Medalist Vol. 1 by Tsurumaikada
Publisher: Kodansha
Special thanks to Coach House Books for sending a copy for review.
Summary:
Tsukasa, whose dreams were crushed. Inori, left to fend for herself. These two share a dream…and their tenacity may be the only thing that sees them through. Their destination? The ice…on the world’s stage! (Goodreads).
Thoughts:
Medalist by Tsurumaikada is a beautifully crafted manga that revolves around Inori, a young girl aspiring to become a professional figure skater. Despite disapproval from her mother and mental setbacks, Inori perseveres to achieve her goals. The story is engaging through relatable sentiments of invalidation and self-doubt. Although this is a light-hearted and amusing read, Medalist carries a powerful message that displays the importance of perseverance and determination. The combination of charming characters, a poignant storyline, and stunning artwork will make this book an instant favourite for enjoyers of manga.
The author does an amazing job of creating likable and funny characters to immerse readers into the story. The main character, Inori, is a little girl who is both adorable and determined to finally realize her dreams. Although her mother is strictly against her getting into figure skating, Inori sneaks into the ice rink anyway to skate. Inori’s determination makes her even more likable, as many of Inori’s struggles are shared with similar life experiences of readers. The part that evoked my fondness for Inori is when she attempts to trade freshly dug-up worms for admission into the ice arena. This small detail gives Inori the energy of a bird that is trying to fly and makes me root for her success. Another amiable character that I enjoyed was Tsukasa, who is Inori’s skating coach. Although he failed to reach the global figure skating stage, Tsukasa is still eager to aid Inori in fulfilling her endeavors. Tsukasa’s selflessness and compassion towards Inori paints him as a supportive older brother, which readers will enjoy and empathize with his character even more. I also personally loved Tsukasa’s playful and bubbly personality, as I could see him becoming my friend!
The storyline is also exquisitely put together and enjoyable to read. Even though Medalist focuses mainly on humorous and artistic aspects, Tsurumaikada did a great job of creating an entertaining plotline. Several segments of the story will deeply resonate with readers’ and their emotions, and further engross them in the book. I find that some scenes in manga can appear randomly or without context, but this book did an impeccable job of reducing this problem. I enjoyed following Inori and Tsukasa on their arduous skating journey, and the plot made me excited for the next volume!
Last but not least, the artwork was stunning and easily my favourite feature about this manga. Each illustration perfectly captures the mood of each scene with the character’s emotions and their surrounding environment. Oftentimes, the quality of the cover art can be an inaccurate representation of the actual book, but this was not the case for Medalist. All of the panels were intricately drawn, and it drew me in to keep reading. Additionally, I also adored the size for each panel, as it helped showcase the comedy and dramatization of the scenes. In particular, Inori’s theatrical personality and feelings were perfectly demonstrated by the large overhanging boxes, which also enhanced the manga’s appeal. While manga art rarely disappoints, the illustrations in Medalist exceeded my expectations significantly!
Medalist by Tsurumaikada is a quick and enjoyable read that is both funny and relatable. I will read this again and look forward to the next volume! I recommend this manga to readers who enjoy a heartwarming and jovial read that can brighten up your day!
Reviewed by Raymond L.