What stands between you and your dreams? An opponent? A wall? A bunch of harsh rules stacked against you? Your own weaknesses? Or maybe you're just not sure if teamwork can help you get there? Haikyu!! by Haruichi Furudate is all about how some young dreamers learn that they can triumph by trusting in both their friends and in their own unique abilities…but only if they’re willing to take the risk. Oh, it's also about a Japanese high school volleyball team trying to make it the nationals.

Hinata knew that he would become an ace volleyball player from the moment he saw a star High School athlete—the "Little Giant" perform live on a nationwide broadcast. Never mind that Hinata was even shorter than his idol and volleyball is a game all about height. Or that his middle school only has a handful of students interested in the sport. He just knew that he would make it to the big leagues or bust! And so, after scrounging together his only willing classmates into a makeshift team, Hinata finally landed a match against another team led by Tobio Kageyama—an ace setter whose incredible skill is surpassed only by his elitist attitude. Despite a wide gap in experience, Hinata felt in his gut that effort, teamwork and sheer chutzpah would lead them to victory over their sneering opponents.

Unfortunately, life had other plans. Skill and natural genius toppled Hinata's half-hearted teammates, crushing any hope of gaining a foothold on a proper sports team that season. Yet, Hinata wasn't ready to fold and after spending the summer practicing on his own, Hinata entered Karasuno High School…the very same school that had produced the Little Giant! 

And he's not alone—who should be waiting to join the volleyball club alongside him but the high-and-mighty Kageyama himself? Turns out that while he'd gone on to apply for various sporting scholarships at better schools, his bad attitude and poor teamwork had torpedoed his chances with any of them. The locals at Karasuno aren't impressed either, especially once Kageyama and Hinata start fighting. Team captain Daichi Sawamura banned them from the court until they could get over themselves and work as teammates. Which was, shall we say, quite the tall order!

But as the series progresses, these two manage to work out their differences and even come to appreciate and respect each other to an extent. And along with them, the other members of team Karasuno also grow and work to overcome the challenges in their way. And by volume eight, the team has come together, but there is still a ways to go...

In this volume, they continue to face their greatest challenge yet—a game against Aoba Johsai—also known as Bluecastle. Although Karasuno has plenty of weapons at their disposal, like Kageyama's insane setting ability that can get the ball to Hinata's hands for a deadly spike no matter where he is on the court, they're up against a team that has the ability to adapt to whatever comes their way. Without being able to depend on their usual bag of tricks, Karasuno forced to improvise and try to come up with something else that's as effective.

And it's quite a game! Even by Haikyu!! standards, this is a standout game. The fight for each and every point is so intense, you may damage your manga from holding the book so tight! And the way it all ends just makes you love the series and characters even more. 

Furudate Sensei's skills as a mangaka and storyteller especially shine with how he juggles all of Haikyu!!'s components. Karasuno's entire team gets plenty of page space and development, but none of the players end up usurping Hinata and Kageyama's lead status. Likewise, all the character drama stays relevant to the plot—even expository flashbacks go beyond merely justifying a character's angst. Not that this is surprising—volleyball's status as a team sport forms one of Haikyu!!’s major themes. 

While the fate of the world may not be at stake in this manga, that does not mean it isn't epic or fun. Quite the opposite—Haikyu!! is a gripping tale that about chasing your dreams, and that's not exactly limited to volleyball, right? 

Haikyu!! volume 8 by Haruichi Furudate is available here! 

by Chris Turner