Webtoon Spotlight

Spotlight#87:The Boxer

Have you ever felt like a side character in your own life? If so, then you may relate in more ways than one as we set the spotlight on a new challenger in the ring: The Boxer by Jeong Ji-hun.

Summary

Have you ever felt aimless in life, like there is nothing you've got going for yourself? If so, then you just entered the life of Yu, an apathetic boy who lives his days quietly. However, brimming beneath the surface lies in him a talent beyond comprehension. 

Sensing said talent, the legendary boxing coach named K took the aimless boy and decided to make him his magnum opus, an almost unmatched demon in the boxing world that will wage war in every weight class. And unfortunately for everyone else, we'll have to bear witness to the birth of a monster and what may be the death of their careers.

Characters

Yu: The literal definition of all power but no purpose Yu in a sense, could honestly be considered a void. He has no compassion or any passion, and he usually wears a relatively blank expression through life. But, on the other hand, he has no qualms with violence or killing and is rather diligent. Combine that with his limitless potential, and Yu is a man trying to find a light, some purpose outside of his darkness.

K: The legendarily monstrous boxing coach, K, can be considered Yu's caretaker. Though calling him a caretaker is a stretch of that word. All he cares about is the creation of an unholy beast that'll burn his previous students to cinders, and he'll happily bring the matches and gasoline to anyone who gets in his way.

    Jay: A old high school friend of Yu, Jay is a plucky and optimistic underdog that's putting his all into boxing. Hoping one day he can face Yu again.

Overview

The Boxer is honestly the most different feeling Webtoon I've read in a while, which perfectly fits for April. The art style for the series is relatively simple, with thin outlines and textures to everything. However, out of all of the "realistic" action webtoons (Ex: Lookism, Weak Hero, Girls of the Wild), this one easily has the best symbolism. 

While we see many powerful boxers, Yu is a giant amongst those who view themselves at the peak of the boxing world. The Boxer has lots of abstract imagery like this that probably most beats most art (if there's something even to beat anyway).

And despite most of the fights being one-sided washes and limited by boxing, The Boxer still manages to get you excited for some matches. People don't realize that scale isn't how big something is; it's how big it feels, and The Boxer gets that perfectly. 

Some of the hits within the series feel as impactful as gunshots, and the brutality is gut-wrenching. Not so much in a violent sense but the cynical, depressing nature of the beatdowns. And while it's usually a nonfactor, it's nice to see how this series tries to replicate regular boxing rules and techniques to highlight certain fighters.

On that fact of brutality, though, I think The Boxer's real shine is in its innate cruelty through the cast. Take away the spectacle on display, and The Boxer is the depressing story about a man who miserably tries to find drive while having talent that most people would have killed themselves for. And that's proven time and time again through characters like the talented undisciplined Boxer Qasim and the heroic hardworking Yuto.

Every character Yu faces has a real thematic weight that makes you question real life and the innate unfairness of it all. We see their stories, backgrounds, development, personalities, and ideals on full display only to watch them get destroyed so utterly they question how to move on in life without boxing.

Each match and character introduced to have a real thematic weight, yet it never feels like they overstay their welcome. This is very much a series about life's meaning, and I very much want to know the answer this story has. In terms of temporary antagonists and overall cast, The Boxer is easily one of the best I've read, period. I can't wait to see the further adventures of Yu's former opponents.

Epilogue

Overall The Boxer is a webtoon that may have only hit its stride recently, but it's quickly going to become the next great action webtoon and an utter masterpiece. It's a story that shows you that life at the end of the day is your journey, and while it's highly possible this could be wrong, there is no inherent meaning behind it or that we may never get all we desire; we should find comfort in the things we do have in our control. 

It shows that no matter where you are, there are always problems in life and no real happily ever after. It's both a comforting yet terrifying thought considering where I am now but let's enjoy the ride while it lasts as we shine a light on another webtoon that's entering the ring.