Space Punch Volume 1

by | Jan 16, 2025

Zack and Joe Kazuma went down drastically different paths after the death of their father. Zack followed in their father’s footsteps, becoming a Police Sergeant in the Mirai City Police Department. Joe dropped out of school and spent his days playing video games until his mother made him get a job as a delivery boy.

Life has not gone the way either of the Kazuma brothers hoped. Zack is frustrated by the indifference and corruption of his superiors regarding the gangsters running wild in their city. Joe is similarly outraged, after he is fired from his job after being repeatedly cheated by customers who wouldn’t pay for their food or simply being mugged for what money he collected. The only release the two brothers have is a shared love of boxing, though Joe is out of practice and hasn’t hit the gym in a while.

Things change after a gangster hunts Zack down while the brothers are on a camping trip together, seeking revenge for Zack’s trying to arrest him. The two brothers fight back, with Joe finding a strange reservoir of strength when he wears his father’s old boxing gloves. This inspires Joe to head back to the gym, as Zack renews his efforts to clean up his department and take on the mob.

Space Punch is notable as the first manga by French comic creator ZD. However, had I not been informed of that fact, I would never have guessed this was a freshman effort. The story represents a unique blend of genres, with the early chapters presenting dual crime and slide-of-life dramas that are united only by the connection of the two brothers. Things shift into second gear midway through the book, however, as Joe starts displaying super-strength through feats like ripping the door off a car and throwing it like a discus. By the end of the final chapter, the story takes a supernatural turn, as it becomes clear that Joe’s newfound powers are tied to his father’s old boxing gear. Each of these story elements is introduced naturally and they all mesh splendidly.

The same can be said of ZD’s artwork. There is intricate line-work throughout, particularly in the action sequences featuring Zack. The sequences focusing on Joe look more comedic by comparison, but the visual differences between the brother’s stories flow into one another as they cross paths. Things shift at the end subtly, as Zack’s true crime tale begins to look more light-hearted compared to the body horror Joe experiences as he tries to remove his father’s boxing gear. This continual shift keeps things interesting, and I look forward to the next volume of this series.

Kana rates this volume as appropriate for readers 13 and up. I consider that a fair assessment. There is no sexual content or nudity in this volume and no real romance apart from some one-sided flirtation between Joe and Kim, a childhood friend who works at the boxing gym. The violence and action is considerable, however, with some intense car chases and bullets flying. There is nothing more intense than what would be seen in a PG-13 movie, however, making this a worthy read for any fan of Shonen manga.

Space Punch, Volume 1
By ZD Morrison
Kana (Abrams ComicArts), 2025
ISBN: 9781419777943

Company Age Rating: 13+

NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16)
Creator Representation:  French,
Character Representation: Japanese,