Ashita no Joe

//Somewhat spoilers ahead, be caution
//Also, I wouldn't say this is a proper review, but just some thoughts I needed to get down somewhere.

Some of my favorite quotes from final chapter are: "Is Joe Tabuki not afraid at all of dying or becoming crippled? Does he have no one... to weep for him?" and "I haven't turned completely white yet."

I love Yabuki Joe. His tenacity, stubbornness, his selfishness, his character design, and plot armor (lol) all made for an incredible combo. His dialogue was always on point. His actions made sense for his character. His personality, despite some changes, was so natural and suitable for a man who grew up without a family and without being loved until the end of his life. It was never a front, and he never truly made a 180 in his personality, so it was as though we truly grew up with Joe. He overcame his struggles in his own, clever way. He shone bright for those just like him- those who are low class yet determined.

The themes in the story I would say aged pretty well. I don't care about the misogyny or the racism of characters, like Joe and Jose.. those subjects definitely suit that time period, but it was so fitting and funny in its own way that I don't really care. Some progressive thought processes I would say were the discussions of how people handle trauma and illnesses (like CTE, or punch drunk syndrome). The companionship of the men in the series was topnotch and the way some characters gradually come and go was clever, too. Other things, but I appreciate the lack of romance. The series was pretty straight to the point and the pacing was, I would say, 93% perfect.

One other thing regarding the theme of the series, but dear god, that "master finds a student that can fulfill his dreams" trope is godlike. It's my favorite of all time. The dynamic is so accurate and it's dreamlike. The old man does get a little annoying in part 2, but it's fine because it had all become about Joe sooner than later.

One plot hole I noticed is that everyone was practically cheering for Joe when he came out of jail. Wasn't he causing ruckus in the town and being a bad influence to the kids, wtf? The neighborhood really doesn't have anything better to do.

I personally thought part 1 was a definite 8/10 while part 2 was an 9.5/10. I thought there were a few faults in the story. I believe the kids should have grown in a five year period. I also don't find fart jokes to be all that funny... Secondly, at some point I would have given Harimau a penalty, especially because he jumped on Yabuki's head and did close to a rabbit punch on his head too. He is basically subhuman to tell you the truth. Lastly, and not to nitpick because it is the 1960s after all, but the weight loss regime Joe and Riikishi were on at first was seemingly incorrect. Dehydrating yourself isn't the ultimate way of lose weight but whatever.

To tell you the truth, I really hate Youko. I disliked her from the moment I saw her. I understood her intentions pretty late into the series, I admit, but dear lord. I don't hate who she stands for (the person who guides Joe in and out of the boxing world), but her selfishness boils my blood! She was so set on her goals and didn't take into consideration the feelings of the person she "loved".. meaning, she was proactive in some aspects and not in others, and now she feels guilty for the trap she set her goals up for. I don't even know if that makes sense. I just hate her. ); I don't even think she loves Yabuki, but loved what she could do to Joe as her talented money-making suicide machine! Even though Joe had approached her once or twice, she truly is the devil in the shape of an angel.

Anyway, go read this series if you haven't, thanks.

REVIEW EM DUAS LINGUAS PT/BR E INGLES
REVIEW IN TWO LANGUAGES PT / BR AND ENGLISH

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILER AFTER A SOME PART, WHEN THE SPOILERS BEGIN I WARN.
 LEAVE IF YOU STILL DID NOT READ THE MANGO OR DID NOT SEE THE ANIME.






History 10/10
The characters develop very well throughout the anime, mature, physically and psychologically, is very real, portrays well Boxing, teaches about boxing, further on in the review I go into details

Art 9/10

A simple, normal art that at times is well done to cause excitement and fights are incredible, but a 9 is a good note, an 8 maybe? no ... I think 9 is top because in the time it is GOOD, but in fights the art is INCREDIBLE

Characters 80000/0 (10/10)

The characters are deep, three-dimensional, have weaknesses, etc. It's very well done characters, Joe for example shows many weaknesses while running, and shows an absurd development is simply wonderful

Enjoyment 10/10
It is a monstrous pleasure to read this.

General: 9.75

Spoilerssss SORYYYYY





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The story

is wonderful, Joe starts out as a mere fighter who fights, Danpei harvests him, gets him to strive to make a gym under a bridge, they fight, Joe knows the children, he and he is arrested, fight against his rival in prison comes out of jail, Joe's development in Boxing starts to get a space in professional boxing, destroys Wolf and happens to fight his biggest rival RIKISHI, he KILL Rikishi, Joe gets shaken, a depression happens and..JOE TO CARLOS RIVERA, and wins, carlos is destroyed by Jose Mendonza the TOP 1 WORLD, Joe wins the belt of Kim the heartless korean, the machine Mendonza dominates for 3 rounds and after that Joe stays in control, until round 15, Joe does not have a chance to win. beat Mendonza by seconds since he already had 2 falls and was falling but touched the gong, and the victory FOR SOME RANDOM MOTION MENDONZA WINS, and ... It happens the DEATH OF JOE, YES THIS SAME

