Whistle!, Vol. 21

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY NOV 22, 2004

Although he's no Pele or David Beckham, Sho is trying to take the high school soccer world by storm. Unfortunately, he's very short and not on the first team at his new school, but he's still determined to practice as much as possible to be the best. With the rest of the second string and Tatsuya, a star player who's not into lording his ability over others like the rest of the regulars, Sho challenges the Captain to a game for leadership of the team and a starting position. Like Bad News Bears, Little Giants, Mighty Ducks or any other movie where the underdogs take on the "chosen ones," this is a feel-good story that tugs at readers' heartstrings and pulls them in. It's always rewarding to see a smug grin replaced by a look of shock, and there are several moments like that in Whistle, each better than the last. Higuchi supplies a satisfying series of obstacles for Sho and company, crafting a tale that's not just for sports enthusiasts but for anyone interested in seeing the little guy make good. The art manages to encompass just about every convention of the shonen manga genre, while keeping storytelling and characterization strong. Like many sports manga, illustrated text pages about soccer are sprinkled throughout the volume.