All about I'll by: Asada Hiroyuki

I was first introduced to I'll by EA who is totally cool (though she is a Yuki fan). From the very first images, I was pulled in right away. Not only are there cute boys everywhere but what got me was the humor (damn, this story is hilarious!)and it's focus on basketball. My favorite sport next to football. When I was in high school, I was totally obsessed with basketball. Watching every single game and watching ESPN almost 24/7. Especially the shows, Basketball Tonight and Sportscenter. Rich Eisen and Stuart Scott are the coolest sports anchors ever. They made me want to be a sports anchor. Actually, basketball has been part of me since the day I was born. When I was still picking a University to go to... My first choice was University of Arizona. Why? Because not only do they have a great college basketball team but because one of my favorite players, Damon Staudamire played there and I wanted to be there too (I was crazy, you know). About 12 years ago, my current University was the greatest college basketball team around. Too bad, they're not at all great anymore, when I'm there you know? Ahhh! Maybe someday. But anyway... I'm getting off subject here... so where was I?

The story of I'll, began in 1996 and is published in Monthly Shonen Jump and Shueisha. A very popular manga I should add especially to girls (well, of course! Who couldn't resist a bunch of cute guys playing basketball?). I"ll, which is known also as Generation Basket in the French and other European translations, is a basketball story that is focused around hot tempered, selfish, anti-social, Tachibana Akane who almost everyone labels as "That Idiot" and Hiiragi Hitonari who is a little more serious and comes from a great basketball background. Their high school is called Kouzu. A school, where basetball isn't a major focus sport and is only a club. Due to Akane and Hitonari being there and having weirdo and crazy players joining them... like Harumoto "Mustache Boy" Akihito, "Temporary Captain" Kanemoto Koji (who usually gets used by Coach Minefuji to make her tea), the real captain Yamazaki Yoshiki and Coach Minefuji Kyoko who is bold and wears provocative clothing, the basketball club is dubbed CKBC aka Crazy Kouzu Basketball Club

I'll is a story about all of these characters, especially Akane and Hitonari, working together... to achieve what they want. These two had both quit basketball before they got into high school because of different reasons but joined the club at Kouzu. Akane joined just for the hell of it and just wants to beat Hitonari one day. Hitonari joined because he was "challenged" and he wanted to prove to his legendary father and brother that he can be a basketball player on his own. He does not want to get compared. Although Akane may come off as an "idiot, anti-social and self-centered" guy, he is very charming in his own way and hilarious. Definately the comic relief.

Though he tries to hide it and hides it well with a sort of arrogant attitude and with a mouth ready for insults, Akane is definately one guy that cares a lot about the people around him. He knows your feelings very well. Hitonari even mentioned that though Akane is a bit of a moron at times, his words, are very honest and they hit you right in the heart. Akane, despite his very "robust" character hides his troubles very well, especially his past, which involves the death of his father.

A lot of the characters of I'll, have troubled pasts. The "temporary captain" and nice guy of the bunch, Kanemoto, for example grieves for his first ever love that died just a year before... However, because of the CKBC... the lives of these characters begin to find happiness and many of them do begin to find "life" again. It's a little hard to explain. In many of the I'll manga... after all the funny stuff and the basketball games and the various happenings of the life and times of Tachibana Akane and friends... Asada, puts in an extra chapter that recalls a sort of memory from the past of the main characters. Many of these "memories" are very sweet and touching. Honestly... it's really touching especially when they think about their childhood memories, like when Sumire (Akane's childhood friend who is in love with him) remembered how, after dropping her ice candy on the ground, she started to cry and Akane's there giving her his own. That means a lot considering it's Akane and his food. THEN, there are Omake pages where Asada draws himself and his friends chibi style and they go on these adventures which will crack you up! You don't even need to know Japanese for you to laugh over it. I love how he draws those chibis with the big heads and the little body... and not only that, they're still in fashion too. Ahhh I'm rambling now aren't I?

I'll just say that I love the character of Akane. He is so funny, very honest and out there. Yes, he can be a moron, he is quick tempered, and clueless but when it comes down to it, like I have mentioned before... he is a great guy. He cares a lot. He just doesn't like to show it and is very nonchalant about it. I also like the friendship between him and Hitonari and how they insult each other to show that they like each other's company. Not that they would ever admit to enjoying each others company, much less liking each other (and no... it will never be a yaoi relationship if you're thinking along those lines @_@) but it's very nice to see their friendship grow.

I'll is one fine manga with a great story line, it's realistic, the characters are all great looking and have personalities that are very different but the same... if that makes sense. It's also one of the few sports manga that goes deeper in character developement. Of course, I also have to mention that this is one story where you can't help looking at all the drool worthy boys everywhere. Asada knows how to make his guys hot! And they don't look like those shoujo girly boys either you know so that's a plus. The humor is off the walls and mad and it's just real. Or how do players say it? It's got game, baby!

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