The characters

They are incredible, everyone, Joe is a hesitation in the beginning but then it evolves and turns what he is, he was always three-dimensional, all the characters are like that, Danpei Tange MY FAVORITE CHARACTER OF ALL THE ANIMES, he did everything for Joe indempendent of the situation, believed in Joe even in the end that Joe could die (AND DIE). I will not talk about others because I'm lazy but that's it


CONCLUSION: INCREDIBLE ANIME / MANGÁ, THE BEST


PT/BR

ESTE REVISÃO CONTÉM SPOILER DEPOIS DE ALGUM PARTE, QUANDO OS SPOILERS COMEÇAR EU AVISAREI, POR FAVOR FIQUE CALMO.
SAIA VOCÊ AINDA NÃO LEU A MANGA OU NÃO VÊU O ANIME.






História 10/10
Os personagens se desenvolvem muito bem ao longo do anime, amadurece, fisicamente e psicologicamente, é bem real, retrata bem o Boxe, ensina sobre o boxe, mais adiante na revisão eu entro em detalhes

Art 9/10

Uma arte simples e normal que às vezes é bem feita para causar excitação e
nas lutas os traços são incríveis, mas um 9 é uma boa nota?.. um 8 talvez? não ... acho que o 9 é top porque no tempo que foi criado é BOM, mas nas lutas a arte é INCRIVEL.

Personagens 80000/0 (10/10)

Os personagens são profundos, tridimensionais, têm pontos fracos, etc. São personagens muito bem feitos, Joe, por exemplo, mostra muitas fraquezas enquanto o anime corre, e mostra um desenvolvimento absurdo é simplesmente maravilhoso

Prazer 10/10
É um prazer monstruoso ler isso.

Geral: 9,75

Spoilerssss SORYYYYY





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A história

é maravilhoso, Joe começa como um mero lutador que luta, Danpei o colhe, ele se esforce para fazer um ginásio debaixo de uma ponte, eles lutam, Joe conhece as crianças, ele e ele é preso, luta contra seu rival na prisão. fora da cadeia, o desenvolvimento de Joe no boxe começa a ter um espaço no boxe profissional, destrói Wolf e passa a lutar contra seu maior rival RIKISHI, ele MATO Rikishi, Joe fica abalado, uma depressão acontece e..JOE CONTRA CARLOS RIVERA, e ganha, Carlos é destruído por Jose Mendonza o TOP 1 MUNDIAL, Joe vence o cinturão de Kim o coração de ferro, a máquina. A luta entre Joe e mendoza finalmente acontece, uma luta epica.
Mendonza domina por 3 rodadas e depois que Joe permanece no controle, até a rodada 15, Joe não tem chance de ganhar. Bata Mendonza por segundos desde que ele já tinha 2 quedas e estava caindo, mas tocou o gongo, e a vitória PARA ALGUNS MOVIMENTOS ALEATÓRIOS MENDONZA VENCE, e ... Acontece a MORTE DE JOE, SIM ISSO MESMO

Os personagens

Eles são incríveis, todo mundo, Joe é uma hesitação no começo mas depois evolui e transforma o que ele é, ele sempre foi tridimensional, todos os personagens são assim, Danpei Tange MEU CARÁTER FAVORITO DE TODOS OS ANIMES, ele fez de tudo para Joe indempendente da situação, acreditava em Joe, mesmo no final que Joe pudesse morrer (AND DIE). Eu não vou falar sobre os outros porque sou preguiçoso, mas é isso


CONCLUSÃO: ANIME INCRÍVEL / MANGÁ, O MELHOR


PT / BR

In a corner of Tokyo there is a place where the garbage flies with the wind, where the stink of the river is intolerable and the outcasts overwhelmed by alcohol go home destroyed by their working day, but not all are abandoned to themselves, not everyone is cut down despite adversity, among them there are those who aim high.

Story: The story follow the life of Joe Yabuki, a rude boy without parents that grows thanks to wins and losses.
However Ashita no Joe is not only the story of Joe, it represents the post-war Japan, its economic and social condition and the vision of a defeated people in search of a better future, a people represented by a boxer who runs his way with his fists overcoming every obstacle to a brighter tomorrow.

Art: Is for sure a dated style that improves over the course of the volumes, in fact, taking the first and the twentieth volumes you may notice the difference, initially is very rounded style, then the faces become more realistic with excellent expressions.

Character: There are many characters and they are all different from each other and characterized very well, the relationship that develops between Joe and his rivals goes beyond mere friendship, the relationship between two people who fight with boxing gloves dirties with reciprocal blood and sweat is more than just a friendship based on one million of words.

Enjoyment: This manga is very realistic, people can attach themselves to the protagonist that continues to grow despite making mistakes after mistakes.
There are also the dramatic moments and breathtaking ones that are able to enter the heart of the reader.

This is Ashita no Joe, a manga full of emotion, a masterpiece entered in the collective imagination that has cleared through customs the idea of ​​manga as something targeted only to a child audience.

