GTO: The Early Years Review: Before He Was a Teacher, Onizuka Was Just a Delinquent in Love
by Toru Fujisawa
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Quick Take
- Onizuka before GTO — the origin of a character who became one of manga's iconic figures
- The Shonan delinquent comedy is rough and genuinely funny; Fujisawa draws chaos with commitment
- 15 volumes complete; essential for GTO fans and rewarding standalone
Who Is This Manga For?
- GTO fans who want to see Onizuka's backstory and formation
- Readers who enjoy delinquent manga with heart underneath the chaos
- Anyone who wants 1990s Shonan setting manga with energy and comedy
- Readers looking for complete long-form action comedy
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: T+ (Older Teen) Content Warnings: Delinquent gang violence; crude humor and language; teenage characters in mature situations; some sexual humor
T+ rating — older teen readers and adults.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★★☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★★☆ |
| Character Development | ★★★★★ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★★☆ |
| Reread Value | ★★★★☆ |
Story Overview
Eikichi Onizuka is seventeen. He and his best friend Ryuji Danma ride motorcycles through Shonan, get into fights, chase girls, and dream about beautiful women who will love them. They are delinquents. They are not yet great.
The series follows their high school years — the fights, the friendships, the moments of surprising kindness that exist inside people who look like they're made entirely of chaos. The Onizuka who will eventually become Great Teacher Onizuka is already present here, in the loyalty and the stubborn heart, not yet shaped by teaching.
Ryuji is as important as Onizuka. Their friendship is the series' emotional foundation.
Characters
Eikichi Onizuka — Seventeen, crude, impulsive, and already possessed of the specific stubbornness that will make him effective in GTO; Fujisawa seeds his character with the elements that matter.
Ryuji Danma — Onizuka's counterpart and best friend; his presence is the series' emotional weight and his arc gives the series its most affecting moments.
Art Style
Fujisawa's art is energetic and expressive — the action sequences have momentum and the comedy timing is drawn rather than just written. The Shonan setting is rendered with period-specific detail.
Cultural Context
Shonan Junai Gumi ran in Weekly Shonen Magazine. The "Shonan delinquent" genre — young men with motorcycles and bad reputations in Japan's coastal suburban zone — has a long tradition in manga. Fujisawa's series is both a product of that tradition and an origin story for a character who transcends it.
What I Love About It
The Onizuka-Danma friendship. In GTO, Onizuka is essentially alone — the eccentric teacher against the system. Here, he has a best friend who matches him, and the series shows what he was like when he had someone beside him.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Western readers describe GTO: The Early Years as the essential companion to GTO — specifically noted for Danma being a more complete character than the prequel role would suggest, for the comedy being rough but effective, and for the emotional moments landing harder precisely because the exterior is so chaotic.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
The moments when Onizuka's genuine character — the loyalty and the refusal to leave someone behind — emerge from underneath the delinquent surface are the series' most important beats, and they establish the foundation that GTO builds on.
Similar Manga
- GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka — The sequel (read either first)
- Crows — Delinquent manga with similar emotional register
- Rokudenashi Blues — Shonan delinquent manga from the same era
- Rookies — Baseball and delinquents with overlapping tone
Reading Order / Where to Start
Volume 1 — Onizuka and Danma's first appearance. Can be read before or after GTO.
Official English Translation Status
Vertical published the complete 15-volume English series.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Onizuka's character formation is rewarding
- Danma is excellent
- Comedy timing is effective
- Complete at 15 volumes
Cons
- T+ content — rough humor and violence
- Slower in middle volumes
- Era-specific sensibility may not land for all readers
Format Comparison
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| Individual Volumes | Vertical; complete 15 volumes |
| Digital | Limited availability |
Where to Buy
Get GTO: The Early Years Vol. 1 on Amazon →
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Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.