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Look Back
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Alternative Titles

Japanese: ルックバック

Information

Type: Manga

Volumes: 1

Chapters: Unknown

Status: Finished

Published: Jul 19, 2021

Genre: Drama

Demographic: Shounen

Serialization: Shounen Jump+

Authors: Fujimoto, Tatsuki (Story & Art)

Statistics

Score: 8.40¹ (scored by 71,013 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #216²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #133

Members: 108,493

Favorites: 3,545

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Reviews

Filtered Results: 36 / 40

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Jul 18, 2021

MakimuraMiki

Recommended

What a ride.

Regret is a theme that's always hit hard for me. That feeling of wishing you said those words or spent more time with the people you cared about before it was too late. The realization that any resentment and pettiness you had towards them was fucking stupid in the grand scheme of things.

Fujimoto expresses that idea through the endearing relationship between the story's two leads and the sobering inspiration from real-life experiences and events. Tying it all together with creative paneling and a polished flow.

It's short and bittersweet. Amusing and depressing. Contemplative.

I enjoyed it a lot and definitely recommend it.

Jul 18, 2021

Danno

Recommended

What can I say without spoiling the whole thing? It's beautiful. Fujimoto's done it again. There are some fun little Chainsaw Man references within the story, too.

Fujimoto, as usual, does a great job with the characters. They're instantly lovable with great chemistry. They grow throughout the story and you can never really predict what they'll do next. They feel alive; they're written as humans, not as archetypes.

Their expressions convey their feelings well and can be kinda funny at times. For example, the teacher's slack-jawed, "another day, another dollar" face on the first page and Fujino's smug expressions in the beginning. Fujino's shocked face on ...

Jul 18, 2021

Yoniharu

Recommended

(Spoilers ahead!)
Look Back is a one-shot that is simple yet amazing at the same time. Thia manga accurately shows the realism of human emotions encountering the death of their loved one.

Look Back is about two middle school friends inspiring to make manga. As life goes on, they both take their separate ways promising to meet each other again in the near future to continue making manga. However, one of friends passed away which affects the other friend with regret and sadness. It's a simple plot that anyone can think of but the way they showed the emotions of the main character was flawless.

Story: ...

Jul 18, 2021

R0rack

Recommended

I don't how much of this story is inspired by personal experience from Fujimoto. But it sure as hell made me wonder...

Sorry, but to make a review of Look Back, I first gotta talk about Fujimoto himself.

First of all, many already love him, so most don't talk about it, but Fujimoto's style is pretty scribbly. I love it because of that, but I can see it totally affecting his own self-esteem as an artist when he was young. And so he writes Fujino, the main character of the story. While her friends love her manga because it's clever and fun, she gets discouraged when another ... kid, Kyomoto, starts making comic strips for the school paper just like her. He doesn't write clever stories, he just draws backgrounds. But they're awesome backgrounds. And Fujino's art seems "amateur-ish" in comparison.

That's as far as I'll go for the story. I'll get into Spoilers later, and I'll let you know, but I wanted to keep talking about Fujimoto himself.

When I first read Fire Punch, I wondered if he did the backgrounds himself. Given the style he draws characters with, I doubted it was him, but rather some assistant he had who could do awesome backgrounds. I wonder if he'll comment on that at some point. This story makes me wonder if he had an assistant to whom he was very close. But either way, I could see this was very personal for him.

Then there's also the obvious KyoAni reference, which makes me wonder if he did this for himself or for them. Maybe for both, but we'll probably never know. That just makes this story all the more affecting.

***Spoiler ahead***

Kyomoto is obviously the reference to KyoAni. Not only the name but also the reason for his demise. The guy with an ax who'd just keep screaming he had stolen his idea. And the most important one, this One-Shot was published exactly 2 years after the KyoAni attack. Some people say maybe Fujimoto had a friend in KyoAni. I don't know. I don't think I'll ever know. Maybe he was just inspired by them, as many of us are.