Most people haven't read this, which is a shame, because its simply amazing. Its impact and influence on manga is so incredibly massive, that the number of anime and manga that reference it or pay homage to it cannot be counted. That being said, it is referenced and paid homage to so many times that many people will already know the ending despite having never read it. For example, the ending of ashita no joe is a recurring theme and symbolism throughout Bakuman, but I wont say the ending because I dont wanna spoil.

STORY
The story was great, following Joe Yabuki taking up boxing in the late 60s in Japan. My one problem with the story is that it took a while to get to any actual boxing, but there is a good reason for it, and it helps the story and characters develop.

CHARACTERS
There are quite a few characters in the series that have a serious amount of development. whether its Joe, and all of his rudeness and depth, Danpei, and his passion and nostalgia, and so on. The characters are great. The one problem I have is the amount of misogynous . The reason its there is kind of unfortunate, with the author being a well known misogynist.

ART
this is to be expected. Mangas in the 60s and early 70s all had very similar artstyle to each other, without many variations. I was never a big fan of it.

ENJOYMENT
I loved it

In conclusion, this series is fantastic. it has some shortcomings, yes, but it has aged well and is a fantastic read

Simply put this manga is amazing and aside from a few pretty inconsequential problems I had with it this is gonna be nothing but praise.

At the core Ashita no Joe is a character driven drama about Joe himself, people around him and they they go through their difficult lives. As such I don't you can't talk about story without talking about characters and you can't talk much about characters without spoiling manga.
What I can say though is that impressive how much nuance the main cast has. Aside from some supporting characters that don't play a large part in the story everyone has a very believable multifaceted personality and over the course of their arc you learn about who they are, how they act and how they change as well as what causes it. It's a long, difficult and a very tragic story in a way that's not immediately obvious or rather it's never thrown in your face. It's practically overwhelming how much there is to say about Joe's and his passion to fight until he burns up his youth, Tange who relives his former glory by guiding Joe to success while trying to contain his self-destructive habits, Yoko's subtle attempts to straight out Joe's character or special bonds shared between Joe and most of his opponents. The manga is brimming with countless interesting and intricate character moments. Because of this it can be slow at times which is one of the minor problems I had when reading it but what it gives you in return is so satisfying that it's hard to complain about.
It's probably a disservice to talk so little about this aspect of Ashita no Joe for how strong and prevalent it is but I feel like going into more detail would just turn into plot recap or character analysis.

As far as complaints go I have only one that in any way affected my enjoyment which is Harimau, from now on it's gonna be spoilers so if you haven't read the manga skip this paragraph. I know why Harimau was part of the story, I know his purpose and as far as that goes he served it well but reading 19th volume was hard at times just because of how ridiculous he is. Most of the manga is fairly down the earth, there's little exaggeration when it comes to abilities of the boxers and no any real melodrama but then comes along a tribal boxer found in the jungles who was raised by animals and could kill anything in the jungles by the age of 12. Some time later by random chance he's discovered by an english explorer and taught how to box however it's later revealed his boxing is lackluster and he only wins thanks to being wild, strong and tough. This could've been more or less fine if he was just kind of dumb but strong and aggressive slugger that forces Joe to revert to his old self but the guy is literally acting like an animal which Joe notes in one of the panels. Not only his character is fucking absurd his fighting style is not any better. The man jumps from rope to rope like a kangaroo delivering strong punches and his other signature attacks are jumping above someone's head and hitting them midair or doing a fucking double backflip while uppercutting his opponent each spin. It's dumb and I could've bring myself to like any of that.

That concludes the story part. What remains is art and I loved that too. I'm usually not too keen on most very old manga/anime because of seemingly common overall unimpressive simplicity and very cartoonish designs which can ruin any scene with serious tone, but I feel like AnJ hits the sweet spot. There's plenty of detail in backgrounds, occasional spreads as well as bodies and faces while still mostly cartoonish are not comically exaggerated save for a few examples and can covey a large array of emotion, sometimes even fairly subtle ones.

Overall it's a great manga that's very much worth a read, especially if you're into having well written characters.

Simply put, Ashita no Joe is nothing short of a timeless masterpiece of a manga. This really is likely to be one of the greatest manga creations that has ever been created as well as one of the greatest that will ever be created. In every single medium, whether it be in literature, film or anything else for that matter, there are a select few creations that manage to transcend the media in and off itself and become something truly epic, truly beautiful and truly classic. Ashita no Joe manages to pull of this staggering feat. It manages to go far beyond being just another inspirational story about one scrappy young lad's rise to the top of his particular sport. Ashita no Joe is a grand story about the entire life of it's main character, poignantly detailing all of the excruciating pain and suffering, expressing every thought and every action with moving and genuinely emotional realism. It is for this reason that anyone with even a modicum of admiration to the thing that we call manga owes it to themselves to check out this series at one point or another.

