Real, Volume 1 Book

Lately, everything has been going wrong for 18-year-old Nomiya. He's been expelled from school, he's struggling with guilt over his involvement in a motorcycle accident that left a girl disabled, and worst of all, he was kicked off the basketball team. Basketball was his life, and without it he feels aimless and depressed.

While visiting the hospital one day, he hears the sound of dribbling from a nearby court and goes to check it out, only to discover Kiyoharu - a guy whose passion for basketball and competitive nature rivals Nomiya's own...and who happens to be in a wheelchair. During the ensuing pick-up games and grudge matches, polite wheelchair basketball games and down-and-dirty foul fests, the two form an unlikely alliance that's driven as much by competition as friendship.

Real is lot more mature and realistic (in both story and art) than most manga. The artwork is very impressive, the story is unexpected and can be appreciated even by non- sports fans, and it's great to see a character of color and a person with a disability in the two lead roles. There is one scene of full-frontal male nudity, but it's not gratuitous, and it shouldn't stop anyone from recommending this to basketball fans, teenage guys, people who like realistic graphic novels, and/or anyone who is looking for for a unique read.