"Look Back" is a One-Shot that is better appreciated when one is familiarised with Fujimoto's previews works. There are visual references to both Fire Punch and Chainsaw Man, but I think the most prominent is the door. The same door behind which lies Denji's trauma in CSM. In here, the door represents the same. In that last scene, what Fujino sees is definitely a fantasy, a "what if" she imagines in her head to cope with trauma. She feels guilty for Kyo's death. She wonders what's the point in drawing anymore. Then a comic strip falls back from inside the door. she looks at it, being oddly specific, and then she opens the door. But Kyomoto is still dead. The comic strip was just sticked to the window and had fallen at that moment. She accepts her trauma.

That's when the name look back makes sense. She looks back (literally) and sees Kyo's shirt with her autograph, a memory of their childhood. And then she remembers why it is that she started drawing manga at all. It's not fun, it's a hassle, it's so much work... but she did it because of Kyomoto. Maybe this, too, is a KyoAni reference, and how those people were a real inspiration for Fujimoto.

And then he stands up, wipes his tears, and goes back to work. He's gotta finish Chainsaw Ma... wait, no... it's Shark Kick. Or was it?

Was it Fujino or Fujimoto?

Anyway, I hope they're both okay...

Jul 18, 2021

Spark442

Recommended

It's finally time, been waiting for Fujimoto's one shot for a while and here we are.
(Spoilers below)

Story - The story is fairly simple, Fujino loves to draw for her school's newspaper, everyone in her class adores her art, then her teacher tells Fujino that another student would also like to submit a comic strip for her school's newspaper. Kyomoto, the new newspaper artist stuns the class as Fujino gets jealous since her arts is barely average compared to Kyomoto's. Soon both of them meet and pair up, writing manga together. The story isn't complicated at all and tells a story of two manga artists coming ... together. This made the read very easy.

Art - Fujimoto's art is on full display here, showing incredible backgrounds, line etching and paneling. I'm pretty sure he's improved on his art since Chainsaw Man, he's just getting better.

Characters -
Fujino - A pretty cocky middle schooler at first, who wants to be the best student at drawing, even drawing for years and years just to try and become better than Kyomoto, while she easily gives up her dream of drawing becuase she can't catch up to Kyomoto's amazing backgrounds. As time passes and Fujino and Kyomoto pair up to become manga artists, both of them start to have a connection. Working extremely hard for multiple one shots and finally getting serialized. When Kyomoto wants to leave Fujino lashes out at Kyomoto and tells her to say and draw with her. I believe that Fujino didn't mean any ill intentions but instead wanted her to say, and not leave her side. Even after Kyomoto dies, it affects Fujino so much that she wants to stop drawing completely, calling drawing "stupid".

Kyomoto - Kyomoto is introducted as a rival to Fujino, even having way better backgrounds and art in general. Shutting herself in her room all day and night because she's scared of people, the only person she really will come out of her room for is Fujino. A true fan she complients Fujino's drawings, while she doesn't relalize that her drawings are much better. This is what makes the two become manga artists. Kyomoto draws the backgrounds while Fujino draws the characters, a perfect combination which given they're middle schoolers. They even win honorable mentions. Eventually getting serialized. Kyomoto thanks Fujino for making her come out of her room, she is still a little scared of people but it's been alleviated. Once she picks up a book about background art and how beautiful and it can be, Kyomoto doesn't want to get serialized and wants to go to an art school. Eventually the two part ways. Kyomoto still buys every single volume of Shark Kick which is Fujino's manga. She hasn't lost touch but wants to better herself, she gets into college, and is able to attend lessons. Not stuck in her room anyone.

Enjoyment - Yeah I really enjoyed this one shot. My favorite part would have to be when Fujino is asked "Then why do you draw" while Fujimoto's paneling is focusing on the link, delving deeper on the page. Amazing Paneling. Really showed the relationship of the artists and manga in general.

Overall - If for some reason you read all of this and haven't read Look Back, then I suggest you read it right now. 9/10 for me.

If you don't agree with me, then go ahead and speak your mind.

Aug 9, 2021

harshwardhanW

Mixed Feelings

Funny

WTF is this and why is it even getting so high rating?

well to begin with the rating is due to the name tatsuki fujimoto (mangaka of chainsaw man which was very good) and not because the story is good or any thing ,to be honest it took me 20 minutes to read it completely and i cant feel a thing like why is such a story even being published , the story is so straightforward and simple and have literally nothing good in particular.
The artwork is decent, the theme is actually good but not extraordinary and the story is just fine.

overall there is nothing bad ...