It wouldn't exactly be wrong to say that the story of Ashita no Joe starts out in a fairly cliche way. The protagonist of this sports manga starts life as some no name punk who wanders around the streets as he has no place to belong but then that all changes when he comes across Danpei Tange who is a failed boxing coach turned drunkard who spots Joe's innate boxing talent and proclaims that with his training Joe's fists will someday conquer the boxing world. While this may sound similar to things you may have seen in other series it must be remembered that Ashita no Joe is one of the pioneers for the genre and that most of those other series are actually just inspired in one way or another by this series.

This being a sporting based series the plot has that tendency to progress in a very predictable manner. There's a fight announced, a rivalry develops, the two rivals finally square of in the ring and after the fight ends the cycle begins once more, but I would just like to say that the plot in the series is really anything but conventional. There are many unexpected plot twists and I can guarantee that certain events in this story will simply leave your mouth agape and you'll find yourself nearly paralyzed by the shock of what you've just read, yes really, things really are that intense in this manga.

Unlike many other manga series that come under the category of sports, Ashita no Joe is not exactly a cheerful or uplifting series. At points it's very brooding, the atmosphere is dark and serious and often sombre and melancholic. This series takes itself seriously and the story of Ashita no Joe is a very serious one. The heavy tone of this series separates it from others and is very important in getting across the importance of the story and the severity of life as a boxer as well as life in general.

While structurally speaking the story of Ashita no Joe may be described as being simplistic the delivery of said story is terrific, the plot is rock solid, the interactions between characters is deep, insightful and meaningful and the progression of the story is without a single flaw. But what I really think sets Ashita no Joe apart from other similar series is how the writer's message transcends the sport of boxing entirely. This is a story about one man's life and his struggles and this is what makes the core of the story and it's the messages that can be found within that makes this story nothing short of masterful.

Moving on to the thing that connects everything and brings the story to life for the readers; the characters. The characters in Ashita no Joe are spectacular to say the least. Let's begin with the main character, the wild brawler Joe Yabuki. Joe starts life as little more than a piece of human garbage drifting through the slums of Tokyo. Nothing but a wretched orphan that cares for nothing but himself, a prankster that gets his kicks from making the lives of those around him a misery, a rebel that goes against everything that modern society stands for. A directionless punk with no prospects, Joe would have simply wasted away if it wasn't for the interference of the stubborn Tange who would do literally anything within his power to turn Joe into a boxer. Joe's life as a street punk eventually comes to an end when his actions finally catch up to him and he's thrown into juvie. Within the confined space Joe's only salvation was the boxing training he received from Tange that kept him going.

Joe's passion for boxing was then finally ignited once and for all once he met his greatest rival, Rikiishi. Riikishi, while also spending time in the correctional facility was the complete opposite of Joe. He was a fine upstanding man that was destined to become a great boxer. And well it's at this point that you could say the story really starts. From this point Joe Yabuki, the wild beast that defies the very logic of the world of boxing begins to charge forward recklessly, never letting anyone interfere, never letting anyone stand in his way, never once compromising, never going against his principles as a man, even if it would lead to his own destruction, Joe lashes out against his opponent who stands on the other side of the ring.

There are many characters in this series that I'd like to talk about in depth but I feel as though I shouldn't because I feel like I'd be spoiling things for those who've yet to read the series, so I'm just going to tell you flat, the cast of characters in this series are magnificent and are one of the many, many things that make the series so great.

Now, I suppose many people who are thinking about reading this are probably being put off because it's too old and the artwork may not be up to the standard of more modern series. But frankly speaking the artwork is great. Granted the designs of the characters are outdated but the actual level of expression in the faces surpasses many modern series and also the level of detail put into the background goes far beyond most anything you see these days. Also the fight scenes are all brilliant to read. While initially the artwork may be a tad polarizing, all you need to do is get accustomed to it, so just give it a chance.

The enjoyment factor in this series is a little difficult to sum up. This story is very heavy and it doesn't hold any punches. At times it is very emotive and at times you'll just feel bad and depressed once you finished a volume but that is really the strongest point of the series. It never set out to be a happy story in the first place. It's an emotive story that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. And it's exactly because of the nature of this story that it is just so much more impactful than damn near anything I've ever read.

So if you are still wondering whether or not you should read Ashita no Joe then let me just say yes definitely. I mean don't even finish this review, just go read it right now. If you're worried about not having enough knowledge about boxing then that really isn't a problem. Personally I only watch boxing a couple of times a year. I'm definitely no expert and yet I had no difficulty with this series.

Ashita no Joe/Tomorrow's Joe is without a doubt one of the greatest and most powerful manga ever made, and its ending alone sets it among the most amazing stories there is...but it is old, and time has hurt it a bit.

Story: 8 : Some punk ass teenager who packs a serious punch and has a severe inferiority complex meets an old drunken and retired boxer who decides to teach him how to make a living through his craft.

This setup might seem like the buildup to a powerful relationship between future student and master, but it really, really isn't.

One of the first things Joe's future trainer, Tange Danpei, has to do to teach his wayward punk of a student is get him sent to juvenile detention...

