SPECIAL A (VOLUMES 1 – 5)
May 8th 2009 23:05
Category: Graphic Novels/Comics
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Story & Art by: Maki Minami
English Adaptation: Amanda Hubbard
Translation: JN Productions
Touch up Art & Lettering: Rina Mapa
Design: Izumi Hirayama
Cost: AU $15.18
There is a classic line in Megatokyo volume 1 that one of the main characters Piro says whilst browsing in a local bookstore, something to the effect that shojo (girl) manga has always helped him find a solution to any crisis he is currently involved with at any given point in time, its an inspiration. The other day I had some time off from the hustle and bustle that is Certificate IV Financial Services (Accounting) and I was looking for something to read, something that had nothing whatsoever to do with business law, accounting, bookkeeping, economics or anything to do with financial services in general. Not that I am saying these are horrible subjects, but they are not something I want to be involved in 24/7, you just have to unwind now and then. And so after wandering the stacks like Banquo’s ghost I finally came across this particular work by Maki Minami.
Now I couldn’t find anything else to read so I scooped up the volumes that were on the shelf, borrowed them and took them home to read. Shojo manga is not my usual forte but hey if it makes for good fun reading then frankly I think it’s all good in the end, after all enjoyable reading is the main thing. Like various other works in this particular genre the focus is on romantic comedy, and not just any old kind of romantic comedy but one set in a high school, so it could be classified as a high school rom-com; I wonder if there is any one out there who classifies genres in a manner similar to flora and fauna? Genus followed by species, wouldn’t surprise me if there was although I would advise them to get out now and then and enjoy the other pleasures of life, such as good conversation, golf, pool, a mild summer’s day and a refreshing schooner of the finest ale with some potato wedges, sweet chilli sauce and a dish of sour cream, delicious…
But I digress, just what exactly is Special A all about? In a nut shell its about love, competition, rivalry, jealousy, envy, intrigue, travel, shopping, privilege and good honest hard work with a little bit of pro wrestling thrown in for good measure. Our protagonist is one Hikari Hanazono, a fifteen year old girl who has managed to make her way into one of the most prestigious high schools around through sheer determination and ability. She is a classic underdog figure, being someone who comes from a modest background; she’s the daughter of a carpenter and the product of generations of festival lovers and something of an underdog. Her only goal in attending the high school where she’s currently at is to beat her long time rival, Kei Takashima, son of the president of the Takashima group, it is her driving goal.
So where does the Special A come from in title? What’s that all about I hear you ask, well it seems that in this school, Hakusenkan High, there students are organised into groups from B down to F and all the top students from these groups are then put in Group A and then the top seven students from Group A are put into Special A, they are the best of the best. Being in Special A entitles them to special privileges, their own specific area on the campus called the Paradise on Campus and a unique uniform to set them apart from the other students at the high school. Most of the time the various members of Special A are usually goofing off, they very rarely attend class in fact Hikari is the only one who ever regularly shows up for lessons. Now you might think that this is all down to the others being spoilt rotten brats who have no brains but huge bank balances – such is not the case, they are all very smart, smart enough to maintain the position that they have achieved.
Of with her rival, Kei, ranked number 1 amongst the students and her own ranking being number 2 Hikari is determined not so much to show up her other friends but to beat Kei, even only once, to prove her worth. All down to the fact that as a young kid she challenged the young Takashima to a wrestling bout and suffered her very first loss and her first humiliation. This memory has burnt in her like an eternal flame and given her the impetus to continually seek to improve herself and hopefully beat her rival, coupled with her parent’s financial aid she has been able to keep in touch with the seemingly aloof and unflappable Kei down through the years right up till now.
