This was great - I loved the loose, descriptive art style and love that the characters' designs grew as they did (just a real high schoolers do). The action scenes were clear and kinetic and I actually learned something about ping pong. The plot was a fairly standard "mystical sports savant" story, but with a few interesting twists around the point of competition, friendship vs. winning, and what young people do when an identity they have had their whole life ("winner" or "better at sports") goes away as others grow into their talents. Great read and I look forward to reading part two and the other books by this artist.

If you were fans of the anime adaptation of Ping Pong, you won't be disappointed in the original story. Thanks to Viz for publishing this in English and the wait is worth it! The art style is all Taiyo Matsumoto and it's very interesting to see how they adapted the panels and art to the screen, which has a very different vibe.

I didn't know much about ping pong before reading this manga, but you'll learn a lot from it, along with an engaging story. The localization is great with great translation and retouch/lettering. It will be a great addition to any manga lover's collection. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Turns out I just don't like manga. Maybe the translation's not good enough but I also just don't like the artwork in general. It's too bad because I've heard so many good things about so many manga.

DNF- read only up to 20%, this was just not for me. Nothing wrong with the story or writing, just not my taste

It never occurred to me that I would one day read a graphic novel about Ping Pong, but here we are. The story was clear, easy-to-follow and engaging. I am not a huge graphics reader by any means, but I do seem to be reading them far more often as of late. This one is just not my cup of cocoa.

Ping Pong is a manga from a long time ago and it packs an interesting art style with a great story. My favorite character was Smile and I love his growth as a ping pong player. His personality felt cool and collected unlike many main characters in sport manga. The art style by Taiyo Matsumoto felt exotic as it was going for a more realistic approach to the character designs, compared to the large eyes and small nose aesthetic that is popular in popular manga series like Pokémon and My Hero Academia. Sometimes it looks a bit ugly, but I believe that’s a part of the charm. I can see why the series is popular amongst critics because the story feels so masterfully crafted from beginning to end. I learned a lot about how the sport ping pong works after reading the manga as well.

The artistry during the ping pong games are fantastic, every panel with a high-flying ball filled me with an extreme level of hype. Every bead of sweat felt like a realistic take on how intense a game of professional ping pong truly is. You can truly feel the sheer ecstasy of victory or pain of defeat.

The particular first match where Smile was playing against an opponent who hums and sings had an eerie sense of threat. I imagine in the animated series it was more haunting, because you had the advantage of using sound effects, music, and voice acting. This manga still handles the threat of this scary opponent in a famous way. The panel formation that is used between different hits from different sides of the ping pong battle board makes every swing look fantastic. The training before the final match of this volume was a bit different from the usual training arcs I see in sports mangas. The results of the final match felt very different as well. I thought the match ended in a way that felt less satisfying than I originally was thinking. However, I liked the ending it went with. There appears to be at least four more volumes of this series and I would love to see what happens next.

Overall this manga was a pleasing experience. Art was very unconventional from what I usually read, and did get a bit ugly at times. I thought the story was entertaining. I give this manga a solid 3.5 out of 5. I understand why a lot of people love this manga a lot. Worthy of a read of you love sports manga, or Tatsumoto‘s artstyle. Thank you NetGalley for the review copy!

This definitely starts out slow, and I had a bit of trouble with the art. That being said, it grows on you, and I was legitimately on the edge of my seat during the tournament in the middle of the story. I find Smile to be a really interesting character, and I want to know a lot more about him and who he becomes by the end of the volume, but I felt really disconnected from the other characters.

While many of Taiyo Matsumoto’s works have been brought over in English, one notable title has continued to be absent: Ping Pong. This 1990s classic has a huge cult following, and even got an anime adaptation by acclaimed director Masaaki Yuasa in 2014. This year, Viz Media has finally given English readers the opportunity to read the original manga, and it lives up to the hype.

Ping Pong centers around Makoto Tsukimoto (Smile) and Yutaka Hoshino (Peco), two drastically different friends that play high school table tennis. As they confront the challenges of competitive sports, the boys head down their own paths and reflect on their passion for the game.