Joe's history before and during the vast majority of this manga is about fighting, scamming, and trying to pick more fights with pretty much everyone he finds. So when he's offered to be taught boxing to make a living, his only answer's a middle finger and the only way to tame the beast is to send him to juvie, where he meets an actual boxer who will really kick joe's ass and open his mind on boxing a little.

Only then does he accept Tange's education in boxing, and even then, only so very little of it...

Art: 4 : Harsh note I suppose, but it's...well it's really old and art in manga just has evolved so much past this that it kinda stings my eyes to see some things. The faces may be very expressive and the technical aspect of the fights may be mostly good (as in you understand what's going on on the ring), but I still can't find it in me to call this good-looking at any point. Usually when beauty's lacking I look for style, but even then, apart from the two main characters' very expressive faces, most people look like a ton of other people in other manga.

Character: 7 : Let me expand on the "Joe accepts so very little of Tange's education" statement.

Joe is, and that's not really baffling for such an old manga but it's certainly something you wouldn't see today, a complete shithead. And I insist on that. He's not your typical cocky shounen hero or someone who has "problems" of some sort.
He's just a shithead. All he cares to do is beat people, scam people, or spit at people's faces, and ignore the kindnesses done to him. The fact that he's an unabated moron, and a teenage one at that, certainly also doesn't help.
Many, many times throughout this manga, Tange will attempt to push Joe to do something smart, and Joe will angrily tell him to shut up. And when I say many times, I mean about 5 times per tome at the very least.

Worse is that the dynamic that would exist in later manga where the estranged but like-minded master and student slowly open to one another is also completely absent. Tange does pretty much everything he can to get Joe out of the gutter he loves to drown himself in, and all he gets as thanks is disrespect and bratty selfishness.

This is something that needs to be understood: this is not a nice manga. It's not hardcore gore although the blood is plentiful in fights, but more than anything it's not meant to be nice. Characters don't grow to like each other. Assholes stay assholes. This isn't a tale meant to show how to become a responsible and gentle adult. It's a tale for the sake of the tale.

Or rather, for the sake of the flame.

None of the characters in Ashita no Joe ever change or grow much. They simply each have a purpose and serve it to their ends. Joe wants to prove to himself that he's his own boss and nobody ever orders him. Or even offers anything to him. Tange wants to make Joe a great boxer despite Joe's bratty attitude. Yoko Shiraki wants to make Rikishi and Joe great boxers. Rikishi wants to reach the boxing heights.

The last paragraph was the entire plot, character design, and purpose for everything in Ashita no Joe.

It's hard to explain since modern manga seldom ever have that principle anymore, but this truly isn't trying to tell you anything. It's not about a good or a bad story. It has no philosophical message or deep immersion into complex concepts like you could find in modern shounen or seinen.

It's just...just a punk that becomes a boxer and keeps acting like a punk. Just a drunken old fool who wants to coach a great boxer and keeps drinking.

Just a few people trying their hardest to do what they want to do in life, no matter the cost.

Enjoyment: 10: why 10, I wonder as I write this. It's not a 10. It's not even close. I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as many other things.

But I'd feel like it's a misnote if it's anything but a 10.

Beyond the issues I've cited, I could add on Ashita no Joe's problem pile that it starts off awfully slow and that you spend way too many tomes not starting the story of a boxer who's stuck on the streets or in prison. Joe's personality(in case I wasn't blatant enough about it) is obnoxious and it never lets up for almost 20 tomes.

Ashita no Joe may not have any of the qualities of more modern manga, but if one word defines its main appeal, it's no doubt "desire".

The extreme boredom at the start took nothing out of the powerful desire you feel from everything in this manga.
Joe's story, beyond being a punk, is about giving absolutely everything he has to win. No matter what. Tange, in a much wiser way, is also the same. It's what I mean when I say "desire" defines this. Nothing in this manga seems to matter, not the characters yelling at each other all the time, not Joe being a complete dick, not the side characters, not the girl, not even the opponent. All that matters is that Joe and Tange will do anything, absolutely anything, to reach their goal.

Some people will call Ashita no Joe timeless, and I can see why, although to me it's strongly implanted in the 1970's Japan and postwar Japan in spirit. It's timeless because it's not about a character, setting, or even its sport. Boxing could easily have been replaced with another bloody sport. It's the flame, the unbendable desire to conquer everything, that makes this manga so good. It's not just about winning the matches or Joe's arrogance and violence, it's about consistently doing everything, from the ridiculous to the insane to the hateful, to conquer, to win, to prove to yourself and others that you can do it. The driving force behind both the storytelling and the general structure is this tremendous flame, this burning ship that pays no heed to the storms and sails away carrying its flame, not caring if it sinks. It's when Joe falls again and again and gets back up again and again. It's when Tange yells and yells and gets yelled at and doesn't kick Joe out. It's when through all the fights, the fears, the traumas, the self-hate, the rivalries, the nightmares, they still push through like a train off its tracks speeding with a thunderous noise through the night.

