So you like to read manga about many weird and different things? Well, maybe you do not. If you do, however, GTO (GREAT TEACHER ONIZUKA) is an amusing if curious story to read. In many ways GTO is probably rather indicative of many manga currently being written. It deals with a male protagonist who leads a rather blessed life in his pursuit of happiness. Along the way he helps many people around him and makes the world generally a better place. This is despite appearing to be quite the irreverent punk that his character is based on.
So what makes this story enjoyable? GTO is a story revolving around Onizuka Eikichi. He is a 22 year-old lay-about that has not discovered his course in life. His favorite word is "great." Apparently, he has been hanging out Tokyo for six years trying to find some way to fulfill his dreams. Up until the story begins he has been running various part-time jobs, hanging out with gangs and a karate club for whom he is some sort of star.
Onizuka relates to his buddy why they came to Tokyo in the first place. Onizuka, a random punk, had wanted to become a "great" guy. Onizuka realizes that he will never realize his dream if he does not go for a change of career. While engaged in one of his favorite preoccupations, staring up the skirts of girls going up the escalator as he tries to appear nonchalant, Onizuka meets the person who will give him his direction. A young girl stops by and accuses him of staring up her skirt. She is not put off by Onizuka's act and says that she actually does not mind. That is why she wears such skirts, after all. However, in exchange for what he saw, she would like to be paid with a meal. After feasting well at Onizuka's expense she begins to ask him what he does for a living. Onizuka gives nondescript answers which she manages to fill in for him, such as being a producer for a TV drama, driving a Porsche, etc. Erika, as we find out she is named, states that she would be jealous of Onizuka's girlfriend. Onizuka, totally overcome by his situation, tries to play along as best as he can, getting himself buried deeper and deeper. The meal ends with Erika getting Onizuka's pager number and saying that, the next time they meet, she wants to go for a drive in his Porsche. Onizuka is left saying himself "What Porsche!?"
Later, at another karate club meeting, when the boys have managed to bring in some girls, Onizuka finds enough reason to leave as soon as possible. While wandering the streets wondering about the story he wove, he gets a page from Erika saying that she wishes to meet him. Onizuka resolves to tell her the truth; that he is no producer nor does he drive a Porsche. However, he finds Erika crying and Onizuka loses all resolve in the face of her sadness. He immediately spots a young well to-do man driving a BMW, talking on his cell phone. Onizuka immediately offers the guy his Air-Max sneakers for his BMW, giving the driver little choice. (You will have to read the manga to see how he got the pair of Air-Max in the first place.) He drives suavely by Erika, offering her a ride. In the background the poor driver is left there, staring with his cell phone by his ear and Onizuka's Air-Max on his feet. Erika is surprised that he is driving a BMW instead of a Porsche. Onizuka covers that he actually has two cars.
Erika enthuses about how Onizuka is amazing in so many ways, and in his mind he fills in just what those ways are not. After a period of time, Erika finally says that she had a fight with her boyfriend. She continues to vilify him, saying that she wishes her boyfriend were more like Onizuka. Onizuka tries to nonchalantly ask her if she wants to go to this karaoke place that he knows.
So, Onizuka takes Erika to a love hotel where she sings for a while. Onizuka asks Erika if she knows what this place is. She says that she knows it is a love hotel. Onizuka prods a little deeper asking if it is all right for her to be here. Her boyfriend may get angry. She continues saying it is all right. Erika, while following a song on the karaoke box, asks Onizuka if he would be her boyfriend. Right as the moment gets intense, though, Erika's pager goes off. It simply says 'soto de matteru' ("I am waiting outside.") Erika throws open the window and outside, in the rain, is waiting this middle aged, balding man. Onizuka thinks that this is Erika's father. However, Erika leaps out of the 2nd story window into her teacher's arms screaming 'Sensei!' Her boyfriend is her teacher! Onizuka is in shock, watching the two lovers reunited.
Talking to his friend, Ryuuji, Onizuka says that he has found his career. He will become a great teacher!
With such a start you may suspect that Onizuka would not exactly make the best teacher, but in truth Onizuka's heart is gold. The story basically deals with how he uses his experience in the world to get along best with his coworkers and students. It is a story filled with humor, some tension, a good bit of fan service, and perhaps a touch too much misogyny.
The art is extremely well defined. It goes from clean with very nice lines and good use of shading to satirical with an extremely raw edge. The backgrounds are well integrated into the frames, giving the story a good bit of realism. A number of setting frames, however, lack backgrounds entirely, giving the characters in them far more impact.
While perhaps not a seminal work, it is a rather engaging story. It does not pace itself too fast; the tension tends to resolve itself well, so that readers can continue to enjoy the story without being in constant angst. It has a decent amount of action and, although you are sure the outcome will always be for the best, how things get there can be very, very surprising.

GREAT TEACHER ONIZUKA Copyright ©1997-1998 Fujisawa Tooru Published by: KC Magazine Volumes: 1-5, continuing. 390¥ per volume