Fuyu Hanabi

I read this manga expecting an average manga about boxing... What I got was a hidden gem. First, let me get this point straight to you, this manga is underrated. Now I know what you're thinking, that this is just one of those average manga. But a lot of work and effort has gone into this manga to make it perfect. Now, let's get into the review. Story - 9/10 Fuyu Hanabi's story is actually quite good, great even. It has a nice balance of comedy and tragedy, and a bunch of small twists and cliffhangers to keep you awake. However, this manga didn't just keep me awake,it turned the pages for me. Some people may say that the story doesn't know what it wants to be. But it sure as hell knows what it wants to be. It is a touching and motivating story, filled with the harsh truths of the world. However, it also teaches you that you don't need to achieve your dream to be happy. The story does an amazing job of telling a great story in 9 chapters. Art - 9/10 This is probably what people dislike the most about this manga, but truth to be told, the artwork is actually amazing. Especially for its age, since this was the popular manga style back then. The backgrounds and people are detailed, and the emotions of the characters are easy to spot. Somethings are a bit off, but the art is appealing and detailed overall. You can see all the work that the manga-ka has put into the artwork. Character - 9/10 The characters are great, and their development is obvious through the course of this nine chapter manga. Both of the main characters are loveable, and their emotions really get through to you, thanks to the great art and dialogue. The only reason that the characters aren't 10/10 is because of the fact that a few of them are quite generic, especially the villians. Enjoyment - 10/10 As I said before, this manga kept the pages turning for me. I didn't even want to go to sleep while reading this late in the night. The romance, action and amazing pacing of the manga made me enjoy it to the max. Overall -10/10 All in all, I enjoyed this manga an extreme amount, and I really believe it deserves more than a 7 (This was the score at the time I wrote this review). I really believe that if you stop reading mainstream manga, and try to go a little off course into the less well known manga section, you will find a masterpiece.