What do you think?
Rate this book
グラップラー刃牙 完全版 [Grappler Baki kanzenban] #1
Baki the Grappler, tome 1
Sorti de nulle part, un mystérieux adolescent élimine un à un tous les meilleurs combattants d'un grand tournoi de karaté... Mais parviendra-t-il à remporter la finale ?
Son nom est Baki Hanma et il commence tout juste à écrire sa légende !!
Son nom est Baki Hanma et il commence tout juste à écrire sa légende !!
340 pages, Paperback
First published December 7, 2007
16 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Keisuke Itagaki
271 books80 followersKeisuke Itagaki (板垣恵介; Itagaki Keisuke) is a Japanese mangaka, creator of the Baki The Grappler series. He is the father of Paru Itagaki.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 15, 2025
BAKIIIII
December 8, 2022
Cette édition perfect m’a vraiment donné envie de découvrir ce titre. Il faut bien le dire, Meian a vraiment fait un travail de dingue au niveau de cette édition. C’est un vrai plaisir de se plonger dans cette lecture. Les tomes sont si beaux, le rendu dans la mangathèque est parfait et puis sincèrement c’est une édition plus que merveilleuse il faut bien le dire. J’ai pas mal entendu parler de ce titre et moi il ne m’en faut pas plus pour avoir envie d’en découvrir plus. Je suis une lectrice très très influençable alors vous pensez bien qu’il ne m’a pas fallu très longtemps pour me convaincre de lire cette petite pépite. Je regrette juste de ne pas l’avoir fait plus tôt parce que c’était tout simplement génial! Et encore le mot est faible!
Dans ce premier tome, on va suivre le personnage de Baki Hamma. Ce jeune adolescent sort littéralement de nulle part et devient très vite une légende. En effet, lors d’un grand tournoi de karaté, il élimine un à un tous les meilleurs combattants. Mais la question que tout le monde se pose est la suivante : va t’il réussir à battre son adversaire et remporter la finale?
Qu’est ce que j’ai aimé ce premier tome! On rentre directement dans l’histoire, ici pas de chichis et on commence direct par de la castagne. Je ne suis pas fan des arts martiaux en temps normal, ce n’est vraiment pas quelque chose qui m’attire. Mais là! Clairement, j’étais à fond dedans et j’en ai pris plein les yeux. Ce que j’ai beaucoup aimé c’est qu’on a droit à énormément de combats au final dans ce premier tome. Beaucoup de castagne mais alors de la castagne qui en envoie! J’en ai pris plein les yeux et les scènes de combats sont tout simplement géniales. J’ai adoré! L’intrigue est palpitante et on se demande jusqu’où va aller Baki!
D’ailleurs, en parlant de lui, j’ai adoré son personnage. C’est surtout le contraste avec sa force et son physique et sa bouille d’ange. Il a un visage tellement angélique qu’on ne se doute pas une seule seconde que derrière c’est un combattant hors norme. Il y a tout de même une part de mystères autour de lui. Je me pose beaucoup de questions sur ses motivations à s’entraîner autant mais surtout à combattre des personnes bien précises… Je suis très intriguée. En tout cas, son personnage me plaît énormément, il a toujours le sourire, même pendant ses combats. Il est très déterminé et s’entraîne comme personne. Il pousse ses entraînement vraiment très loin et c’est même plus que surprenant. J’ai hâte d’en savoir plus sur lui.
Ce premier tome m’a entièrement conquise. Je vais d’ailleurs m’enfiler le second tome dans la foulée tant j’ai aimé ma lecture. Moi qui ne suit pas fan des arts martiaux en temps normal, je dois bien avouer qu’ici je me suis pris un sacré coup. J’ai adoré toutes ces scènes de combats, ça nous offre des planches merveilleuses. Le fait que l’on démarre fort et même que l’on commence tout de suite à être dans l’ambiance, c’est génial, au moins on ne tergiverse pas avec des choses inutiles, j’adore quand ça se passe comme ça. Je regrette vraiment de ne pas avoir découvert ce titre plus tôt parce que c’est une vraie pépite incroyable!
Dans ce premier tome, on va suivre le personnage de Baki Hamma. Ce jeune adolescent sort littéralement de nulle part et devient très vite une légende. En effet, lors d’un grand tournoi de karaté, il élimine un à un tous les meilleurs combattants. Mais la question que tout le monde se pose est la suivante : va t’il réussir à battre son adversaire et remporter la finale?