Mar 6, 2022

ELpal0taku

Mixed Feelings

I just finished reading it, thanks to this manga I realized that one shots are not my thing.

art: well fujimoto already worked on chainsa wman and fire punch and his art is still great, it's still one of my favorite drawing styles.

history: to be honest I have seen movies and animes with similar stories, you lose a person you loved but his last moments with that person were very bad and the fact of knowing that you could never say goodbye to that precious being can be painful, normally this makes me It would make me sad but apart from the fact that it is ...

Dec 11, 2021

chelsealukkun

Mixed Feelings

Informative

Don't "Look Back" in anger.

Look Back was a satisfactory one shot about two characters striving for purpose and self improvement.

At first the plot showed similarities to that of Bakuman, as it had two friends working hard creating the best manga they could make, however throughout the story the narrative became quite ambiguous.

The development of both characters was okay but it felt unnecessary to add in the alternate possibilities as it made it confusing to follow what was actually happening.

I was hoping to see more development of the characters as we rarely got to see them encountering any obstacles to further improve themselves, however there's ...

Jun 8, 2024

vashfrieddonuts

Recommended

This single handedly gave me a reason to do art again, despite avoiding it like a plague.

I have always been artistic as a kid, my parents buying me all sorts of art materials: paint, color pencils, color books and pen markers.

But as I grew up, finishing college, joining the workforce, working 56 hours per week including weekends, I just couldn't find a motivation to continue painting when I'm plagued with the next deadline for the team, or finishing a report outside of working hours unpaid. And when I look at social media, there were already lots people — much younger than me — who are ...

Jul 19, 2021

wachotaku

Recommended

I'm not really into reviewing stuff, I have a lot of opinions on stuff but I'm lazy like that.
I also don't really like giving 10s away, it feels too easy but I'm a hypocrite like that.

We know that perfection doesn't exist. Art is subjective and it will always be, so you can't apply rules or standards to it, but sometimes you'll find something so beautiful and poignant that you won't help but feel like you struck with something truly wonderful. It happened to me the first time I read Solanin, and it happened now that I read "Look Back".

Regret is something so personal that ...

Jan 24, 2024

TentacleTherapy

Recommended

As someone who has been following the success of Chainsaw Man for longer than I care to admit, I can say that the One-Shots are where Fujimoto truly shines.

Here he has much better control over the proposal and the story, the author knows well how to start, develop and finish the plot.
He is also a great character writer, managing to capture their more realistic and reflective sides.

Look Back itself is another one of those mangas where personal interpretation reigns. In my opinion, the One-Shot story addresses our wound of “what if...?” . The way we regret, how we torture ourselves thinking about the possibilities ...

Feb 14, 2024

wallus81

Recommended

Saw that this was getting an anime adaptation and decided I would read it real quick. Made by Mr. Chainsaw Man, I love the art style of course, was pretty interested about that. Pretty much in every page everything looked really nice. I like the background and details in each panel. imo, I feel like this is on the same level as Chainsaw Man. The story is pretty simple, but the story is also really good, and really well written. As you get into the story it gets really nice aaaand then it gets really sad. For the mc, its actually just a rollercoaster of ...

Jan 4, 2023

foka-mpan

Recommended

why did this happen? why did i do that back then? was i doing wrong this whole time?

how did things turn out this way? is this my fault?

this kind of feeling is called regret

regret is the feeling of sadness or disappointment over something that someone did or thinks they have failed to do

... especially when drastic events occur, humans quickly feel regret
how could i not see this coming? if i had done that in the past could i have prevented this?

regret is as human an emotion as can be. it exists because humans can think. thinking about what happened in the past and reflecting on it is one of the most human things possible. and regret is the negative part of this reflective process. it often leads to questioning ones life up until this point.

and fujimoto tatsukis one shot "look back" is about this part of the human condition

it is about regret and it is about dealing with these feelings of regret and coming to accept that the past can not be changed, no matter how hard one tries.

