Delinquents is a subgenre of manga that deals with the shenanigans of teens rebelling with the intent of finding their purpose in life. While not so popular in the medium of anime, it is one of the most recognisable, if not popular genres of manga, with several magazines across different demographics dabbling with them, aiming to find the next hit. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that 2 of the 3 most popular manga running during Shounen Jump’s golden age, happened to have delinquent leads in it. And while the halcyon days are now far behind (usually seen to be somewhere between the late 1980s and 90s), modern works such as Beelzebub and Tokyo Revengers forward the cause of these brash and passionate brats and gals.
And while a lot of these series often resort to an over-the-top testosterone approach in terms of execution, which is quite entertaining in its own way, don’t be surprised to find series which tackle these rebels in a much more humane and subtle way. The focus of our review today is one such series.
Written by Takahashi Tsutomu from 2002 to 2012, this is quite possibly his finest work I’ve read so far. He himself was a former bosozoku, a subculture revolving around customized bikes and rigid social hierarchies (a whole other topic in itself) and his work oozes with a sense of personality and intimacy, which is unlike his other works.
Bakuon Rettou is the story of Takashi Kaze, as he grows into his own as a bosozoku in the Zeros. Growing in somewhat of a dysfunctional family, Takashi is wallowing in indolence as he seeks to find some sort of spark which would move him from this state of stupor. All of this changes when he first discovers the Zeros. A bosozoku gang like any other, their sense of majesty and dignity stupefies him as he finds kids not older than him, conducting themselves with great poise and maturity. Intent on being like the “cool kids”, our impressionable MC joins them as a grunt. The stage is set and it is up to Takashi to deliver the goods.
What then follows is hands down some of the most realistic character growth that can be found in the medium, as we see Takashi grow as an individual with each experience. Each encounter, be it positive or negative only serves to solidify his beliefs and be an example for the younger members of zeros. His initial sense of being a rebel to escape his mundane life transforms into a sense of authority, a will, if you will of what makes him, him. And as we see get to see this metamorphosis unfolding in front of our eyes, the story ends with him passing on the mantle to kids, who were just like him all those years ago.
The story itself plays out in a rather straightforward way for the most part. Takashi navigates from one situation to another and behaves like any other teen placed in such a situation. Where it shines though is in the sense of atmosphere that Tsutomu conjures up. People familiar with his other works should know that he excels at this, but rarely has it felt so poignant as in this work. It could very well be that given his involvement with such groups in the past, there is a sense of authenticity to it which feels incredibly cathartic to us as the readers. And it is in this atmosphere that we find ourselves transported to that place, at that time when bosozoku ruled supreme on the roads of Japan.
Takashi as a lead is quite plain. Born in a broken home and having no opinions of his own, he is far from the usual stereotype that is associated with delinquent leads. But the one thing that is similar is the urge to struggle against the status quo and to grow as an individual. And in this, he is one of the finest delinquent protagonists out there. Not all his choices are satisfying and often tend to be wrong when seen from society’s point of view. But all of these only end up serving to strengthen his convictions as he grows into a more responsible role in the gang, leading to the glorious climax of the manga.
The art of the manga is absolutely gorgeous. I have already touched upon the sense of atmosphere that oozes throughout the manga, but Tsutomu’s sincerity is for all to see. Rarely have I been moved by motorbikes and his mastery of the craft brings these bikes to life. The engines roar loudly, the atmosphere is palpable and the delinquents are ready to leave their mark on history. And this is just some of the incredibly powerful moments that Tsutomu manages to create in his manga.
In this nostalgic and transient piece, we come to the realization that even if one day we grow up and have to move on from the things that defined us, we have a duty to pass on the torch to the next generation, who will struggle in turn. And thus, life goes on! It is with this intent that I write this review, to shed light on a gem of a series, to pass the mantle on to future readers of this work. Oh! And while you are at it, do check out God Speed You! Black Emperor. It is a documentary which sheds light into a Bosozoku group called Black Emperor.