Smile is a reserved protagonist, but what makes him so interesting is his relationship with table tennis. Smile appears to have no passion for the sport, and unconsciously holds back his effort during his games. That said, underneath Smile’s disinterest is a genuine talent for table tennis. When his coach Jo Koizumi learns of his potential, Smile’s character starts to shift. Smile becomes more aggressive in his games, and doesn’t hesitate to demonstrate his skills. Smile wanted to live life without being noticed by society, but by embracing his talents, he’s entered a hidden world. Smile’s story explores the infectious nature of a competitive environment, emphasizing Smile’s investment in table tennis itself.

If Smile’s character arc is one of growth, Peco’s is one of decline. As a child, Peco was naturally talented at table tennis, but as he’s grown older his skills have plateaued. He placed little effort into practicing the game and refining his skills, and has been overshadowed by rival players as a result. Peco represents a fallen prodigy, frustrated by his missteps but unable to improve. When Peco eventually chooses to give up on table tennis, it comes as a surprise but is also a grounded narrative choice. Peco has hit a wall in his passion, and he can’t find the motivation to overcome it.

While Smile and Peco’s lives lead down different routes, the story focuses on the impact of their friendship. Smile used to idolize Peco, viewing him as a hero in his dreary life. At the same time, Smile’s expectations for Peco obscured reality. As Smile’s skills in table tennis grew while Peco’s passion waned, the power dynamic in their relationship reversed. Smile lost the hero he revered, and while he still has tougher rivals in table tennis, his motivation is no longer tied to an end goal.

The rival players in Ping Pong are all fascinating in their own right. One of the first that’s introduced is Kong Wenge, a transfer student from China that has come to Japan to reclaim his status in table tennis. Having been kicked off the Chinese national team, Kong’s relationship with the sport is unstable. While he’s incredibly talented, he’s bogged down by his peers’ expectations and the ramifications of future failures. This is especially evident in Kong’s demeanor, forming an air of confidence to hide his own insecurities and isolation. Kong had dedicated his life to table tennis, but now his livelihood has become his biggest detriment.

Ryuichi Kazama is another key player in Ping Pong and may also be the most frightening. At first glance, Kazama is a high schooler who has simply dedicated his life to table tennis, but his choice has taken its toll. Kazama’s mind seems to revolve around the game, to the point that it’s reflected in his own ideology. He believes that winning is valuable no matter the cost, and is even willing to cast aside his teammates for the sake of victory. Kazama represents a divergent path to Smile. While Smile’s drive in Ping Pong comes from acclimated passion, Kazama’s drive is tied to obligation. This also makes Kazama’s opinion of Smile all the more interesting, as while he doesn’t agree with his mindset, he acknowledges that his talents would be beneficial on his team. Kazama and Smile’s conflicting perspectives form a great tension in the story, raising the excitement even further.

Taiyo Matsumoto has an iconic art style, and that makes his work on Ping Pong just as compelling. The manga maintains a unique aesthetic. The backgrounds have a minimalist look, but this is contrasted by the more detailed character expressions and gestures. This ties back to Ping Pong’s narrative, urging readers to examine the subtleties of the characters. This is especially true for Smile, as his mannerisms are strongly tied to the manga’s narrative subtext. Matsumoto is fully aware of what the reader needs to be told and what can be inferred, and he crafts his artwork with that in mind. As the games intensify, more layers are added to manga’s visual complexity. The panels place a heavier focus on the meticulous movements of the characters, showcasing their drive for the sport. The match between Kong and Smile exemplifies this, as the detail of the panels builds alongside the tension of each rally. Matsumoto is an artist of unrivaled talent, and reading his manga is a true pleasure.

Ping Pong is a compelling manga that excels at depicting its sport through a character driven narrative. Matsumoto’s work is astounding, cementing this title as a classic. Smile and Peco’s journey is only halfway over, but there is already plenty to love.

