Basara 9
Posted: February 25, 2009 Filed under: Basara 9 Comments »YES. The reunion happens here. It isn’t quite what I imagined, but to make up for it, Shuri carries Sarasa into the ocean, dumps her, and then there’s a gloriously shoujo two-page spread of them hugging out in the waves.
I really, really love the art in this series. I believe its vintage is early-mid 90s, and there are certain elements of 90s manga art in it, but I think there is nobody who can draw like Yumi Tamura. I’m not even sure how to describe it… she uses a ton of screentone and just LAYERS of stuff. There’s not a lot of detail, but there’s a lot going on in every panel. Her linework is also insanely intricate and fluid. I don’t think I commented on it before, but I really should have.
The first part of the volume details the political climate in Okinawa, along with a massive plot to turn the country over to Japan in exchange for the opportunity to rule over it. This probably makes the guy setting up said plot one of the eviler characters that have appeared in the series, especially since his brother is such a nice guy. Anyway, this plot involves drugging bulls, and then firing an arrow at the current president in the ensuing chaos. I have to say, the bull thing is a new element to the assassination plots I’ve read.
Shuri sort of gets his second wind when he meets up with Sarasa, too, and Sarasa realizes Okinawa’s society is exactly what she wants to have for Japan. Shuri tries out a few clever tricks and then sails off to battle, Sarasa foils some clever tricks and stays behind to do battle. Their parting this time feels much better, and I think I can deal with the separation. At least for a few volumes.
Clearly there is something very specific I want out of this series. I like it because, while it is an extremely girly romance, there’s also no guarantee that they will be together in the end, which is not very characteristic of most shoujo series I read. They could very well wind up killing each other, which would also be kind of interesting.
Yumi Tamura’s art is fantastic. I think Basara is also when the art was at its peak. I am less fond of 80s Tamura art, and in “Chicago”, “7Seeds”, and “A Cat Mix’s Illusory Tale : Toraji” (that is Tamura’s newest work, and it is just as crazy as the title) the art also goes in a direction which is not quite to my taste. Still, 80s Tamura and post-2000 Tamura art is still way better than what many mangaka churn out.
Don’t forget what Sarasa did for Shuri’s slave-brand!
Shuri and Sarasa do see each other again in Volume 10. Then it’s another long separation.
“I like it because, while it is an extremely girly romance, there’s also no guarantee that they will be together in the end”
It’s a really good thing we are not talking to each other face-to-face, because as one of my friends would say, my face is currently “covered with spoilers”. La la la.
” I like it because, while it is an extremely girly romance, there’s also no guarantee that they will be together in the end, which is not very characteristic of most shoujo series I read. They could very well wind up killing each other, which would also be kind of interesting.”
I like stories like this, too. Ones where it feels the outcome isn’t pre-determined. :)
Also, I too like Tamura’s art. She also draws the cutest babies, and I don’t even like babies!
Oh and I love the quote in this volume -
Shuri : You’re moved by everything.
I know exactly what he’s talking about. I can get like Sarasa and be moved by everything too. Sometimes, when I’m waiting for the bus, I think to myself ‘It’s so amazing that I am standing right here, right now’ in spite of the fact that it’s something I do almost every day.
Another little quote I love which I forgot to mention is from Volume 3 -
Asho : You can’t resist anything you can ride. Horses … ships … women …
Shuri : I’ll fly a plane sooner or later.
There are simply way too many reasons to love Basara. The quotable feast is one of those reasons.
[...] Casey Brienza on vol. 1 of Akihabara@DEEP (Graphic Novel Reporter) Connie on vols. 7, 8, and 9 of Basara (Slightly Biased Manga) Lissa Pattillo on vol. 5 of Black God (Kuriousity) Courtney Kraft [...]
I did like the art in Chicago a lot. I remember being totally blown away by it when I saw it for the first time in Animerica Extra. I was really disappointed that they were putting a no-name series in the magazine, but after one installment I had fallen in love. I’m still a little sad she never really finished it off.
I forgot about that slave-brand scene. I think my gross-out factor overrode any emotional impact that scene may have had. It was really unfortunate that I was reading it and thinking about what that burn must smell like, because it’s a really great scene.
To think of someone’s face covered with spoilers is actually quite funny.
I can’t recall if I’ve seen any babies yet (I assume that will come later), but I sort of like that all her little kids have those little round faces. The scenes with the kids are usually kind of light, so it’s almost like her version of super-deformed gag art. I normally hate that sort of thing, but I like that she can make even that look good.
I missed that one from the third volume. That’s actually pretty funny.
The best volume so far. The reunion of Sarasa and Shuri was very touching. Yeah, I’m finally reading Basara and I’m completely addicted…. ^_^
No shame in being addicted to this series. I read the whole series in about a month, I think, and most of the latter half over one weekend. I couldn’t get enough. My roommate did the same thing.