Ok, so the first thing I want to do is yell at myself for waiting so long to read this. The second thing I want to do is start at page one again and reread this, because I love it so much. I need everyone I know to also read this book so we can discuss it. I don't know how one book can be so much of not what I expected and exactly what I expected at the same time. Tatsuki Fujimoto is quickly becoming my favorite manga writer. An absolute auto-buy for me now.

An interesting title that will appeal to manga readers and creators who are invested in the genre, but somewhat confusing. Could be executed better.

Beautifully illustrated and well-told, this was an emotional graphic memoir that really packed a punch and really hit me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for approving me to read this story.
This is truly not what I expected to feel from this story. Is it accurate to say it broke my heart yet I am glad I read it?? This short story involves classmates who both draw manga for their elementary school newspaper. We see their dedication, drive and passion to improve their craft, although for two different reasons,The story opens a window into their lives and shows us how friendships are formed by similar interests, and how the drive - both common and different - shapes their paths. The middle of the story was a bit confusing for me. I will likely go back and re-read it for better clarity.

This is about the stories we tell about ourselves and others and the way that we are pushed by rivalries in the same way others are pushed by us. Fujimoto is an awesome storyteller of heartbreak and emptiness and while this is radically different in tone and plot from Chainsaw Man it is even more affecting.

Reread this manga over and over, not because of its plot twist nor for an alternate interpretation of the ending; reread this to remind you why you do the things you do. "Look Back" humbles readers into the joys, pains, frustrations, and inspirations of being an artist, specifically a mangaka. Fujino gets competitive when her classmates call her once-lauded 4-Koma strip "amateur" compared to truant Kyomoto's more atmospheric yet detailed comic; purchasing books on the craft and spending most of her time hunched behind her desk drawing; all depicted in the steady and subtle progression of both improvement and isolation. A childish response yielded mutual admiration among one another, a sight that can be described as a fan expressing undying praise to an artist who so desperately wants to feel her craft was worth her salt followed by an endearing spread of said artist dancing in the rain. This is just one of many scenes that embody and reinforce the need to reflect - the desire to come back to one's purpose for doing the craft and the possibilities of what one decision can lead to.

Fujimoto's distinct "rough-around-the-edges" style comes again in this work and it has a clarity and flow to it that I found refreshing compared to his more popular work, Chainsaw Man. The drama is clear from his close-ups and facial expressions.

"Look Back" is a reminder, suggestion, recommendation, and, at its best, demand to the reader to revisit both the work and your work. Anything that I may say further will only become a spoiler, however, this oneshot grew on me on separate read-throughs. It is short enough to finish and rewarding to have on the shelf; accessible to 'look back.'

I feel like this manga would appeal to a very specific audience. I appreciated how Fujimoto was able to convey such an emotional story under 150 pages. However, given that it was a one shot story, I was very confused at certain points and generally this isn't a type of story that appeals to me, but I think others would enjoy it.

There was a lot of hype surrounding this story, which is why I was interested in it in the first place, but it didn't meet my expectations.

Ok, I THINK I know what happened in this. The magical realism combined with the depressing reality makes this seem very French to me for some reason. This is a very slice-of-life, until it's not, coming of age story.

The artwork is gentle, the story incredibly sad. I wouldn't recommend this if you have lost someone you love, especially a friend or a friendship, as this will make you reach for the tissues for sure.

3, I can't really handle sad right now but very well written and drawn book, stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and VIZ Media LLC for an eARC copy of this to read and review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

This short story was definitely emotional and I can’t say I really get the point of it. It felt random and really dramatic for such a simple story that it felt over dramatic for no reason? It was okay and I enjoyed the story of learning to draw, realizing she isn’t as good as another student, getting discouraged then trying again. The added element of the shut in student and the later events felt very off to me. I know there must be more meaning to it but it didn’t hit it for me.
I don’t think we would be purchasing this for the library unless requested.

Compelling story with a touch of slice of life. I really enjoy this book and what I love the most is the main character and the journey.

"Look Back" was an interesting, yet confusing read for me. Two female students connect with each other through creating manga. As they grow older they go their separate ways, as one wants to attend art school and the other wants to draw manga full-time. The story was really melancholy and left me with a lot of questions. The art was pretty, but as the characters grew into adulthood I had a hard time telling them apart. I enjoyed the book, but it wasn't something I absolutely loved.

I received a free digital ARC from Viz Media via NetGalley for this manga. This standalone story packs quite an emotional punch. Fujino draws manga for the school paper, but when her teacher asks her to stop by a fellow artists home her life is changed forever. The spreads are well drawn and emotionally evocative. The story is sparse, but every word matters. This is a story of friendship, artistic pursuit, internal struggles, ambition, life decisions and more. I’m definitely checking out more work by Fujimoto.

I was not prepared for how hard this slice-of-life manga hit my emotions right in the feels. "Look Back" by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the mangaka of "Chainsaw Man" and "Fire Punch," and this one shot broke me. Suppose I compare Fujimoto's "Chainsaw Man" as one extreme side of his work with all the action sequences and carnal desire. Then "Look Back" is on the other end of his work, making your heart swell with emotions. The story follows the lives of two middle school girls who love manga and the paths each of them takes. The story is like a one-shot that you can read in one sitting, but be prepared. His style, the story, and the background art will give you all the feels.

