Blue Box Manga review 2023
Plot Summary:
Finally, the prefectural qualifiers for nationals have arrived! Taiki, who underwent rigorous training with Haryu, will face his biggest challenge yet in a demanding doubles match. Will Taiki be able to defeat the formidable opponents from Sajikawa High School and achieve his dream of advancing to nationals? Or will his aspirations be shattered? These events are depicted in Blue Box, translated by Christine Dashiell and lettered by Mark McMurray.
Review:
In the previous volume, Taiki underwent intense training with Haryu in preparation for the prefectural qualifiers. The volume ends on a cliffhanger, leaving readers wondering if Taiki can defeat opponents from the formidable Sajikawa High School and achieve his dreams of reaching the nationals.
While the artwork in Blue Box is incredibly detailed and well-framed, the series places more emphasis on the results of matches than the actual events that take place in them. Some parts even build up to a match that is not shown at all. If one were to approach Blue Box as a high-energy sports manga that is supposed to enthrall them with spectacle, they may walk away feeling disappointed.
However, Blue Box progressively makes it more and more clear that this isn't the type of series it's trying to be. Instead, it comes off more like a comforting slice-of-life story with a sports theme. At its core, it is a simple story about characters who set a specific goal for themselves and tried everything they could to achieve it. The reason why the series is more focused on the buildup to a match and its results is because sometimes those are the only things that really matter to an athlete.
Volume 3 of Blue Box leans hard into this message more than the previous volumes, and readers can't help but get caught up in its emotions. The repetitive focus on training makes the loss hit even harder. Taiki, while not emotionally bulletproof, is a straightforward character that works well in the story. He feels the frustration and discouragement of losing, but he knows that letting those feelings take over would be pointless, especially when he has someone just as dedicated living under the same roof as him. Chinatsu serves as a source of inspiration for Taiki, and readers get to see more of her personality and worldview in this volume.
One of the series' strengths is its slow and steady character development. Chinatsu is definitely developing into more of a character in her own right, as readers see her on her own outside of Taiki's perspective. However, some readers may feel that the romantic component between Taiki and Chinatsu is not as convincing as it should be after three volumes. While the book seemingly uses infatuation as an initial spark before focusing more on individual growth, the romantic chemistry between them does not feel entirely believable. As friends who understand the frustration of pursuing their goals, absolutely, but as a couple, it falls a bit flat.
On the other hand, the slow revelation and even denial of Hina's feelings make her a sympathetic character that readers root for. However, the cost of making readers want Hina to succeed more is that the romantic triangle between Taiki, Chinatsu, and Hina is not as compelling as it could be. Some readers may not be fans of love triangles, especially when one character is set up to obviously lose a romantic competition despite having a closer and more personal connection with the lead compared to the primary love interest.
Regardless of where the romantic component of the story goes, if Blue Box continues to develop its theme of straightforward dedication with believably emotional moments through trial and error, readers will keep coming back to the series. The artwork
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