I thought this was a really strong beginning. It's about a boxer who uses math to calculate how to beat his opponents. His best friend T.J. and T.J's new girlfriend, Anne. All three are keeping secrets about who they really are and that begins to play out. The art reminded me some of Frank Quitely.

This book was a major page-turner. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next! The main characters struggles feel very real and you really come to care for him and the choices he makes. The art is wonderful and the color pallet sets the perfect mood. All in all, this is a great book, and I definitely recommend you read it if you haven't yet!

Ok at first I was like, "wow, these are three really horrible people who lie to everyone about everything. THEN there was a twist so out of left field and BIZARRE that I was like, "what the hell did I just read?!" It all sort of made a little sense when I realized the real translations of the three parts of the series were "Rock, Paper and Scissors" and this was Rock, the story of the boxer. The next is paper, the story of the gambler... and Scissors... well, you would have to read this to find out what scissors is about because I don't want to spoil that one for anyone.

This book has gritty and good elements. Definitely for upper teen/adult reading, it goes into the world of boxing and the underworld of crime. Our hero want to be something other than a boxer, but with the forces at work, will he succeed? Part 1 of a series.

Three and a half stars.

Rock is a boxer who had to flunk out of a maths degree, partly because he was losing the second of his parents to the same disease. But he never told his best friend that that was happening, nor that he was finding a solace in the ring, using all his statistical nous to work out where and when to get the victories coming. But then, neither said best friend, nor that fellow in turn's new fiancée are exactly telling the truth about themselves in this trilogy. It's a little depressing that all three of them are huge fibbers, and some of the truths are more than a little far-fetched when they arrive here, but this wasn't too bad a read. It certainly looks alright, but a hugely blunt ending means I'd wait to have all three volumes to hand before embarking.

I'll definitely recommend this one to our library patrons and some of my friends. The artwork is interesting and the story was engaging.

'Ken Games #1: Rock' by Jose Manuel Robledo with art by Marcial Toledano is the first in a series about three characters who are all friends.

Peter Fermat, aka Rock, is a boxer who uses math to calculate how to beat his opponents. In the underground fight world, he is known as The Mathematician. He has a friend named T.J., aka Paper, who has a new girlfriend named Anne. Peter, T.J., and Anne all have secrets they are hiding from each other. Thus begins the web of deception between these three people.

It's an interesting story, and I like how it starts to play out here. There is enough left wide open to make me want to continue the story. The art is pretty solid too.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.