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Underground, Volume 1: Fight Club
In Underground, Volume 1 , Karim Yun, a biracial taekwondo fighter, pits his skills against New York’s most brutal underground martial artists.
Seeking revenge against the violent gang who attacked him and ended his Olympic dreams, he’s determined to battle every colorful combatant in his path. His only obstacle is the illness brought about by the violent attack, which could kill Karim if he becomes too reckless— serving as his conscience is his nurse , who is trying to push him into changing his lifestyle but is learning more about the danger and the allure of secret mixed martial arts contests. Created by black belt martial artist JR De Bard, this sports manga provides a detailed look into the world of underground fight clubs . Exploring fighters from various disciplines with realistic tactics and movements will thrill and educate readers. Underground is rated OT for Older Teen, recommended for ages 16 and up for language and bloody, stylized violence.
Saturday AM, the world’s most diverse manga-inspired comics, are now presented in a new format! Introducing Saturday AM TANKS , the new graphic novel format similar to Japanese Tankobons where we collect the global heroes and artists of Saturday AM. These handsome volumes have select color pages, revised artwork, and innovative post-credit scenes that help bring new life to our popular BIPOC, LGBTQ, and/or culturally diverse characters. Join in even more adventures with the other action-packed Saturday AM TANKS Apple Black , Clock Striker , Gunhild , Hammer , Henshin! , The Massively Multiplayer World of Ghosts , Oblivion Rouge , Saigami , Soul Beat , Titan King , and Yellow Stringer .
Seeking revenge against the violent gang who attacked him and ended his Olympic dreams, he’s determined to battle every colorful combatant in his path. His only obstacle is the illness brought about by the violent attack, which could kill Karim if he becomes too reckless— serving as his conscience is his nurse , who is trying to push him into changing his lifestyle but is learning more about the danger and the allure of secret mixed martial arts contests. Created by black belt martial artist JR De Bard, this sports manga provides a detailed look into the world of underground fight clubs . Exploring fighters from various disciplines with realistic tactics and movements will thrill and educate readers. Underground is rated OT for Older Teen, recommended for ages 16 and up for language and bloody, stylized violence.
Saturday AM, the world’s most diverse manga-inspired comics, are now presented in a new format! Introducing Saturday AM TANKS , the new graphic novel format similar to Japanese Tankobons where we collect the global heroes and artists of Saturday AM. These handsome volumes have select color pages, revised artwork, and innovative post-credit scenes that help bring new life to our popular BIPOC, LGBTQ, and/or culturally diverse characters. Join in even more adventures with the other action-packed Saturday AM TANKS Apple Black , Clock Striker , Gunhild , Hammer , Henshin! , The Massively Multiplayer World of Ghosts , Oblivion Rouge , Saigami , Soul Beat , Titan King , and Yellow Stringer .
- GenresGraphic NovelsManga
208 pages, Paperback
Published May 16, 2023
1 person is currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 1, 2023
My Rating: 4
Thank you Quarto Publishing, Rockport publishing for providing an e-book copy through NetGalley.
Synopsis:
Karim Yun was on the path to greatness, ready to start his journey on the Taekwondo Olympic team and showcase his fighting skills. But then a member of a violent gang attacked him and his brother, leaving Karim too broken to compete in the Olympics. He was about to fall into despair when he stumbled across his one salvation: Underground fighting. Not only do these illegal tournaments excite his fighting spirit like never before, but the gang member who ruined his life also participates in the events. His nurse reminds him that any extreme damage to his body could kill him, but Karim is unfazed as he enters the underground tournament scene, not only to get revenge but to finally continue his passion for martial arts and to strive to be the best.
What I Liked:
JR De Bard is a black belt martial artists and manga artist, and it shows in the pages. The fight choreography is intense yet easy to follow, fast-paced and brutal yet has readers quickly turning the pages for more. The line art is clean and sharp: It leads the eye to follow the movement of the fighters so that action scenes are not confusing. The contrast of bold and thin lines also elevates the scenes so readers know what is important to look at. Overall, the art is very well done. The story is simple, but that’s all you need in a manga about fighting: A simple motivation for the main character to fight multiple people in a row. And in Karim’s case, both revenge and his passion for fighting fuel him to pursue this dangerous path and helps the characters root for him. Karim is biracial, half Black and half Asian. His nurse is Asian.
What I Didn’t Like: Nothing
Who Would I Recommend This To: Older teens and adults who like pure fighting manga.
Review Date: June 30, 2023
Thank you Quarto Publishing, Rockport publishing for providing an e-book copy through NetGalley.
