The current manhwa market is vibrant and dynamic, offering a plethora of choices. However, finding a manhwa with intense sports themes amidst the prevailing trends of dungeons, leveling up, CEOs, and romance can be challenging. But it’s not impossible, and “The Boxer” is a testament to that. Truth be told, upon first glance, The Boxer’s cover may not stand out or grab attention among other manhwa – it seems simple, unremarkable, and somewhat obscure. But believe me, as you start reading it, you’ll experience something that’s hard to find in other manhwa: the excitement and mystery within each boxing match.
Basic Information
- Title: The Boxer Vietnamese
- Author: Jeong Ji-hun (author & artist)
- Genre: Action, Sport, Boxing, Manhwa
Synopsis of The Boxer
Legendary boxing coach K is on the hunt for a successor. He visits a gym where Ryu is training and sees the potential for Ryu to become a star. While one might expect K to immediately take Ryu as his apprentice, he accidentally encounters Yu being beaten up in an alley behind the gym. Despite Yu sitting there quietly, his face expressionless, K senses that this boy is hiding something. K persuades Yu to become his disciple, but Yu initially refuses due to lack of interest. Meanwhile, Jay, a boy who has always been bullied by Ryu, gathers the courage to stand up against a much stronger opponent to protect Yu.
Do you have raw talent? Or are you weak? But do you have a heart? What are you willing to sacrifice? What are you made of? The real battle begins now!
Detailed Review
Overview
It must be acknowledged that this is an incredibly interesting story with nothing to complain about. The manhwa starts with a naturally talented guy, Ryu, followed by a weak yet courageous boy, Jay, and then our main character, Yu. Yu is an extraordinary boxing monster with exceptional talent. However, Yu appears as if he’s dead inside – powerful yet undefined, unstable, and unable to understand himself. Then, boxing coach K – a mysterious and unpredictable figure – recruits him, and Yu’s boxing journey begins. While the story may revolve around the world of boxing, the real highlight lies in the characters and their underlying stories.
Character Reviews
Yu:
This is the attitude of the main character, Yu, in this webtoon… He lacks any personality, feels nothing, and is essentially devoid of trust in life. Despite all of this, you can’t help but root for him and hope that he, too, can have a normal, happy life – that he is human too. While his issue seems unrelated, many of us may have had thoughts similar to Yu’s at some point in our lives – when facing hardships, losses, and the struggles he has gone through.
Yu is also a genius or a “monster” in boxing, possessing extraordinary foresight and excellent abilities. With K’s help, the dormant monster within him is awakened, defeating numerous formidable opponents with the goal of becoming a legend and surpassing K’s former most skilled disciple – Aaron.
K:
A legendary boxing coach who has trained five legendary fighters. Yu is his sixth and final apprentice before retirement. The search and training of the sixth apprentice involve defeating his best creation – Aron. However, behind this lies a mysterious veil, ambitions, and the coach’s story gradually unfolds.
Other Characters:
Although some characters make limited appearances, and some have yet to be fully explored, they play crucial roles that make the story more compelling. The author has created a diverse set of characters with unique and interesting designs. Each character receives considerable attention, allowing them to have significant depth. Many of them show great potential, adding meaning to the overall plot.
Visual Elements
Despite having the typical style of a manhwa webtoon, it perfectly complements the story. Right from the cover, the artwork immediately draws readers in. Subjectively speaking, the work is captivating, mysterious, and superb in conveying the emotions the author intends. The saying “A picture is worth a thousand words” holds true, and this work maximizes its impact. Many storytelling aspects are also executed with subtle artistic touches that the authors provide in their panels. Especially in the characters’ eyes – one can seemingly see their personalities and fire in those eyes.
The fight scenes are portrayed perfectly, even if they may be somewhat unrealistic, with characters getting knocked out in a single punch and being knocked down over ten times in one battle, which may be a bit exaggerated. However, this exaggeration makes the story more captivating, stimulating, and increases the story’s pace – no one wants to read several chapters with ordinary skill exchanges, right?
Is “The Boxer” Worth Watching?
This webtoon truly lives up to its reputation as a masterpiece that accurately balances character development with its main plot. Its unique use of elements makes it stand out: utilizing the tones of dialogue and background stories adds a lot of weight and depth when combined with subtle symbolic elements through landscapes and body language, especially the eyes. With its multi-dimensional storytelling, “The Boxer” has the potential to become a masterpiece in the sports genre. Read it and feel the excitement in every punch, the mystery, and the gaze that sends shivers down your spine… All these elements are what “The Boxer” will bring to you.
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