Manga Review: Haikyu!!, Volume 34, by Haruichi Furudate

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 2019

Volumes: 42+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 33. 35.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shoyo Hinata is out to prove that in volleyball you don't need to be tall to fly!

Ever since he saw the legendary player known as “the Little Giant” compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else?

The long-awaited Dumpster Battle has arrived! Nekoma, known for its focus on defense, shocks everyone by going with aggressive synchro attacks! Meanwhile, Tsukishima watches blocking master Kuroo effectively curb Karasuno’s assault and declares he can’t outdo the other…at least, not on his own!

Review:

The game against Nekoma feels a lot more personal than the others have. While the previous game was very intense, and others have had very specific rivalries, Karasuno's relationship with Nekoma is more personal. There's definite rivalries here, and we're getting to see which characters relate more to each other as well. But there's also a different kind of familiarity and bond between these two teams.

Nekoma was the first team that Karasuno really played against, but this is also their first real game against each other. They've practiced with each other several times. But this time it could really matter, and they're all invested in seeing who wins this time.

There's also the cheering section, which has a few well-known family members. It's nice to see them cheering and angsting over the game with everyone else.

Most of this volume features the first set. Both teams have grown a lot, but it takes a while for Nekoma to fully analyze the changes that Karasuno has gone through and how to counter them anew.

I definitely think this game is going to last a bit longer, and I am here for it.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Haikyu!!, Volume 33, by Haruichi Furudate

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2019

Volumes: 42+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 32. 34.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shoyo Hinata is out to prove that in volleyball you don't need to be tall to fly!

Ever since he saw the legendary player known as “the Little Giant” compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else?

The final points between Karasuno and Inarizaki are tossed back and forth, as neither team is ready to give up just yet. Both teams struggle to finish the other off and declare victory, but with the clock running out, will Karasuno be able to win the final set, or will Inarizaki send them packing?

Review:

All they do is play volleyball in this manga, in this volume even, and yet it's nerve-wracking and I have so many thoughts about it. Enough that somehow I still have words to say about it.

The game against Inarizaki finishes in the first half. It's a hard game, for both teams, and leaves them exhausted. All but Hinata, because he's just so pumped and ready to keep going.

During this tournament, there's a voice over. It makes sense, since this is a bigger game, and one that's being broadcasted. I also wonder if it helps some of the readers follow along, given the huge cast? I don't need it for that, but it's still fun to read. Along with that, we're getting a bigger audience following Karasuno. Since this is broadcast, we're getting to see everyone we've met, all the other teams, watching along and cheering. Plus the cheering in the auditorium for them. When we get to see Nekoma in the second half, we get to see the other family members in the audience, and I like that. It's easy to feel like one of them, watching and cheering along.

This series just gets me so pumped and all my fangirl feelings raring to go. I'm ready for the next one, to see where the next game goes.

Manga Review: Haikyu!!, Volume 32, by Haruichi Furudate

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: May 2019

Volumes: 42+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 31. 33.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shoyo Hinata is out to prove that in volleyball you don't need to be tall to fly!

Ever since he saw the legendary player known as “the Little Giant” compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else?

Galvanized by Atsumu Miya’s selfless setting, Inarizaki gets back into a groove! It’s the back half of the last set, and Inarizaki is in the lead. But right when the Miya Twins think they’ve got Karasuno dead to rights, their attack is stopped by the last person anyone expected!

Review:

I'm not a sports fan, at all. And somehow this is the only series that has gotten me so very much into any kind of sports game. But man do I get into these volleyball games. I want to cheer right along with the crowds in the manga.

This volume continues the game against Inarizaki. They're in the third set, and it's intense. It feels like one of the most intense games they've played at this point. It's a very close game the entire time, and a few times Inarizaki thinks they're winning and beating down on Karasuno's morale. But the thing about Karasuno is that they know how to turn themselves around, and the longer a game gets, the more pumped Hinata becomes sometimes.

There isn't very much background stories in this volume. There's more growth between the characters, moments where they form new understandings with each other and push each other to do better.

All leading to the cliffhanger. This game will be ending in the next volume, and it could go either way at this point. It's intense.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Haikyu!!, Volume 31, by Haruichi Furudate

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: March 2019

Volumes: 38+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 30. 32.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shoyo Hinata is out to prove that in volleyball you don't need to be tall to fly!

Ever since he saw the legendary player known as “the Little Giant” compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else?

Inarizaki’s Atsumu Miya has found a target to pick on, and he’s racking up service aces off of…Nishinoya?! Even though Karasuno is falling deeper and deeper into a hole during the second set, they’re still slowly chipping away at Inarizaki’s momentum. Will they get their chance to turn the tables?