This manga series is very much organised along a slice of life style format with each chapter covering some particular incident or event that occurs to the seven students of Special A, usually Hikari is the primary protagonist although as the series flows certain other characters such as Akira Toudou, Ryu Tsuji or Tadashi Karino take centre stage for a chapter or two. Its probably the best format to use in this particular series as it means the series itself is in no danger of ending up becoming stale or dare I say it boring. The great irony about it all is that Hikari has in one particular way managed to defeat Kei, and she doesn’t even realise it, which makes the entire situation all that more funny in some regards. It seems that Kei is very much besotted with Hikari, so much so that everyone else around seems to cotton on to the fact except the object of his affections, even when she is told point blank by a childhood acquaintance of her rival. She just can’t accept the possibility; it seems so bizarre, so surreal, it couldn’t have any basis in rational fact or truth. But her own perceptions have been blinded slightly by her long time rivalry with Takashima that she’s unable to see that some of his actions and ribbing may have a different side to them. Or that even her own feelings may have some deeper significance…
At the end of the day it was a real pleasure to read Special A, it certainly provided some much needed escapism from the Trade Practices Act, Balance Day Adjustments, the Business Cycle and major players in the Australian Financial Sector. When you read something that is able to take your mind from the troubles and woes in your everyday life or even just provide you with some moments of quality enjoyment then frankly to my opinion that particular work has been very well written and worthy of praise. Special A by Maki Minami fits that concept nicely…
Story & Art by: Maki Minami
English Adaptation: Amanda Hubbard
Translation: JN Productions
Touch up Art & Lettering: Rina Mapa
Design: Izumi Hirayama
Cost: AU $15.18
There is a classic line in Megatokyo volume 1 that one of the main characters Piro says whilst browsing in a local bookstore, something to the effect that shojo (girl) manga has always helped him find a solution to any crisis he is currently involved with at any given point in time, its an inspiration. The other day I had some time off from the hustle and bustle that is Certificate IV Financial Services (Accounting) and I was looking for something to read, something that had nothing whatsoever to do with business law, accounting, bookkeeping, economics or anything to do with financial services in general. Not that I am saying these are horrible subjects, but they are not something I want to be involved in 24/7, you just have to unwind now and then. And so after wandering the stacks like Banquo’s ghost I finally came across this particular work by Maki Minami.
So where does the Special A come from in title? What’s that all about I hear you ask, well it seems that in this school, Hakusenkan High, there students are organised into groups from B down to F and all the top students from these groups are then put in Group A and then the top seven students from Group A are put into Special A, they are the best of the best. Being in Special A entitles them to special privileges, their own specific area on the campus called the Paradise on Campus and a unique uniform to set them apart from the other students at the high school. Most of the time the various members of Special A are usually goofing off, they very rarely attend class in fact Hikari is the only one who ever regularly shows up for lessons. Now you might think that this is all down to the others being spoilt rotten brats who have no brains but huge bank balances – such is not the case, they are all very smart, smart enough to maintain the position that they have achieved.
Of with her rival, Kei, ranked number 1 amongst the students and her own ranking being number 2 Hikari is determined not so much to show up her other friends but to beat Kei, even only once, to prove her worth. All down to the fact that as a young kid she challenged the young Takashima to a wrestling bout and suffered her very first loss and her first humiliation. This memory has burnt in her like an eternal flame and given her the impetus to continually seek to improve herself and hopefully beat her rival, coupled with her parent’s financial aid she has been able to keep in touch with the seemingly aloof and unflappable Kei down through the years right up till now.
This manga series is very much organised along a slice of life style format with each chapter covering some particular incident or event that occurs to the seven students of Special A, usually Hikari is the primary protagonist although as the series flows certain other characters such as Akira Toudou, Ryu Tsuji or Tadashi Karino take centre stage for a chapter or two. Its probably the best format to use in this particular series as it means the series itself is in no danger of ending up becoming stale or dare I say it boring. The great irony about it all is that Hikari has in one particular way managed to defeat Kei, and she doesn’t even realise it, which makes the entire situation all that more funny in some regards. It seems that Kei is very much besotted with Hikari, so much so that everyone else around seems to cotton on to the fact except the object of his affections, even when she is told point blank by a childhood acquaintance of her rival. She just can’t accept the possibility; it seems so bizarre, so surreal, it couldn’t have any basis in rational fact or truth. But her own perceptions have been blinded slightly by her long time rivalry with Takashima that she’s unable to see that some of his actions and ribbing may have a different side to them. Or that even her own feelings may have some deeper significance…
At the end of the day it was a real pleasure to read Special A, it certainly provided some much needed escapism from the Trade Practices Act, Balance Day Adjustments, the Business Cycle and major players in the Australian Financial Sector. When you read something that is able to take your mind from the troubles and woes in your everyday life or even just provide you with some moments of quality enjoyment then frankly to my opinion that particular work has been very well written and worthy of praise. Special A by Maki Minami fits that concept nicely…
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