Manga
Ashita no Joe originally serialized in the manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Magazine from January 1, 1968, to May 13, 1973. It was collected into 20 volumes by Kodansha. Most of the chapters of the manga were reprinted in Shukan Gendai from March 2, 2009, to the year end.[5]
In February 2024, Kodansha USA announced that they had licensed the manga for English release in North America. They will release it digitally and in eight oversized hardcover volumes, starting in December of the same year.[6]
Anime
TV series
Mushi Productions produced an anime television series broadcast by Fuji TV from April 1, 1970, to September 29, 1971. A second anime television series, which started from volume 9 and covered the rest of the series, was made by TMS Entertainment and was broadcast by Nippon TV from October 13, 1980, to August 31, 1981. Both anime were directed by Osamu Dezaki. On March 2, 2005, the complete version of the first anime was released by Nippon Columbia on 2 DVD box sets, covering 33 hours and 55 minutes of footage across 79 episodes spanning 16 disks. It also includes an all-color explanation book in 3 volumes totaling 120 pages. Previous release formats include mini-box sets on September 21, 2001, and individual discs on September 21, 2002.[7] Crunchyroll began streaming the second anime from March 24, 2014, under the name Champion Joe 2.[8]
Crunchyroll began streaming the series in November 2024.[9]
In 2018, Megalobox, a futuristic reimagining of the original, was released as part of the manga's 50th anniversary. The series being the final concept of many initial ideas from director Moriyama, one concept being for the story to be based around Rikiishi Toru, Joe's fated rival and lifelong friend.[10]
Films
Edited versions of the two anime series were distributed as anime films by Nippon Herald Films on March 8, 1980, and July 4, 1981, respectively. Tai Seng released the first anime film in the United States on DVD in 2008, under the name Champion Joe. Discotek Media later released Champion Joe on Blu-Ray.[7]
The first film, Tomorrow's Joe, earned a distributor rental income of ¥500 million at the Japanese box office in 1980.[11]
TV series
Mushi Productions produced an anime television series broadcast by Fuji TV from April 1, 1970, to September 29, 1971. A second anime television series, which started from volume 9 and covered the rest of the series, was made by TMS Entertainment and was broadcast by Nippon TV from October 13, 1980, to August 31, 1981. Both anime were directed by Osamu Dezaki. On March 2, 2005, the complete version of the first anime was released by Nippon Columbia on 2 DVD box sets, covering 33 hours and 55 minutes of footage across 79 episodes spanning 16 disks. It also includes an all-color explanation book in 3 volumes totaling 120 pages. Previous release formats include mini-box sets on September 21, 2001, and individual discs on September 21, 2002.[7] Crunchyroll began streaming the second anime from March 24, 2014, under the name Champion Joe 2.[8]
Crunchyroll began streaming the series in November 2024.[9]
In 2018, Megalobox, a futuristic reimagining of the original, was released as part of the manga's 50th anniversary.
Films
Edited versions of the two anime series were distributed as anime films by Nippon Herald Films on March 8, 1980, and July 4, 1981, respectively. Tai Seng released the first anime film in the United States on DVD in 2008, under the name Champion Joe. Discotek Media later released Champion Joe on Blu-Ray.[7]
The first film, Tomorrow's Joe, earned a distributor rental income of ¥500 million at the Japanese box office in 1980.[11]
Live-action films
A live-action film based on the manga was released in 1970 in Japan, featuring Shōji Ishibashi as Joe Yabuki, Ryūtarō Tatsumi as Danpei Tange and Seiichirō Kameishi as Tōru Rikiishi.
The second live-action film adaptation premiered in Japan on February 11, 2011, starring Tomohisa Yamashita as Joe Yabuki, Teruyuki Kagawa as Danpei and Yūsuke Iseya as Tōru Rikiishi. The live-action film also received positive response from Hollywood Reporter's Maggie Lee who praised the cast's boxing but criticized the characterization of Danpei and Yoko.[12] Russell Edwards from Variety enjoyed the director's work and, like Lee, enjoyed the work of the leading actors.[13] The film grossed ¥1.1 billion (US$million) at the Japanese box office in 2011.[14]
Stage play
A stage play directed by Eiichi Yogi, ran from May 25 to May 29, 2016, at the Sumida Park Studio Kura theatre in Tokyo.[15]
Radio drama
A radio drama was broadcast by TBS Radio from October 3 to October 28, 1977, for 20 episodes, featuring Yoshito Yasuhara as Joe Yabuki.
