One Pound Gospel, Vols. 1-2

By Rumiko Takahashi
Published by Viz
Rating: Older Teen (16+)

When you hear Rumiko Takahashi’s name, what do you think of? Action/romance comedies have always been Takahashi’s strong suit, though her series tend to be extremely lengthy. (Ranma ½ was 38 volumes, while Urusei Yatsura was 34 volumes!) To the serious collector, this isn’t a hassle, but to the casual reader, keeping up with a long series can be expensive and tiresome. That’s where the four-volume One-Pound Gospel comes in. Takahashi began One Pound Gospel in the 1980s, after she completed another short story collection, the four-volume Mermaid Saga. She worked on Gospel over the next twenty years, finishing the final chapter in 2007. Viz has just begun re-issuing the complete run in a new, unflipped edition that offers new readers a short and sweet entrée to Takahashi’s work.

Volume one introduces us to Kosaku Hatanaka, a fledging boxer with immense talent. Despite his powerhouse punches, Kosaku can’t seem to make weight for his fights due to his inability to control his appetite. To make matters worse, he has fallen for Sister Angela, a local nun-in-training who’s made it her mission to save this “lost lamb.” The volume is a good introduction to the story, setting up Kosaku’s relationship with his coaches, Sister Angela, and the world of boxing.

Kosaku is looked down upon as a professional because of his inability to keep his weight down. (His binges sometimes cause him to throw up during a match, earning him the nickname “The Hurler.”) He almost never lands a match and when he does, it’s usually a crazed boxer out to teach Kosaku a lesson. Kosaku’s coaches are constantly trying to help him (having him sleep in the gym, adding extra weight to his scale, etc.) but end up giving up on him as a lost cause. Kosaku redeems himself with a few wins but is back to his old ways by the end of the book. It’s the kind of cute story telling that Rumiko Takahashi uses to flesh out her characters in series like Maison Ikkoku, but it wears on you with One-Pound Gospel.

Volume two is more of the same hijinks. Kosaku gets a match with his former Pro Test opponent, a toothless mongrel who has become obsessed with humiliating Kosaku. It was good direction for Rumiko to take, giving us more insight into Kosaku’s past life and his effect on others. After that episode, Kosaku encounters a boxer, who, despite his talent, is afraid of the sport. Through sheer willpower and another proposition to Sister Angela (this time to live together!), Kosaku convinces his cowardly opponent to fight and the two duke it out. Volume two was surprisingly stronger because the boxing matches hold deeper emotions and meaning than in volume one. Volume two also delves into Sister Angela’s life at the nunnery, introducing us to the Mother Superior.

Altogether, One-Pound Gospel is a good condensed version of Takahashi’s works. The characters reveal themselves through their actions: Kosaku’s inability to stop eating, Angela’s motherly ways, and the Coach’s worrisome antics all speak for the characters more than flashbacks could. The story itself is also very appealing, as Takahashi uses technical elements from the actual sport, acting almost like an educational guide. At times the story seems repetitive, as Kosaku’s binges can become annoying, making the reader wonder when he’ll learn.

Much like Zombie Powder or Bustu Zone, One-Pound Gospel represents a transitional period in a very popular manga-ka’s journey as a storyteller and artist. Though One Pound Gospel is a good read, it’s obviously not on par with Maison Ikkoku or Ranma ½. If you’re an intensive manga reader, you’ll enjoy seeing Takahashi at an earlier stage in her career; if you’re new to Takahashi’s work, One Pound Gospel makes a good introduction to her unique comedic storytelling.

Volumes one and two of One Pound Gospel are available now.