Bakuman is one of the most fascinating manga about manga ever created. Written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata(the creative team behind Death Note), it follows talented artist Moritaka Mashiro and aspiring writer Akito Takagi as they team up to become successful professional manga creators. Rather than focusing on battles or fantasy adventures, the series delves deeply into the competitive world of weekly manga serialisation, editorial relationships, deadlines, rankings and the immense pressure of succeeding in Japan's publishing industry. The story also includes a romantic subplot, with Mashiro striving to achieve his dream before marrying his childhood sweetheart, Azuki Miho.

The artwork is exceptional throughout. Obata's detailed character designs, expressive facial expressions and clean panel layouts make even discussions about publishing contracts and storyboards feel engaging. The manga excels at visually portraying the creative process, from rough sketches to finished pages, whilst also differentiating the styles of the fictional manga created by the characters. Its greatest impact lies in how it demystified the manga industry for readers around the world, offering a rare insider's look at how series are developed, edited, ranked and cancelled. Whilst some readers may find the pacing slower than action-focused series, Bakuman succeeds as both an entertaining coming of age story and a surprisingly educational exploration of artistic ambition. It remains one of the most influential behind the scenes manga ever published and is highly recommended for anyone interested in writing, illustration, publishing or the creative process in general.

A love letter to the manga industry.