Top Picks: Sports-Themed Graphic Novels and Manga

No pain, no gain! Put on your sneakers, grab your Gatorade and get ready to sweat!

In anticipation of the release of Mari Costa's sporty young adult novel Belle of the Ball, we're going to take a look at the most fun and sports-themed graphic novels and manga.

If at first, you don't succeed, try again! That's the philosophy of Muneyuki Kaneshiro's manga Blue Lock. After losing disastrously at the World Cup, football player Yoichi Isagi decides to become the best soccer striker not only in Japan, but the world.

Looking for a book that blends sports and comics? Look no further! Dragon Hoops is a fun graphic novel that tells the story of the author's journey of teaching his high school's basketball team.

How high can one jump? That's only one question being answered in the fan-favorite manga Haikyu!! This page-turner sees Shoyo Hinata's journey to becoming the world's best volleyball player alongside his rival turned teammate Tobio Kageyama.

Engaging, action-packed and powerful. These are the words to best describe the captivating graphic novel A Map to the Sun. This popular title tells the story of five basketball players and their struggles both on and off the court. With its powerful storytelling, this novel will evoke strong emotions and reinforce the themes of friendship, femininity and the growing pains of adolescence. 

Do you have a favorite sports-themed graphic novel or manga? Let us know in the comments below.