Review:

This volume almost solely focuses on the game. There isn't very much character background, only some introspection and struggle and competing. We see Nishinoya getting a little frustrated, as he's focusing and trying to perfect his playing to counter the other team. We do discover that he used to be a scaredy-cat, until he learned it was a waste, which is a cute tidbit about him.

It's an intense game, and they're giving all they've got to win against Inarizaki. It looks like the game will be going for a bit longer, though.

Manga Review: Haikyu!!, Volume 30, by Haruichi Furudate

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: January 2019

Volumes: 37+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 29. 31.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shoyo Hinata is out to prove that in volleyball you don't need to be tall to fly!

Ever since he saw the legendary player known as "the Little Giant" compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else?

Review:

The first half of this volume was all about Ryunosuke, and honestly, I'm all for it. We get to see what happened when he first joined the team, as he's faced with a tough opponent, and is determined to stay upbeat even though he hasn't done much in this game yet. He struggles, but it doesn't last very long. Ryu is pretty optimistic, which annoys his teammates after a point. He doesn't let himself get down. This also counts for love, and I'm intrigued by his devotion to Kiyoko. It makes me feel bad for his childhood friend, though.

In the latter half of the volume, we got to see Nekoma's game, and this meant a backstory on Kenma. This was also really interesting to me. I like Kenma a lot, and enjoy his odd friendship with Hinata. Seeing what made him join volleyball, and his long friendship with Kuroo, was nice. It also made me understand him and his gaming obsession better. It makes me like his contrasting friendship with Hinata even more.

I'm excited to see what happens next in the game. It look like Nishinoya is next, and I'm also excited to see his story, because I love him as well.

I love most of these characters, though, to be fair.

Manga Review: Haikyu!!, Volume 29, by Haruichi Furudate

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: November 2018

Volumes: 37+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 28. 30.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shoyo Hinata is out to prove that in volleyball you don't need to be tall to fly!

Ever since he saw the legendary player known as “the Little Giant” compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else?

Review:

They're still in the first set of their game with Inarizaki. The twins are a new kind of opponent for Karasuno, and despite it feeling like they're up against a whole other level of teams, they're really quite evenly matched.

First of all, Karasuno's cheer squad shows up. They're there to show those other teams up, to prove that Karasuno also has some loud and active fans, some real support. It's super sweet to see them all show up (though too bad for Tsukki's brother), it makes me happy to see them being cheered on (and I loved seeing Shoyo's reaction to being cheered for directly—so adorable!), but it's also good for this particular game. Inarizaki's cheer section needed to be quieted, to be countered so they were less distracting.

Inarizaki takes a lead, but it doesn't take long for Karasuno to catch up, and even try to surpass them. It's an intense start to the game. There are some mess-ups (Hinata gets stuck in his head and focused on trying a new technique a few times), but there are also some really good plays by their members. Inarizaki proves to be a tough competitor, as they show Karasuno that they're also quick learners and willing to try a new technique mid-game. Hinata and Tsukishima both play a particularly good move in this volume.

There's a lot of emphasis in this volume that Karasuno doesn't have the luxury of giving up, and it's a nice sentiment, and also true for them. Karasuno has worked very hard to get where they are, and they don't have the time to worry about what's happening, to waste feeling depressed or upset or disheartened. They have to take what's happening and continue trying hard, continue trying to win over the other teams.

I think this is going to be a long game, and I'm curious to see what happens next.

It's kind of crazy how in-depth and utterly captivating just one game of volleyball can be in this series, especially to a non-sports fan.

Manga Review: Haikyu!!, Volume 28, by Haruichi Furudate

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: October 2018

Volumes: 36+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 27. 29.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shoyo Hinata is out to prove that in volleyball you don't need to be tall to fly!

Ever since he saw the legendary player known as “the Little Giant” compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else?

Karasuno wins their first match of the Spring Tournament! Hinata goes to watch Fukurodani and Nekoma play their games and runs into the other Little Giant from the All-Japan Youth Camp, Kamomedai High’s Korai! Then day two of the tournament begins, and the seeded teams join the fray!

Review:

Since Karasuno won their first game, the first half of this volume shows them prepping for the next game, and they get to watch the other games going on. They get to see Fukurodani and Nekoma play. The biggest moment, though, is when Hinata sees Hoshiumi, his real competition for the Little Giant spot. This could have been intimidating and upsetting for anyone else, but Hinata takes it as inspiration. Just like how Kageyama reacted when they met, Hinata wants to do what he's doing, and better. It's a good comparison for him, though.

In the latter half of the volume, Karasuno starts their second game. It's against Inarizaki, a big competitor for them, a team that has come in third before. It sounds like a team that would be hard for Karasuno to play against, but they've come a long way. This new team has some good players on it, but a large part of it is that their audience is trained to help them. They go quiet for concentration, but then boo and make noise to mess up when the other team plays. It's a very dirty way to play, in my opinion, and I look forward to seeing Karasuno's audience compete with it.

