Mar 23, 2025
Ashita no Joe is a manga I have re-read many times since I first stumbled across it a few years ago.
It's a manga about boxing, of course, but you can take away so much more from it, as with many other pieces of art. To me, Ashita no Joe is about the struggle for meaning. For finding something, anything, to grab onto, to achieve; a goal to fulfill, no matter what the cost; something people can point to if they ever talk about you, and say, "that's what their life was about; they did something." For Joe, this is boxing, the sport he can
...
put every ounce of his spirit into.
Art: 8/10
The art does everything it needs to do. Its age is fairly visible, of course, but it is clear to follow, and captures the emotions of the moment very well. It's gritty, down-to-earth, and completely conveys the tone of the story. Some of the panels are absolutely exceptional, and truly personify the phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words." These aforementioned panels are so iconic that they've been recreated in various anime and other forms of media countless times, as an homage to this masterpiece.
Story: 10/10
The story is an epic, a heroic tale that accelerates and accelerates until the finale. It is interesting throughout, and none of the arcs were notably terrible or boring. The manga is paced well, and it very rarely feels like nothing is happening, or that the story is dragging on. There is always something interesting. This is especially true for the latter half, where the story somehow further improves; it seems to establish its footing and head straight for the end goal in a spectacular fashion. Additionally, the story doesn't make use of too many cliches or literary tropes, and I can't remember an example of something being shoehorned in and ruining the story. The ending was worth every chapter.
Character: 10/10
This is probably the strongest aspect of Ashita no Joe for many people. Many of the characters in the cast are compelling, and understandable; undeniably human. But none compare to Joe Yabuki, the protagonist, who is one of the most memorable protagonists I've had the pleasure of witnessing. His character growth throughout the manga is second to none - reading the story, you really get to see Joe grow, in tangible ways. It's easy to relate to him, and to get inspired by him, and, as mentioned before, he is compellingly human and realistic; flawed, but great.
Enjoyment: 10/10
Personally speaking, this manga kept my heart beating fast from beginning to end, every time I read it. It also managed to elicit an equally strong emotional reaction each time. It's fun, inspirational, and beautiful. I would highly recommend reading this work - it will stick with you.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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