“Maguma is obsessed with baseball; in fact, his dream is to hit all the strong fastballs on earth. However, Maguma isn't a good team player and doesn't actually have any interest in joining the baseball team! Now, Meguma no longer gets a thrill of hitting a baseball at 140 KPH, so he decides to take up tennis, where balls can fly over 160 KPH! Will Meguma be able to handle this new speed, and will he be able to conquer such a different game?” (Torico)
Jun Fudo's GUT'S is Available Through
Azuki: Your Digital Manga Cafe
While undeniably popular, tennis does not compare to baseball or soccer in its native Japan and is not considered the most popular sport in any given country. So, while referring to “GUT'S” as a niche seems slightly misleading, it nonetheless caters to a less celebrated sport in the manga medium. As such, there is only a handful of titles one could measure Jun Fudo's “GUT'S” up against in exploring the challenges and tenacity that it takes to compete in tennis at its most elite. However, like any outstanding sports manga, it knows how to hook its audience and draw them in, even if they are unfamiliar with the sport it aims to highlight.
This is accomplished by treading familiar yet proven ground by introducing a protagonist with raw talent, endless enthusiasm, and the drive to stand above the rest in Maguma. Notably, Maguma exudes youthful energy and hubris, mimicking many sports manga protagonists who approach sports as being both green and cocksure, despite their lack of knowledge. He is not unique, but when approaching manga with a more purist look at any sport, it is the ideal archetype as Maguma's loud personality often finds others explaining his limitations, the game itself, and giving reasons to comment on his victory when accompanied by a long celebration.
There is also familiarity in the flow of “GUT'S,” with the book already building monoliths in the sport for Maguma to work towards, while simultaneously finding his own footing in tennis and developing a unique style. This includes his peculiar ‘baseball' swing, which gives the ball an absurd level of ‘top spin' on his serve. In this regard, the series also allows for embellishments and sensationalism in its interpretation of tennis, but there is sincerity in capturing the sport. “GUT'S” offers an honest and well-researched look at the game — highlighted in bonus chapters by speaking with world-class athletes — which is apparent throughout and one of the manga's most respectable elements.
Fans of the 90s era of manga will adore Jun Fudo's artistic direction, which is enthusiastic and constantly upbeat, thanks to its frenetic depiction of the high-speed sport and the always-animated Maguma. In determining the art, it is important to look at the first two volumes in the series, as the inaugural volume acts more as an introduction, with the second starting to define the artistic direction more as related to tennis itself. Azuki's handling of the art and the release is perfect in the digital format, whether on mobile or PC.
“GUT'S” delivers what most sports manga fans would want from a series: nothing more, nothing less. While in another genre towing the line could be seen as a negative, understanding one's audience and the best way to represent tennis is exactly what Fudo and his team needed to accomplish with the series, and they certainly delivered. Azuki is also home to another of Fudo's works in the competitive bike racing scene, “Bikings,” which should give sports manga fans a reason to check out the site/app.
