Manga Review: Grand Blue Chapter 83

Grand Blue went on a short hiatus due to Kenji Inoue’s health issues. It seems that all is well because the series is back with chapter 83! We are delighted to hear of the apparent recovery!

This series was incredibly missed, even if it was only away for a month. Now we are back o the ridiculous drinking, comedy, and fanservice we have come to love. This time, our protagonist Iori gets caught up on a date with Sakurako, who is determined to sleep with him before the date is through. Iori of course wants to sleep with her as well but is hung up on Chisa for some reason.

The date goes as expected. Sakurako is as forward as can be and manages to tease Iori here and there with little glimpses of her intentions. They go rock climbing, drink, and visit an aquarium in what is a hilarious sequence of events as Sakurako makes the best possible plays to get what she wants. The comedy of Grand Blue never misses a beat, and fans of the series will continue to get more of what they love here.

Fans of shipping wars will get tons of ammunition in this chapter too, but unlike most manga, Grand Blue doesn’t exactly tug the reader around in annoying ways. These characters are adults, and while they might not reveal all of their cards to each other, their intentions are clear to the reader. There is almost never a doubt of where the relationships are heading, but that’s okay because the journey is so delightful.

Inoue’s writing is humourous as always, and Kimitake Yoshioka’s art always matches. Hilariously grotesque facial expressions and panel layouts that lend themselves well to the timing of the gags always amplify the comedy. Every face that Iori makes is gold, from his reactions to strong alcohol to his… Reactions to more alcohol. It’s all funny. Of course, some of the fanservice drawn is worthy of eye rolls, though they are often used to highlight Iori’s gaze, as opposed to just arousing the reader for no literary reason.

This is a triumphant return from the short hiatus. Everything that makes Grand Blue easy to love is in this chapter, and I can’t wait to read this series on a regular basis again.