but in look back, fujimoto thematises not only regret, but also the joy of creating with and for other humans and themes of dependance and independence. I could write so much more just about how dependence is used in fujimotos manga, but im a bit too lazy right now. so regret is what im gonna focus on.

fitting for the manga format, what the main characters, fujino and kyoumoto, interestingly sharing kanjis with the mangaka fujimoto himself, create is manga.

the story starts out in elementary school with both of them publishing their works in the school newspaper.

they become rivals at first and soon friends, working together to create, bringing joy to each other through their company and creations. nonetheless this is not an equal friendship! kyoumoto adores fujino, and is almost fully dependent on her in the beginning. slowly she gains more and more independence, and as she does seem to have found her independence

in classic fujimoto fashion, of course there has to be some kind of break. and through this break, fujino gets to know regret. and hast to find a, also classically fujimoto-esque, funny but also deeply touching way to deal with these newfound feelings, this regret to ever let kyoumoto become dependent and then again gain independence from her.

so, to anyone who wants to read a deeply touching manga that deals with deeply touching themes of the human condition, deals with the joy to create and share with others, with regret, while still staying funny, and in short format. look no further, because this manga is all of it. and i wholly recommend it!

Jul 22, 2021

ilalochezia

Recommended

A nice glimpse into the world of desires, hopes, of meaningful experiences and of moving on. This is a true expression from the artist, and a tribute to the world of creations and the creative process.

In our transient life, we can only do so much. Will we end up with wishes about our past, about what we could have done differently? Of course. But sooner or later we must move on. This is a common theme, but in this work it’s expressed beautifully, not least because the story decided to portray what a person has already done as a source of motivation for the future.

Also ... present in this work is a strong sense of pace. The pace of the exchange and progression of minute moments. It is this element that makes the story feel quite immersive when following along and definitely helps with the overall clarity.

What follows is some criticism of certain sequences, followed by some praise to try to balance the negative tone out. In these sequences depicting the slow pace and the dedication required of art-making, like when a character sits without change for successive panels, these shots are copy-pasted rather than each drawn on their own. I noticed this from seeing that even the breaks in the floor lines are the exact same. First of all, this would become obvious to anyone with a sharp eye, who would then proceed to wonder at the discrepancy of effort between the pasted panels and all the other detailed scenes. And so the artist will have revealed their apparent neglect on this matter. Second, if the artist was so attentive to effort in the entire work, why did they cut corners in these sequences? What the artist wishes to convey is the value of the process and of creation, but having this difference with the pasted sequences undermines that message. Third, it is understandable that the background remains the same in this type of scene, but even the creases on the character’s shirt are identical throughout the scene. The scene represents a passage of time, albeit a very tedious one, and in this time flow the character ought to move, if even a bit. All three points considered, the presence of copy-pasted shots is a relatively minor but still undeniable oversight by the creator. (Whew, that was a lot of words.) Aside from this, however, other scenes are memorable, particularly the ones in which a character also stays the same throughout several panels but are also juxtaposed against contrasting backgrounds.

In short, Look Back is a respectable work that, through meaningful visual moments, presents a message. Brief may it be, its effects are not. Thanks for your time.

Jul 20, 2021

Another_Badger

Recommended

“Keep your eyes on my back and you’ll grow too,”

- Kyo Fujino

Look Back is, as its name suggests, a story that may require a moment of reflection and potential re-read to fully understand and appreciate what is happening. This is especially true when the second half of this emotional story is taken into consideration. It is a one-shot that tells an emotional story that sometimes becomes a little bit confusing.

Despite being a short story, Look Back weaves a bittersweet tale that empathetically captures the relationship between two girls as their relationship progresses from a one-sided rivalry to a supportive friendship. The growth of their ... relationship feels natural as they push each other to become better artists and expand their personal boundaries; becoming better versions of themselves. Watching as they find comfort and safety in one another is also portrayed beautifully, with Fujimoto utilising scenery to really convey the emotions that the characters are feeling.

Fujimoto also has the fantastic ability to explore the darker emotions that linger, often ignored, on the edges of human connections. The mix of jealousy, regret, and loneliness feel realistic and, while not initially in the foreground of the relationship between Fujino and Kyomoto, it can still be sensed; creating a slight unease throughout Look Back. These elements are, however, handled with care and work in synergy with Fujimoto's style; especially his ability to convey emotion through facial expressions and landscapes.

