SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Manga
  • All Ages
  • Young Adult
  • Interviews
  • News

August 12, 2022 by Renee Scott

Blue Lock, vol. 1 | Review

August 12, 2022 by Renee Scott   Leave a Comment

Cover of Blue Lock vol. 1 showing a wide-eyed boy running after a soccer ball.

Blue Lock, vol. 1
Writer: Muneyuki Kaneshiro; artist: Yusuke Nomura
Kodansha; published 6/21/2022 (print), 2021 (digital)
Age rating: 16+

After a crushing defeat in the 2018 World Cup, Japan’s soccer team needs to regroup. In hopes of regaining that competitive edge, the Japan Football (soccer to us Americans) Union gathers 300 of its best players in a no-holds-barred training (more like prison) to select the best of the best. One of those players is Isagi Yoichi, a forward whose team recently lost a chance to play Nationals. After receiving an invitation to this unorthodox ”player improvement” program called Blue Lock, Isagi finds himself literally playing for his life to make the team. 

I found this story to be a mix of Haikyu!!!, with a dash of Deadman Wonderland, Squid Game, and every other Battle Royale (points if you get the reference) setting ever made. These players are literally in a prison-like setting, with Jinpachi Ego being their overseer who gives off villainous vibes (ex. he’s extremely creepy and egotistical *no pun intended*). While no one is killed (yet?) in the first volume, Blue Lock tends to be leaning towards a sinister agenda. Anyone who fails the Blue Lock program will no longer be allowed to compete for Japan again.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The artwork is very reminiscent of Haikyu!!!, with the action beautifully illustrated. The story, like the sport, is high octane and easy to follow. There’s never a dull moment within Blue Lock and as a reader, you hope for the best for not only Isagi but also the players he becomes close to, especially Rin Itoshi, who Isagi admires despite the fact that Rin was on the team that defeated Isagi’s. Definitely some compelling storytelling to be had with these two. I must note that the f-bomb is used pretty frequently and there are references to female characters’ breasts that will annoy some readers. 

Overall, Blue Lock is a fun, action-packed story that I highly recommend. With an anime set to be released in October 2022, Blue Lock is set to become the next best sports story.

Filed under: Manga, Reviews, Young Adult

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Renee Scott

Renee Scott is a young adult librarian based in NYC, as well as a dedicated otaku and gamer. She is a lifelong fan of comics, anime, and manga. She can be found on Twitter at @libraryladynyc, and on her review blog, The Library Lady of NYC Reviews.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

September 2023

My Girlfriend's Child, vols. 1 and 2 | Review

by Renee Scott

August 2023

Akane-banashi, vol. 1 | Review

by Renee Scott

July 2023

Daemons of the Shadow Realm, vol. 1 | Review

by Renee Scott

May 2023

School-Live!: Letters | Review

by Renee Scott

May 2023

My New Life as a Cat, vol. 1 | Review

by Renee Scott

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

The Bestselling Children’s Books of the Week

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

On Quiet Protagonists: A Guest Post from Jack Cheng

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Exclusive: New Sibling Adventure Story from Papercutz | News and Preview

by Brigid Alverson

Heavy Medal

Memoirs, big families and road trips, oh my: Wednesday Roundup: Graphic Novels

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Book Review: Kin: Rooted in Hope by Carole Boston Weatherford, Jeffery Boston Weatherford (Illustrator)

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Peter Brown Visits The Yarn to talk about The Wild Robot Protects

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Top 10 Manga of 2020

Eight Graphic Works that Offer Fresh Perspectives on the Past | Stellar Panels

15 Returning Faces for Graphic Novels Shelves | Series Update

12 Latest Installments in Transitional, Middle Grade, and YA Graphic Novel Series

15 Middle Grade & YA Graphic Novels & Audiobooks for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

Follow This Blog

Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

Primary Sidebar

  • News & Features
  • Reviews+
  • Technology
  • School Libraries
  • Public Libraries
  • Age Level
  • Ideas
  • Blogs
  • Classroom
  • Diversity
  • People
  • Job Zone

Reviews+

  • Book Lists
  • Best Books
  • Media
  • Reference
  • Series Made Simple
  • Tech
  • Review for SLJ
  • Review Submissions

SLJ Blog Network

  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal
  • Neverending Search
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn

Resources

  • 2022 Youth Media Awards
  • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
  • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021
  • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
  • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
  • Summer Programming Survey
  • Research
  • White Papers / Case Studies
  • School Librarian of the Year
  • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
  • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

Events & PD

  • In-Person Events
  • Online Courses
  • Virtual Events
  • Webcasts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Media Inquiries
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Content Submissions
  • Data Privacy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Sale
  • FAQs
  • Diversity Policy
  • Careers at MSI


COPYRIGHT © 2023


COPYRIGHT © 2023