The Boxer Volume 2 highlights the viciousness and various personalities who gravitate to boxing. After pummeling Baeksan so badly he wakes up in the hospital, Yu decides to pursue boxing with renowned trainer K as his coach. Despite not being a fan of sports mangas or animes, The Boxer hooked me quickly. With tense full-color illustrations, and characters you clamor to understand, The Boxer Volume 2 is a book you cannot put down.
The second volume contains eleven chapters of explosive full-color mayhem, written by JH, with translation by Webtoon and lettering by Adnazeer Macalangcom. While the first volume showed three potential boxers going through an arc, there’s less of that in the second. Yet The Boxer Volume 2, serialized in English by Yen Press, keeps the same rigorous pace. Chapters are like a match, with flurries of action between buildups.
The Boxer Volume 2 Explores Character’s Past While Concealing Yu’s History
In the first volume, they showed Baeksun’s history of fighting and Injae’s determination to become a boxer too. Yu’s childhood, aside from a few flashes, remained hidden. The second volume does not offer any clarity about Yu’s past. What is clear is Yu lives alone in a sparse room with a black cat. Yu’s expression is vastly different compared to other characters. He lacks emotional range. Neither anger nor joy shows through, so you wonder what hellish landscape he lived through. The Boxer does a stunning job showcasing that and keeping you interested to learn more about Yu.
Adds Dimension to the Antagonist in The Boxer Volume 2
John Taker, otherwise known as the “rookie killer,” is Yu’s main opponent and first boxing match complete with crowds. The Boxer Volume 2 does not leave John Taker as Yu’s one-dimensional rival. On camera and around others, he’s loud and abrasive. But the story gives him more, showing his love for boxing and John’s determination to stay in the profession. So he plays the entertainment game, giving the industry what it wants. Knowing this makes it harder to accept the jeers of the blood-thirsty crowd.
Strength Takes Different Forms
Although a boxing manga, it’s not only physical strength. John Taker has power because, to him, boxing and his coach are his saviors. Even more interesting is Yu’s brief conversation with another boxer. Josh asks if the other rookie K scouted is stronger than Josh. Yu’s reply isn’t surprising. But the fact that Yu pictures Injae and not Baeksun brought a surprised smile to my face. Injae may not have the natural talent Yu or Baeksun possess, but he has the drive. I cannot wait to see him and Yu meet again. Injae is an underdog, and the series does a marvelous job of making readers care quickly.
Momentum Doesn’t Falter
If I had to find criticism about The Boxer Volume 2, it’s that I don’t have the third volume yet. The first volume delivered terrific character development, and this series fleshes out characters bit by bit. Tacking on the glossary of boxing terms for readers helps you understand what’s happening. The Boxer Volume 2 reminds me why this is one of my favorite manga series this year.