Synopsis:
Karim Yun was on the path to greatness, ready to start his journey on the Taekwondo Olympic team and showcase his fighting skills. But then a member of a violent gang attacked him and his brother, leaving Karim too broken to compete in the Olympics. He was about to fall into despair when he stumbled across his one salvation: Underground fighting. Not only do these illegal tournaments excite his fighting spirit like never before, but the gang member who ruined his life also participates in the events. His nurse reminds him that any extreme damage to his body could kill him, but Karim is unfazed as he enters the underground tournament scene, not only to get revenge but to finally continue his passion for martial arts and to strive to be the best.
What I Liked:
JR De Bard is a black belt martial artists and manga artist, and it shows in the pages. The fight choreography is intense yet easy to follow, fast-paced and brutal yet has readers quickly turning the pages for more. The line art is clean and sharp: It leads the eye to follow the movement of the fighters so that action scenes are not confusing. The contrast of bold and thin lines also elevates the scenes so readers know what is important to look at. Overall, the art is very well done. The story is simple, but that’s all you need in a manga about fighting: A simple motivation for the main character to fight multiple people in a row. And in Karim’s case, both revenge and his passion for fighting fuel him to pursue this dangerous path and helps the characters root for him. Karim is biracial, half Black and half Asian. His nurse is Asian.
What I Didn’t Like: Nothing
Who Would I Recommend This To: Older teens and adults who like pure fighting manga.
Review Date: June 30, 2023
May 9, 2023
ARC given for honest review
I picked this up randomly and OH BOY am I glad I did.
It was gritty, it was exciting, it was a fighting story stripped down to its bare bones and presented with some excellent artwork!
The story follows Karim Yun, a young taekwondo fighter who is forced into the world of underground fighting after a gang injures him enough to end his Olympic career.
The story and drawings were raw and emotional, the artist clearly did a lot of work researching how to draw extreme movement and impacts and it came across clearly!
I would have liked some more backstory on Karim, though the setup is quick and explains the necessary backstory easily and clearly. I felt we got more of an emotional connection to the backstory of the boxer Espinoza than we did Karim, but am happy to keep reading to find out more about him!
Overall easy 4* and I want to read more
I picked this up randomly and OH BOY am I glad I did.
It was gritty, it was exciting, it was a fighting story stripped down to its bare bones and presented with some excellent artwork!
The story follows Karim Yun, a young taekwondo fighter who is forced into the world of underground fighting after a gang injures him enough to end his Olympic career.
The story and drawings were raw and emotional, the artist clearly did a lot of work researching how to draw extreme movement and impacts and it came across clearly!
I would have liked some more backstory on Karim, though the setup is quick and explains the necessary backstory easily and clearly. I felt we got more of an emotional connection to the backstory of the boxer Espinoza than we did Karim, but am happy to keep reading to find out more about him!
Overall easy 4* and I want to read more
May 23, 2023
In «Underground» we meet Karim Yun and his incredible skills as a taekwondo fighter. At some point, he finds himself in the middle of a struggle that changes not only his dream of life, but dictates his purpose in life: revenge.
I liked the art and the fact that the story was full of action. At one point I found myself thinking that the images were so well done that they gave me the feeling of watching a movie.
Despite finding the premise interesting, the story seemed to run a little rushed. I would have liked to have access to more details and explanations. Still, I'm curious to read the next volume and see how Karim fares in the much-anticipated fight against his biggest rival.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the art and the fact that the story was full of action. At one point I found myself thinking that the images were so well done that they gave me the feeling of watching a movie.
Despite finding the premise interesting, the story seemed to run a little rushed. I would have liked to have access to more details and explanations. Still, I'm curious to read the next volume and see how Karim fares in the much-anticipated fight against his biggest rival.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 22, 2025
The plot felt a little cliché for my taste, and the opening scene is almost laughably over the top. But this book does some things very well, and I can respect that. For one, the action scenes are very clearly drawn. These are some of the easiest to follow fights I've read in a comic, which may be because De Bard has a martial arts background. I also appreciated the focus on the mental game, and the relatively seamless incorporation of real medical elements. I feel like this could be very popular with teens interested in fighting manga, because the action feels so realistic. There are a few swears, and a couple panels with gratuitous girls in small bikinis, but the violence is at a PG-13 level and there's no nudity, so that's great.
December 31, 2023
Pretty solid first volume, fast paced martial arts fun. I really dug the artwork and fight choreography, you can always tell what’s happening and it’s able to convey the pain and impact of blows quite well. The fights feel gritty and brutal, as they should given this is about underground street fighting. The only bummer I have in this volume is the characters as at the moment there’s little depth to them. Our main character, Karim, has an awesome design and we’re introduced to his motivations but he has no personality that shines through in this volume outside of being driven and confident. I’m hoping that changes as the series progresses.
May 10, 2024
‘Underground, Volume 1: Fight Club’ by J.R. De Bard is a graphic novel about a biracial fighter navigating an underground world of brutal opponents.