Ping Pong is about, well, ping pong, but is also a coming of age story about friendship. Like a lot of sports manga, much of the relationship dynamics are explored through the game. Taiyo Matsumoto is an incredibly singular mangaka. His writing is fun and keeps you invested (even for those of us not that into table tennis in real life) and his artwork is incredible and dynamic. Matsumoto captures the fast pace game on a static page, the tempo of the ball getting slammed back and forth. (Pok pok!) It is really breathtaking. I was a fan of Matsumoto already but even more so now!

Mokoto “Smile” Tsukimoto and his friend Yukata “Peco” Hoshino have been playing ping pong since childhood, but they soon found out that the game has changed when they enter high school. Their coach recruited these boys to the school team to bring forth their potential by challenging the top players in the upcoming summer tournament, including a Chinese exchange student who almost made to the Olympic Team. Now, how will Smile and Peco cope with the pressure to reach for the finals.

Those who have seen the anime when it was released will remember that one of the things that made Ping Pong stand out in comparison to other sports anime is the artwork. In comparison to the crispness of the animation and rather cute depictions of the athletes in most series, Ping Pong had a much rougher look. The same is true for the source material.

To put it simply, if you are the sort of person who wants their sporty guys to look like someone from Free! or Yuri!!! on Ice, you will want to look elsewhere. There is no cuteness round here. Taiyo Matsumoto’s artwork is deliberately rough and jagged. You see drawings of people with their eyes slightly different sizes for example. However, you also get the feel that the actual sporting action is high-paced and frantic, as the players bounce around the table to make their shots.

Read the full review at Anime UK News: https://animeuknews.net/2020/05/ping-pong-volume-1-review/

'Ping Pong, Vol. 1' by Taiyo Matsumoto is a sports manga story about ping pong that is engaging and interesting.

The story centers around a high school table tennis club and it's different members. Smile (who doesn't smile) is the talented prodigy of one of the older members of the club, but Smile has his own reasons for playing, even if he has a natural talent. Day to day play and tournaments make the book exciting.

I really enjoyed this manga, as I do most sports manga I've read. I really like how the characters motivations are given, and the effort of playing and competing is shown. The art was initially something I had to get used to, but over the 500+ pages of this manga, I grew to love the odd perspectives. I also liked all the sound effects of the ball being hit, bouncing, and the other ambient room noises. It made for some busy panels, but increased my enjoyment of the book.

I received a review copy of this manga ebook from VIZ Media and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this manga.

Hey all, Marion here, and this time, we've got something special for you here at WSS Talkback. I mean, what a time to be alive (as a manga fan)! Taiyo Matsumoto's Ping Pong has finally been graced with an official English release, and the first volume is a whopping 500+ pages! I've been incredibly excited for this ever since the initial license announcement by Viz last year, and I'm very humbled and grateful to have had the opportunity to get a review copy from them.

It might be blasphemous to admit, but this is my first jump into Taiyo Matsumoto's manga repertoire, despite having access to titles like Sunny and Go-Go Monster. My familiarity with his work stems from Ping Pong's anime back from 2012. It was a visual and thematic feast, and I'm pleased to report that the comic is just as impressive. Early on, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to stop myself from comparing it to its adaptation, even though this was original drawn and written back in 1996, in Shogakugan's Big Comic Spirits. Those worries were easily dispelled as I kept on reading and remembered just how damned good of a character drama this story was. Even knowing or remembering events as I saw them unfold again before my eyes felt more enriching than droll, alluding to how satisfyingly this can hold up on a reread. The character relationships on display were vividly portrayed with a combination of dialogue, body language, and paneling that you can only get in the medium of manga.

The story of Ping Pong revolves around two youths, Smile (Makoto Tsukimoto), and Peco (Yutaka Hoshino), and the lives of other athletes whose lives revolve around the titular sport. Smile's disposition is mostly dismissive and apathetic, contrasting Peco's bubbly, whimsical, and confrontational attitude, making for a weird pairing at first. What makes their relationship click as a reader is the gradual unraveling of a shared backstory between them, and how Peco played the role of a Hero who came to rescue Smile. Their history together is why they play the sport, and why they gradually become estranged over the course of the book.