If ever there was a manga where everyone gave their all, apart from Berserk's Guts, it's Ashita no Joe.

Conclusion: 9: hard to truly judge with numbers a manga this flawed. I picked it and sort of forced myself to read through the long, long and pointless pages of juvie. I hated many parts of it and wished Joe would get decked one good time or two and perhaps learn to think of something else than himself and his complex. I was awed with how many stories ended for many boxers. I was entranced by the manga's end. I looked at the fights like every fight was the final one. And while many, many mangas have been far more fun, or emotionally involving, or more interesting, none have reached the extremism, the investment, the burning need to give everything away for victory, than Ashita no Joe. Its main purpose may make it a difficult read, but it is a masterpiece in what "giving it all" means.

Ashita no Joe is simple the best ''sports" series
but i think for a microsecond and this IS NOT ABOUT SPORTS is a story of his characters
STORY-
as i said the story of ashita no joe is about there characters growing don't confuse that is a slice of life because also has boxing story is a decoration (a good one) the boxing only supports the story
CHARACTERS
the main character Joe is simple amazing is no special or have great ability he is a jerk but finish in a recognized boxer the experience of the development with Joe is great.Know talking about develop the pacing of the series is perfect the time that takes is be needed. also Joe has relation with some others that are very good most important the rival (is so manly ) the begin of Joe is so identify we are growing with them in a form to in some way self improvement
I CAN SAY THIS ALL THE TIME THE TIME WITH THE DEVELOP OF JOE IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Story- The story is truly amazing!Form the unknown Joe to the Joe that gonna fight the world champ.Very exciting and cant guess what gonna happen next,like they said ,anything can happen in a boxing fight.I had feel surprised about few times like 3 ~4 times.Like while Riikishi died,and when Joe died. 9.5/10


Art- The art may feel old but after a few chapter,I can read it normal and feel it is not very bad,but it is a classic art style.And the art style had improve much after some arc.The fighting scenes is very clear,and don't have any trouble while reading it. 9/10


Character- The characters deign is no bad,but some of the eyes fell same ,but it's not a big troubles. The mangaka doing a big damn job,he don't limited in Japanese, but draw the characters from over the world.And You can see each different nation characters have it each personality and degisns.The MC development also like real human, very aggressive and stubborn,and also sometime be soft heard.The other characters like Riikishi ,their like have their own souls inside. 9.5/10


Enjoyment-The most scenes I like is when they fight!And also like see how MC breaking his obstacles, every time I will be surprised by the unpredicted plot ,and MC learns some new trick and going through it.9/10


Overall-It is truly a Masterpiece.After reading it,I know why they said that this manga had inspired many manga & anime especially sportmanga ,like megalo boxing or slam dunk or bakuman .Btw I know this manga from Bakuman,coz the MC of bakuman said he bad manga is Tomorrow Joe!

There are so many manga easily available that as a reader it is hard to decide which one to read. Many are just good, some are very good and sometimes we start reading something that we don't want to finish. Rarely we come across a manga that transcends time and brings joy and tears to the reader. Such a manga can be called a Masterpiece. Ashita no Joe is one such manga.

This is the story of a boy who became a great boxer. If I write like this I won't be able to convey my feelings and anyways the summary has been provided. Many a times summaries can be deceiving and reviews too.

What I can tell you for sure is that there is lots of action and drama in this story. The story is gripping from the first page to the last and keeps the reader spellbound. The characters are real and relatable. You fall in love with them.

The art is beautiful. The expressions are conveyed clearly and the story really flows from page to page. That is to say the direction is extraordinary. Subtle marks on the page give meaning to it and this happens often in this manga. Some may say that the style is old, but all I care for is value. If its good I'll like it no mater what time it was drawn in.

As for enjoyment this manga is the pinnacle of enjoyment. I can not ask for more.

So, in a nutshell what I want to say is that:
1 This is a Masterpiece.
2 This is a must-read(especially if you like drama, sports and action.)

You can not go wrong by reading this manga. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

word's can't describe how much I love Ashita No Joe. I completed it in 2015, but I wanted to make Review right now idk why haha.

Manga that inspired many mangakas, created the epic era, Joe yabuki who inspired Kamina from Gurren Laggan, Joseph joestar from Jojo, sendo from Hajime no Ippo even whole rocky franchise! and there's even more! Manga is really great, one of the best of the bests... It' needs more attention! if you love Tragic, drama, boxing, slice of life, and want to FEEL manga, then it's for you.
Joe Yabuki meets Tange danpei, a retired boxer, and trainer, who became a vagabond, alcoholic old man, and after Joe meets Tange his life changes, tange tells joe that he has great potential to become the greatest boxer! tells him that Joe is tanges "Tomorrow" Firstly joe won't accept, he is an aggressive, jerk boy who doesn't give a F*** about anything, a vagabond who has no home, no friends no one in his life. Ashita no Joe is a masterpiece, story development is just extremely good, Joe as a character develops so much you can't even recognize him... I really love this series. you should give it try.

