Welcome to This Week in Shonen Jump, our weekly check in on Viz’s various Shonen Jump series. Viz has recently changed their release format, but our format will mostly remain the same. We will still review the newest chapters of one title a week, now with even more options at our disposal. The big change for our readers is that, even without a Shonen Jump subscription, you can read these most recent chapters for free at Viz.com or using their app.
This week, Robbie checks in with “Martial Master Asumi.” If you have thoughts on this or any other current Shonen Jump titles, please let us know in the comments!
Martial Master Asumi, Round 31: What’s Ahead
Written and illustrated by Kawada
Translated by David Evelyn
Lettered by Phil Christie
Reviewed by Robbie Pleasant
The fighting manga genre is often oversaturated with super-powered characters with otherworldly techniques. We’ve seen it take many forms, whether it’s called ki, nen, chakra, or anything else. That might be part of why it’s so refreshing to get a series like “Martial Master Asumi” that leans into real-life fighting techniques, but does so in a way that is both visually and narratively compelling.
This latest fight gave us some great examples of just that, showing how MMA fighters Asumi and Kuronuma both trained their techniques and studied the other to prepare for their bout. It made the fight fast-paced, brutal, and surprisingly intelligent, as they have to understand and predict the other’s moves and styles to get the upper hand. But this chapter brings the fight to a close, so while we do get a little more in the way of technique execution, it’s the emotional elements that matter the most.
“Martial Master Asumi” has done a remarkable job at getting us into the heads of each character involved in a bout, allowing us to understand their motivations and drives. It gives everyone personal stakes, to the point where I honestly wasn’t sure I wanted Asumi to win this fight. It may be his debut match, but his opponent, Kuronuma, decided that he’d retire from MMA if he lost, right after Asumi (and we as readers) got to meet him and see that he’s a good guy. It added to the emotional weight of the match, especially as we get a flashback to his training right before the end.
It also would have been easy for the manga to pivot at the end and have him go “You reminded me of how much fun MMA is, I’m not going to retire after all,” as many series have done before. But “Martial Master Asumi” is not that kind of series. It makes it clear that this is the type of world where dreams can be crushed, and people can get injured or fall short, but also that those who fight understand the game and the stakes. It makes the victory more bittersweet, but also satisfying in its own way. It also sets the stage for a nice little declaration from Asumi, helping move the story forward into the next arc.
Kawada’s artwork is also great, making solid use of details and shading to add volume and make the characters stand out. Every drop of sweat, every bruise, every muscle bulge are drawn with intention, adding to the amount of exertion the characters are using and the exhaustion they feel. The character designs also hit a nice balance between realistic looks and proportions and the more artistic anime designs, using slightly larger facial features to make them all the more expressive, and some distinct features (like Asumi’s hair and teeth) to make them distinctive.
But one of the greatest strengths of Kawada’s artwork is the way it carries the fights. The movement is fluid, using a good balance of blur and action lines to add to the speed and impact without compromising the techniques the characters are using. It makes every move feel like it matters and really hits, while feeling like real techniques people could realistically pull off. Each fight feels like an actual MMA match, keeping us just as engaged as if characters were pulling out secret techniques every other chapter.
“Martial Master Asumi” has become one of those series that are first on my reading list each week, and chapter 31 is a great example of why. Between the action-packed fights and character-driven narrative, it’s a great example of how good a fighting manga can be.
Final Verdict: 9.0 – An excellent, emotional end to Nito Asumi’s debut match, showing the stakes and consequences of MMA fights while moving the story forward.