With the flavor of a sports setting, many ideas and themes become easy to delve into and explore, and one of the easiest questions for a sports manga to ask is, "Why do you play?" Ping Pong is the series that comes along and takes that question, and instead asking it, shows you how the sport itself is so ingrained into everyone, so that you can connect the pieces and understand for yourself why the drama unfolds the way it does. I'm someone who would say that the greatest stories are ones shaped by their characters. When you read or watch something, and look back and realize that there was no other possible conclusion for how things could turn out, because that's exactly the way those characters would act in that situation--that's what storytelling is all about. How did Smile get his name? He never smiled at all, until one moment where he won a table tennis tournament against his hero Peco. Why is he so apathetic now? Peco grew conceited and sloppy without even realizing it. Smile indulges in his best friend by letting him be and not going all out against him anymore. His Hero is nowhere to be found anymore.

It's a very to-the-point observation that can be discerned pretty quickly because multiple characters realize just how talented but unambitious Smile is when he plays. Smile attracts the attention of his high school coach, Jo Koizumi, who sees himself in the boy. Jo used to be known as Butterfly Jo, who was a legend that fizzled out after a loss to an old friend he didn't want to further injure. I had the impression in the anime that Jo was basically doing philanthropic work by getting Smile to realize his lack of ambition and talent going to waste would lead to worse problems. In the manga, an extended conversation with Ms Tamura, owner of the table tennis venue that Peco and Smile frequent, paints him much more morally grey. There is definitely a sense that Jo doesn't want Smile to regret his years playing by giving way to his opponents, but there's also a desperation and harsher idea that Jo is self-inserting and molding the boy into who he couldn't be, whether it leads him to happiness or solitude. The sole goal of showing his student "the view you can only see when you win," might ring hollow when applied to anyone else, because it's such a bland, obvious motivation for someone playing any kind of competitive sport. The fact that Smile is a living void of ambition and desire to win, however, suddenly makes that idea more compelling, because of an older character who is literally seeing his past failures repeat right in front of him.

After Jo, the next person who notices Smile's habits is Kong Wenge, a Chinese athlete who was sent to Japan under the guise of teaching a school's table tennis team as a fellow student, officially at least. The real reason was that he was kicked off the Junior National team after losing and was essentially exiled to test if he can conquer the high school circuit in another country and restore his reputation. What really endears me to Kong is the fact that he has intuition to back his skills and confidence. He knows that Smile threw the set they played together, and that he underestimated the players he knew were talented. Some of the most compelling pages in this volume are scenes of Kong playing, interspersed with shots of a plane landing or taking off. My favorite line of his is "At least someone believes in his talent. I don't even have that." Referring specifically to Smile after Kong tells him he shouldn't let his talent go to waste. To me, it could be a double whammy, saying that he doesn't have anyone back in China believing in his talent, or even going a step further and saying he doesn't have talent, to the extent of Smile, who can hold back. The visual language is astounding, in terms of scenery matching a character's emotional state, or jumping from an action filled scene to a conversation of someone who lost the previous round.

Speaking of panel work, Matsumoto's paneling as a comic artist is so jaw-dropping! The majority of pages are simple, with either flat, 3-4 panels or standard rectangles dividing up the page with margins on the top/bottom/sides left for white space. It gave me an early Dragon Ball vibe in terms of how the page's "real estate" was divided up. During Kong and Peco's scrimmage, we get to see gutters for panels slant more, giving the opportunity to frame characters in more dynamic poses, and experiment with the SFX. A standout page for me is 80, where Kong's sneaker is stepping into the panel from outside of the frame, and the motion of the foot stomping is followed by shot of Kong bracing to hit the ball. Those two panels take up half the page, and it's immediately followed by a quick six panels of reactions before the actual impact. Page 81 shows the follow-through of Kong's swing with a "BWAK" descending diagonally from above the top left corner of the panel, and the trail of the ball lining up with the bottom of the "W," and the outside edge connecting to the rest of the panel. One other page that I love is 180, where Smile is trapped inside the class's utility closet, and we never see his face or body. Only a wide shot of the room.

