MANGA REVIEW | "Dogsred" - Volume Three
There’s no such thing as natural talent. No matter how legendary a sportsperson may be, there was once a time when they outright sucked at what they’re currently a master of. As we see in the third volume of Dogsred, the path towards greatness isn’t paved in gold; it’s paved in blood, sweat, and tears. Oh, and a little deer feces too, for good measure.
Training time has arrived for all future hockey prospects, as Rou and the other fledglings go through the worst kind of hell for Coach Nihei. No water until practice is over, and this sort of training is as brutal as one can imagine it to be. Perhaps the scariest of training involves the Onibokko, a giant log that teammates must work together to lift as they perform squats. Fuck up once, and it’s an additional ten squats added to the regimen.
As one will see, Coach Nihei and the current players do not make it easy for the newbies. And it’s for a good reason: hockey isn’t a sport for wussies. One needs to be tough and serious at all times, as one tiny loss of focus could mean a broken neck or even brain damage. One can’t even laugh when someone takes on the autumn tradition of filling their ass with leaves, as it’ll throw everyone and everything off track! (And don’t even dare try to drop the Onibokko and accidentally smash the head coach’s truck, if you know what’s good for ya!)
But when practice hits the ice, we see why Rou is almost already at a pro level of hockey. His moves make him a master of offense and (most) defense, as he shows the other teammates why he may already be the top dog. And speaking of top dogs, that dog of a Coach Nihei may have topped Rou’s mom once, a fact that leaves the former figure skater projectile vomiting more than Linda Blair. (Props to author Satoru Noda for making this particular scene more hilarious than gross, a daunting task if there ever was one!)
Even when the teammates take things seriously, Dogsred doesn’t forget to bring in the laughs. This is showcased beautifully when a certain woodland creature invades the hockey rink perimeters. Everyone’s running for their lives, with one or two of them stripping down naked in order to gain more traction. Yet somehow, this moment allows Rou to show his peak athleticism, as he evades the bear with an Olympic medal-worthy flip.
However, Dogsred never strays from its real goal: to make its fallen team rise again to the top. And while these kids aren’t The Mighty Ducks or the Charlestown Chiefs, there’s a gumption in each and every one of these wannabe players. After all, with hockey being the most dangerous sport around, the call sheet for those wanting to hit the ice is already very short, meaning that Oinokami’s gotta take all the passion they can get in order to strive towards greatness.
Volume Three of Dogsred is a solid training arc. Not only does it add plenty of layers to the massive cast, it also goes to great lengths to prove why Rou is a protagonist worth cheering for. On top of that, the level of brutality Coach Nihei delivers to the newbies is so over-the-top, you can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. Then again, if you want to be the best, then you’ve got to take on the most insane kinds of training imaginable. As Dogsred shows, that sort of training is a solid way to make today’s chumps into future champs!
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by Chantelle Sturt of VIZ Media.
