Ashita no Joe -- which big arc did you prefer?

[ahill1]

So there're 4 big arcs, pretty much, in AnJ --- Rikiishi Toru vs Carlos Rivera vs Kim vs Jose...

Which one did you like the most? Which are the upsides and the downsides of each to you?

 

[SSJ2]

1.

 

[Pocket-Gog~]

Rikiishi obviously

 

[Captain Cadaver]

I'd see there as only being Rikiishi, Carlos and Mendoza. Kim was more of a stepping stone towards Mendoza, who had already been set up as Joe's end goal due to having defeated Carlos before Kim was brought into the picture.

Overall, I'd say either Rikiishi or Mendoza. The former has the best rivalry and it's good to see how much Joe developed, not to mention the unconventional version of the mentor figure that Danpei was portrayed as. Meanwhile, the latter was the culmination of so many plot lines of the series and pulled off almost all of them perfectly, particularly Joe's punch-drunk syndrome and his catharsis along with Yoko realising her feelings for Joe fully.

 

[ahill1]

I'd see there as only being Rikiishi, Carlos and Mendoza. Kim was more of a stepping stone towards Mendoza, who had already been set up as Joe's end goal due to having defeated Carlos before Kim was brought into the picture.

Overall, I'd say either Rikiishi or Mendoza. The former has the best rivalry and it's good to see how much Joe developed, not to mention the unconventional version of the mentor figure that Danpei was portrayed as. Meanwhile, the latter was the culmination of so many plot lines of the series and pulled off almost all of them perfectly, particularly Joe's punch-drunk syndrome and his catharsis along with Yoko realising her feelings for Joe fully.

What would be some other highlights from the Rikiishi arc that you think were very well done? Also, what would be the culmination of these plot points in the Mendonza arc?

 

[Captain Cadaver]

What would be some other highlights from the Rikiishi arc that you think were very well done?[/quote]The realistic take on boxing as a profession would be the main one (financial problems of smaller gyms, deaths in the ring, etc.), the rivalry not conforming to the typical tropes of many (Joe never beat Rikiishi) and how many aspects perfectly captured elements of Japan's working class (Danpei's low construction wages and his gym in general).

Also, what would be the culmination of these plot points in the Mendonza arc?

Aside from those already mentioned, Danpei's role in having finally moulded an international tier pro boxer would be one, along with how Joe's bond with Rikiishi continued to shape his character in all his main battles even after the latter's death. There was also the display of how far Joe's skills and tact as a professional boxer had come to the point he needed an opponent to tap more into his wild and unconventional technique.

 

[Fantastische Hure]

The arc where...

Spoiler

THE D*** DOOR GOT FIXED!!!

 

[Papasmurf]

why the bump asshole