The panel below is his foot grinding on the floor, and next to that panel is his thoughts, "This place is safe and dark." against a white background. The white begins to fracture into black and actually extends the panel below the sneaker, here in all black we see his next thought: "I feel relaxed in here." The cracks in the solid black seem to be caused by the trembling of his foot, and we can see tears falling on top of the laces. It's such a haunting scene, it's juxtaposed with a paddle hitting a ball immediately after, and we know that this is the moment that planted the seed that closed Smile's heart. Peco saved Smile from this. This is what makes their conversation at the inter-high that much more bitter to swallow, because Smile asks, "Do you believe in heroes?" and Peco says "No way." These kids still care for each other, but they couldn't have grown any less differently because of their values.

Peco's influence on Smile cannot be understated. To be completely honest, as an adult, Peco is fascinating and annoying to watch at once. He makes mistakes that everyone does. He has a ton of hubris. But he doesn't take bullying lying down. He has a charming relationship with Old Lady Tamura! He still values Smile's friendship! Seeing his spiral after losing to "Demon" Sakuma, is what brings this story back full circle. To Sakuma, Peco was a goal he could never reach as a kid. I think that without Sakuma, Ping Pong would not be as good as it is. Sakuma was dealt a really bad hand in life. He developed astigmatism, even though his father was sure that he'd grow up in better shape. He practiced the most out of everyone in his high school, and even though he was able to beat his first rival, he couldn't match up to the kid he used to beat all the time when he was younger. Sakuma's story is really important. He's the athlete that continues to put in effort even though everyone else around him is constantly going off about "talent" this, "gifted" that. The final nail in the coffin of his idol, Kazama "The Dragon,": not giving a care about him after going out and risking the future of his athletic career is beyond damning.

What makes his story so important to me is the fact that Sakuma has no allies, at least in this volume. He has scraped his self up from the absolute bottom to the edge of the cliff known as skill, and was smacked and tossed back down after confronting the harshness of reality. Everyone else around him who was blessed with talent was also fortunate enough to have been noticed and fostered in environments that gave just as much training as he gave to himself. It's absolutely brutal, and a lesson that aside from sports, is also necessary to confront in life itself. Sakuma's reaction to immediately give in to rage at his loss to Smile and violently lash out at the first person to blow his fuse is something that I've witnessed so many people experience. Just as Smile's disillusionment with Peco turned him into the "Robot," Sakuma's descent into "Demon" is also something that stemmed from Peco. What satisfaction could come from beating your old rival if he's just washed up, and less extraordinary than when he was a kid? You could almost say that with the departure of Peco being a Hero, Sakuma had not choice but to fall.

As someone--a former athlete--who related to every single character in some way on multiple viewings of the show, Sakuma is someone I can't feel pity for. What I feel is more along the lines of deep, deep, sadness. I know what it's like to love something with your whole being but not feeling like you can amount to anything. I also thought the world was a harsh marathon, where I started several paces behind others because of a lack of talent. When the enjoyment of a sport no longer comes from the act of participating in it, there's a tightrope that's hard to balance on. Your self esteem now hinges on being able to justify the amount of time you put in, being able to win or show some kind of results. To an extent, this kind of behavior is necessary for finding motivation, but it can be just as toxic. When your entire life becomes about results, you turn into Kazama, who locks himself in a bathroom stall to self-isolate and question your entire being. Part of Smile's apathy also comes from an intuitive awareness that no longer playing for fun will transform table tennis into a chore. The inability--or lack of desire--to turn your hobby into something routine is something that many, many athletes face as an obstacle, including Peco, who just messes around while touting himself as a skilled player.

What makes Peco fascinating is the way that he juggles the drive to be a good player, and what an absolute idiot he is. He wants to be in the Olympics, but he only plays money matches with chumps who don't know his reputation. He skips practice all the time because he's super complacent. He's an absolute tool and if this were a live action tv show, I'd say he makes for good tv. But we jump into the story in the middle of his complacency. We don't know why he got into table tennis, what made him love it so much that he developed that dream. He still has so much respect from Smile even though his attitude toward improving at the game has basically flatlined. He is also the most emotive character! In this volume we get losses for him from both Kong and Sakuma! He is bitter, cries, and ultimately gives up on the sport, even though he never vocally said it. Ironically enough, it's Smile who says "I quit," to Coach Jo even though he comes back later and essentially acts like a foster son to him and his wife. The fact that he still goes back to Tamura's venue to "help out" just goes to show that there really isn't much in his life besides this game. Facing his first real losses, in a greater story (which I know this to be) will be the catalyst to fixing his complacency.

