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The World God Only Knows 120
[scanlation by Red Hawk Scanlations]
The search for the goddesses continues, taking us all the way to a neighboring university town.
I never get tired of being reminded about just how awesome Keima has managed to be. 16 conquests is quite an achievement, though it does make the task at hand somewhat more difficult.
It's not him, it's that sex pistol of a PFP
Meeting up with the wrestling-obsessed teacher again brings back some fond memories of earlier, less-serious arcs. It’s a fun set of memories, and seeing Haqua forced into the role of fake girlfriend is a nice bonus dose of cute.
Keima’s mention of the boundary line and subsequent interaction with Jun does seem to disqualify most of the girls we haven’t seen since their conquest. It is somewhat intuitive that the ones we’ve seen nothing of are going to continue to be less relevant, as they’d be much harder to integrate into the main plot. Still, it’s too bad we won’t get to see the ramen shop girl again.
Another check with Minami, the underclassman in swimming club, confirms Keima’s theory that only girls close to him are possible goddess-holders. Also worth mentioning: Keima is acting like more of a bona fide playboy in this scene, matching his current public image. His confidence with normal girls seems to have increased significantly since he started doing conquests.
I would pour hot coffee on this face
Keima’s attitude on the rooftop is a jolting moment of character introspection. He still has the conflicting emotions over getting Kanon involved in things hanging over his head; add to that mix the realization that the conquests he put so much effort into were so easily erased, and it makes for one terrific effort by Wakaki Tamiki to put a dent in his confidence.
Final Flash: Nice to see girls from prior arcs, but I will miss the girls who were not (and will probably not be) shown.
AR∀GO 42
[scanlation by Trinity BAKumA]
Joe’s fury is palpable. Arai’s art style may be alternative, and could well be an acquired taste, but it conveys character emotion excellently.
If looks could kill (then Joe would be more relevant)
Coco was bright enough to detach the ‘D’ and ‘R’ keys from her laptop keyboard, which surely is intended to be a hint that “Dr.” Cloteaux is the perpetrator. Sadly, while such a clue is blatantly obvious to the audience, we have to wait for such a realization to strike the characters. I appreciate Coco’s intelligence and quick actions being discreetly praised, but it’s unfortunate that Arago isn’t quite sharp enough to catch on right away.
Poor Colo. Violence towards animals, especially towards animals that have been established as “good,” is an easy (if slightly cheap) way of establishing the antagonist responsible as malevolent.
Cloteaux is playing this entire scenario by the book. Disguise as a friendly, win trust, learn about the hero, kidnap the girl, lie in wait with a sinister plan. Not only is this entirely too straightforward, but Cloteaux is also showing his hand far too soon. I was ready for a year’s worth of chapters with Cloteaux deeply embedded as a friendly, establishing bonds of trust with the main cast and slowly manipulating his surroundings in his favor. Instead, he acts now, barely after having been introduced, and much too early for the main cast to feel any sense of betrayal. I’m immensely disappointed at such missed opportunities.
Arago not realizing Coco’s message is bad enough, but Joe doesn’t see the obvious clue either?
...
Joe does ultimately hit upon the correct answer, even if by whimsical chance. I really had higher expectations for his powers of deduction.
Arago being saddled with Joe at his side may prevent him from using Brionac, but it does allow for more dynamic character interaction. Of course, there is always the possibility (or perhaps eventuality) that Joe will discover Arago’s ability.
Cloteaux’s newest golem is a particularly horrifying creation, and one that surely must require the use of Brionac for Arago and Joe even to stay alive. If that ends up being the case, I think this will be too soon, as well. Unless Arai is being pressured into certain plot choices from his publisher, I find this pacing rushed and these developments unfortunate.
Of the possible options stemming from a kidnapping storyline, Coco being fused with a golem might be the best available one, but that still doesn’t redeem this arc. Coco hasn’t had nearly enough time as an independent character to make this scene carry a strong impact. Instead, any potential character development is thus far being eschewed in favor of the cheap thrill of a damsel-in-distress plot.
Cloteaux: So evil, he implanted a Simon Says game into her
Final Flash: A saddening display of authorial mediocrity. Arai, you’re better than this.
Enigma 8
[scanlation by CXC Scans]
I’m interested to see how the moral dilemma the characters were presented with last chapter will be altered by Matsurigi’s shadow-induced selfishness.