(SPOILERS)
this manga is the 1960's, the first manga where was shown the death of the main characters, the first manga where was shown reality, first manga with a serious, dramatic, tragic, and powerful story.
Chiba Tetsuya himself told in an interview that fans were crying over his house and yelling why you killed rikiishi? why did you do that? he was talking about how much that situation made him think and had responsibility for this story and felt that it wasn't just a manga and people just weren't reading it, they... WE were feeling it.
Manga is great, in anime some scenes are changed, especially the fight with Carlos and Carlos hair design too, but I have to say one thing if you love manga, anime you should read Ashita no joe, a LEGEND, the manga that created ERA and inspired many many of greatest mangakas. it was written in the Disney era, that's why the first 50 chapters seem like a Disney comic, but after that art develops and it becomes even greater!

Before I begin my review, I want to say that I am not the most serious critic. I only state my opinions in my reviews, and I don't shove false facts down peoples throats saying the show is bad. With that out of the way, let me start the review.


Woah. This series is... something. This is really something. Ashtia no Joe filled my expectations to the max, not even that. Probably past the max. Ashita no Joe will probably make me read more manga series, to find a manga series as great as it. Hajime no Ippo is probably the new era's Ashita no Joe, but in all seriousness, Ashita no Joe is still the greater.

I mean, Hajime no Ippo is a great anime/manga series, don't get me wrong, but I don't think that Hajime no Ippo will pass Ashita no Joe in terms of story. Let's do a comparison for a bit, Hajime no Ippo's story is about a boy who got bullied a lot, while Ashita no Joe's story was about a guy who ENJOYED fighting a lot. So, there's a big difference there. The greatest thing about Ashita no Joe was Joe's character development, but, let's keep that until later.

Story: 10/10

As mentioning before, Ashita no Joe's story is truly fascinating. One of the most greatest stories I've ever come across, even if it's simple; a man enjoys to fight. But, that's not it. The story develops a lot, and Yabuki accidentally kills one of his opponents (might be a spoiler, but I didn't mention his name) and he can no longer fight for a while until he comes across a gangster guy who encourages him to continue to box. The story develops even more as Joe fights even stronger people, and works his way up to fight the champion of the world, Jose Mendoza. That begins to be Joe's only goal, to fight Jose Mendoza.

Art: 7/10

Since this was made in the late 60s, it actually doesn't have that bad of art style. The art style looks like something that would be made in late 90s, early 2000s. The art style actually fits the manga and I really like the type of art style. It's awesome, especially for a 60s manga.

Character: 9/10

Let me say this; Joe Yabuki has the best character development, but I love almost everyone in the show. Including the people from the Prison arc (what I'm calling it), Aoyama... and... uh, forgot the others names. Nishi was a big part of the series until Volume 8, where he started to stop boxing, and wasn't a big thing in it anymore. Shiraki Yoko is probably my favorite female character of all time; Reason; no idea, she's just fascinating in all ways. Her character doesn't develop the best, but it's pretty decent.

Overall: 10/10

Ashita no Joe is a masterpiece of the past. A true gem that needs to be recognized by more. People should not avoid this manga just because of it's age, in fact, that is the reason why they should read it. Ashita no Joe is a true gem of the past, and I recommend that anyone with a passion for boxing, or not, should read it.

The intense aura of a wild groan overwhelmed the whole hall, as the two gladiators standed between each other in unsteady gaze. The coach pushed your back, as the 10th round got started, by the decisive ring of the bell, crucial for recognizing the winner during the next 3 minutes. This local hall never felt such big applaud, yet couldn’t predict, that someday it would hold a world title match for their local hero. You can’t recognize anything from these mutters. As a matter of fact, you can not feel anything anyway. There is no fear, no strategy, no meaningless thoughts. Just pure descent into madness, as the only feeling you can name for a while, the only thing that matters in this world is – your burning flame, once replenished never turned down, once your heart’s volcano errupted with it’s magma, it never stops exploding until it elevate your will, right with your flaming gloves into the Pompeii of your rival. And at the end the only thing that remains, is pure white ashes…


Ashita no Joe is a work such underrated and unpopular, despite of it’s uproar back in it’s days, when it was published in late 60’s - it’s utmost sad, no one recognizes it anymore. I could have never stumble onto this if not for mere coincidence of noticing it on this site. This work is like an old man, ready to tell a quaint story from his days, yet there is no one to listen to him, as everyone are concerned with things more important or more interesting to take care about. It’s a work that – for me, as a boxing fan – replenished my love for the sport once more. A slow descent into the most obscure corners of Tokyo’s slums, where people trying their best to survive with their family can not think of anything else, as utter desperation and injustice at the world surrounding them. We did not want the war, why do we have to endure it’s consequences? Yet among them are people, who did not lose their spirit, they are ready to defy their fate and challenge the world, giving everything they can, to put up a fight and strive for more than just surviving – for Tomorrow.