The complex web of relationships in Ping Pong is immensely satisfying to unravel as a reader. I know many people I couldn't convince to watch this series in an animated form. Taiyo Matsumoto does have a very unique art style, maybe even divisive to some. Like any good sequential storytelling worth their salt, though, Ping Pong is easy to read. With panels that are neatly segmented with margins of white space on the edges of the pages, the readers eyes are never lost. Matsumoto seems to have hand drawn all the backgrounds, and very minimal screentones are used throughout the book. Instead, there's an emphasis on inking blacks and making use of white space whenever backgrounds are light in order to draw attention to body language and a sense of movement between action panels. My favorite aspect about the art in general is the contrast between how hyper-realistic the faces can get on closeups, and how distinct silhouettes and structures can appear in farther shots, like in page 256, where Sakuma is looking for Kazama and spots him sitting with Smile in the rafters. Throughout all of Kong's first inter-high match, actually, you can see many characters from both Smile's school and previously established elsewhere in the crowd shots! Matsumoto's style has faces that can be fraught with lines to show creases in brows, laugh lines, forehead wrinkles, and more to show emotion, or just as easily draw a fewer lines to imply movement like lips moving or a scowl. Included in this volume is a Ping Pong Episode 0, originally published in 2002, about Tamura. Tonally it reminded me of something like the Pikachu's Vacation shorts you'd see before watching a Pokemon movie in theaters back in the 2000s. Overall, not necessary, but definitely appreciated!

I don't really do ratings, but to me, Ping Pong is a perfect manga, and I cannot wait to have the next installment. I'd like to thank Viz Media for the review copy. You can find this book in print at places most manga are sold, for a MSRP of $29.99.

With the world’s lack of sports entertainment due to COVID-19, one may not think a manga about ping pong would be the way you can get your fix of fierce competition, intense drama, and players to root for. However, mangaka Taiyō Matsumoto’s Ping Pong brings all of this in spades as it doubles as both sports manga as well as a coming of age story for two kids. Despite being originally released in Japan in 1996, the series has remained popular through a 2002 live-action film, a 2014 anime television series, and now in 2020 with the manga receiving an English publication through Viz Media translated by Michael Arias.

Unlike volume 1 of the original Japan run of the manga which features only eleven chapters, Viz Media’s English translated Ping Pong Volume 1 release has a whopping twenty-seven. The manga focuses on two table tennis playing high students who are essentially your traditionally opposite personality protagonists. Yutaka Hoshino or “Peco” is largely cocky and carefree while Makoto Tsukimoto or “Smile” is much more reserved and only smiles when playing table tennis. The two become friends early in their childhoods and remain close as they enter high school and are recruited to the school’s table tennis team. Readers follow the duo as they attempt to make it to become Japan’s best with their first chance being in a summer tournament.

The story is relatively fast paced and 500 pages fly by as you learn not only about the two main characters but a host of colorful characters who readers to come know. To call them side characters really feels like a disservice as all have their own stories and approaches toward ping pong are fleshed out surprisingly well for a manga primarily focused on two characters. This is where Ping Pong really differs from other sports media I have consumed before. It quickly becomes apparent that the game is merely a medium for Matsumoto to give commentary differently we as people approach the same goal and deal with the same obstacles.

Despite being the first volume in the series, failure is rampant throughout Ping Pong Volume 1 Our two young prodigies, Peco and Smile, fail just as much as the players they defeat in summer tournament. However, everyone handles their defeats differently. Despite all having a burning passion for table tennis, they are all invested for a different reason that is much deeper than the love of the game which causes the stakes of failure to be much higher for some characters. With that said, the way that each player deals with the failure, even ones seen as antagonists, provide a very realistic insight to working to your dream.

