Thank you to Netgalley, Kodansha Comics and Kota Sannomiya for a digital copy of this manga in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a big sports anime/manga fan and Blue Lock has a really fun premise, turning what would normally be a team game into a death match between players who all want to play the same position - that of Striker in a football team. The art is crisp and fun in this manga which reflects the overall tone of the series itself, being both a sharp high-paced series and full of its own quirks. I'm not actually a fan of the original series so I went into this prequel volume fairly blind without the contextual knowledge that fans of the series might already know. Overall, I felt this was a fun starter and helped us get to know two of the characters and where they came from, but it didn't leave a huge impression on me.
I can definitely see how fans of the series and of these two characters featured, would love this peek into how their partnership formed and their lives prior to joining the Blue Lock competition though.

This prequel to the Blue Lock series tells the story of rich kid Reo Mikage who wants to become a soccer star and Seishiro Nagi, who is his friend and a laidback slacker who wants to nap and play computer games.

Seishiro is caught up in Reo’s whirlwind of soccer enthusiasm and finds himself excelling in soccer matches even though he would rather be dozing somewhere. Both young men become friends and because of their soccer prowess they are invited to join Blue Lock.

Blue Lock is a football training camp which is like a prison no one wants to leave. Talented players are forced to compete against each other until one is left standing. Blue Lock is a well established anime and manga series but this episode tells the story of two of Blue Lock’s players and how they came to be in Blue Lock.

It is a great story with excellent manga graphics. I loved the characters, especially laidback Seishiro who doesn’t want anything in life except sleep and gaming. He is surprised to find himself becoming a close friend to Reo and this close friendship wakes him up and spurs him on to soccer excellence even though he is laid back.

This story is energetic and engaging. I read this manga in one setting and now I want more. A brilliant start to what is definitely going to be a brilliant series.

Copy provided by Kodansha Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Super fun. Love the plot, the two main characters, and the drawing style. Definitely going to watch the show

**Thank you, NetGalley, for sending an ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is a spin-off that delves deeper into the backstory of one of the series' most intriguing characters, Seishiro Nagi. It offers a fresh perspective on his journey, showcasing his growth and unique personality. The storytelling is compelling and the character development is top-notch. I think it's a must-read for fans of the main series. The art style remains dynamic and complements the intense and emotional moments. If you loved Blue Lock, this spin-off will definitely deepen your appreciation for the world and its characters. A great addition to the series!

This was a quick read. I really loved the ML's personality. It's just like a certain someone's in Haikyu Nekoma team hehe.

It's sweet that he wants to play not because he is passionate about it but he's being dragged by his best friend for his skills lol. The ML is so cute and seems to be aloof most of the time but damn his skills and observation in soccer are unmatchable. Reo his bestie is sweet, smart, passionate and everything you can ask from a friend and more. You would think Reo is the prodigy with his strategies and skills but then comes Nagi who does the impossible he's an amazing striker. These two out together are unbeatable.

It was really heartwarming to see how much they care for each other. They would rather be sent home themselves than let the other one return from the tournament.

I can't wait to find out what's gonna happen when Nagi and his bestie Rio are put against each other when Reo's dream is to make Nagi the best striker and Nagi 's dream? Probably not get bored.

NetGalley Review
Star Rating: ★★★★★

Maybe I'm partial because I like Blue Lock, but it was great. Glad I read it. Would definitely read more! The different personality of the character and their interactions are fantastic. Plus I really like an anime that can take a sport (any sport), most of which I find boring to watch, and make it into a super interesting and entertaining story! Like always though, read it and decide for yourself.

Firstly thank you Kodansha Comics and NetGalley for the readers copy.
After some technical difficulties (sorry NetGalley for all the emails) I was finally able to start reading this.
I had a really fun, gay time with this. I would have like a refresh of the original Blue Lock series but I kept up regardless.

As this is getting animated shortly, it will probably be in high demand. Blue Lock is one of those series that gets picked up now on popularity regardless of anything else by now. But, Nagi was one of the characters I was personally invested in and I definitely know he's a fan favorite that people will scramble to this book to find out more about.

Thank you net gallery for a copy of this book. It's always fun to get a little background and spotlight for different characters in a story. This story goes consecutively with the first book. I would recommend both.

