For many, Takehiko Inoue's "Slam Dunk" isn't just a basketball manga; it's *the* basketball manga, a timeless classic that sparked a massive resurgence with its 2022 film, "The First Slam Dunk."
But despite its iconic status and various print editions—from the original tankōbon to the "Kanzenban" and "Shinso Saihenban" re-edited versions—a digital release remained elusive. Until now! Takehiko Inoue himself announced on X (formerly Twitter) today (May 22) that "Slam Dunk" will finally be available for digital purchase starting June 2. This marks the very first time "Slam Dunk" has been released as an e-book, and the news immediately sent fans into a frenzy.
Inoue-sensei not only shared, "From June 2nd, 'Slam Dunk' will also be available digitally," but he also dropped a cool tidbit about his creative process: "By the way, my original manuscripts were drawn on B4-sized Kent paper, and for big double-page spreads, I'd use B3 paper horizontally. Back when it was serialized, it was only in print, so the panel layouts were designed for two-page spreads. Now, if you read it on a larger tablet, those double-page spreads will look closest to the original manuscript, offering a better reading experience."
▼ "Slam Dunk" is famous for its epic double-page spreads, like this one.
He also added, "In print editions, a lot of details get lost in the binding of the middle section, but with the digital version, you can see everything clearly, which is fantastic."
It's worth noting that most of Takehiko Inoue's works have rarely seen digital releases, with the only other exception being the e-book version of "REAL," which launched in 2019.
The digital debut of "Slam Dunk" is a truly delightful surprise, and fans are absolutely ecstatic, flooding the comments with messages like: "This is what I've been waiting for!! Thank you so much!", "Finally, Inoue-sensei is embracing digitalization with the times!", "It's finally here, sob!", and "Now I can read it anytime, anywhere!"
Indeed, in this day and age, digital releases are a clear trend, significantly boosting a work's reach and accessibility. Being able to revisit this masterpiece as an e-book is truly a blessing for both long-time fans and newcomers alike!