Ping Pong

Failure is going to happen at some point and there isn’t an end all be all on how to deal with it. Sometimes you are your own worst enemy. Sometimes your hardwork isn’t going to trump talent. Sometimes you need failure to fuel you regardless of innate talent. Sometimes you need to accept failure and use it to guide to your next goal. Not everyone is meant to be the next LeBron James or Serena Williams but that does not mean you aren’t going to find your happy ending. I am eager to see not only how Smile and Peco deal with their already apparent adversity but the other characters as well.

Initially, the art style that Matsumoto utilizes was a bit jarring to my eyes. The scale of objects and body parts isn’t always scaled correctly and the lines are frequently drawn wobbly. This lead me to focus much more on the story for many of the early chapters. However, it later became apparent to me once the games began to take place and background of characters were provided that Matsumoto truly has a talent for making simple lines jump off the page. The matches are intense and are coupled with additional imagery that truly embody the stories that are weaved for the characters earlier on in the series. By the end I was memorized and even went back to the earlier chapters to fully appreciate what I had missed. Do not let the art style be the thing that makes you put this manga down.

I do not pretend to know much about the sport of table tennis. I half picked it up as a review because I was expecting a Balls of Fury-esque action sports series. I was pleasantly surprised to get a to experience a story that reminds me more of shonen in its themes and character development than any other sports manga or anime I have come across.

Ping Pong truly transcends sports manga to give a much deeper story than anyone will expect with a story about two kids playing table tennis. After one volume, I can’t say I learned too much about table tennis as much of the rules and terminology aren’t really explained like in other sports manga/anime. However, I did come away with a much different perspective on failure and the differing motivations of others who are competing towards to the same goals as I am. In the end, I believe that is outcome Matsumoto desired and I for one am grateful for it.

You have Smile and then you have all the other table tennis players.

Peco is determined, wanting to be the best, but he's not nearly as obsessed as some of the others.  Demon (Manabu) and Dragon (Ryuichi) are more focused, bordering on obsessed with being the best.  Lastly, there's Wenge.  Disgraced, he left his home to come to Japan in an attempt to regain his glory and return to China.

That leaves us with Smile.  He's really the best of the best although ping pong isn't his dream, unlike all of the others.  Smile plays because he enjoys it, but the training, the practicing, all the stuff needed to be truly good, bores him.  However, his natural talent and love of the game draws him into the competition despite himself.

Each has their own reasons for playing, their own style, and motivation.  These internal desires push the players to do their best and, as it is in the way of sports, develop rivalries as well as partnerships, with the other players.

Although table tennis can be fascinating to watch - I'm far too uncoordinated to return a simple lob! - it never was something that interested me a whole lot.  However, I know that it is big in a lot of areas much like basketball or football are here in the states.  So, I thought that, even without a good knowledge of the techniques and styles, the competition would draw me into the story.  I'm glad I took a chance on this unusual manga.

I will admit that I was hesitant in regards to the art style at first.  It seems simplistic but the deeper you get into the manga, the better it suits the story.  This is shown best during the match scenes where the clean, clear lines of the art effectively presents the stress, the anticipation, and the fears of the players.  Oh, and the triumphs as well.

Ping Pong is fast-paced and full of drama and tension.  The characters are dynamic and likable, even when they're being obnoxious jerks.  I was drawn into the struggles and achievements of each player, wanting the best for them all in the end, even if I wasn't rooting for them at the start.  Despite being the biggest manga I've ever read - a little over 500 pages - I'm anxious to see how the story ends in the next volume.

Sports manga is a genre that I'm not sure has developed widespread popularity outside of Japan, there it's pretty huge, readers love consuming stories portraying a characters rise from nowhere to ultimate glory, especially in a high school setting. Despite knowing this, I've never read a sports manga myself, that changed with Ping Pong by Taiyo Matsumoto.

