Crimson Hero Volume 11 cover image is courtesy of barnesandnoble.com.

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Nobara Sumiyoshi is an awesome volleyball player with great ambitions.  Being a girl, however, makes it hard to get a break in the competitive world of high school volleyball.  However, this 15-year-old ain’t takin’ “No” for an answer.

In Crimson Hero, Vol. 11, Nobara and her Eagles of Crimson Field High School are determined to make the Spring Tournament.  The first step to that prestigious volleyball tournament is beating the other teams in the Newcomers’ League.  Now, the Eagles are in the middle of an epic match against the awesome Aiyu Gakuin Girls Volleyball Club AKA Aigaku!  When the Eagles’ star setter, Tomoyo “Tomo” Osaka, sprains her knee, Nobara and the rest of her teammates must step up if they want to move onto the next round of the tournament.

THE LOWDOWN:  Anyone who has seen women’s volleyball live or on TV (especially live) will find that Crimson Hero captures the raw physical power and stirring athletic skill of volleyball players.  Crimson Hero is the “Shojo Beat” version of the “Shonen Jump” Slam Dunk, with the former capturing the exhilaration of volleyball the way the later captures the electrified game play of basketball.  The high school romance part of Crimson Hero does nothing for me because it lacks the drama of the volleyball sequences, but I won’t hold that against this fun series.

POSSIBLE AUDIENCE:  Fans of girls’ sports will enjoy the “Shojo Beat” high school drama and sports manga, Crimson Hero.

B+