Amazing translation of this seminal work of manga!!! The edition is lovely (at least in the epub) with a great translation and a lot of love done on this edition. Highly recommended.

This was a tough manga to read and not because the content was difficult but because it was such a slog to get through. I had a lot of trouble even liking Joe, our main character, by the time I got to the end of the story and he was finally having a boxing match I was honestly rooting for him to lose, he needs to. Of course the end of the fight isn't in this volume but i'm still hoping he loses.

I kept thinking Joe's personality would start to change and he would be less of a jerk and start to see how his actions actually make him extremely unlikeable but that never happened. I do know the whole Ashita No Joe series is around 170 chapters so I will say it safe to assume the growth is slow, but it was truly the most insufferable part of this opening volume. It's very hard to root for someone who is just unnecessarily mean and rude to everyone, sure he has this sad little backstory but unfortunately I don't feel bad for him. I also understand his personality and traits are most likely due to being down on his luck and on his own, but again it wasn't enough to make me go "yah I gotta root for this kid" I wanted someone to genuinely knock him out. Now don't get it twisted I read my share of delinquent and sports manga they are my favorite genres when it comes to reading manga, but what I was getting in this didn't hit the same way as others I have read.

I know how influential Ashita No Joe is in the industry and 100% give it its due, but I'm not going to sit here and pretend that this was a solid strong opening volume. Aside from Joe being unlikable through the whole volume, the cartoony hijinks got old extremely fast, the child henchmen posse was odd and a lot of time felt like filler moments to extend the story. The pacing of the story was so slow, normally I can read a 500 page volume manga is about 2 hours this took me 3 days because I kept finding myself straying away because I wasn't being entertained. I also have to admit I didn't realize it was going to take the entire volume to get to the first boxing match, which was honestly a bummer for me.

I am glad this is getting an English printing, and I hope it continues to do well and hopefully it opens the door for other older mangas to be translated to English. I'm going to keep reading it, like I said I'm a sucker for delinquent and sports manga, and Ashita No Joe is one I have always wanted to read. I'm just going to keep hoping someone knocks Joe out because he needs it.

Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow Vol. 1 is a masterpiece that lives up to its legendary status. The story introduces Joe Yabuki, a rebellious drifter surviving in the slums of Tokyo. After a gang encounter highlights Joe’s quick fists and sharp wits, he catches the eye of Danpei Tange, a washed-up former boxer. Though Joe dismisses Tange’s offer to train him, his time in a juvenile detention center sparks a transformation, setting him on the path toward greatness.

Joe isn’t your typical sports manga hero, and that’s what makes him unforgettable. His rebellious nature and refusal to follow societal norms make him a captivating and complex protagonist. The story’s gritty setting and focus on survival highlight the struggles of overlooked and forgotten individuals striving for a better future.

This volume takes its time, introducing vibrant characters with layered backstories, hopes, and flaws. The gradual pacing builds an emotional connection that pays off as the story unfolds. Tetsuya Chiba’s artwork perfectly captures the grit and intensity of boxing, while Asao Takamori’s storytelling makes every moment impactful.

Powerful, raw, and timeless, Ashita no Joe Vol. 1 is a must-read for manga enthusiasts

I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. When I saw that this was available on Net Galley I was super excited! I'm glad Ashita no Joe is FINALLY getting an English print run after more than 50 years. It most definitely is a product of it's times and is a little senselessly violent (I.e. beating up a drunk homeless man) that wouldn't necessarily fly in a sports manga in today's publishing world, but it is easy to see why this has been so influential and inspirational to so many mangakas that came afterwards. One of the things I liked most was when there were translation notes it is written at the bottom of the page or panel so you don't have to wait till the end of the book for an explanation for an obscure (to the Western reader) cultural reference. In a chonker of a volume like this (it's about 600 pages) having to either wait till the end or flip back and forth would have been annoying. I think more manga volumes should do that when possible. Definitely worth the read!

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this manga

This is known in the manga community as one of the beloved books and was recently translated into e English for the first time.

This is an underdog fighter story and it was OK but I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would, I am glad I have read this and the art style was very old-fashioned like Dennis the Menace style which I liked a lot.

I can see why this is such a beloved book and I say to others to read because I see so many loving this story

It's great to have Ashita no Joe finally in English and it works as an omnibus, although it's heavy in that way. Joe Yabuki is a drifter of sorts, violent and a conman to boot too, living in the slums of Tokyo. His fist fighting is noticed by an old drunk and failed boxer, Danpei Tange. He wants to train Joe to become the greatest boxer, something he couldn't do himself. But Joe is cocky and doesn't want to until he ends up in a juvenile detention facility and meets an opponent he needs to defeat. It's no wonder this is a classic and the series started in 1968. Thus the reader should be careful as the manga has animal cruelty and violence against women, children and whatnot. The story is slow, which is great. Takamori takes his time to develop the story and Joe too.

