Manhwa Recaps

Wind Breaker thrives on the adrenaline of biking races to deliver a story about teenagers trying to find their way in a world that pressures them to conform. Jay Jo, the hero of the story, races to fulfill the wishes of his uncle, Mahon Jo, and as a way to relieve the stress from being forced to study all the time. Jay lives in the zone between obligation and passion, unable to let go of his desires but also unable to fully devote himself to those passions. After Jay begins racing with the Hummingbird crew, he has to learn to embrace his abilities and come to terms with his restrictive parents. Each of the cast has strong comedic moments which endear you to them, Dom being the primary example. The Hummingbird crew all have to deal with their own form of societal pressure, while also performing well in street races. The racing itself is incredibly well-done, with high octane matches and excellent art. Street biking can be done 1v1 or in groups, which gives each member of the...

Sanctuary follows a pair of hardened men who strive to overturn the current government of Japan through two methods: one twin runs for government and changes the political system from the inside, while the other becomes a Yakuza, protecting the Japanese underworld while supporting his brother. The story serves as a call to action, pitting young men with clear ideals against an old, corrupt government that prioritizes retaining its power above helping the people. The power of youth is one of the main themes of Sanctuary, as the main point of contrast between the twins and their enemies is their age and experience. The young are constantly presented as a new wave for change, the tipping point that could change the world if they only decided to participate. As a 90s manga, it features traditionally masculine men confident in their vision, with striking charisma that even convinces their enemies to root for them. The women are not treated with much nuance, mostly being treated ...

Baby Steps details the journey of Maruo Eiichiro, a straight-A student, growing a passion for tennis, employing his impeccable studying skills to make up for his relative experience. Maruo Eiichiro starts out as an exemplary student who is somewhat unsatisfied with life. He starts getting into tennis on a whim, but he soon learns to appreciate tennis and devote himself sincerely to becoming better at it. The main draw is watching a more grounded main character strive to improve through pure skill and analysis, unlike many sports heroes who have incredibly strong talent. Eiichiro's rivals all embody different ideals of high-level tennis, from being an all-rounder to focusing on pure strength. Takumi is the main rival overall, but there are plenty of engaging characters that Eiichiro must face in order to become a pro. Eiichiro's journey is based primarily on gaining a greater skill basis, so the reader can more easily understand how strong he's getting over time....

Ichi the Killer explores the demented mind of Ichi, a highly skilled karateka with powerful legs, as he kills according to the orders of Jiji, his contractor. Ichi starts out as a crybaby who looks weak and pathetic, but his deeper personality and mentality is unraveled as the story progresses. Jiji is the mastermind, developing schemes to help him and Ichi come out on top in a battle against a Yakuza group. Ichi's mentality is the main focus of the series, exploring the contradiction of a hitman with incredible fighting prowess who cries all the time while fighting. Most people see Ichi as a coward and weakling, fooled by his lack of confidence and meekness, yet the split between his internal motivations and outward appearance is one of the most critical themes of the story. Jiji is the limiter for Ichi, directing him on who to kill. He walks a tight balancing act, demanding control over Ichi while trying not to set the unstable killer off. Some aspects of Ichi's p...

Eyeshield 21 is an entertaining journey following the rise of Sena Kobayakawa as he develops his confidence and football abilities on the Devil Bats team to live up to the title of Eyeshield 21. Unlike most sports protagonists, Sena suffers from confidence issues, his main obstacle in the story stemming from his desire to grow into a capable man. The beating heart of the manga is the Devil Bats team, which starts off with Hiruma, the devilish brains of the team, and Kurita, the soft-hearted yet powerful muscle of the team. Since football is a team sport, Eyeshield 21 takes time to develop the entire team and give each player a moment in the spotlight, even the less important ones. The comaraderie and conviction of the Devil Bats is their main sticking point, as the reader becomes more invested in these underdogs challenging and defeating powerful team after powerful team.

Thrilling racing action is the defining feature of Initial D. Takumi Fujiwara is a high schooler who is secretly an incredibly skilled driver. Forged by five years of tofu delivery on Mt. Akina, Takumi is driven into the world of street racing, having to defeat high-profile racers with a beat up old 86. Initial D thrives on the adrenaline of witnessing exhilarating racing duels, to the exclusion of most traditional story elements. The art further drives home the thrill of the racing battles Takumi fights in. Although most of the non-racing scenes can feel interesting at times, the author delivers dramatic, high-octane action. The racing feels realistic and Takumi has the opportunity to race on many different courses, facing many distinct types of racers. Since its a racing manga, the author goes into great detail to examine each racing car and gives them their time to shine, especially the 86.