This series is so good. I really enjoyed the scene where Hinata gets to watch Hoshiumi play, and when he attempts one of his moves during their next game... That moment made me pause reading, I was laughing so hard. Man, I love Hinata so much, sometimes he's so ridiculous. Adorable.

I'm excited to see how the game goes from here. Karasuno is doing really good so far.

Manga Review: Haikyu!!, Volume 27, by Haruichi Furudate

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: September 2018

Volumes: 36+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 26. 28.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shoyo Hinata is out to prove that in volleyball you don't need to be tall to fly!

Ever since he saw the legendary player known as “the Little Giant” compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else?

Round one of the Spring Tournament begins! Karasuno faces off against Tsubakihara Academy, a team that’s come to nationals for the second year in a row. Karasuno’s difficulty navigating the court in such a huge gymnasium quickly becomes apparent, and the one suffering most is Kageyama! Plus, the Tsubakihara players aren’t pushovers, and they have a secret weapon!

Review:

Karasuno is competing against Tsubakihara in this volume, in their first spring tournament game. It takes them a while to get into the groove of things, particularly Kageyama, since the court is so much bigger. It's taller and wider, and the way he sets the ball for the other players is altered a bit. But once he gets used to it, they're back at it, and they're showing a bigger audience what they can do.

I don't think that Tsubakihara got as much development or individuality as the other teams have. We get some brief history, and we get to know a select few a little bit, but it doesn't feel like they get as much attention as the other teams Karasuno has played have gotten. Even saying that, though, we get to check in with them, and see how they're focusing and working together and trying hard to win this.

This is an intense battle. Each character is working hard, focusing all in, as they try to score every point they can. Both teams want this very badly.

I get sucked in so easily to each volume of this series, and very quickly I'm rooting with the audience and chanting with them, rooting for Karasuno to win. It's so much fun to experience.

Manga Review: Haikyu!!, Volume 26, by Haruichi Furudate

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: August 2018

Volumes: 35+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 25. 27.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shoyo Hinata is out to prove that in volleyball you don't need to be tall to fly!

Ever since he saw the legendary player known as “the Little Giant” compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else?

Review:

The practice game with Date Tech finishes up. It ends up being pretty even, and is a long practice, but it's good for all of them. Particularly Karasuno, because they have to re-sync up with each other. It takes a while for everyone to meet in the middle with each other again, to figure out how to work together again. Kageyama has a particular struggle, because he has to accept that how he plays is okay, and be clear with direction but maybe not so rude.

After that, there's a little break. It's Christmas break and New Years, and some of them meet up a few times. We get to see the third-years meet up for a New Years shrine visit, and it's nice to see how close they are outside of volleyball, including Shimizu. We get a little bit of history, seeing what Shimizu was doing before being the manager, and how she came to accept and enjoy that role. It's sweet.

We also got to see Hinata practicing, and when he shows off to his little sister. I wish we got to see more of their family interactions.

And then, they're off to Tokyo. They've got a hotel room, and a hot springs, and they get to see the other schools again. But their current issue is the difference in court—it's bigger and taller than they're used to. They'll need to adjust.

I can't wait to read the next one. We're up against a new school this time, and it's only just started. It's going to be good.

A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Haikyu!!, Volume 25, by Haruichi Furudate

Rating (Out of 5): ~4-4.5

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: July 2018

Volumes: 35+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 24. 26.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shoyo Hinata is out to prove that in volleyball you don't need to be tall to fly!

Ever since he saw the legendary player known as “the Little Giant” compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else?

Hinata may not have been allowed to participate in the Miyagi Prefecture Rookie Camp, but he’s determined to learn something from watching on the sidelines as a ball boy! Meanwhile, thanks to the other players at the All-Japan Youth Camp, Kageyama starts to worry about how he interacts with his teammates! Then, with the Spring Tournament looming ever closer, Date Tech arrives at Karasuno for a practice game!

Review:

Karasuno and Date Tech have a practice game, and Karasuno is in a confusing place during it. They've all learned new things over the break, and Kageyama in particular, seems conflicted over his new information. They're all in different places and trying new things, and they have to sync up again. It's a rough game for a while there.

Seeing Kageyama and Hinata meet up again is funny. They're so very competitive with each other, and yet they also seem to understand each other better than the others. They partner up so perfectly. Which is why it helps when Hinata realizes what is wrong with Kageyama and just straight-up confronts him about being the King, and it helps him get himself together.

Have I said that I love this series before? Because I so do.

 A review copy was provided by the publisher, VIZ Media, for an honest review. Thank you so, so much!