Look Back was a little confusing to follow. I had difficulty following the series of events. I did enjoy the message about art and the importance of following passions.

If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?
Sweet but sad story about two girls who bond through their love of making art. When things fall apart, one wonders how things might have been different if they could change past events.
Thanks NetGalley for the free advance copy!

I thought this was a really nice story about two girls becoming superstar manga artists. I did get a little confused about the middle, when the timeline changes? Was it a dream? Was it real? Was it a glimpse into an alternate reality and both timelines are correct?

Outside of that, I like how the artist relied on their art to tell the story, instead of narrating it through the protagonist's thoughts.

Manga-ka Tatsuki Fujimoto is best known for his serialized Shonen Jump series Chainsaw Man, but in the summer of 2021, he dropped a one-shot story on unsuspecting fans. Titled Look Back, it has a straightforward premise: two girls in middle school bond over their shared love of art as they grow up through high school and into adulthood. But Fujimoto makes it so much more, wrapping themes about our relationships with art, with artists, with time, and with practically everything into what on its face seems like a simple tale. What's more, Fujimoto shows why he is a master storyteller, elevating so many moments from mere plot beats to mini-masterpieces that resonate on a deep emotional frequency via his skill with compositions and careful use of varied lines and textures. Look Back is a masterful work, possibly one of the best comics I've ever read, and now that it is being released as a standalone volume there's no reason not to read it. -- Jamie Lovett

I really enjoyed this, and was not expecting a story like this from the author of Chainsaw Man. (Maybe I should have been?) The art is solid, and the story itself is a great, if bittersweet, take on the "what if...?" trope. I think anyone looking to become a comics or manga author/artist would really appreciate this, as would anyone who takes manga art and the jobs mangakas do seriously.

By this point if you are well-versed in the world of manga you should know the name of Tatsuki Fujimoto, known for his works Fire Punch and Chainsaw Man. The latter in particular has sold over twelve million copies, making it one of the most successful titles to be serialized in the Japanese magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump. Although Fujimoto is not done with Chainsaw Man as the second part will begin serialization later this summer– and we are expecting MAPPA’s upcoming anime adaptation later in the year– the author has had time to create some one-shots, including Look Back.

The story centers on Ayumu Fujino, an elementary schooler with a talent for drawing manga, which she publishes in the school’s paper. After receiving praise for her exceptional skills, she finds herself challenged by another student named Kyomoto, who begins publishing her own manga alongside Fujino’s but demonstrates herself as the superior artist between the two. Eventually the two girls meet and it turns out that Kyomoto is a shut-in who also happens to be a huge fan of Fujino’s work. The two decide to collaborate on drawing manga with the hopes of submitting their work to be published.

There have been manga titles that have explored the lives and painstaking process of what it means to be a manga artist– the most recent example being Inio Asano’s Downfall. Look Back isn’t determined to break new ground regarding this subject but there is an honesty in the way Fujimoto presents the lives of these two girls, each having their own way of living through creating manga.

Serving more as the protagonist, Fujino is similar to Denji, the eponymous Chainsaw Man, in that they are both fairly shallow teenagers. In Fujino’s case, she revels in the praise for her work, but once someone else works in the same profession and in considered superior, she goes down the spiral that is continuously drawing manga to maintain her dominance, even if that means lacking a social life. It gets to the point that Fujino gives up being a manga artist and learns to socialize and try other things, and it is only when she finally meets Kyomoto, the desire to draw comes back and so does the dominance.

Whilst you delve more into the mindset of Fujino than with the shut-in Kyomoto, no doubt she is unlikeable, especially when she confronts her collaborator who wants to maintain her independence as an artist. However, like Denji, the journey Fujino goes on is challenging, upsetting and ultimately redeemable. Regarding the upsetting elements of this title, there are scenes that readers have noticed have similarities to real world tragedies, although the storytelling manages to avoid any discrimination.

If you have read Chainsaw Man, you will notice a progression in how Fujimoto’s art has improved and with Look Back he is hitting on all cylinders. Whilst this title doesn’t revel in gore-tastic action and crude humor, its quieter approach is all about the stillness of the characters, as roughly one-third of the book is dialogue-less, relying on closeups or large panels to convey specific feelings. As someone who likes to experiment with his art, you can see Fujimoto playing with that notion with the two girls’ styles of drawing, as well as the recurring image of just seeing Fujino’s back as she draws manga that is used as a passage of time, hence the book’s multi-layered title.

Tatsuki Fujimoto is all about coming-of-age narratives but is able to put a new spin with each new title, whether it is about a literal chainsaw man, or in the case of Look Back, a powerful examination of what it means to be young and ambitious.

Chainsawman is popular with students so having this standalone title is a treat and the whole concept of reflecting on the journey of being a creator is interesting as well. The twist that adds some drama to the piece feels like it could have been expanded a bit more but there is also the nice feel of this being contained like a short story of a read.