I like the bond that Nagi and Reo have! Their contrast in behavior and personalities makes it an interesting duo.

I also love sports manga in general so this one was enjoyable! Nice cover as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.


A brilliant spin off series that gives you a more I depth look into one of Blue Lock fans' favourite characters.
Although this could technically act as a standalone, it works better if you’ve read the series. Slightly unsure of writing style, maybe that’s just me.

**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**

Blue Lock: Episode Nagi 1 by Kota Sannomiya was a manga volume taken straight out of the movie, which I couldn't fully appreciate until I saw the movie to compare it, but I really enjoyed reading the story in this medium as well. This gives more of an in-depth backstory on Nagi and Reo, their friendship, and how they came to go through Blue Lock. Worth the read for Blue lock fans.

Nagi and Reo are my favourite characters in Blue Lock so of course, I loved this volum too!!

Everything about this series is so entertaining and I'm so happy that we are getting a spin off based on two of my most beloved characters. I just loved seeing their perspective from their time in the first selection and hopefully, we'll see more of it in future volumes.

I was not able to access this novel no matter what I tried. I could not rate well, my apologies. The graphic novel / manga would not download onto my NetGalley phone app even though it said it was available.

Love this emphasis on Nagi and his backstory, as he has always been one of my favourite characters in Blue Lock (sorry, Isagi). Great to see some appearances from the main cast in Blue Lock and some new ones too! Any Blue Lock fan can and will enjoy this, especially who love to see Nagi winning!

Blue Lock: Episode Nagi is a really fun addition to the Blue Lock world. As a fan of Nagi from the main series, I was so excited to learn more about his backstory, his motivation and his early experience in Blue Lock, and this didn’t disappoint. Developing Nagi as a character and deep-diving into his friendship with Reo in particular, this spin-off is an easy and entertaining read with a great art style.

Whilst the stakes feel much lower than the main series, the pacing is still very quick and I found myself hooked by the action scenes. I'd recommend this as both an introduction to Blue Lock and to fans of the main series, and I’m excited to see more of Nagi in the next volume.

This is a great spin off series and fantastic look into one of Blue Lock fans' favorite characters. There is enough here that readers could pick up from here without having read the original series, but they'll enjoy it more if they've already read it.

Blue lock is a very good manga.
The art style is perfection and the characters are very well portraited.
It is very fun to read and you don't expect e sports manga to be so good.

Blue Lock: Episode Nagi is an exhilarating introduction to the world of Blue Lock for newcomers and a delightful prequel for fans of the original series. Focusing on the origins of Seishiro Nagi and his dynamic with Reo Mikage, this spin-off dives into the unlikely partnership that sparks Nagi's journey from a lethargic slacker to a rising soccer prodigy.

As someone new to the Blue Lock universe, I found Nagi immediately endearing. His quirky personality shines through from the very beginning—his sleepy confusion leading to him accidentally touching his cactus (ouch!) had me laughing, and his casual farewell to the cactus before heading to school set the tone for his unique, laid-back charm. Nagi’s indifference to everything, juxtaposed with Reo’s fiery ambition, makes for an intriguing duo.

While the story throws in quite a few characters, which can feel overwhelming at first, it’s clear that this manga assumes some familiarity with the main series. That said, it still works as a standalone introduction. Reo’s determination to shape Nagi into a soccer star is a compelling narrative thread, and the fiery action on the soccer field more than makes up for any initial confusion. The matches are dynamic, with vivid illustrations that capture the intensity and strategy of the game. These scenes left me eager to experience more, especially in anime form!

For readers like me who are new to Blue Lock, Episode Nagi serves as an engaging entry point. It teases the deeper character development likely explored in the main series, while offering enough humor, action, and personality to stand on its own. Whether you’re a sports manga fan or just curious about what makes Blue Lock a hit, this prequel is worth a shot—and it might just kick-start your obsession with the franchise.

Thank you for letting me read this.

I appreciated the consistent art style and the cover does a good job of showcasing the two main characters of this book. However, the dialogue is rough. It feels forced, inhuman, and bland. I am not sure this book adds anything to the overall story - nor does it give brand new contextualization to the characters.