Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow 1 (Ashita no Joe)

by Asao Takamori

Tetsuya Chiba (Illustrator)

A massive cultural phenomenon, made even bigger by the hit anime based on it. To this day, "Ashita no Joe" remains one of the most important manga of all time, and now it will finally see the light of day in English for the first time!

A young drifter named Joe Yabuki wanders through the slums of Tokyo, but when the local ruffians try to give him a hard time he teaches them a rough lesson with his fists. The spectacle sparks a gleam in the eye of an old drunk who happens to be watching - Danpei Tange, a failed boxer and former coach who sees something special in the boy. He pleads with Joe to train with him off, but the cocky young fighter brushes him. Later, though, when Joe is arrested and put in a juvenile detention facility, he realizes that he's going to need to hone his raw fighting skills if he wants to survive. Thus is born a partnership that might just take Joe all the way to the top...

• ISBN10: 1647293871
• ISBN13: 9781647293871
• Publish Date: 24 December 2024
• Publish Status: Forthcoming
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Vertical Comics
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 580
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781647293871

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Summary:

Joe Yabuki is no stranger to fighting - he’s lived in some rough places over the years and knows how to take care of himself. Yet one fight in the slums of Tokyo may just change everything for him.

This latest fight caught the attention of Danpei Tange, a former boxer and coach. He immediately sees the potential in this young man and knows exactly what to do with him. If only he could get him to listen.

Review:

Over the years, I’ve learned that I’m terrible at reading/watching a lot of the classics. You know, the stories that affect pop culture for years to come? I’m trying to remedy that. So here I am reading Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow 1. I should probably plan on checking out the anime, too, right?

I can see why this series was such a hit. We have a stubborn yet down-on-his-luck kid with a lot of potential. It quickly turns into a boxing tale with touches of social commentary, coming-of-age, and other essential tropes.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I wish we had more of a chance to get to know the characters or the world before it all began. I felt like I was thrown into the middle of the ring and had to fight to catch up. Then again, maybe that was the intent?

Highlights:
Manga with an anime
Action & Adventure
Boxing

Will I continue the series? Maybe

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