In defiance of almost all precedent, this sudden and abrupt shift in Matusrigi’s tone does not go unnoticed. Not only is Haiba immediately suspicious, but the hooded guy also quickly notices the flecks of black on Matsurigi’s hand and keeps the door from being unlocked. My respect for our protagonists is being earned yard-for-yard.
The delay in opening the door gives Matsurigi time to reassert himself and regain control of his body. While it would have been interesting to have him remain as a shadow for the duration of the third password test, this particular action makes up for how abruptly he was cut off last chapter; he’s actually getting to dispense the information now.
Testimony about the shadow shows that it at least has human hands. In some ways, the bad guy is a bit scarier that way than as a formless mass; we now know just enough to prompt speculation, but not enough to formulate anything solid. That uncertainty is what creates effective fear.
Plus, those are hardly ordinary hands
Matsurigi’s reassertion doesn’t mean that he’s going to remain himself forever. Even if he gets out, there’s not any guarantee he won’t become a shadow before the e-test finishes. That’s one plotline that could go any number of ways.
Interesting line of reasoning coming from the hooded guy. I understand his hating Enigma, but another thing gleaned from his speech is that, apparently, even he is concerned about group unity at this point. I guess somewhere along the line he observed that this group of people can function effectively together. In any event, nice subtle attitude shift.
Youthfully rebelling into camaraderie
So, we go for that standard third option: choose both and save everything. That is a tad disappointing, but it does give us the opportunity to see a new power demonstrated.
Apparently, Sumio can do something like telepathic communication now. Weird. Now that we’ve seen him do this, I’d kind of like to see an explanation for his new powers sooner rather than later. As it is, I’m a tad confused about what all he can actually do.
They open the password door, and Matsurigi is now ready to free himself through his new power, something called “Cubic Subtraction.” A little surprised they opted to show his power rather than the hooded guy’s; this makes me all the more curious what his will eventually be.
Final Flash: This chapter produced unpredictability on a page-by-page basis. Not in the sense of inconsistency, but in the sense that the next step is never boringly clear. Mystery series can thrive on this balancing of suspense and surprise.
Naruto 515
[scanlation by Binktopia]
Not much of a Jump cover, it must be said, but the color page and chapter cover are markedly better.
Tsuchigumo carrying the entire turtle-island is the proper way to amaze the audience with his power and ability. It’s unfortunate that this wasn’t his first action after leaving the Kage Summit. That entire showdown with Deidara Mark II should never have happened.
Explaining Naruto’s thoughts in the introductory text blurb is no better than explaining plot in a narrative box. In fact, it might even be a bit worse, because at most, the introductory blurb is supposed to be a throwaway recap of what brought us to the beginning of the current chapter. Kishimoto has his strengths (art, creative concepts), but considering this alongside his recent over-reliance on thought bubbles, proper storytelling clearly isn’t one of them.
It’s incredible how disheartening the mere mention of Sasuke is. My will to continue reading this chapter has suddenly diminished.
Sasuke? Motoi does not approve.
An Aburame clan member appears! My will is restored. I realize that my hope for Shino to become a vital part of the cast will never come true, but his personality and his clan’s ability are so interesting that I can’t help but be excited to see any of them, even if I realize they’ll again be relegated to the background soon enough. As far as relevance to the story, I’m pleasantly surprised with the pace at which the war arc is moving forward. I don’t want a return to the unnecessarily rapid pacing from back around the Invasion of Pain arc, but Konoha finding out about Madara’s Zetsu army this soon after it was unveiled is a good choice.
Bee is right, Naruto; stacking blocks is considerably more important than returning to wait for Sasuke.
Do well and you'll graduate to Lego blocks
Despite a succession of wise decisions by Kabuto, Madara continues to focus all the credit on Orochimaru. I respect that Kabuto had to get his knowledge from somewhere, but this much focus on a supposedly deceased character implies that we haven’t seen the last of him, at least in some capacity. If that must be the case, I hope for something more imaginative than his consciousness overtaking Kabuto’s.
The frantic planning at the Kage Summit sets the tone properly for the impending war. That said, Gaara’s contribution to the proceedings is a little… misguided.
Fighting without fashion? Folly.
