Azumanga Daioh Highly recommended

Publisher
ADV Manga
Writer
Kiyohiko Azuma
Artist
Kiyohiko Azuma
Country of origin
Japan
Length
4 volumes
Year
2000

Azumanga Daioh GN 3

By David Rasmussen
28th Oct 04

Publisher - ADVManga
Age - Teen (13+)
Published in Japan (2001)
By Kiyohiko Azuma
ADVManga Staff
Translator - Javier Lopez
ADVManga Translation Staff - Kay Bertrand, Amy Forsyth, Brendan Frayne and Eiko McGregor
Publishing Editor - Susan Itin
Assistant Editor - Margaret Scharold

Graphic Novel 3
Three years of the life of High School class 03, now into it's second year.
We've met the cast, and grown quite attached to them all.
Chiyo-chan, Osaka, Yomi and Tomo, Sakaki-san, Kaorin, Kagura (who joined at the start of year 2 as a regular member of the cast), and teachers Miss Yukari and Miss Kurosawa.
But now we draw closer to Year 3, and the end.

As the book begins summer vacation has just wrapped, and we just went through the second trip to Chiyo-chan's summer home (this time adding Kagura to the list of the invited).
Highlights of the book include...

Sports Fest Part 2 - Now that Kagura is on Miss Yukari's side it seems there's no real challenge to the sports festival. Still there is lots of things going on as Chiyo-chan quests for an "idiot" in the scavenger hunt, Osaka takes on the obstacle course, and Kaorin is teamed up with Sakaki for the three legged race.

Culture Fest Part 2 - Speaking of repeats we also experience the return of the Culture Festival, and once again a choice must be made as to what Class 203 will be doing this year.
If you liked the first Culture Fest, you'll definitely like the antics now, especially now that they got a mascot costume this time made that fits Chiyo-chan like a glove.

The Return of "Dad" - More appearances by "Chiyo-chan's father"... the strange alien cat that only a guy like Mulder could love. This time out it's "Dad" as Santa Claus, "Dad" versus kidnappers and Sakaki's second "New Year's Dream" seen in Episode 8 of the Anime series.

Chiyo-chan turns 12 - Once again it's another birthday for Chiyo-chan, and it's another party!

Yomi Goes Traveling - Yomi takes a trip to Hokkaido. They've been mentioning Hokkaido on and off, but this is the first time someone travels there. Expect a few disgruntled cast after this is revealed. Ah, the rich food eaten ... including a meal with the word Khan in it... which doesn't mean I'm going to make a Ricardo Montalban nod here... better not if I knew better. Oh-kay. Moving on.

Anyway all this and much more await you as we end Year 2 and enter the third and final year, the Senior year. Anyway you know how good Azumanga Daioh is so you will be buying this.

Otherwise we'll have Tomo-chan push this button and kill Chiyo-ch... no, no, wait until AFTER I say before you push the... oh, forget it, it's all a dream.
Let's break this down now.

Azumanga Daioh Breakdown the 3rd
What's Hot? - This is hot. When all those people and reviewers praise this series they know what they're talking about. It is one of the best reads I ever had, and one of the best Animes I've ever watched.
This series, run in four panel skits similar to newspaper strips (Peanuts, Calvin & Hobbes, Garfield, etc) is a slice of life, funny, thought provoking, heartfelt, warm and fuzzy guiltless pleasure to own and read.
It is highly recommended from me to you. Pick all four Volumes up for your collection ASAP!

What's Not? - Nothing... oh-kay. The fact that this has to end. A great series and it has to be so short, only four Graphic Novels long... depressing, but at least it was good while it lasted.

Moments to Remember?
Way too many to mention here. Once again the whole book is memorable.

What to Ignore?
Nothing. You can't ignore this. It's all good, as I said before, so you can't ignore it.

Overall?
Touted by some as the "Seinfeld" of Anime/Manga, this series that seemingly is "something about nothing", but in fact is a beautiful slice of life story from the "battleground" of high school life, is well worth the time and effort to locate for your collection. A splendid manga that I can't praise often enough.
And one that I can't tell you often enough that you must have. A great read.

-- David Rasmussen 28th Oct 04