Qu’est ce que j’ai aimé ce premier tome! On rentre directement dans l’histoire, ici pas de chichis et on commence direct par de la castagne. Je ne suis pas fan des arts martiaux en temps normal, ce n’est vraiment pas quelque chose qui m’attire. Mais là! Clairement, j’étais à fond dedans et j’en ai pris plein les yeux. Ce que j’ai beaucoup aimé c’est qu’on a droit à énormément de combats au final dans ce premier tome. Beaucoup de castagne mais alors de la castagne qui en envoie! J’en ai pris plein les yeux et les scènes de combats sont tout simplement géniales. J’ai adoré! L’intrigue est palpitante et on se demande jusqu’où va aller Baki!
D’ailleurs, en parlant de lui, j’ai adoré son personnage. C’est surtout le contraste avec sa force et son physique et sa bouille d’ange. Il a un visage tellement angélique qu’on ne se doute pas une seule seconde que derrière c’est un combattant hors norme. Il y a tout de même une part de mystères autour de lui. Je me pose beaucoup de questions sur ses motivations à s’entraîner autant mais surtout à combattre des personnes bien précises… Je suis très intriguée. En tout cas, son personnage me plaît énormément, il a toujours le sourire, même pendant ses combats. Il est très déterminé et s’entraîne comme personne. Il pousse ses entraînement vraiment très loin et c’est même plus que surprenant. J’ai hâte d’en savoir plus sur lui.
Ce premier tome m’a entièrement conquise. Je vais d’ailleurs m’enfiler le second tome dans la foulée tant j’ai aimé ma lecture. Moi qui ne suit pas fan des arts martiaux en temps normal, je dois bien avouer qu’ici je me suis pris un sacré coup. J’ai adoré toutes ces scènes de combats, ça nous offre des planches merveilleuses. Le fait que l’on démarre fort et même que l’on commence tout de suite à être dans l’ambiance, c’est génial, au moins on ne tergiverse pas avec des choses inutiles, j’adore quand ça se passe comme ça. Je regrette vraiment de ne pas avoir découvert ce titre plus tôt parce que c’est une vraie pépite incroyable!
October 11, 2023
Gran edición de la versión argentina de Baki, pensé que iba a leer el anime de Netflix pero por suerte es anterior donde vemos a un Baki mas chico dándose a conocer en un torneo de Karate, que el formato del manga sea tan grande ayuda a apreciar el dibujo de Itagaki en sus peleas.
October 18, 2023
Sinceramente me gustó más la forma en la que empieza el anime de Netflix, aunque sea mucha más adelantada en la historia. Aun así es un buen inicio y lo que más destaco es el dinamismo que tiene el dibujo.
November 18, 2024
Ok this is definitely one of those manga that you have to turn your brain off to enjoy but holy it is FUN.
Also, this man’s art style is so fluid and dynamic, he conveys weight and motion so elegantly, and the family dynamic is… really somethin.
Father of the year over here. 10/10.
Also, this man’s art style is so fluid and dynamic, he conveys weight and motion so elegantly, and the family dynamic is… really somethin.
Father of the year over here. 10/10.
April 15, 2024
Comienzan las infinitas peleas del megacicatrizado Baki Hanma y sus rivales, amigos y parientes.
May 5, 2026
Before reading this, I was already a fan of Baki, having watched both the new and old anime.
It was so cool to see all the Baki-isms/tropes that have been there from the start. There were moments of bullshit science, crazy displays of martial prowess, antagonists just being total doughebag assholes for no reason, the nonsensically arrogant regular martial artists who get immediately demolished, and characters doing something goofy in a serious moment.
The action is just as good as I've come to expect from Baki, with the only problem I had being a couple of panels and pages in the Suedo fight, where it was a little difficult to discern what was going on. Overall, great introduction, and if I had started the series this way and wasn't already a fan, I feel I would've soon become one.
It was so cool to see all the Baki-isms/tropes that have been there from the start. There were moments of bullshit science, crazy displays of martial prowess, antagonists just being total doughebag assholes for no reason, the nonsensically arrogant regular martial artists who get immediately demolished, and characters doing something goofy in a serious moment.
