Shonen Jump’sSlam Dunkby thelegendary Takehiko Inouewill always be a classic, and its undeniable legacy is most likely why the manga publisher just debuted a new series calledEmbers, clearly inspired by Inoue’s work. Before going further, I must preface what I’m about to say by mentioning that I am in no way a sports manga enthusiast. The only sports series that I have followed faithfully over the years isthe kingHajime No Ippo. I haven’t readHaikyuu!!and I gave up on the anime hitBlue Lock.
Moreover, while I very much respect Inoue, I am mostly a fan of hisVagabondmasterpiece. In fact, it’s one of the only manga I own in its entirety. So, my forthcoming praise ofEmbersin relation toSlam Dunkmostly comes from someone who respects the latter series, but who is in no way a die-hard fan. However,Slam Dunkis such an iconic series that even a casual sports manga fan like me recognizes its impact and influence on the industry.
Embers' Combination of Delinquents and Sports Feels Like the Next Slam Dunk
Story by Kei Kurumazaki and art by Sotaro Nishii
The reason why I feel likeEmbersis influenced bySlam Dunkis that both stories are abouta delinquent who initially doesn’t care about the sportthat the manga is based on, but begrudgingly gives it a shotbecause of another character’s influence on them. Each story easily conveys the inevitable appeal of and impact that their respective sport has on the protagonist, because the hero eventually comes to not just love but finds meaning in playing it. As a result, they pursue the sport for themselves rather than the other person who gave them the initial push.
In the case ofSlam Dunk, the delinquent Hanamichi Sakuragi eventually starts playing basketball because someone he likes, who just so happens to be the first girl to not be repulsed by him, suggests he should give the sport a try. InEmbersby story writer Kei Kurumazaki and artist Sotaro Nishii, the delinquent is Haitani, and the sport he gets introduced to is soccer. But rather than a beautiful girl pushing him,it’s an older male teacher who tries to channel Haitani’s angerand need to fight into playing a sport instead.
Embers Puts More Emphasis on Delinquency Than Slam Dunk Does Initially
Slam Dunk Is More Romantically Driven
As someone who feels that the most powerful relationships in any story are romantically driven, it would make sense that the basic premise ofSlam Dunkwould appeal to me. Friendship can only push a character so far, and every person eventually prioritizes a romantic partner over their friends. It’s also crucial to note how Inoue masterfully injects additional nuance into Hanamichi’s situation to fuel his motivations further. It’s stunning, and appropriate, howhis negative perception of basketball is influenced by a former girlfriend, which is critical when understanding how his present-day actions are motivated by a girl.
Shonen Jump desperately needs another hit on its hands, andEmbersdefinitely has the ability to fill that void.
So far,Embershasn’t introduced any character who would influence Haitani romantically, but this new series succeeds byemphasizing Haitani’s status as a problem childwho most adults have already given up on. His situation is even more dire and possibly ridiculous because he just recently transferred to this new school, and yet he’s already been labeled a lost cause. Although Hanamichi’s status as a delinquent is important inSlam Dunk, it’s not as direct or as obvious as Haitani inEmbers.
The fact that a teacher goes out of his way to try and help Haitani focus on something other than fighting so he can have a future is truly heartwarming and emotional. The impact this dynamic has on me is especially noteworthy because of my overall preference for romance in anime. Even thoughSlam Dunkis driven a great deal by romance and there is none so far inEmbers, I feel like I’m more emotionally invested in this new series than I was when I initially readSlam Dunk, and that should be a testament toEmbers' effectiveness.
Truth be told, I actually feel like the introduction of a love interest would sully the messaging inEmbers' first chapter. Of course, I’m not saying that romance wouldn’t be welcome in later chapters and would definitely add some nuance to the story. But, right now, I feel likeEmbersis leveraging Haitani’s status as a delinquent much more effectively thanSlam Dunkdoes initially because of its uniquely obvious, yet brilliant angle.
Even beyond the teacher’s efforts to help Haitani grow as a person, the first chapter does an exceptional job of capturing the camaraderie and support from Haitani’s gang, as they try to help their fellow delinquent pursue his new dream.
Embers Has Yet to Get into Soccer as Intensely as Most Sports Manga
The Best Is Yet to Come
Sports manga enthusiasts will undoubtedly feel as though the opening chapter doesn’t fully leverage the best aspects of the genre by honing in on certain techniques in ways that only sports manga can do. While there are moments that introduce this dynamic,Emberschapter #1 clearly focuses on fleshing out the main premise to get the plot started.
While I’m excited to see howEmberslater embraces this mode of storytelling, I am glad that the manga didn’t prioritize it in the first chapter, since Haitani’s background is so much more important for the reasons I just mentioned. That said, Haitani already has a soccer rival, andhis rivalry is already more pronounced in our minds as readers, since Haitani lost against him already. We’re therefore all naturally hungering for a rematch so Haitani can prove himself.
Embers Is an Important New Entry for Shonen Jump’s Future
Shonen Jump Is Plagued by a Lack of Hits
Embersalso comes at a pivotal moment for Shonen Jump. Many big-name series have ended, likeMy Hero AcademiaandJujutsu Kaisen, while others are in their final sagas, includingOne Piece.Shonen Jump’s precarious situationis also partly self-inflicted. The imprint has a controversial policy that if a new series isn’t an instantaneous hit, then it is canceled, to quickly make way for another manga to prove itself. As a result, there are more newer series than there are mainstays, which is exacerbated by these other titles all ending in quick succession.
Although the somewhat newerKagurabachiis the publisher’s next big star,Shonen Jumpdesperately needs another hit on its hands, andEmbersdefinitely has the ability to fill that void, since it’s not only building on but, I feel, possibly improving upon the legacy and undeniable brilliance ofSlam Dunk.
