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geekwayne's review against another edition
4.0
'Ping Pong, Vol. 1' by Taiyo Matsumoto is a sports manga story about ping pong that is engaging and interesting.
The story centers around a high school table tennis club and it's different members. Smile (who doesn't smile) is the talented prodigy of one of the older members of the club, but Smile has his own reasons for playing, even if he has a natural talent. Day to day play and tournaments make the book exciting.
I really enjoyed this manga, as I do most sports manga I've read. I really like how the characters motivations are given, and the effort of playing and competing is shown. The art was initially something I had to get used to, but over the 500+ pages of this manga, I grew to love the odd perspectives. I also liked all the sound effects of the ball being hit, bouncing, and the other ambient room noises. It made for some busy panels, but increased my enjoyment of the book.
I received a review copy of this manga ebook from VIZ Media and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.
The story centers around a high school table tennis club and it's different members. Smile (who doesn't smile) is the talented prodigy of one of the older members of the club, but Smile has his own reasons for playing, even if he has a natural talent. Day to day play and tournaments make the book exciting.
I really enjoyed this manga, as I do most sports manga I've read. I really like how the characters motivations are given, and the effort of playing and competing is shown. The art was initially something I had to get used to, but over the 500+ pages of this manga, I grew to love the odd perspectives. I also liked all the sound effects of the ball being hit, bouncing, and the other ambient room noises. It made for some busy panels, but increased my enjoyment of the book.
I received a review copy of this manga ebook from VIZ Media and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.
bodyc's review against another edition
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
asparkofc's review against another edition
4.0
Really loved it! Right up my alley with characters I already like a lot.
its_uh_bella's review against another edition
5.0
Something about this is just so addictive. I think it's the way Matsumoto fluidly plays with perspective and shape.
cyireadbooks's review against another edition
4.0
A fast paced read with some nail biting moments. You get all of the sound effects of shoes squeaking on the floor (Kweek! Skrik!) as well as the sound effects of the ping pong ball hitting the table and paddle (the pak, pok.) You also get to "hear" the roar of the crowds -- Waah! Yaah!
A good graphic novel which could be improved with color and illustrations more like 'Speed Racer' or some other manga comics. The cover could do well with more color and having less pictures in my opinion. It was just too busy for my taste.
I really did enjoy the storyline; and wow, I'm left hanging until volume two!
Four stars for me (I really like it.)
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
A good graphic novel which could be improved with color and illustrations more like 'Speed Racer' or some other manga comics. The cover could do well with more color and having less pictures in my opinion. It was just too busy for my taste.
I really did enjoy the storyline; and wow, I'm left hanging until volume two!
Four stars for me (I really like it.)
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
whysa's review against another edition
4.0
Really cool, v engaging story (even for me who hasn't an iota about ping pong) - there was a really nice atmosphere to the story too, almost peaceful
billybookmark's review against another edition
4.0
watched the anime a couple of years ago and, like tekkonkinkreet, it does not disappoint
fun and free, matsumoto's drawings can also be devastating
fun and free, matsumoto's drawings can also be devastating
nerfsasuke's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this shit!!!! The art style (which I have drawn HEAPS of inspiration from) harmonizes with the themes of failure as it relates to growing up to an incredible effect. this manga is poignant, heartfelt, unforgiving, and warm.
emeraldreverie's review against another edition
3.0
A beautifully produced and arted book with a passion for its subject. Characters are interesting and well conceived. Not my personally preferred genre or style.
altlovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Even at the top, there’s always someone better.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I know next –to-nothing about ping pong. Despite not having a frame of reference for the manga’s main theme, I never really felt like I was at a disadvantage when reading this manga. In typical Japanese sports manga fashion, all of the action is dialed up to 11, and I was surprised at how engaging this over-the-top presentation made ping pong. You’re introduced to Makoto Tsukimoto (“Smile”) and his friend Yutaka Hoshino (“Peco”) early on, and through them are introduced to the wild ride of intramural ping pong tournaments. I especially liked how “noisy” this manga was, lots of onomatopoeia in the form of shoes squeaking, balls hitting paddles, and crowd noises all worked together to really put you there.
My only real complaint about this manga was the art style. It’s very stark, very gritty, lots of dark contrast with light. I typically like more free-flowing lines and manga-esque style and shading, which you won’t find here. That said, the story was more than enough to carry me through all 500(!) pages of this first volume despite my personal art style hangup.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I know next –to-nothing about ping pong. Despite not having a frame of reference for the manga’s main theme, I never really felt like I was at a disadvantage when reading this manga. In typical Japanese sports manga fashion, all of the action is dialed up to 11, and I was surprised at how engaging this over-the-top presentation made ping pong. You’re introduced to Makoto Tsukimoto (“Smile”) and his friend Yutaka Hoshino (“Peco”) early on, and through them are introduced to the wild ride of intramural ping pong tournaments. I especially liked how “noisy” this manga was, lots of onomatopoeia in the form of shoes squeaking, balls hitting paddles, and crowd noises all worked together to really put you there.
My only real complaint about this manga was the art style. It’s very stark, very gritty, lots of dark contrast with light. I typically like more free-flowing lines and manga-esque style and shading, which you won’t find here. That said, the story was more than enough to carry me through all 500(!) pages of this first volume despite my personal art style hangup.