Karim Yun, a talented taekwondo fighter had his Olympic dreams shattered after a brutal assault. Now he is out to find the gang that caused his injuries. He will do that fight by fight, but what is the personal cost to Karim and those who love him?
Author JR De Bard is a second-degree black belt himself and uses that experience to make the fight scenes authentic and brutal. It’s a captivating story and I loved getting inside Karim’s head during the fights.
Karim Yun, a talented taekwondo fighter had his Olympic dreams shattered after a brutal assault. Now he is out to find the gang that caused his injuries. He will do that fight by fight, but what is the personal cost to Karim and those who love him?
Author JR De Bard is a second-degree black belt himself and uses that experience to make the fight scenes authentic and brutal. It’s a captivating story and I loved getting inside Karim’s head during the fights.
July 8, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this, it being maybe the fifth or sixth manga volume I've read. The plot was engaging enough, but the real treat is the author's stretching the fight scenes across many pages, if not full chapters, to allow the reader inside the fighters' heads. We get to hear/read the fighters planning every strike, and even their self-doubts and internal monologues.
I don't have much insight into how manga art should look or flow, but I was able to follow the action most of the time, and tell most major characters apart effortlessly. My only criticism is the lack of part 2! I sincerely hope it arrives some day. I'll look forward to it.
I don't have much insight into how manga art should look or flow, but I was able to follow the action most of the time, and tell most major characters apart effortlessly. My only criticism is the lack of part 2! I sincerely hope it arrives some day. I'll look forward to it.
September 9, 2023
Artwork is beautiful in a gritty way; Bard is very talented. Medical terminology, mixed martial arts, and boxing terms are woven throughout the story in a way that’s understandable and seamless.
The opening of this story is so ridiculous. It's like your typical shounen anime on steroids with how quickly things go from 0 to 100.
We’ve seen this underdog rising through the ranks story before many times, but it wasn’t boring. The major plot elements were established quickly. I would read volume 2, but I'm not personally invested in the premise.
The opening of this story is so ridiculous. It's like your typical shounen anime on steroids with how quickly things go from 0 to 100.
We’ve seen this underdog rising through the ranks story before many times, but it wasn’t boring. The major plot elements were established quickly. I would read volume 2, but I'm not personally invested in the premise.
December 17, 2023
I was surprised by how much I liked this book. Not a great fit for the new Denny O'Neil Graphic Novel List but an excellent addition to any high school library's graphic novel collection. Note that there are a couple of pages with women clad in lingerie but the art 100% complies with SB775 (for Missouri libraries).
November 13, 2023
The artwork and detail to this novel are amazing. The artwork is crazy good and the premise of the origin character is well thought out. I will be looking out for the next installment to this series.
June 11, 2024
Incredibly fluid and dynamic art, great pacing and characters that are easy to root for (or, in the case of the antagonists, against.) It feels brutal and always like the stakes are high - which makes for some good story tension. Excited to see where this one goes!
September 6, 2023
A manga about fighting. There's not much else to this than lots of fighting.
December 19, 2023
Its a sports anime about combat sports. Match made in heaven.
August 19, 2025
5⭐️ throughly enjoyed ts tbh! Can’t go wrong with fighting manga but where is the second book at man?? Need DAT ASAP!
July 16, 2023
Full review in Booklist Magazine.
Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.
Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.
October 1, 2023
I thank NetGalley, the author and the the publishers for the ARC and this review is based on my reading of this book.
This book started off with a bang and gave me full Bloodsport vibes (the Jean claude Van damme movie), which has all the similar stuff, mixed martial arts, villains, banned underground fights with betting and blood and gore.
The volume has some great art and action, very manga. Our protagonist Karim is a Taekwondo fighter who has been bloodied once by a fighter on the street who seems to bay for blood and who slips him a fly leaf and a challenge to him in an underground fight club after he defeats him and tells him to get better both in health and prowess.
He joins up and meets other fighters on and off the ring.
The rest of the story is like any other fight movie and we have had many including several video games and books.
Brisk stuff and the author gets the reader to invest in the story.
Recommended.
This book started off with a bang and gave me full Bloodsport vibes (the Jean claude Van damme movie), which has all the similar stuff, mixed martial arts, villains, banned underground fights with betting and blood and gore.
The volume has some great art and action, very manga. Our protagonist Karim is a Taekwondo fighter who has been bloodied once by a fighter on the street who seems to bay for blood and who slips him a fly leaf and a challenge to him in an underground fight club after he defeats him and tells him to get better both in health and prowess.
He joins up and meets other fighters on and off the ring.
The rest of the story is like any other fight movie and we have had many including several video games and books.
Brisk stuff and the author gets the reader to invest in the story.
Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews