While every sports manga is different, they tend to have certain ingredients in common, and one of the most important ones is a good rivalry—two characters that just can’t stand each other. You’d think this would be bad for a team, but the rivalry in sports manga makes the characters stronger as they both push themselves past their limits to show the other up. And it’s a great hook to keep the reader’s attention because they know if these two can get past their differences, the team will be so much stronger. Haikyu!! has one of the best rivalries in modern sports manga.

One of the reasons it’s so good is both characters are very talented, yet deeply flawed. Kageyama is a great setter and all around player, but he treats his teammates like trash and has earned the nickname, “King of the Court.” Not king as in he’s really good and dominates, but king as in he’s a tyrant that can’t play with others. Hinata is also a talented player, but short! Yes, a short person on a volleyball team is a huge disadvantage. Luckily for him, he can jump crazy high and is fast. He’s also kinda dopey and lacks experience.

Right off the bat, these two can’t stand each other and sparks begin to fly. However, they both still have a burning desire to play volleyball on a good team and that leads them to enrolling at the same school. The school’s volleyball team can see both are very talented, but a team, especially a volleyball team, must be able to work together. So they’re given one chance to make the team if they can learn to cooperate in a trial game. That’s a big IF.

Of course, as a reader, it’s impossible not to root for these two to put aside their differences because they both want to play so bad. And it’s easy to understand why they don’t get along, they’re total opposites. Kageyama, the “King of the Court” is arrogant, cynical and very knowledgeable about the sport. Hinata is humble, naïve and, while he has great instincts, he does not know a lot about the specifics of the game. But even from the first volume, it’s plain to see how they could become a great influence on each other. And become an asset to the team. If they can get it together!

Aside from great rivalry, the manga also has a lot of other appealing qualities. Although we only get to meet a few other characters, they’re all very likable. The dialogue is entertaining and plentiful. There’s actually quite a bit of talking for sports manga. The art is slick and even inspired at times, especially during the games. By exaggerating anatomy at dramatic moments and the expert use of speed lines and cool angles, mangaka Furudate Sensei makes volleyball look both intense and amazing.

Another asset to the manga, and something I don’t normally notice in most series is the sound effects. They are really good and sometimes downright hilarious. The sound of a ball hitting someone’s face, “BLAT.” The sound of a set, “TUP.” The sound effect of a wall of hands coming from the opposite side of the net, making it impossible to spike, “LOOM.” Not only is the translation for the effects clever, the lettering is great. The effects are wedged into the art so well, it seems like they were meant to be in English.

And aside from all that, this manga has a great tone. Although it’s serious and there is a lot of drama, there’s plenty of comedy and lighthearted moments to balance it out. And Hinata is such a loveable goofball, it’s impossible not to want to see him, and his rival, succeed.

And since this is a sports manga, and I've always wanted to be a bad sportswriter who peppers his articles with terrible sports puns, I'd like to end this review with some. 

Haikyu!! has it all—a great rivalry that BUMPs up my interest and SETS this manga up for a major SPIKE in popularity! Mangaka Haruichi Furudate is on the BALL and has found a way to COURT the fans which should NET some serious sales. Don’t let your distrust of sports manga BLOCK you from JUMPING into this tale…and I’ll stop there. Seriously, give this manga a chance, even if you hate sports manga, I think you’ll be surprised.

To pick up Haikyu!! and make your own terrible volleyball puns, click here. 

by Urian Brown