At first, Do Retry sets up an idea that permeates most shonen manga: what can a strong heart overcome? This question is interspersed with a firebombing of Japan in 1945. The first chapter takes a risk on the topic and the time frame. The manga sets up the idea that a strong heart cannot solve everything. Then, it spends the next several chapters instead saying, yeah it totally can.
Aozora is set up as a weak protagonist who gets by on that heart and determination, while his sister has the family's fighting strength. After his sister gets sick, Aozora tries to take care of her and, by the end of chapter 1, is invited to take part in underground boxing matches. The story sets clear stakes, creates a driven protagonist, and by chapter 2 begins to undo that setup. The protagonist is more concerned with "bad guys" than his sister's health. His reluctance for involvement screams plot contrivance rather than engaging in the post WW2 situation, a world where he has to fight to get food. And it gets worse from there.
The manga's characters blend into the absurd. One boy has an arm that is three times the size of his other arm. Characters stare down the barrel of a gun to no fear multiple times. And none seem to really develop as characters. The manga establishes some character motivations, but doesn’t challenge them with the sport itself. Sports manga thrive on diverse casts with different wants, needs, and beliefs. For example, Haikyū!! uses character’s backgrounds and experiences to increase the tension and importance of the fight. Do Retry, tries to do this, but fails spectacularly. The clash of the absurd character design and the plot muddle the ability to root for those Aozora must fight, to understand that regardless who wins, it comes at a cost.
At the centre of it all, Aozora just isn't that interesting. What seemed like a fluke win in the first chapter with his fighting the gang member, suddenly he just has a strong punch. He's thrown into the deep and succeeds several times.
Finally, the pacing of this manga is weak. A boxing manga should understand the value of the build toward a fight and the fight itself. For example, Hajime no Ippo weaves boxing training into the character's development. Ippo’s strength (physical fitness) is offset by his reluctance. The opening chapters explore opening him up to boxing while training and preparing the audience for the future. Do Retry tries to do everything immediately and suffers for it. It focuses more trying to make it funny that a child is being chased through the streets getting beaten up, rather than how dark this story set itself up to be.
There was the chance for something gripping with Do Retry, perhaps in another life as a seinen with the content and setting this manga used. Instead, it ends up lost within itself, unsure how to pace its story, while lacking a strong core cast or any reason to read.
