Vitamin (SUENOBU Keiko)

I have never seen such a poignant story drawn in only 3 chapters before! I agree with the person that said Suenobu must have experienced some bullying to have written this kind of stuff. There have been manga that touched on the subject of ijime, but none as mercilessly as Vitamin has (to the point that it was a little off-putting). This is the kind of stuff that causes kids in school to go crazy and commit suicide; its not something you can laugh off and forgive/forget.

TBH, if anyone has read GTO, I never liked the character development for Yoshikawa. Whatever drives a person to suicide is not something one can surpass so easily and then forget. If the person can overcome it, they are at least a lot stronger for it, like Sawako (and not like Yoshikawa).

But even more than a story about bullying, I think this is a story about discovering your true self. As cliched as it sounds, not a lot of people can do it and not a lot of manga can portray it.

Unlike other readers, I'm really glad that the mangaka ended the story and did not address the consequences that Sawako's boyfriend and classmates might have faced. Is the story about revenge? No. Sawako is truly happy with herself and that's the best ending I've seen in a long time.

... Last updated 16 years ago

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Incredible

by gwen68
12 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

This manga nearly made me cry, and I DON'T ever cry at manga. I actually really liked the way it ended, sort of open-ended, because it gives the reader the chance to imagine their own story of what happened to her after that. I like to think she was successful. This was a really inspiring manga, and although I have never been bullied, I know how vulnerable it can make somebody feel to have their body touched in that way, even with clothes on, and I can't imagine how it would make me feel to be bullied like she was. I loved how she just got so much stronger by the end, and how she made up with her mother. There was so much character development in such a short story, it just makes me realize how good these mangaka can get. This, to me, even compared with short story by Stephen King (but with a happier ending) in the level of brutal honesty about how she was bullied. Really great manga.

... Last updated 12 years ago

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amazing

by windshadow
15 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

Beautifully written. How can something of only 3 chapters be so astoundingly powerful?

Vitamin delivers in a gorgeous manner the despicable nature of people and how bullying spirals. itsumomisora has written a wonderful review on it and sums up some of what i would like to mention. Things like how it's about her overcoming it more than a personal vendetta issue is something that added to the appeal of this manga. It's a very personal retelling, and if you were a victim of such bullying, i doubt you'll want to have "follow-ups" on the lives of those who used to bully you.

Also, near the end, when her mother mentions about the vitamins she was taking only to realise it wasnt, it helped to add another touch of realistic portrayal of situation. Her mother not knowing they were gastric medication despite being back on good terms with her daughter just shows how despite everything much more needs to be done to really understand someone.

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Really good

by souless_cat
16 years ago

Rating: N/A

From a person who was bullied before by my whole class and alienated in middle school, this manga brought those memories back. Sometimes reading this made me cry, and it shows how young people bully others. I really recommended people to read this.

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Pretty Good

by brimac13
16 years ago

Rating: 8.0 / 10.0

Good art with an interesting plot line. Despite its length, Suenobu-san does an amazing job of conveying a story with actual depth (a difficult thing to do with only three chapters).

I like this and I've read it a few times, but I've always wanted to see the reactions of her (former) classmates when they read the manga and see their own horrible deeds brought to light. I'd really love to see their parent's reactions. I guess I'm a bit of a vindictive person.

(I think I might be the only person commenting here who didn't cry over it...)

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Amazing

by deelink
16 years ago

Rating: N/A

How does Suenobu-sensei do it? She manages to fit in so many emotions and themes in 3 chapters? It's simply amazing. I guess it's like one simple vitamin pill that contains 30 vitamins and minerals, how do they do THAT? Either way it was a great read. Never mind my stupid analogy.

For me, the moral of the story is: Success is always the best revenge!

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I'm usually not a crybaby but...

by Merlerna
18 years ago

Rating: 8.0 / 10.0

I admit it, this is one of the few mangas that made me cry. I can't believe how surreal this manga was. I love the ending.

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oohh...so touching!

by angelfire_aja
15 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

this one of the best that a shoujo can offer...

i can't believe I just read it now..!!

I RECOMMEND you read it!!

the story is SUPER nice!

i agree..it's "astoundingly POWERFUL"
I'm sure this will be one of my most remembered manga. It sure made me cry and will forever leave me a mark.

don't let this chance pass. READ IT!

... Last updated 15 years ago

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Touching

by MissRaw
16 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

This manga is moving. As an American, I don't understand the bullying in Japan, but I can imagine it is 10x's worst compared to America, as the bullying has been portrayed many times in manga.

It made me cry. My only complaint is that they never talked about her ex-boyfriend anymore, and I felt it wasn't completely concluded. Did her boyfriend even felt sorry? I mean, he caused all of this problem, and suddenly disappeared from the manga.

All and all, this was a good read.

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Lets just say;

by Kerirae
17 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

I love this manga. I seriously love it. It is so realistic, and scary. Shit, if i was that girl i'd probably masacre everyone. Seriously. But i really recommend this to anyone and everyone. Well, not little kids. But this is such a good manga. The art work is good too.

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