Gaara is an interesting choice of Commander General. I’m pleased that Kishimoto didn’t overly favor Konoha by putting Tsunade in charge of everything. With military divisions being formed on the basis of combat range or specialty, Gaara is a logical tactical choice; despite his other position as Division 4 (Long-Range) General, he is not exclusively a distance fighter, as his abilities can support the entire battle. I’m also pleased to see Kakashi in a position of importance, though Guy surely mustn’t enjoy being his subordinate.
Afternoon Tiger aftermath < being the lesser eternal rival
Temari and Shikamaru are logical choices for the long-range division, but Chouji’s inclusion in such a group is bizarre. Unless Kishimoto later provides some explanatory strategy (such as every group needing close-combat muscle in the event of an ambush), I can’t see any sensible reason why Chouji would be in this group. Surely, he’s been included because of his chemistry with Shikamaru. Speaking of Shikamaru, I’m a bit disappointed that he wasn’t given a leadership role. I have no particular complaints with those who have been chosen, but with so much emphasis having been placed on Shikamaru’s tactical brilliance, an outright position as Division General (instead of a proxy role under Gaara) would have made sense.
Kiba certainly is excited to go off to war. He is certainly a brash character, but I hope this arc is authored in an honest, horrifying way, enough to have characters such as Kiba come to shocking realizations about the senselessness and brutality of war. That’s not to say I’m hoping for meaningless character deaths, of course.
With this chapter building up excitement for the war arc so well, the last two pages come as an immense crushing blow. This isn’t a Mega Man game; Naruto and friends shouldn’t have to re-prove their superiority over previously defeated enemies right before the final boss. Also, while the overall idea of resurrecting old characters is bad enough, the choice of characters revived is even worse. Reviving Akatsuki is groan-inducing, given the growing sense of achievement and relief readers have felt as the series has progressed, but it’s also understandable; they were some of the most powerful characters in the history of the series. The Kages are the most sensible and least irritating of the bunch, because hearsay strength aside, they’re an unknown quantity. All that said, though, reviving characters like Zabuza and Kimimaro is heinous. They provide no creative edge to the storyline, no tactical benefit that couldn’t have been covered by introducing new characters or even by giving each Zetsu clone individual abilities. They have been brought back merely for a parade of nostalgia, for a self-congratulatory reminder by and for Kishimoto. I have lost some respect for this series and this author because of the end of this chapter.
Final Flash: Sasuke’s brief appearance aside, the chapter was admirably raising anticipation until a spectacularly awful train wreck of an ending. Expectations and excitement are decidedly gone.
Bleach 425
[scanlation by Binktopia]
It’s official: Ichigo dreams about Renji. I can hear the fanfiction community in a stir already.
Great start to the chapter. This kind of comedy feels right at home with Kubo’s style. I’ve often said that I’d love for Bleach to be canceled and for Kubo to turn around and write a school comedy, but if he can just make this series take itself less seriously, the remaining few years will be satisfactory.
Any good day begins with attempted patricide
Ichigo became a mercenary? This is pretty funny stuff. Settling on the soccer club gives the story a great opportunity for more comedy. The further away we’re taken from huge swords and ridiculous plot twists, the better.
It’s even a pleasure to see Inoue, who, between being revered as an idol and exiting the school from the second story, has shown more charisma and likability than in all 424 previous chapters combined.
Her facial expression is the real punchline
Ichigo’s phone call, seemingly to Kisuke, could serve as the bridge back to Soul Society-related plot. I sincerely hope it doesn’t, and that whoever Ichigo (and Inoue and Tatsuki?) works for leads to new, more interesting responsibilities in the real world.
These punks blocking the gate provide exactly the kind of low-level conflict worth our time, and the way Ishida intervenes is a perfectly suitable combination of aggression and comedy. I don’t know what long-time Bleach fans make of this, but as someone disgusted with where the manga went over the last two or three years, I find this new direction (however temporary it might be) welcome and enjoyable.
Twist of the week
Final Flash: Easily the best Bleach chapter in years. My experience with post-Future Arc Reborn is keeping my excitement limited, as Kubo could drop a Hollow in the middle of all this at any time, but so far the timeskip has worked wonders.
One Piece 603
[scanlation by Binktopia]
We’re off to Fishma– wait, still Sabaody? This whole chapter should be exploration and wonderment.
