Blue Giant

Blue Giant is pretty outstanding. Dai's story is only a dream to most, finding a loving passion and take it to the extreme, to challenge the best of the best. Dai's passion for jazz is realistic and emotional that it keeps me invested even when he fails and makes his successes that much more intriguing.

Blue Giant's art is not the most breathtaking it does lack in certain departments sometimes the characters themselves. Although the author, Ishizuka Shinichi, does a fantastic job of expressing Dai's music with harsh lines, character reactions, and Dai's expressions and feelings. The characters especially the side characters are amazing. The best character has to be Yui, Dai's instructor, he's extremely blunt and rude but his intentions are goodwill to help Dai.


Overall I found Blue Giant to be similar in both story and enjoyment to the movie Whiplash. I have high hopes for this manga.

Creating a manga about music is perhaps one of the most difficult tasks for any artist. After all, mangas are seen, not heard. Which is why the music itself is often downplayed, while the appeal of these types of mangas is to see how music can affect people and their life.

With all that said, blue giant still does a terrific job at depicting jazz music, it often spends pages or even an entire chapter depicting a performance. With thick line works emphasizing the intensity. And a great focus on both the performer and the audience's face and body parts to show us the power of music. Although we can't hear anything, we can imagine it.

The main character, Dai Miyamoto is very simple. He felt in love with jazz and aim to be the greatest jazz musician in the world. Simplicity, however, doesn't mean bad. Although he can come across as being naive for how optimistic he is, it's that same quality that I think a lot of people can sympathize with. People probably wouldn't know the magic of jazz and the point of playing saxophone for hours in the snow, but people will understand his drive and his love for the art.

If I have to be honest, throwing away the topic of jazz, this manga is not really special. The art is above average, the character designs are non-inspiring, and the story is just a cliche came-of-age tale. So why did I give it a 10?

Whenever I see Dai practicing beside the river, I always think back to myself. How I once had a wild dream and worked hard for it. Just like many others, I had to give up due to reality. Yet here's a person who picks himself up no matter how many times he falls. A boy who's persistent about his goals. That drive that is communicated to me is perhaps the reason I fell so in love with this manga.

If you are as lost as I am, not knowing what the goal of your life is and living the same minimal routine. Then blue giant might be the manga that reminds you what putting your blood, sweat, and tears into something was like.

Like most coming of age mangas, this story starts with a highschool student. His name is Miyamoto Dai. Dai plays basketball sincerely and for fun, but he knows that this cannot be his future. He knows this is not the passion of his life. One day Dai listens to a Jazz concert and realises, this is what he wants to do. And his brother buys him a saxophone and Dai goes to the riverside and starts playing. With this beginning, I was already hooked, and as the story progressed so did my love for it.

Story:
Simple story, boy falls in love with Jazz, and keeps playing though rain, heat, snow, fear, criticism and self doubt. He loves his saxophone.

Art:
The art is good, especially the intricate sketches of the shiny instruments.

Characters:
Dai is the main character and he is well crafted. He has a stable head, is kind, and wildly ambitions as far as his Jazz if concerned. Other characters like his friends, brother, etc are also well crafted.

Enjoyment:
Highly enjoyable! I read the entire 20 chapters scanlated online in one sitting. Can't wait for more chapters.

I was shocked to see such a great manga with no reviews, then I realized that only a few chapters have been scanlated. It does not matter, just read it. You'll love it.