Ping Pong tells the tale of two high-school kids, Yutaka "Peco" Hoshino and Makoto "Smile" Tsukimoto. Peco is the all-natural talent, plays aggressively and is cocky, as is always the case in these things, you'll be unsurprised to learnt hat whilst he appreciates his ability he doesn't really do anything to nurture it. Smile is also naturally talented, but a lot more disciplined, though he seems to lack the killer edge to win important matches. He initially gives the impression that he's not really bothered about developing his ability, but before long the high school ping pong coach takes him under his wing and gets him practising hard whilst Peco begins to go off the rails and discovers other things in life to enjoy (junk food and video games). 

In this first volume, and despite it being over 500 pages long, there's not a huge amount of plot to absorb, there are rival schools, a Chinese player who is hired by one of the rival schools and a few other bits and pieces, the dialogue is stilted and clumsy making it hard to follow, whilst it can also get rather retentive. Towards the middle of the volume we're treated to a big tournament, which is where the cast starts to grow, Peco and Smile, along with a few others, head off to represent their team: Katase, and whilst they're not successful, it's here where the two leads' fortunes change.

Where Ping Pong stands out though is in its artwork.

Characters are all distinctive, but their design is still subtle and refined, there's hardly any outlandish over the top Shonen style work here. The only time anything gets confusing is when we're spending time with the students who represent the Kaoi team, who are ultra disciplined, to the point where they all sport shaved heads and identical uniforms, though Matsumoto applies enough subtle differences to tell the two key personnel from this team (Kazama and Sakuma). 

The artwork during conversations doesn't really help the dialogue flow, however, when we get to watch the players performing, things kick-off and the artwork takes a life of their own. The intensity bursts from the pages, with extreme close-ups of the players' grips, foot positions and facial expressions, whilst the panels do the work of the ball zipping across the table, back and forth, the borders fitting together like shattered glass. It's exhausting and exhilarating to read and during these spells the page count flies by, unfortunately, they're dragged down by the dialogue.

Knowing very little about the sport of ping pong, I picked this one up hoping it would give me some insight into the competitive sport. Pretty quickly I was feeling lost and struggling to follow the character development and plot details. The simple line art is very interesting to look at and does a good job of highlighting the character's personalities.

I think this is a great option for readers that have an understanding of ping pong on the competitive level and are interested in a story that follows a rising star. Unfortunately I felt too lost after a couple of chapters and didn't have enough information about the sport and the school before reading to be able to fully follow the story.

Ping Pong is a story about Peko and Smile, two friends with a love-hate relationship with ping pong. This volume follows them as their relationship with the sport changes and affects how they see the world and themselves.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE WORK
Ping Pong Volume 1 focuses on the nature of competitive sports, friendships, and rivalry. It also examines what constitutes talent and whether hard work alone can lift us above our capabilities.

This is a story that goes beyond ping pong. It looks at the extent to which we humans can drive ourselves in the name of acceptance and mastery.

ANY DISLIKES?
The art style can form a significant barrier to entry. However, once that is overcome, the story soars.

WHO IS IT FOR?
Lovers of sports manga and comics will love this.

Many thanks to Viz Media for the review copy.

Ping Pong follows childhood friends - Peco & Smile - as they wade through the trials that come with being high school table tennis hotshots. While incredibly talented at the sport, neither can seem to take the game seriously in their own separate manner. Smile’s defeatist, never-caring attitude is constantly challenged by Peco, who not only wants to see Smile achieve ping pong greatness, but wants to see Smile enjoy life itself. With this to balance each other out, Peco and Smile aim for greatness against rivals from their childhood, and prodigies from abroad.

This is the perfect manga. It's the perfect coming of age story, and the perfect masterclass in writing friendships. Ping Pong is so skilfully written, that it makes a mundane game like ping pong seem like the most important thing in the world. Much of the charm in Ping Pong is that the characters take this game so seriously. To them, it’s more than just a game. For some, it's their livelihood. For others, it’s a stepping stone to what’s next in life. Whether they yearn for greatness, or ache to pass the time, they show you that all you need is a paddle and a table. If you read one manga in your whole life, make sure it's Taiyo Matsumoto's Ping Pong.

A fun manga art style, enjoyable to read and very quick to read as the story progresses at a fast pace.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.