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Aug 25, 2022
(Spoiler-free review)
Verdict - The Boxer is a 10/10 Masterpiece.
The Boxer is a magnificent depiction of not just the art of boxing, but the human struggle. After reading his other masterpiece, The Horizon, I was heavily interested in how one would translate from a apocalyptic dystopian survival horror to a sports webtoon about boxing. Needless to say I was not disappointed.
The titular Yu is akin to One Punch Man's Saitama - extraordinarily overpowered. Many dream to be in his position, having the power to achieve greatness at the pinnacle of their craft. However, author Ji-Hoon delves deep into the human psyche, and shows the reader that
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a life without challenge is no life at all. While overwhelming power allows for complete and utter domination, it robs you of purpose and meaning - there is no victory without struggle. Rather than striving for the ultimate glory like the story of Hajime No Ippo, The Boxer strives to convey humankind's search for meaning, and the responsibilities associated with power.
It should be noted that The Boxer is a seinen sports manga, dealing with adult issues such as abuse, trauma, suicide, and murder. The little sparks of joy and intimacy in the webtoon are worth savouring, and I as the reader sympathised deeply with each and every character. Many of the villains have motive; they are not simple one-dimensional evils, but rather, have been warped by society into monsters, which feeds the cycle of revenge and hatred through the medium of boxing.
Much like The Horizon, The Boxer's art-style is absolutely stunning. Coloured panels encapsulate the horrific violence inside the ring, and elements of shounen hype when the reader is exposed to boxing techniques and power-ups are the icing on the cake.
I would recommend this Webtoon to anyone with an appreciation for action and character development.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Nov 16, 2021
Bastard is a gripping coming-of-age tale complete with revenge, trauma and violence.
Story 9/10
High school protagonist Jin has been raised by a serial killer, who forces him to partake in gratuitous acts of violence. The implications of this are enormous, and as Jin struggles to find his identity, he falls in love and his world changes. His moral struggles are a prevalent theme in the webtoon, and reading an adolescent deal with serial killers, bullies, and murderers whilst growing up is a sight to behold. The number of plot twists and insane situations are what kept me interested, though as a complete story there leaves a
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lot to be desired.
Art 7/10
The artwork in this webtoon has a simple, clean style, but nothing special or amazing. Nonetheless, it does the job, and many panels do convey the horror of the events that unfold. However, a lot of it is comical and over-exaggerated.
Character 7/10
The characters in this story both make and break it. The author is certainly a master in developing characters and making the reader empathise with them, but sometimes it is hard to suspend disbelief for some of the events that unfold. This is to say that, in a real life scenario, it is entirely inaccurate and unfeasible for the events to occur in such a way - and as such, the characters' reactions. I would describe this webtoon as seinen content with shounen protagonists, a lot of which is carried by the shock value.
Overall 9/10
Regardless, this was an enjoyable binge-read and I do recommend it to those who enjoy murder thrillers/horror. It does not leave a lasting impact, but it does provide many heated and exciting moments which carry the story well.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Nov 16, 2021
The Horizon was a gripping, dark tale of apocalyptic survival.
Author Ji-Hoon conveys to the reader the different ways people respond to disaster in this very tragic, human drama. When lives are on the line, we are asked to prioritise and rationalise our behaviours. Some may murder and pillage, others may attempt to do good, and the rest just want an escape from the pain. The depiction of human struggle is made very clear and evident, in a story about an innocent boy and girl just trying to make it through each day on the road.
The artwork does an amazing job in depicting brokenness
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and suffering on a global scale. Multiple panels are outright disturbing and grotesque, highlighting the atrocities people go to in the face of desperation. The entire situation is beyond tragic, and much of it is made possible by the gripping artwork by Ji-Hoon.
Besides our two titular protagonists, other characters serve as archetypes of how different personalities respond to the face of disaster. We are introduced to, and then farewell them very quickly. What is most important is the story of the protagonists and how they deal with loss and pain, which is developed incredibly well.
Overall, a masterful story by Ji-Hoon, and one that should not be consumed light-heartedly. I would recommend this to anyone looking for something dark and serious, that is not afraid of adult themes.
Verdict - Masterpiece 10/10.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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