For popular short-timed comic book publishers like Shonen dance While allowing creators to find and grow their audiences, new titles are often dropped before authors can create a suitable ending. However, Seiji Hayashi Ichigoki under control is one of the rare games that was canceled before the time and still “sticks” to the perfect ending.
Fans can often feel when a Shonen Jump series is about to be destroyed by the vibe of the story. When the narrative becomes rushed and confusing – as if the author is trying to get everything they want to say – before ending; Odds are headers were sent to the cancel row. As a result, fans are shown endings that are rushed or abrupt or have an ending that leaves fans stunned, confused, and possibly a bit bitter. However, with Ichigoki’s Under Control, which was released just before its 5th anniversary, fans couldn’t ask for a better ending. Its 19-chapter content tells a complete story – with all the questions answered and nothing left to say. It’s almost as if Hayashi’s original intention for the series was to end it shortly after its debut.
Ichigoki’s wild and crazy style is what saved it in the end
Ichigoki’s Under Control tells the story of childhood friends Kai Ichigoki and Chiisaki Misao who, after being separated in elementary school, reunite in high school after Misao accidentally shrinks herself and asks Ichigoki for help. Later, Ichigoki is killed only to be resurrected as a cyborg that Misao controls. Agreeing to fulfill their dream of entering high school while working to resolve their personal problems, the two encounter many funny and serious situations as they try to reconcile their new lives together.
Naturally, some readers will find the plot of the manga strange, but whether intentionally or by accident, its strangeness is the main reason why Hayashi was able to end it so smoothly. The irony he establishes in the first chapter gives him poetic license to create some of the same weird twists and turns at the end, allowing him to create a perfect ending. That is, once familiar with the peculiarities of the story, readers should not be shocked by the choices Hayashi makes in the plot to end it all at the end. It doesn’t seem like this would work if he chose a more traditional style of storytelling.
Hayashi may be a new manga author, but he’s already in the manga business. Gone are the days when creators had years and vital publisher support to slowly evolve the story and build a world that fans will eventually love. Nowadays, the manga motto is either gaining popularity or being canceled. This is especially true in the case of Shonen dance. With Ichigoki under controlHayashi delivers a complete story with many points that could have been expanded based on audience numbers and popularity to support a longer publishing period.
Ichigoki under control now available from Viz Media.