The action is just as good as I've come to expect from Baki, with the only problem I had being a couple of panels and pages in the Suedo fight, where it was a little difficult to discern what was going on. Overall, great introduction, and if I had started the series this way and wasn't already a fan, I feel I would've soon become one.
October 13, 2023
Muy buen tomo de presentación, con un dibujo hiperdinámico y una manera muy clara de plantear los conflictos a la larga, lástima que se queda tibio en cuanto a que no se le encuentra todavía tanto gancho a los personajes o al mundo creado por Itagaki (padre) en estos primeros centenares de páginas. La calidad de la edición, eso sí, impresionante.
November 20, 2024
Para los que solo han visto el anime de Netflix, les sacará de onda un poco donde está ubicado esto, ocurre después de la muerte de su mamá y antes del torneo, me encantó ver el manga ya en mis manos, quiero leer todos !
March 21, 2023
Un inicio de una de las mejores sagas de manga que me he leído.
March 22, 2026
I actually watched the manga first and its crazy how well it transferred from the manga. The bakinon netflix is a totally different rando thing.
3.8✨
3.8✨
May 8, 2026
7/10 Good
March 22, 2026
90%
I love these English editions of Baki that Kodama has put out😍 they’re so amazing. Design, translation, paper quality… even how the first printing has foiling and an obi. It looks soooo good and is great to read. They haven’t been around long, but Kodama is already one of my favourite manga publishers - you can see the care they put into their titles fr. Can’t wait to get my hands on the other series they’re publishing, like Smile!. Plus more volumes of Baki🥰
As for the story itself… also peak. I love the anime, and I read the fan translations of Baki the Grappler up to around volume 7 or so way back. Loved it then, and love it now. The fights are super fun. Can’t wait to get my hands on all of the volumes🤤
I love these English editions of Baki that Kodama has put out😍 they’re so amazing. Design, translation, paper quality… even how the first printing has foiling and an obi. It looks soooo good and is great to read. They haven’t been around long, but Kodama is already one of my favourite manga publishers - you can see the care they put into their titles fr. Can’t wait to get my hands on the other series they’re publishing, like Smile!. Plus more volumes of Baki🥰
As for the story itself… also peak. I love the anime, and I read the fan translations of Baki the Grappler up to around volume 7 or so way back. Loved it then, and love it now. The fights are super fun. Can’t wait to get my hands on all of the volumes🤤
November 2, 2025
Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.
As a prestigious karate tournament gets underway, a white belt nobody begins summarily taking out champions from a notorious karate dojo known for its karate masters. Four-time champion Suedo decides he is the only one left from the dojo who can take down this upstart amateur, and he challenges Baki to a match. The two face off head-to-head in a somewhat ugly battle that devolves into a bit of a street fight at a certain point. It’s enough to gain Baki some notoriety and land him on the radar of several other well-known fighter champions of several different styles, including his hometown boxing champion who has been scouted for the Olympics.
This is absolutely over the top in a good way. Baki is full of outlandish fight scenes with elaborate and unbelievable power-ups and abilities that absolutely couldn't exist in real life. Baki himself is an overpowered and rather dopey, doe-eyed main character who has apparently seen some things but has still retained his innocence. I imagine we'll get his backstory in later volumes, but for now, he remains an enigma to be discovered later. He has caught the attention of several powerful foes in volume one, perfect for setting up many future fights in successive volumes. This first volume was already outlandish, but somehow, you know it will only get more ridiculous with the next fight. The illustrations are actually quite gorgeous for this being a fighting manga, and nothing was too grotesque. People do get bloodied and there are some body breakages, but the focus is more on the choreography and beautiful settings for these fights to take place.
Sara's Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12
As a prestigious karate tournament gets underway, a white belt nobody begins summarily taking out champions from a notorious karate dojo known for its karate masters. Four-time champion Suedo decides he is the only one left from the dojo who can take down this upstart amateur, and he challenges Baki to a match. The two face off head-to-head in a somewhat ugly battle that devolves into a bit of a street fight at a certain point. It’s enough to gain Baki some notoriety and land him on the radar of several other well-known fighter champions of several different styles, including his hometown boxing champion who has been scouted for the Olympics.