Joe is a short-tempered, rude and defiant teenager. Ready to solve every problem with fists, he does not feel any empathy nor humility to anyone. Full of egoism and spite, not think about anything nor anyone, than just his own survival in this messed up world, no matter if it’s by theft, crime or at cost of someone’s own safety. What remains true to Joe is – there is no one for him. Fleeing from orphan, in which he grew since he could remember, he never had a chance to feel love nor friendship. During his lone wandering through the slums of Tokyo, being a frivolous boy, he engaged into a fight again. What remained more shocking to people watching was, that Joe could handle everyone at himself, despite of being enormously outnumbered. Danpei used to be a boxer himself. However, after the loss of his left eye, he was forced to give up on his own boxing career, aiming to become a coach instead. But due to his violent, strict, passionate and even desperate approach in training, his proteges couldn't take it and abandoned him for better gyms. as he became jobless and eventually a homeless alcoholic. A cathartic moment, bombastic realization of Danpei Tange’s problem was finnaly understood by him, when he saw that boy fighting, as he could see with his very own eyes him standing on the top of the boxing world. In order to give Joe a training placement, Danpei tries to build up a low-standard boxing gym, for which he takes up a job in the mine, where he works horrendously long shifts – for Tomorrow. Despite of Danpei’s dedication to his plan, he could not hope for convincing Joe , he does not feel the need of listening to some crazy grump, nor some stupid-ass sport – as he does not listen to anyone in this world, which tries to preach him. Joe, due to his shameful conditions and constant crimes he commites, Joe goes to a juvenile prison miles away from Tokyo, where he meets Rikishi Toru – a boxer prodigy, who as the first one in Joe’s life could outclass him in his violent way of solving problems. Being at the verge of desperation, due to his lose, there is a tiny fire released in his heart, an uncontrolled passion of rivalry, which forces him to face Rikishi again, hence why he spents all nights in juvenile prison hitting his filthy mattress, according to Danpei’s training tips sent by letters to him. Where the boxing tournament is organised in the middle of juvenile prison, every uncontrolled delinquent faces a big change, a pure passion which can only be embraced by fists.


Ashita no Joe is not just a story another inspirational story, following the same trope from zero to hero, rising to the top of his particular sport. It’s a story about the whole lifetime of it’s character, an as introverted, lonely and unstable human garbage, who cares for nothing but himself, that makes the lives of others a misery, that goes against every modern civilization rule, yet we see how he changes to a person, who is not good at treating women, who does not try to understand him, yet how he grows to appreciate his new friends and rivals. gaining empathy, learning how to check his temper and how to morally define the world around him. We observe his every thought and move, every expression of his suffering and his solitude and as the story progresses his pride, determination and uncompromise. It’s at no means lightheartening nor cheerful in it’s delivery. It’s a heavy collapse into the harsh reality of a boxer, where nothing is predictable and no one is truly safe, between the four corners. Mililiters of sweat, fear, anger, pride and the blood on gloves. Ashita no Joe is never going to lie about the harsh reality, nor going flashy about the confrontations of them and does not hold punches for a reader naïve enough to think of it as a game. People in this world can lose their health or lives, as what they can receive is far more meaningful, as Joe’s only salvation in his life was passion he gained by training boxing. Later on, the story gets extremely grim and does not hold any shock factor nor depressing motives, as what only remains in the end is white ashes…


As how Ashita no Joe’s ending remains one of the most iconic moments in the anime history, I won’t hesitate of spoiling it. During the literature’s history, certain works or genres are often defined to their specific times, representing it’s values, motives and bright impact on the history of art, such as timeless Shakespearean tragedies, romantic poems or moving war diaries. Next to them, there are timeless pieces as Ashita no Joe to it’s nation’s history, while could be described as a sport series or a story about one man's life and his struggles, the writer’s message throughoutly transcendents the world of boxing and only the life of the protagonist - even the work itself, placing itself as one of the biggest cultural impacts manga has ever recorder, directly inspiring many boxing stories, as more famous Rocky Balboa and being the target of countless refferences in the anime medium. During the ending of the first season of anime adaptation airing in 1970, there was a special funeral for Joe’s rival – Rikishi, where about 700 people packed the streets dressed as Rikishi in his training suit. I could never feel so much emotions for a fictional character as much as I did for Joe. I loved Joe, i saw him grow from a snotty 15 year old to going toe to toe with the world's best boxer. When he finally finished the match and sat down on the chair and died, you could see he was happy... This scene is what made cry a lot of men throughout the 40 years from it’s publishing up to now and this work is what made me love this sport once again. “Ashita” in Japanese means “Tomorrow”, when bringing out the whole title could be free-translated to “Tomorrow’s Joe”, as Joe represents the struggle of the lower class of Japan, during it’s economic transformations, where in spite of hopelessness and vain ordinary people faced, there were people like Joe, who shined a light, giving hope and doing impossible, a story not only about boxing and Joe, but about people, who did not lose the sight of what remains true to them, aiming higher and putting up a fight with all their might… for Tomorrow!