Joe is super annoying and I'm happy every time someone beats him up. Story-wise this still works, but time has eaten so much of it, but that's understandable. The art is childish and comical like the art used to be, but it's still good. The kid henchmen are super weird too, but something that used to be normal. Ashita no Joe proves that times have changed, but at the same time it's easy to see this manga's place in history.

Reading Ashita no Joe in 2024 is a fascinating look at manga of the past, and a sports title whose influence is still being felt today, from contemporary sports and fighting manga, to American films like Michael B. Jordan's use of the cross-counter punch in Creed III. It's not hard to see the scrappy drifter-turned-fighter Joe Yabuki in contemporary manga and anime protagonists. This, and Joe's near preternatural (but untrained) fighting ability from the start, track with a lot of shonen manga.

Fifteen-year-old Joe Yabuki is a drifter in an economically depressed Japanese post-war landscape. When he gets into a fight in the street, a former boxer named Danpei eventually convinces Joe to enter the ring (but not before engaging in a multitude of schemes that eventually land Joe in juvenile detention). Joe's rivalry with boxer Rikichi drive the latter half of the volume, resulting in a pretty explosive match between the two of them that ends the collection on a cliffhanger.

For all of its energy, the manga does show its age in the cartooning, which clearly owes a lot to Osamu Tezuka's use of his stock cast,,with Takamori's broadly drawn characters following a similar style, who resemble more of early Disney and Fleischer brothers cartoons than they does contemporary manga. For a boxing manga with character's dying in the ring, this could be a bit jarring. It's not bad, but it is a historical style that may not translate as well to all modern manga readers.

It's also dense, with a lot going on per page, making it a pretty lengthy read. Ashita no Joe is best when it gets to its kinetic action, but it does take its time to get there, with a lot of what feels like filler between the action that doesn't particularly move the story along much. But what's there when it moves is truly dynamic.

This is a brief summary of my review over at howtolovecomics.com.

Finally! Ashita no Joe has been published in English. This series is a classic for a reason, with fantastic drama, boxing action, and charismatic art that brings the character to life.

I liked the artwork, and some of the comedy. The main struggle for me was the character himself. He was unlikeable with little or no redeeming parts. Unlike Naruto, who had a poor beginning but wanted to be the best, Joe is unfeeling, uncaring and totally self-abosrobed to the point he cannot grasp what friendship really is. I expected the story this long to have a satisfying ending, but no. This book ends on a cliffhanger, which makes it even worse.

A Special Thanks Goes Out To Kodansha and NetGalley for the Opportunity to Review This Title.

It’s finally here, Ashita no Joe: Fighting For Tomorrow made its way to English audiences, it is one of the most influential titles in the manga industry and a cultural phenomenon in Japan, that empowered the working class and college students of Japan. The story focuses on a young drifter named Joe Yabuki, who finds himself wandering through the slums of Tokyo. After a gang of hoodlums tries to get a jump on Joe, Yabuki quickly shows the gang that he is quick with his fists and wits. What he doesn’t know is that this caught the attention of an old drunk named Danpei Tange, a failed boxer and former coach who sees something special in the boy. Tange pleads with the boy to train and help Joe become a boxer, but the boy quickly shoots down the old coach. After Yabuki gets himself arrested and placed in the juvenile detention facility, he realizes that he needs to hone his skills to survive, which leads to a partnership that could take Joe to the top.

The thing you have to remember is that Joe Yabuki isn’t your typical Sports Manga protagonist and that’s not a bad thing, it helps him stand out from the rest. He didn’t even want to take up boxing, just someone who knew how to fight and could take a beating if it meant taking down his opponent with him. Yabuki is a good representation of the forgotten class of society that is quickly overlooked, who have dared to try to make a better world.

Also, keep in mind that this first volume is more of a collection, so it introduces key characters, their quirks, dreams, failures, and what they hope for tomorrow. It’s not at a fast pace, but at a gradual speed where it keeps the reader’s interest, this collected bundle shows its greatest strength because it gives a better idea of where the story is going and pieces it together as it progresses. As far as the story goes, it still resonates with many of its readers today, those who view themselves as Joe Yabuki, going against any obstacle to make their dreams come true. Another aspect to look at was the reality of a post-war Japan after World War II, with the slums being portrayed as bleak, violent, and unforgiving, a place where many had to fight to survive. Joe’s disdain for authority and law wasn’t due to being considered a quirk, but this was considered by some as a reflection of a broader disillusionment of the system that failed people like him. As for Danpei, his alcoholic and washed-up state was supposed to be a representation of the struggle of a generation that couldn’t achieve their dreams in the wake of Japan’s wartime defeat.

While discussing the artwork in this story, Tetsuya Chiba’s artwork and style are something to admire, with Takamori’s writing it was the perfect pairing in terms of a manga. Chiba’s style may look cartoonish to some, but he captured boxing’s fast-paced movements and the sense of grit and realism. The action was dynamic and fluid, Joe’s raw power when it came to his fights, also showing off Yabuki’s ferocity.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kodansha Comics, Vertical Comics, and Asao Takamori for the opportunity to read this manga in exchange for an honest review.