Fujimoto's art is stunning, especially during the quiet scenes where the characters simply exist as themselves. Some of the best examples of this are from when Fujino and Kyomoto are drawing together. This kind of silent companionship can be a difficult thing to convey but, in not relying too heavily on speech, Fujimoto's art speaks loud and clearly. The reader finds themselves also simply existing alongside the characters in these moments.

The latter quarter of Look Back could get a little bit confusing for some, especially since there is no clear break between reality and daydream. However, it adds to the theme of reminiscence and the desire to change things in the past. It may be more impactful on a second read-through as it heightened the emotions of the early pages as well. I think the primary issue could have been averted if the visuals of the scenes had been altered slightly to create a visual distinction between these two although this definitely isn't a necessity.

Look Back is a story that I found more impactful a second time; especially when knowing what to expect from the narrative and understanding the flow a little better. It also makes the focus on the quiet moments between Fujino and Kyomoto all the more poignant.

Overall, Look Back is an emotive, personal, and thoughtful consideration of the darker emotions that come from relationships. It retains a more optimistic approach to these elements when compared to Fujimoto’s other works, offering an ending that is bittersweet but hopeful. It is a reminder that, while difficult things will happen and the past can offer some reprieve, there is always a reason to continue going forward.

Nov 18, 2024

Gar_A_Bage

Recommended

I probably like this more if I wasn't dead inside.

Story

Brave take, but I didn't like this as much as Fujimoto's other one shot. Was it a bit googoo gaagaa? Yes, but can't please everyone. To me this was a appeal to more "normal" people instead which is probably why I didn't connect with it as much.

Art
Keeping it a buck 50. This part is going is a copy-paste from my review of goodbye eri, cause it is the same feelings as that one

Fujimoto's art is unique. The man is on another level with this one. It does look like most of his other ...

Jun 16, 2024

Jecob

Recommended

Reading manga is more fun than writing them.
Tatsuki Fujimoto's one-shot "Look Back" is a short and good read with the same tatsuki Fujimoto art style from "chainsawman" and "firepunch." Simple, with chaotic strokes and scribbles, makes it a unique and pleasing-to-read art style. "Look Back" has themes of friendship, guilt, and the ambition of drawing manga. It is a fairly short read, and I suggest you check it out. I liked its unique story, beautiful artwork, and characters. My only downside is that it feels kind of rushed. That due to it being so short, but on the other hand, it is well ...

Sep 15, 2021

Infernjosh

Recommended

Why did someone change Look Back's category from a "one-shot" to a "manga"? A oneshot is defined as a work published as a single stand-alone story, rather than as part of an ongoing series. Look Back is almost a volume in length, yes, but it was still published as a single chapter with no previous or subsequent chapters. That is a one-shot. This change means it no longer ranks 2nd in MAL's one-shot category...

Anyway, Look Back sums up everything I love about Fujimoto's work. The paneling, pacing, attention to detail, thematic storytelling, and character expressions are aspects that Fujimoto excels at. He utilizes the manga ...

Jul 18, 2021

Elydaline

Recommended

The story: 10
This story hits very ahrd for people who have regrets or are passionate about becoming an artist. Tatsuki Fujimoto wrote a masterclass in serious storytelling in just 140 pages that has hit me harder than longer and more popular manga. He writes masterfully the way manga consumes a mangakas life but also the regrets they have to leaave behind and the final message is just masterful. He does an amazing job on telling the audience how people change as they grow up and how they leave behind people and dreams. Overall one of the best oneshots I've ever read

The art: 10
The art as ...

Jul 19, 2021

CrystalMountain

Recommended

So last night I heard that Fujimoto-sensei released a new one-shot so I had to read it.
This one was probably his best one-shot so far.
unlike most of his works this one took place in the real world ,where no super powers or mythical stuff exist.

The story section will have some spoilers, so in case you want to avoid them, just skip the big paragraph.

Story:

It's about a girl that liked drawing manga a lot, from a young age .At some point she gets to meet another girl at her age that didn't go to school ,because she was afraid , but also released her manga ...