As a reader, it's hard to pin down Yankee Juku e Iku.

Ikariishi is a delinquent. Not much is revealed about his past, his goals, or his ideals. Throughout the story, he doesn't really become a better person or change his life drastically. It's quite difficult to tell exactly where the plot is supposed to be going, because it seems to have a mind of its own.

There is no narration in this manga, just pictures and dialogue. Many of the characters are butt-ugly, including the main character. It's strong point is neither action nor comedy, and its characters are about as complex as a LEGO structure built by a child.

Yet somehow, when you combine all these things together, it creates a weirdly fun story.

The first chapter immediately thrusts us into the world of Ikariishi, a typical scary-looking delinquent handing out ass-kickings like a beast. He has a chance meeting with a pretty girl and she misunderstands his silence as confirmation, dragging him to her cram school. He then defends her in front of the asshole teacher and decides to actually start studying to go to a normal high school. Meanwhile, another delinquent comes back from reform school, with a bone to pick with Ikariishi. She convinces him not to get into any more fights, and he is stuck between a rock and a hard place. But, in the spirit of true camaraderie, he does do the right thing in the end.

Contrary to what we expect from the manga medium, Ikariishi truly does look intimidating. The manga holds no punches when it draws the characters; most of them are ugly, fat, or creepy. Just like their outwards appearances indicate, they are mostly self-absorbed pushovers or assholes. Yet some of the beautiful people, too, are bitches; some of the ugly ones are kind at heart. There is a certain complexity to these characters, a hidden meaning behind their one-dimensional characteristics.

Or not. It's up to you, really.

This manga is very blunt. Teens are bad just for fun, bully out of boredom, and rarely think about anyone except themselves. Teachers are just as bad, and parents are far from perfect. Ikariishi does not have a strong sense of justice, and he makes mistakes. He's often compelled to make difficult decisions, but he usually makes the right ones.

Yankee Juku e Iku completely disregards traditional storytelling and tropes in manga. Somehow, it's fun to read, just purely based on how unique it is.