At nearly 600 pages, the first installment of Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow, will be officially released in English for the first time. Considered a classic from the 1960's, the time of its publication is something to consider regarding social norms and a contemporary audience.

This manga follows Joe, a 15-year-old miscreant just trying to make his way in the world. When an old hobo finds Joe to be the perfect protege for boxing, the guy can't leave him alone, but Joe isn't interested. Instead, Joe finds himself in street fights, as well as resorting to various con crimes to make money and support some of the local youth.

Joe's crime becomes so negligent that he is taken to a juvenile detention center until his hearing. Of course he can't help getting into a bunch of fights, mostly instigated by the other boys first. Joe lands himself in a more strict reformatory, where he starts to learn more boxing moves and aims to apply himself for the sake of tomorrow!

I found the length a bit daunting, but the story has so much merit in the regard of following one's ambitions and fighting for what one believes in. The fact the Joe is so young is a bit daunting, but offers so much potential for growth as his experiences with the reformatory and boxing later shape who he will become and what his place will ultimately be in society. This is a great manga for sports lovers (specifically boxing), as well as those interested in discovering (or re-discovering) an ageless classic of the genre.

Published by Kodansha and available December 24, 2024, Ashita no Joe is about as classic a manga series as you can get. Originally published in Weekly Shonen Magazine from 1968 to 1973, it has that early Western-influenced style from before manga developed into what it is today. This story follows Joe, a drifter, down on his luck like everyone else in the slums, who turns out to be a great boxer. The action is intense and the world is dark and grimy and the story doesn't shy away from the dangers of life as a boxer. This omnibus is the first time Ashita no Joe has been published in English and it will appeal to fans of combat sports as well as those interested in the early days of manga. It wasn't really for me but I can tell it's good. Its influence can be seen in everything from other sports manga to fantastical series like Naruto. Now having got some experience with it, I'll keep an eye out for its influence elsewhere.

The hugely influential classic manga Ashita no Joe is here for the first time in English! Volume one is almost 600 pages and will be bound in hardcover and takes us through a bit of the titular Joe's life as he cheats and swindles his way into the arms of the local slum kids and then out into prison, all haphazardly guided (sort of) by an ex-boxer who wants nothing more than to see him flourish... well, mostly in boxing that is!

This definitely feels like a comic from the 60s/70s in a positive way, from the way the translation has worded the English to the more cartoony style faces/body movements especially with the kids... it's nostalgic even if it's from before my time and it's always neat to see the origin of something that's influenced comics/media SO heavily.

The story itself isn't anything super special, but the named characters stand out to vary despite the huge number of characters there are due to the settings, and while this isn't a quick read just due to the length the story itself goes by pretty quickly with nothing really unnecessary.

Thank you to Kodansha and to NetGalley for the opportunity to check this out pre-publishing!

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

This is a classic for a reason! I mostly knew of Joe through cultural reputation and the futuristic Megalobox, (which I enjoyed,) so it's nice to finally see OG Joe's story in English! I think "Fighting for Tomorrow" is a great translation choice, because I was surprised at how much the class struggle plays into the narrative. This is really good! I can see why it's been referenced, parodied, and called back to, for so many years.

I gotta say this one didn't age all that well for me.

The idea of Joe becoming a fighter is inspiring but sometimes the OG is outclassed and Hajime no Ippo would have been the better series to have brought over to the US so we can enjoy it in paperback form. Ashita No Joe lacks the fun fights, the amazing characters, and the overall flow to the story. A lot of the humor lands flat, and while I appreciate it's much loved from the community I couldn't get into this at all.

Wonderful to finally see this classic in English! Would recommend to any manga fan, young or old. Good for anyone who likes sports, rooting for the underdog, and slice of life. The presentation looks very good, and I can't wait to get my hands on my own physical copy when it comes out in December.

Ashita no Joe is one of the most important, enduring series ever. It’s referenced constantly in other series, and its final page is so iconic that it’s been displayed in the British Museum. Now, thanks to Kodansha manga, we can read it starting from the beginning. And it starts very simply: with the orphaned Joe Yabuki being a bit good at hitting things. After trying to swindle the locals, he’s sent off to juvie. But washed-up boxer Danpei Tange sees promise in him. And nothing—not prison, and not even Joe’s disinterest in boxing—will stop him from training Joe up into a champion.

Volume 1 is a weighty book, taking us all the way up to Joe’s first big fight. The translation is pitch-perfect, nailing the late-60s vibe with its speech patterns and slang. Revisiting older works is difficult, even if you’re only working on something from the 90s, so this tone-matching is especially impressive. The pages themselves look amazing, too. This is a beautifully put-together volume from people who clearly care about the material.

An absolute manga classic finally officially comes to the US - manga readers and collectors will be pleased to finally own it in print, just as I was overjoyed to read it again digitally.

While the art was really basic the story was really good. It was engaging. It kept me turning the pages. I became more and more invested as the story went on. It is extremely violent though so not great for young children. I didn't like how it ended but will definitely pick up the next one.