Initial D VOL. 4

Rating:
Summary: Vol 1 Ok, but then it goes downhill fast.
Review: I picked up vol 1 out of curiosity, since I had seen all the anime (1st, 2nd, movie, sidestory) and wanted to see how the story was different. Vol 1 is great, and I would recommend that.

However, after vol 2. they americanized the names, which I think was stupid. Also, some of their technical terms for driving (understeer, oversteer, etc) in their glossary are lame. Maybe they need to find somebody who actual understands road racing to help explain some of it.

Last of all, the scale for the map of Gunma prefecture is off by a large margin. It looks like they gave it a 200km (124miles) scale. This is absurd, since it makes Gunma approx maybe 1000+ km (600+ miles) tall and wide. Impossible since Japan isn't even that wide/tall there. I know.. I lived near that area. Guess it was supposed to be 20km.. that would make more sense.

Rating:
Summary: An Insult to Shuichi Shigeno
Review: Not 100% authentic
I don't mind if Tokyopop (TP) rephrase some dialogues, but to totaly butcher the whole idea of the dialogue is unforgivable. TP should also follow through to the idea of not changing names, coz I find that using the original names in the begining and changing their names on the following volumes very ridiculous.
If you are a die hard fan, stick to the anime or buy the import manga... (100% authentic)

Rating:
Summary: americanized, not tokyopopized.
Review: The story and the drawings in the book are top par and all this talk bout the story not being "true" to the real story, it is all bull. the creators of the american version had to make a book that was popular in japan a readable book in america. in tokyo the humor and the slang is different. they had to make the text make sense in english and to our culture.

some humor would make absolutely no sense when translated, or it would get the quick boot by the editors because it was an american pressure point, a la columbine. so some of the text had to be changed. also, who really cares if mogi said she was guilty about her godfather paying so much for her in american culture than in japanese culture. they had to make the text in a japanese culture feel the same in an american culture. to a japanese man, a joke about japanese men being short would fall through just like a japanese joke about american men being tall would. we're not tall to us and they aren't short to them.

above all, the story kicks some major and the drawings are stuff that you would see in a 2 hour portrait. try to get the initial d anime while it is in original japanese language with english subtitles, its most likely "truer" than what is going to be in the american release.

Rating:
Summary: Who cares?
Review: This manga from Shuichi is awesome, on of the best ones i've read. So what the translation is inaccurate, the storyline makes sense and the art work is great. Finally a manga with a realistic view on downhill racing. Every moment of it is exciting and I can't wait for the next volume...