Granted, Caribou secretly being a Logia user and wanting to infiltrate the Straw Hat crew and destroy them from the inside is pretty interesting. Still, his passive introduction and grotesque character design make him look distinctly like a “stepping stone” villain, someone whose only purpose is to be a punching bag for our protagonists. If he was going to matter even this much, I wish Oda would have given him a more distinct look.
One page of Sentoumaru explaining how strong the Straw Hats are now is one page too many. Let’s get on with the adventure, please.
Rayleigh’s brief flashback reveals a pretty major piece of information: Luffy’s straw hat was originally Roger’s. On one hand, this is a nice little tie-in meant to make Luffy feel even more important and destined for greatness than he already did. On the other hand, I don’t want any Luffy/Roger similarities becoming reminiscent of the endless string of Vongola Primo tripe in Reborn. Compare your protagonist too often to a famed character in the past, and nothing your protagonist does will create any sense of achievement.
It took until the seventh page to focus on the Thousand Sunny. That’s not a good start.
Gorgeous art showcases the undersea world surrounding the ship, though apparently all this natural beauty isn’t as great the second time around.
Still the highlight of crew interaction
Sanji couldn’t even handle Nami moving? This new reaction to women is hilarious for now, but it could become stale over time. This character trait will need to evolve; hopefully, this scenario will mesh with the need for Sanji to resolve the question marks surrounding him since back in Enies Lobby, where his vehement refusal to kick a woman seemed to allude to some backstory waiting to be told.
Franky playing with his own retractable hair is pretty amusing.
Fun confirmed-robo
Silliness aside, Franky also has some pretty amazing information to reveal. Aside from Hachi, Duval, and the Flying Fish Rider, Sunny-go was ultimately protected by Bartholomew Kuma. Franky’s ensuing explanation cements what has been made pretty obvious already: That Kuma was secretly helping the Straw Hats escape. That confirmation is appreciated, but the highlight here is learning more specifics of Kuma’s modification, particularly his agreement with Dr. Vegapunk. The slow trickle of meaningful Kuma moments has not only helped solidify him as a good character, but it has now also provided impetus for the rest of the Straw Hat crew (besides Robin) to eventually meet with the Revolutionary Army.
Franky, staring into the future
We have yet to make it to Fishman Island, and Caribou and Coribou have caught up to the crew. This still feels a little early for the crew to engage in a major fight, and it would also be awkward for the crew to demolish someone in the middle of the ocean, so I hope that either a friendly acquaintance from Fishman Island (Jinbei? Caimie?) personally or indirectly interferes, or that Franky has a new ship modification to get them down to their destination in a hurry.
Final Flash: An unexpected choice of plot direction in Caribou does little to detract from an enjoyable chapter with some important revelations and some overdue adventuring.
Fairy Tail 207-209
[scanlation by Binktopia]
Fairy Tail reviews return with a triple-chapter week mega-post! My anticipation and expectation is high for this series of chapters.
(207) We begin with Mest demystifying himself by trying to eat snow. Right out of the gate in such an important week, Mashima uses comedy to kill the tension (and, by association, interest) surrounding a character with limitless potential. His comedy moments are decently funny, but these character traits could either have been assigned to someone else, or saved for much later, when this character isn’t at the center of attention.
Comedy is well-covered, thanks. Be serious.
Mest and Wendy losing this early can’t be right. Regardless of any criticism I may have towards Mashima, he’s not foolish enough to build up a character this much only to swerve us this badly. Something is amiss.
As evidenced by Gray and Loke failing to remember any vital details about him, Mest is apparently a completely unknown quantity. A mystery element would add considerable excitement to this arc.
Poor Gazille. Certainly, he was the last person who would have wanted the “Quiet” route, even less so than Natsu. As far as a writing choice, though, having Gazille avoid fighting right now is the right decision. He needs the spotlight firmly on him for his next fight, instead of sharing it with others fighting around him.
Juvia lost?! What was the point in including her in the S-Class Exam, then? Mashima better have something major planned for her in this arc, or I’m going to be incensed. Well, I’ll be more incensed than I am now.
That's quite the understatement, Gray
Uh, Natsu, perhaps you missed the point of … well, this entire exam… but you already are challenging your fellow guild members to see who can become an S-Class mage. That’s the whole reason all of you are here. (Seriously, generic shonen hero statements are one thing, but this is a slap in the face.)
