Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow HC (2024 Kodansha) comic books

Volume 1 - 1st printing. Written by Asao Takamori. Art and cover by Tetsuya Chiba. A massive cultural phenomenon, made even bigger by the hit anime based on it. Ashita no Joe remains one of the most important manga of all time, and now it will finally see the light of day in English for the first time! A young drifter named Joe Yabuki wanders through the slums of Tokyo, but when the local ruffians try to give him a hard time he teaches them a rough lesson with his fists. The spectacle sparks a gleam in the eye of an old drunk who happens to be watching-Danpei Tange, a failed boxer and former coach who sees something special in the boy. He pleads with Joe to train with him off, but the cocky young fighter brushes him. Later, though, when Joe is arrested and put in a juvenile detention facility, he realizes that he's going to need to hone his raw fighting skills if he wants to survive. Thus is born a partnership that might just take Joe all the way to the top... Hardcover, 6 1/4-in. x 8 1/4-in., 580 pages, B&W. Rated 16+ Cover price $59.95.

Volume 2 - 1st printing. Written by Asao Takamori. Art and cover by Tetsuya Chiba. A young drifter named Joe Yabuki wanders through the slums of Tokyo, but when the local ruffians try to give him a hard time he teaches them a rough lesson with his fists. The spectacle sparks a gleam in the eye of an old drunk who happens to be watching-Danpei Tange, a failed boxer and former coach who sees something special in the boy. He pleads with Joe to train with him off, but the cocky young fighter brushes him. Later, though, when Joe is arrested and put in a juvenile detention facility, he realizes that he's going to need to hone his raw fighting skills if he wants to survive. Thus is born a partnership that might just take Joe all the way to the top... Hardcover, 6 1/4-in. x 8 1/4-in., 582 pages, B&W. Rated 16+ Cover price $59.95.

Volume 3 - 1st printing. Written by Asao Takamori. Art and cover by Tetsuya Chiba. A young street-fighting drifter named Joe Yabuki wanders aimlessly through the slums of Tokyo, but a chance encounter with a failed boxer who sees something special in the boy sparks a partnership that might just take Joe all the way to the top... Hardcover, 6 1/4-in. x 8 1/4-in., 580 pages, B&W. Rated 16+ Cover price $59.95.

Volume 4 - 1st printing. Written by Asao Takamori. Art and cover by Tetsuya Chiba. A massive cultural phenomenon, made even bigger by the hit anime based on it. To this day, "Ashita no Joe" remains one of the most important manga of all time, and now it will finally see the light of day in English for the first time! THE PECULIAR TRAGEDY OF THE BOXER. After their decisive bout, the end of Joe's great rivalry with Rikiishi sends him spiraling into the depths of despair—where does a rowdy underdog go when he has nothing left to fight for? But when an unexpected new rival provides Joe with a fresh challenge, will he be able to claw his way out of the gutter once again...? This universally acclaimed classic is much more than a sports manga: it is a cultural touchstone and a realist masterpiece, perhaps the most prominent series ever to eschew any hint of the superhuman or supernatural, yielding a keenly observed human drama that captured the hearts of an entire generation on its way to becoming a runaway bestseller. Serialized from 1968-1973, Ashita no Joe made a particular impact on college students and the working class, who saw their own experience reflected in Joe's struggle. To this day, it remains one of the most important manga ever published, and this landmark omnibus edition marks its first appearance in English translation. Hitmaker Asao Takamori was arguably the biggest manga author of his day, while the massively influential Tetsuya Chiba was awarded the prestigious Order of Culture by the Japanese government in 2024, the first manga artist ever to receive that honor. Hardcover, 6 1/4-in. x 8 1/4-in., 588 pages, B&W. Rated 16+ Cover price $59.95.