One-Pound Gospel, Vol. 1 (Viz Graphic Novel) [Paperback]

Rumiko Takahashi (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 5, 1996

A boxer without a prayer meets a naïve nun who might be his only chance for salvation… and victory in the ring.

 

Times are tough at Mukaida's Gym. Though a promising novice with a surprise win in his debut bout, Kosaku has since adopted a steady regimen of extremely unhealthy eating habits--enough to make his coach ready to permanently throw in the towel. Will Sister Angela's teachings help Kosaku realize that the road to victory is not paved with bowls of ramen? Or will Kosaku's burgeoning feelings for the young nun undermine his ability to concentrate on training, fighting and binge eating?

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The spotlight on Rumiko Takahashi's career began in 1978 when she won an honorable mention in Shogakukan's annual New Comic Artist Contest for Those Selfish Aliens. Later that same year, her boy-meets-alien comedy series, Urusei Yatsura, was serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday. This phenomenally successful manga series was adapted into anime format and spawned a TV series and half a dozen theatrical-release movies, all incredibly popular in their own right. Takahashi followed up the success of her debut series with one blockbuster hit after another--Maison Ikkoku ran from 1980 to 1987, Ranma 1/2 from 1987 to 1996, and Inuyasha from 1996 to 2008. Other notable works include Mermaid Saga, Rumic Theater, and One-Pound Gospel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (August 5, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569311315
• ISBN-13: 978-1569311318
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,688,145 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

The spotlight on Rumiko Takahashi's career began in 1978 when she won an honorable mention in Shogakukan's annual New Comic Artist Contest for Those Selfish Aliens. Later that same year, her boy-meets-alien comedy series, Urusei Yatsura, was serialized in Weekly Shonen Sunday. This phenomenally successful manga series was adapted into anime format and spawned a TV series and half a dozen theatrical-release movies, all incredibly popular in their own right. Takahashi followed up the success of her debut series with one blockbuster hit after another--Maison Ikkoku ran from 1980 to 1987, Ranma 1/2 from 1987 to 1996, and Inuyasha from 1996 to 2008. Other notable works include Mermaid Saga, Rumic Theater, and One-Pound Gospel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Lukewarm romantic comedy from a master at the genre, November 26, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: One-Pound Gospel, Vol. 1 (Viz Graphic Novel) (Paperback)

One Pound Gospel is Takahashi Rumiko's story of Hatanaka Kosaku, professional boxer and amateur glutton. Hatanaka has the potential to be a great fighter, if only he could tame his voracious appetite enough to stay below his weight limit. Suddenly he finds new inspiration in Sister Angela, the pretty young novice who moves into the local convent/day school. Will Kosaku manage to make weight for his next fight? Will he convince Sister Angela to forsake her vows for him? Will anyone care by the time this book is done?

Don't get me wrong - I am a Takahashi fan, and love most of her work, from classics like Maison Ikkoku and Urusei Yatsura to more recent work such as the Mermaid saga. But One-Pound Gospel just is missing something for me. For one thing, this is a series that cannot seem to decide whether it is a sports saga or a romantic comedy. The two have been successfully mixed before, most notably in Yawara!, but this seems to do neither one very well. Perhaps this is in part because so many of the scenarios in this book have been seen before. Many of the erstwhile romantic moments and/or humorous characterizations have been seen in Maison Ikkoku or Ranma, and they were frankly funnier in the original. How many times can we see the male love interest get drunk, fall asleep, and pin the female love interest under his comatose body? How many times can we see a woman who should know better get drunk in public and defend a man against his critics, all the while denying that she feels anything toward him?

The artwork is vintage Takahashi, and as such is wonderful to look at. One might quibble over the fact that Kosaku, who is supposed to be so overweight and out of shape that he must go on starvation diets before a fight, looks like he just stepped off the page of a solaflex ad. However since depictions of fat people in manga are few and far between, this is not suprising.

All in all, the Takahashi completist will want to read these books, just to see everything that the master has done. Someone unacquainted with Takahashi's work would be well advised to start with something with a better storyline such as Maison Ikkoku or Ranma.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tip my hat to One Pound Gospel, December 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: One-Pound Gospel, Vol. 1 (Viz Graphic Novel) (Paperback)

A comical, sweet blend of sports, romance and hilarius blunders, this series is a master piece. Atmitedly, I may be slightly biassed, considering this is the first of it's genre I ever read, but I was impressed by the animation and the storyline. Sister Angela, the main female character, is sweet without being ridiculously naive, an interesting contrast to Kosaku's, inoccent, happy-go-lucky nature. This unlikely and uncertain duo is delightful and sure to please. I cannot recomend this series enough.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good solid offering from Takahashi, May 31, 2003

By 

"shyviolet21" (MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One-Pound Gospel, Vol. 1 (Viz Graphic Novel) (Paperback)

I bought the first volume of this in a musty old book store, picking it up because I'm a big Takahashi fan. She seems to me to be the queen of creating what I like to call "loveable yet clueless jerks." Her male leads are usally vartiations on this. They mean well, but don't seem to pay very much attention. Kosaku is not exception. He's a goof, a guy who lets his stomach rule his mind, yet belives that everything will turn out ok in the end. This isn't ground breaking stuff- just more of Takahashi doing what she does best. Interesting characters, and a solid tradmark style- this is worth a look.