Gravitation volume 7
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(quoted from the back of Gravitation volume 7)
Eiri and Shuichi's intense relationship continues to escalate as Bad Luck's record races to the top of the charts--Eiri's coming out party on national TV boosts his popularity, as fans chant, "More-more-more!" But just as everyone is feeling sky high, Hiro announces that he's hanging up his guitar and quitting! Will Shuichi's queer eye for the rock guy convince Hiro to return to the stage? Or is the band finally out of luck?
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Gravitation Volume 7 contains:
Track 27
Track 28
Track 29
Track 30
Track 31
Storyline:
Finally, this is what the series has been waiting for! Gravitation 7 is hilarious from page 1 and is impossible to put down. The series has finally put aside the crazy cooking shows, the weird outbursts, and the silly talk shows and manages to deliver a story worth remembering. The comedy is intense, the drama is heavy, and the foreshadowing makes you scream for more. This is definitely the best volume of Gravitation alongside number 4.
Artwork:
Volume 7 contains the best art from any of the Gravitation volumes available in America (currently 10). The characters have never looked cleaner and they have finally developed a sense of individuality. In previous volumes the characters were obviously still under construction, but now that is no longer the case. The characters have never looked so good, and the character designs truly bring the story together. This volume shouldn't be missed by any Gravitation fan.
Characters:
What a volume! Eiri is finally given the chance to take the spotlight and it will leave any reader demanding more. Never before has a manga character truly connected with me as Eiri did in this volume. The lugubrious atmosphere that dwells in his heart is finally shown and he also proves to Shuichi that he cares for him. On top of that, the other characters manage to balance out the darker side of the story with intense comedy, which provides an extremely memorable experience.
Summary (Warning: May Contain Spoilers)
In track 27, Hiro takes Shuichi over to his place and let's him know that he likes someone that Eiri has taken away from him. At first, Shuichi suspects it is him, but after a few comedic scenes he finds out Hiro is talking about Ayaka. After that misunderstanding Hiro announces that he is quitting Bad Luck and then Shuichi leaves hoping to find comfort from Eiri. Switching scenes, Eiri is starting to realize that he has changed and that everyone has noticed. Not only that, but his novels are starting to sell more sense he came out of the closet on the TV. Around this time, Shuichi comes home and Eiri and Shuichi screw and then Shuichi drops his troubles on Eiri. At the end of the chapter Shuichi tries to think how to persuade Hiro not to quit Bad Luck.
In track 28, Bad Luck is in trouble. While Fujisaki and K are trying to persuade Shuichi it isn't over and that Bad Luck can go on, Shuichi refuses to believe that they can succeed unless Hiro is in the band. The scene then switches focus to Hiro and his brother talking and his brother telling Hiro to grow some balls and go back to Bad Luck. After that, Fujisaki manages to persuade Shuichi that he and Shuichi can continue on, and after going on stage for another concert Shuichi announces the newest band member, Fujisaki (he never was truly part of the band), but he still talks about how Hiro hasn't quit he just needs some time to think. At this time, Hiro is watching the concert and Ayaka comes over and tells Hiro if he goes back to Bad Luck and sells a million CD's she will go on a date with him. Hiro immediately joins Shuichi and Fujisaki on stage and play their hearts out. At the end of the chapter, Eiri and Hiro's brother are talking about how stupid Shuichi and Hiro really are, for only playing so hard when they get to go on dates (Shuichi with Eiri, Hiro with Ayaka).
In track 29, it starts off with Eiri at his psychiatrist talking about his multiple personality disorder with his old self and his cold hearted newer self. Somehow Shuichi brought this out of Eiri, but anyway, Eiri takes his pills and goes to hang out with Tohma. While hanging out with Tohma, they start listening to the radio and find out Shuichi is on a station. The scene then switches over to the radio show with Shuichi, Hiro, and Fujisaki. They are just answering a lot of fan letters about Shuichi and Eiri and then all hell breaks loose. Noriko, from Nittle Grasper, and her horny husband make an appearance dressed in insane costumes. After that, Ryuichi makes an appearance announcing that Bad Luck has gone platinum and sold a million CD's! The band freaks out and then back at Tohma's, Eiri throws up blood. When Shuichi finds out, he rushes to the hospital to see his lover but he overhears Eiri and Tohma talking about how Eiri should leave to New York and get away from Shuichi forever.
In track 30, Shuichi runs away from the hospital devasted and when he wakes to, he finds himself about to rape Hiro. Hiro comforts Shuichi and then the scene switches over to K and Tohma talking at NG studios. K is trying to persuade Tohma to keep Eiri in Japan. Tohma refuses and tells K that Eiri is his number one priority. After that, Shuichi runs back to the hospital to say goodbye to Eiri and when he is about to kiss Eiri one last time, Eiri opens his eyes and asks Shuichi what happened to his self centered attitude. Eiri then tells Shuichi he never really planned to leave, he just told Tohma so that he'd leave him alone. At the end of the chapter, Shuichi and Eiri are getting ready for their date with K and Hiro as their bodyguards.
In track 31, Eiri and Shuichi are about to leave but find out that the press has somehow found out about the date. Their entire house is swarmed with reporters! After ditching the reporters, a high speed race occurs with Hiro and K shooting reporters and resorting to laser beams (that destroys NG studios) to get rid of the news people. After almost escaping, they hit a traffic jam and are forced to make K and Hiro pretend that they are a couple to divert the reporters. Then Eiri and Shuichi find out that Disneyland had been destroyed (K's fault) so Eiri and Shuichi just go by a bridge and have their date there. At the end of the chapter, Eiri tells Shuichi the rest of his past about a boy named Yuki and how he had gotten his name (took Yuki's name and made it his last name). Then Shuichi runs off to get something to drink and Eiri tears up a picture he had given to Shuichi and starts crying about how he had killed Yuki several years ago.
Extras:
The usual author commentaries and one-page preview are included in this volume. Other then that, there aren't too many extras. Thankfully, this is such a strong volume that it doesn't really need any extras to crowd its pages.
Content Warnings:
-Language: Yes
-Violence: Yes
-Nudity: No
-Sexual Situations: Yes
Overall:
It seems like the entire series was leading up to this volume and it was well worth the wait. The artwork is the best it will be, the characters have suddenly become deep and even funnier, and the story manages to bring all the strengths of the series together. This is easily the best volume in the series.
+ Best artwork in the entire series (at least up to 10) and the storyline and characters made this volume an extremely memorable one.
- I can't think of any unless you don't like yaoi or shounen-ai.
Score: 10/10