The last page unveils the major plot twist: Mest really isn’t who we’ve been made to think he is. We don’t really know who he is, but to an extent, we know who he isn’t. Also, we know he can make one hell of a creepy face. Incidentally, having Pantherlily be the character to figure things out is a nice touch, given both his association to Mystogan and the fact that he’s the last person to join Fairy Tail, meaning that if Mest is using some kind of manipulative magic, Pantherlily should be the least affected by it.
Fantastically scary
(208) Suddenly, Tenrou Island has become Little Garden.
I still don’t like Happy, but a comedic straight-man was definitely needed in the scene where Natsu interrogated the beast, and Happy duly delivered.
Halfway through, the chapter still hasn’t shaken the comedy focus. Fairy Tail is good at comedy, but an unprecedented triple-chapter week might not be the best time to get sidetracked from the main story. Incidentally, the Conan O’Brien “If They Mated”-esque concept of what Elfman and Evergreen’s baby would look like is nowhere near as funny as Mirajane’s head-in-hands reaction in the following panel.
World's unhappiest would-be aunt
In a twist that wouldn’t shock even a child whose first reading material is Fairy Tail, romantic tension is being developed between Elfman and Evergreen. The most insulting aspect of that plot cop-out is that, if predictable and unnecessary romantic development is all we’re set to gain from Elfman and Evergreen progressing in the exam, they might as well have lost instead of Juvia and Lisanna.
Emo kid is back, and he’s still on the verge of tears as he tries to get Elfman and Evergreen to run away. Sadly, those two don’t have the chance to prove their worth, as Natsu enters the scene from out of nowhere to save them from “Death Preying,” which is one of the most redundant names ever given to an ability.
Oh, nevermind. Emo kid isn’t on the verge of tears at all; he actually is crying.
Cheer up, genocidal terror
(209) It really is unfortunate that this whole “depressed character with an unwanted devastating power” storyline has been done enough already, because each individual aspect of this storyline is being handled well. Still, I can’t overlook obvious authorial laziness.
Emo kid has been waiting for Natsu to grow strong enough to kill him? Again, that’s tried-and-true at best. More interesting to me is the fact that Natsu has no idea who he is.
As unusual of a sacrificial lamb as a muffler is, any involvement in the storyline from Igneel is worthwhile. We’ve had to wait far too long for any advancement of this plot; I’m certainly not suggesting that Mashima should have had Natsu head directly for a reunion with Igneel without any adventures along the way, but entire arcs have gone by without even the mention of his name. This is a good sign.
Do you have any idea how few Targets exist in Earthland?
Mest is apparently aware of the existence of emo kid. His creepy face conveys mixed messages, however; it’s difficult to tell whether Mest is fearful or excited.
... or both fearful AND excited, perhaps?
Emo kid now has a name, but I don’t like “Zeref” as much as “emo kid.” I suppose I ought to let the manga speak for itself, though.
An airship full of baddies shows up, headed by a man named Hades. Could there possibly have been a more boring way to introduce the antagonists of this arc? Here is an airship, this guy is named Hades, this other guy is ugly, this narrative box says “Dark Guild.” Completely unimaginative.
As long as none of you are secretly Gérard
Final Flash: 207 was the standout of the three, but each chapter had some quality to it. That said, there was no incredible event or unified storyline that warranted a triple-chapter week. In that sense, then, this was a bit of a letdown.
History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi 405
[scanlation by Binktopia]
Kenichi has won, but everyone present is so worn out and beaten up that every fighter is just laying on the ground. That is, everyone is down until the entrance of the same Weapon Division Yami member that we saw in the arc to save Freya’s grandfather, the staff-master. Kenichi had a scrape with him in the past, and it looks like he’s about to test himself against a master class again.
Exhibit A: How to trigger your own death flag
This guy is an evil bastard, and he’s going to get the stuffing knocked out of him very soon.
A hugely appropriate and well-done response from Kenichi. The whole page is used to great effect in displaying his anger. Again with the intense eyes, as well. Matsuena definitely has a trademark.
