between Ko and Aoba is fantastic I love them so much!

[Estara · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my impressions of the first four omnibi(?) at this review - has spoilers.