One Pound Gospel: Knuckle Sandwich

Rating:
Summary: Ego trips, bad food, rich brats, sex objects, abusive lovers
Review: Geez, I hate to say this, folks...but I kinda get the notion that almost all of our most favorite manga artists think rather alike regardless of their gender and great talents at art and storytelling. Either that, or they all rely on the same old formula: a pubescent young boy winds up into a very bizarre fantasy, becomes hero, gets pelted against a whole line of colorful opponents, chases a pretty girl, and being chased by a saucy young slut who insists on moving right into with him, sharing his bed, and cooking up horrid dinners for him. At least, that's what the whole plot is like for this one particular sequence from the whole series about a kid who's into boxing and his wistful infatuation for a dewy-eyed young nun in her flowing white robes and high-heeled laced boots. As usual, Kosaku is being forced to starve himself (oh, good grief...he isn't EVEN allowed a single drop of water!) and going through a very rigorous training program where he is being whipped half to death by a ruthless coach so he would become a victorious boxer someday. (What a great example to teach the innocent young Japanese children!) This time, Kosaku has to face about three very scary villains in the ring: a spoiled young boxer-wannabe who tries to thrawt Kosaku's self-discpline by tempting him with all sorts of rich food his money could buy, a gutsy Mexican choir-boy who uses a secret weapon to put a very tricky handicap on Kosaku, and a dangerous-looking truck driver whose busty girlfriend (moll?) had ran away from his very dominating behavior (he wanted the girl to retain her perfect figure) to coyly drape her manipulative little self upon the poor boy's anoxeric shoulders. Caught up in all those very baffling conflicts, innocent young Sister Angela watches and worries and frets and prays and nevertheless cheers Kosaku on. While keeping her real feelings at bay, of course.

Rating:
Summary: I loved this very charming story!
Review: Rumiko Takahashi writes the sweetest stories, I swear. The main character, Kosaku continues his battles with weight training and the battles going on in his heart about Sister Angela (The nun in training who he loves). In part one of the story, Kosaku gets a new challenger, a high schooler who wants to knock him out. Nothing much really happens in the first part, but keep reading, Takahashi's wit and flair will win you over in no time.

In part two of this story, Kosaku fights a new opponent from Mexico who is undefeated where he comes from. And what's with his strage tattoo that seems to prevent Kosaku from winning? This is the chapter where you can look for the most humour.

In part three, a vivacious new woman appears. Kosaku sees her as a friend, but she wants more with him to get back at her boyfriend! Sister Angela shouldn't mind, since she's given herself to god, but is it that she's . . . jealous? Part three was my favorite part of the book, because of its underlying romantic themes.

This book was much better than those before it, in my opinion, and it really gets you right in the heart. Myself, being an emotional person, almost cried. Don't worry, there's nothing sad, it's just so sweet. I recommend this book to all anime fans, especially fans of Sailor Moon or Ranma. Completley a worth-while read.