The artwork is amazing, the characters on the other hand are terrible. I have encountered socially award people and they aren't as stupid as the main character in this manga. The main character has shown zero growth actually he has regressed

The only reason I read it for as long as I did was the artwork.

In the beginning it seems like a typical oblivious and carefree yet highly gifted character angering a hardworking flawed rival. The first chapters WILL seem like the typical - hey I'm so lonely, oh I've found something in life, oh ive angered someone but we're still friends and will help each other grow, enter an ambiguous love interest, club activities where we have fun and grow close together! type story. You know, the type of shounen where all of the other people keep ragging on how gifted and talented and amazing the main character is and the main character is just oblivious about the praise and wants to do his own thing...

But it turns into something much more.

Without giving too much away, keep reading until the time lapse. The story turns from a "I will get better" shounen story to something that becomes much deeper. It becomes a rich story that explores aspects of the human condition.

The protagonist is constantly mentioned as being odd or strange by the other characters, but he is the most relatable to us out of all of them - perhaps revealing a little bit of him in us in the process. He's someone who's had much pain in his life, someone who is innocently good but is constantly thrusted into situations where it is easy to blame him. He didn't ask for someone to commit suicide in front of him - but he is blamed because he could not stop him. He didn't ask for his rival to go nuts because of jealousy - but he is blamed because he elicits these responses in others. He had good intentions in saving the girl, and did something incredibly noble - yet the newspaper journal blows it out of proportion very maliciously and everyone, including the girl, ends up blaming him - the girl blaming him for who she has become. In all these instances we see someone so fragile but well meaning, due to no fault of his own, cause a series of events that turn him into a target of blame. For this reason he is pushed away from society constantly, and as he lacks the social intelligence to understand the situation, he believes their words and further alienates himself.

This alienation allows him to push himself over a passion - climbing - that reminds you of something more like an obsession. He focuses mainly in relying on himself and wanting to be alone in nature, something free of life's complications. However, ironically, this obsession over this solitary pursuit forces him to interact with a team to be able to climb the daunting K2.

During this climb he steps outside of his box and becomes more assertive, telling his friend to abort the mission to be safe, even if it would jeopardize their expedition. He is not given a typical response, but instead is treated surprisingly harshly and is forced to bear a punishment.

However, when you view the situation later you begin to realize that the climb leader is a bit psychotic - he doesn't care about his team, he only cares about climbing. This reveals another ironic situation because the protagonist, someone who you were led to believe should be callous towards his fellow humans due to his sole passion for climbing, is the one that made the judgment call to keep his friend safe despite risking the opportunity to eventually climb K2, his dream. In all circumstances his actions would be noble. Yet due to the situation created by others, he is ostracized.

One must wonder if climbing is a meanless distraction from life's responsibilities, or something that is truly worth doing for him. I guess we'll find out.

... Last updated on November 27th, 2010, 8:54pm

i gotta agree with haruhi_han. the beginning is kinda shounenish, but around ch 30 there's a time skip and i gets far more intense. it reminds me a lot of shamo with all those broken side characters and the main character having some serious issues. quite dark but keeps you turning the pages

... Last updated on November 9th, 2010, 11:05am

in term of art, yeah, no doubt this work is a masterpiece, it puts my feeling on fire, its great art manages to convey all the feeling of the hero deep down to the reader's mind
the story begins quite typical like every other sport manga, as someone below comments that it's not special. But at least keep reading about 30 chapter when the hero makes a great turn in his life, you won't be able to drop it down anymore
And the breathtaking art scenes begins popping out more from chapter 33

... Last updated on September 5th, 2010, 6:35am

This is without a doubt a masterpiece because this manga have everything. It is a perfect and very original drama art is great and this manga is also very informative about climbing . I really was stunned by how interesting manga about mountain climbers can be . I think the reason why it is so good because the story is very deep its not just about climbing its also about how some people are just not meant to live in modern society how they cant find happiness in daily life no meter what they do . I like everything about this manga and i have never seen a protagonist of a manga like him before he is very unique . Oh and i gave 9.5 just because i never give 10 before manga is finished . Oh and yes i agree with yuno19 the begining was lil slow and not all that special but later on it just keeps on getting better

... Last updated on July 27th, 2010, 2:21am

At first i was really excited about this manga but after reading 20 chapters the Main character has turned out to be a weakling that can't lets what others do affect his decisions. to me this manga is ground breaking and i would love it if it only had a stronger main character. I think i'll keep reading it in hopes that it gets better from here on out

after read through the first volume, i deemed this manga follows common boyish sport manga. one genius being introduced to something, easily surpases people expectation, then people start put hope in him (jealous go first though), then the rival appears. oh my, i'm bored with this kind of development. even tough this manga may be taken interesting plot later on, the overly used introductory is a big turn off.

oh, and about the art, the characters' forehead are drawn small. quite strange for me.