In this episode of Bakuman, we now meet more rivals for the upcoming Golden Future Cup. Asides that Nakai is back, now partnered with the cute, Aoki Ko! Asides from that, HYDE finally makes his first appearance as KOOGY’s producer!
First impression on Aoki Ko, if there is one thing I liked about her is that she is one cold character. She doesn’t find the works made by her fellow manga-ka, interesting except for one. That alone defined what she is! As for Nakai in this episode, I find him desperate for Aoki’s attention and I find it stupid. I mean, Nakai, you are just her illustrator, don’t take it to the next level if you are sure if she displays emotional output towards you!
As for the entries in the Golden Future Cup that is not Detective TRAP, they are interesting. Kiyoshi Knight’s art was interesting not sure with the story, according to Aoki herself, it is more seinen than shonen, this would be interesting. As for Colorfusical, the story itself is interesting but as for the art, it was weird.
This episode also formally introduces the viewers to KOOGY, the popular singer in the Bakuman universe and his producer is no other than L’Arc~en~Ciel and VAMPS’ HYDE… well on the manga, they never mentioned who is KOOGY’s producer, so yeah. Anyways, I love the concert scene, which was not scene in the manga to further stress out that he is one talented idol.
About the revelation that in the end that he is Makaino Kouji, it was something. Asides that it caused panic with Fukuda and caused to form Team Fukuda to charge on Shonen Jack’s editorial department, it also shows how KOOGY is not confident with his work because he thinks that fans will vote for his manga since well, it is his manga! To be honest, I find it stupid, it clearly shows how stupid he is in thinking that his fans will vote his manga because it is KOOGY’s work and not because of its story and art! What I am trying to say is, I hate KOOGY but not how he did a cover of VAMP’s song, Get Up (now available for download here!).
Overall, it was one heck of an episode. It started out slow but as the episode progress, the tension and the drama started to rise. For those who read the manga, it covers a half of a chapter and another half of a chapter. They are really planning to end the first season somewhere in chapter 38-41!