Manga Review: SCHOOL JUDGMENT Volume 3

SCHOOL JUDGMENT, VOL. 3
VIZ MEDIA– @VIZMedia

STORY: Nobuaki Enoki
ART: Takeshi Obata
TRANSLATION: Mari Morimoto
LETTERS: James Gaubatz
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8568-0; paperback, (June 2016); Rated “T” for “Teen”
216pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

School Judgment: Gakkyu Hottei is a shonen manga / courtroom drama set in an elementary school classroom.  This manga was published in the pages of Japan's Weekly Shonen Jump and was written by Nobuaki Enoki and drawn by Takeshi Obata (Death Note).

School Judgment focuses on the two new transfer students who enroll at Tenbin Elementary School in Himawari City.  Both students become members of Class 6-3, and both are lawyers.  The first is Pine Hanzuki, and while she may be cute, she is a ruthless prosecutor.  The next is Abaku Inugami; he is a superb defense attorney, and his hobby is “ronpa.”  Here, all quarrels bypass the teachers and are settled by some of the best lawyers in the country, who just so happen to be elementary school students.

As School Judgment: Gakkyu Hottei, Vol. 3 (entitled Civil Trial Arc; Chapters 17 to 21 to Finale) opens, Tento Nanahoshi is in trouble again.  He was Abaku's first defense client at Tenbin.  Now, Tento is charged with the attempted murder of fellow classmate, Reiko Shiratori, and ultimate student prosecutor, Yui Kijima, is determined to put Tento away for a long time.

Abaku, however, believes that this case involves more than what initially seems obvious.  This trial, or classroom session, could solve the mystery of the “Red Ogre.”  Now, Tento, Kotaro Sarutobi (fellow attorney), and Yui can learn who killed their classmates at their old school.

[This volume includes two School Judgment one-shots.]

The School Judgment: Gakkyu Hottei manga has come to an end.  On a few occasions, I found the series a bit tedious, but I thought the series could run for awhile.  After all, kids are always up to no-good.  Besides this series is drawn by Takeshi Obata, an artist known for some truly unique manga, especially Bakuman。and Death Note, and I always want more of him.

School Judgment: Gakkyu Hottei Volume 3 offers a satisfying conclusion, in so much as it answers questions about the characters' pasts.  I have to say that I am impressed at how writer Nobuaki Enoki and artist Takeshi Obata can draw out the suspense, making several characters seem like bad guys when they really are not.  It's a red herring holiday.  It is a shame though, that Pine Hanzuki is pushed into the background these final chapters.

The final volume also gives readers a chance to see the early manga from which this series was born.  Still, School Judgment could have judged at least a few more volumes.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Manga Review: SCHOOL JUDGMENT Volume 1

SCHOOL JUDGMENT, VOL. 1
VIZ MEDIA– @VIZMedia

STORY: Nobuaki Enoki
ART: Takeshi Obata
TRANSLATION: Mari Morimoto
LETTERS: James Gaubatz
ISBN: 978-1-4215-8566-6; paperback, (February 2016); Rated “T” for “Teen”
200pp, B&W, $9.99 U.S., $12.99 CAN, £6.99 UK

School Judgment: Gakkyu Hottei is a manga published in Japan's Weekly Shonen Jump.  This shonen manga series is written by Nobuaki Enoki and drawn by Takeshi Obata.  The series is a comedic courtroom drama set in an elementary school classroom.

School Judgment: Gakkyu Hottei, Vol. 1 (entitled The Suzuki Murder and Dismemberment Case; Chapters 1 to 7) opens at Tenbin Elementary School in Himawari City.  Class 6-3 has two new transfer students and both are lawyers.  The first is Pine Hanzuki, and while she may be cute, she is a ruthless prosecutor.  The next is Abaku Inugami; he is a superb defense attorney, and his hobby is “ronpa.”

Now, “Pine-Chan” and Inugami will face off in a “Classroom Arbitration Session,” which is essentially a court session.  Fellow sixth grader, Tento Nanahoshi, has been accused of killing and dismembering a beloved 6-3 class pet, Suzuki the mackerel.  There is damning evidence that Tento is guilty, but Inugami knows there is more to the evidence than is obvious.

Takeshi Obata is known as the artist of some truly unique manga, especially Bakuman。and Death Note, his collaborations with writer, Tsugumi Ohba.  Apparently, Obata is hugely respected and Nobuaki Enoki refers to him as the “God of Drawing” and “Walking Artistic Skill,” which may also be how others refer to Obata.

School Judgment: Gakkyu Hottei Volume 1 is a little weird, but it is surprisingly entertaining.  There are three trials or “Classroom Arbitration Sessions” and the start of a fourth, and while they are entertaining, they all seem a bit contrived.  I think that that the strength of the series will be in the secrets that many of the character hide.  The trials will be the hook, but the characters' personalities and motivations may be what make the trials seem less contrived as the series goes on.  I am curious to see where this goes.

Story concerns aside, Takeshi Obata proves to be a “God of Drawing,” as usual.  His page layouts, character designs, and compositions are impressive, inspiring, and beautiful.  I'd submit to School Judgment just for him.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.