This is absolutely over the top in a good way. Baki is full of outlandish fight scenes with elaborate and unbelievable power-ups and abilities that absolutely couldn't exist in real life. Baki himself is an overpowered and rather dopey, doe-eyed main character who has apparently seen some things but has still retained his innocence. I imagine we'll get his backstory in later volumes, but for now, he remains an enigma to be discovered later. He has caught the attention of several powerful foes in volume one, perfect for setting up many future fights in successive volumes. This first volume was already outlandish, but somehow, you know it will only get more ridiculous with the next fight. The illustrations are actually quite gorgeous for this being a fighting manga, and nothing was too grotesque. People do get bloodied and there are some body breakages, but the focus is more on the choreography and beautiful settings for these fights to take place.
Sara's Rating: 9/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12
March 9, 2026
I've been waiting forever for an English release. definitely a good manga.
February 11, 2026
This was a very quick read! It's an omnibus, and the publisher is releasing two volumes every month. I have a lot to catch up on.
I watched the anime from the 2000s and really enjoyed it. I'm liking the manga, as well. This first volume wasn't as graphic as I was expecting. Maybe it gets more so later on. There are a few scenes with eye gouging, so maybe keep that in mind if you're sensitive to that.
It's about a teenage boy named Baki Hanma, who enters a karate tournament on a whim and wins it fairly easily. If you like martial arts, chances are you'll really like this one. The art is dynamic, you can tell the artist has a passion for martial arts.
Overall, a very fast read, like eating a bag of potato chips. Looking forward to the next volume.
I watched the anime from the 2000s and really enjoyed it. I'm liking the manga, as well. This first volume wasn't as graphic as I was expecting. Maybe it gets more so later on. There are a few scenes with eye gouging, so maybe keep that in mind if you're sensitive to that.
It's about a teenage boy named Baki Hanma, who enters a karate tournament on a whim and wins it fairly easily. If you like martial arts, chances are you'll really like this one. The art is dynamic, you can tell the artist has a passion for martial arts.
Overall, a very fast read, like eating a bag of potato chips. Looking forward to the next volume.
October 17, 2025
I mean, this is a bit goofy but that’s part of this series’ charm?
So, I’m finally delving into Baki’s world.
I don’t think anyone needs me to say this series is good—but, it’s GOOD. This is one of those propulsive, gripping first volumes that makes you understand why a story is so popular and held in such high regard.
There’s action, mystery, and a distinct art style that just pulls readers in right from the start.
Definitely looking forward to understanding for myself why this series is so beloved~
So, I’m finally delving into Baki’s world.
I don’t think anyone needs me to say this series is good—but, it’s GOOD. This is one of those propulsive, gripping first volumes that makes you understand why a story is so popular and held in such high regard.
There’s action, mystery, and a distinct art style that just pulls readers in right from the start.
Definitely looking forward to understanding for myself why this series is so beloved~
March 2, 2026
Karate kid but an actual threat.
October 25, 2025
So as a fan of the anime, it’s actually really nice to read it in print for the first time. But to my surprise I didn’t even know it was published in English. So to my surprise, seeing it at my local bookstore, I had to get it, and I was satisfied with reading the early beginnings of Baki the grappler. So I can’t wait for the rest of the volume to be released in English and seem what goes from there. Hopefully they can bring the other three parts of the series in print as well.
October 29, 2025
Reading Baki the Grappler and my first thought was oh, Dragon Ball Z Ren & Stimpy! And then everyone had insane murderous intent. I loved the art, weak for Liefeld-style big, meaty bad guys but in terms of tone, I'm a bit lost. Going to need to pick up the next volume from the library, I know it's a beloved series but it did not get its hooks in me to make me run to the store.
March 16, 2024
Enorme edición argentina basada en la kanzenban. Tomo doble #1 de 24.
January 18, 2025
BAKI THE GRAPPLER 1
(Baki the Gappler Edición Kanzenban, #1)
Tomo kanzenban 1 de 24.
(Baki the Gappler Edición Kanzenban, #1)
Tomo kanzenban 1 de 24.
December 19, 2025
La leyenda del Hijo del Ogro comienza acá!!
October 10, 2025
Likely one of the best manga I've ever read up to this point.
November 23, 2025
This is the type of series I absolutely love. I can't help but get Ashita no Joe vibes from this story, I am sure the author was heavily influenced by that series.
December 1, 2025
A full on Classic. Can’t wait to dive into the other volumes. Essential for the collection.
February 4, 2026
A perfectly logical and sane story
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews