Soul Beat: The Payback

Gr 7 Up–Boxer Dante Alfonse walks to his own beat, sporting an Afro, 1970s-era apparel, and a penchant for intervening against injustice. When suddenly faced with soul-snatching demons, and the death of his friend, Ben, he steps into the ring. Using his new, relic-granted soul-power, Dante is determined to give the devil himself a beatdown. Being a whip-smart man though, he knows to fight first with his head. With friends, boxing coach, and a new magi mentor in his corner, round one resolves with a win. Unlike most manga, Soul Beat comes from a creator outside of Japan. It stays true to the shonen style and formula, with a charismatic lead, impactful action shaded with screentones, and themes of friendship and growth. The book’s biggest divergence from Japanese manga is also its biggest blessing—the diversity of its cast. With a Black man as lead, Walker infuses the genre with some fresh perspectives, cultural references, and corny punchlines. Because of these factors, and the left-to-right reading orientation, this may act as an introductory series to other manga.