Member Review
Review by
Adriana G, Reviewer
Joe Yabuki is a teenage grifter drifting through life looking for a fight at the smallest provocation. He's on a path of self-destruction until a failed boxer sees potential for greatness in him and starts to train the very reluctant Joe.
A classic in every sense of the word, this manga inspired many that followed and remains on must-read lists 50 years after its serialization ended. I knew the plot and some of the big moments before reading this, but I wasn't prepared for how hard a lot of it hits. Joe really does start at the very bottom, and his journey to greatness is violent and bloody while remaining inspirational in how he doesn't give up. It's a desolate story with moments of brightness that show that there's always hope and the possibility of something more if you fight for it.
It's slow-moving with a lot of talking, so you'll be disappointed if you come into it looking for an action-packed story. But come at it with patience and you'll find the archetype of inspiring sports manga and realize why it's so iconic.
I will say, just to be honest, that the art is a little hard to make out at times, with characters that are hard to tell apart and static expressions. Yet, I acknowledge that it's also what manga art looked like in the era it was released.
I know where the story is headed, and I'm looking forward to following Joe's path to greatness.
Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics | Vertical Comics for the read!
A classic in every sense of the word, this manga inspired many that followed and remains on must-read lists 50 years after its serialization ended. I knew the plot and some of the big moments before reading this, but I wasn't prepared for how hard a lot of it hits. Joe really does start at the very bottom, and his journey to greatness is violent and bloody while remaining inspirational in how he doesn't give up. It's a desolate story with moments of brightness that show that there's always hope and the possibility of something more if you fight for it.
It's slow-moving with a lot of talking, so you'll be disappointed if you come into it looking for an action-packed story. But come at it with patience and you'll find the archetype of inspiring sports manga and realize why it's so iconic.
I will say, just to be honest, that the art is a little hard to make out at times, with characters that are hard to tell apart and static expressions. Yet, I acknowledge that it's also what manga art looked like in the era it was released.
I know where the story is headed, and I'm looking forward to following Joe's path to greatness.
Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics | Vertical Comics for the read!
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