Manga Review: Haikyu!!, Volume 24, by Haruichi Furudate

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: June 2018

Volumes: 33+

Spoilers?: Yes.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 23. 25.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shoyo Hinata is out to prove that in volleyball you don't need to be tall to fly!

Ever since he saw the legendary player known as “the Little Giant” compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else?

Karasuno has qualified for the Spring Tournament! The team buckles down to practice harder than ever, but Takeda immediately rushes in to announce that Kageyama is invited to participate in the All-Japan Under 19 Youth Training Camp, while Tsukishima is invited to the Miyagi Prefecture Rookie Camp! Overflowing with jealousy and inspired by an offhanded comment made by Yamaguchi, Hinata takes it upon himself to get in on the action and crash the rookie training camp!

Review:

Over the summer, most of the team is training together. Except, Kageyama gets invited to a very high-class training camp, in which each person is hand selected. And Tsukishima gets invited to a rookie training camp, though he's less impressed and enthused by it. All of this means that Shoyo was not invited to a training camp, and he's not okay with that. He knows that they're learning important things from different players and coaches, they're upping their skills, and he's being left behind. He can't stand it—so he decides to crash Tsukishima's camp, because there's less risk involved in that one.

This is a hilarious decision on Shoyo's part—he's not supposed to be there, and all of them know it. There are definite consequences involved, and he faces them, but he's also given the option to watch and be the ball boy—not play volleyball with them. Shoyo feels left out, but he's also getting a different view of the sport now, watching everyone and how they're playing. It's a bit humbling for him, but it's also helpful.

And then there's Kageyama's training camp, which we get to see a little bit of. It's helping him out, of course, but we also get to see another short volleyball player rivaling Shoyo. These are all players in a bigger league, which sadly Shoyo is missing out on.

It looks like there's more practice and joint trainings coming up. I love seeing the huge groups of characters, how they interact and play together and learn from each other.

Manga Review: Haikyu!!, Volume 23, by Haruichi Furudate

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: May 2018

Volumes: 33+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 22. 24.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shoyo Hinata is out to prove that in volleyball you don't need to be tall to fly!

Ever since he saw the legendary player known as “the Little Giant” compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else?

Review:

This volume concludes the prelims for the Tokyo teams. Nekoma finishes their game against Nohebi for the final spot in the tournament. It's a hard fight, but not terribly surprising which one wins.

Even though Nohebi are playing dirty, almost cheating to win favor, I appreciate that they're not looked down on. It would be easy to make them a villain, a one-dimensional enemy, but they're not. Each person of the team is fleshed out, and their reasons for playing like they do are even explained, and defended. Every team has their own way of playing the game, and they're all of equal value, even if some teams are better.

In the last chapter, we finally get back to the Karasuno. They're getting pumped up to go to the tournament, even if they've got a while before it starts. They get to take new stats, see who jumps how high right now. I liked the glimpse of the outside supporters—the businesses outside of the school who are supporting and taking donations to pay for the trip.

It looks like Kageyama will get to go to some special training camp next time.

I love this series so completely. I can't wait to read more.

Manga Review: Haikyu!!, Volume 22, by Haruichi Furudate

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shonen Jump (VIZ Media)

Release Date: April 2018

Volumes: 32.

Spoilers?: Yes.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. RightStuf.

Volume: 1. 21. 23.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Shoyo Hinata is out to prove that in volleyball you don't need to be tall to fly!

Ever since he saw the legendary player known as “the Little Giant” compete at the national volleyball finals, Shoyo Hinata has been aiming to be the best volleyball player ever! Who says you need to be tall to play volleyball when you can jump higher than anyone else?

The semifinals of the Tokyo Area Qualifiers for the Spring Tournament have begun! It’s Nekoma vs. Fukurodani in a win-and-you’re-in match! Fukurodani’s ace, Bokuto, is in top form as he goes head-to-head with Nekoma’s defensive master, Yaku. Will the Cats be able to take down the Owls?!

Review:

Nekoma and Fukurodani compete as this volume starts, for a place in the tournament. Lev and Yamamoto's sisters are in the stands during this, cheering their brothers on. Yamamoto's little sister is a big volleyball supporter, and clearly knowledgeable, whereas Lev's older sister is rather new to this. On the other side, Fukurodani's ace has a giant weak spot, in that his mind can suddenly forget how to make other hits.

After that game, I guess there's a third spot left, so the two losing teams get to play each other. Which means we get to meet Nohebi, a team that has no issues playing dirty and getting the referee on their side. It's a tactic that's hard to fight against, honestly, and wears on Nekoma's spirit a bit. It looks like Kenma might have an idea, though.

Every time we meet a new team, I marvel at the author's ability to create so many unique characters—they all look different, have rather different personalities and weaknesses and abilities, and each team have different tactics. I don't know how this series is still so exciting, but it is. I absolutely love it.