Agaard Jum Sai is doing his best to protect Kenichi, even though Apachai’s finishing blow has left him unable to even lift a finger for 48 hours. We know not everyone in Yami is outright evil, some of them merely believe martial arts are the art of killing. Agaard seems to be one of the “good guys” on the “bad guys” side.
The scenes of Kenichi fighting while Agaard yells orders give credence to the theory that if Apachai has died the final death, Kenichi could have already found a new Muay Thai teacher. Agaard tossing the pebble with his mouth is a final desperate act to save a disciple, but it doesn’t look like it will save Kenichi. All of the sudden, the ground splits open. Who’s here to the rescue?
This hand of mine glows with an awesome power
All jokes aside, the final two pages of this chapter are nothing less than the two most impactful moments I’ve ever read within this series. I was stunned, excited, and a whole mix of other emotions as I finished this. Next week can’t come quickly enough.
Final Flash: Pure excellence, regardless of the fact it presents a possibility that Apachai could be able to recover.
Mahou Sensei Negima! 307
[scanlation by Animum Mutare]
This is a strikingly effective opening page. If your mouth was left open after this, I’m sure you aren’t the only one. Shiori looks gone, and Dynamis is declaring the victory of their faction. Negi is going out of control, and the girls can barely do anything to stop him.
Surely not the first time Negi was covered in high school girls
Chisame is an incredibly strong character, and this is in stark contrast to having basically zero combat potential. It’s a testament to how well written she is, both that she can stand out among 30 other girls, and that she can remain vitally important to the plot despite not fighting directly.
Shiori barely escaped the fatal blow, and Negi has ceased his advance into being a creature of darkness. I don’t know how I feel about the former. A straight-out death isn’t something expected in Negima, but it might not have been a terrible development. Negi is rendered useless for the foreseeable future; he’s a shell of his former self.
Shiori’s speech cements her as a mainstay of the already gigantic cast of females who have gathered around Negi. In another series with this many characters, it may be seen as too much. In Negima, though, adding another girl seems more like a “why not?” sort of decision.
She has a pretty good point
Negi is out of it, but the girls realize the finality of the situation and decide to press on. I wonder how they’re going to manage without Negi, who according to Dynamis is the only one who could possibly take on Fate.
Final Flash: A climactic buildup to a moment that dodges a climax. Nevertheless, some brilliant characterization.
Hayate no Gotoku! 294
[scanlation by reddevilshn]
We’re promised action straight from the start, and then shown an excellent cover page. Isumi has always been one of the funniest characters the series has; her expressions are perfect.
Nagi is going to war with a popular doujinshi circle artist. It should be an interesting story, seeing whether or not she can write a passionate manga that will draw in people. It also gives her a great reason to keep working at making her own unique brand of manga, without which the series wouldn’t feel right. Her blank look as she asks what she just agreed to is priceless.
You're on, I -- wait, what?
The whole discussion about burning spirit is great, and it segues directly into Luca overhearing everything Nagi says. Bonds are being forged between the two characters before they’ve even formally met, and Luca just keeps getting more interesting. Her flashback to selling Chiharu her manga is drawing some serious parallels between herself and Nagi.
Hayate is in trouble, in a few separate ways (not the least of which is cross-dressing in the middle of a cosplay event). The robot is starting a fight, and Hayate is in true Hayate form when he makes the battle seem like a play.
Hayate is male, we promise you
Next week we have the trap-maid vs. robot battle, which I’m sure sounds as dull to you as it does to me. That’s the kind of thing you see happening in every manga at least once a month. I suppose I can look forward to it at least a little.
Final Flash: Good comedy and quick setup, and we’re building tension for the identity of the “28th.”
Weekly Power Rankings: 10/17 – 10/23
Rank |
Change |
Series |
Chapter |
Score |
| 1 | — | Beelzebub | 81 | 80.00% |
| 2 | — | Hayate no Gotoku! | 293 | 75.41% |
| 3 | +5 | Enigma | 6 | 72.82% |
| 4 | +2 | Nurarihyon no Mago | 127 | 72.67% |
| 5 | — | AR∀GO | 41 | 72.29% |
| 6 | -2 | Toriko | 115 | 71.92% |
| 7 | +5 | Gintama | 327 | 70.29% |
| 8 | +2 | Kekkaishi | 326 | 69.13% |
| 9 | +5 | Code:Breaker | 109 | 67.52% |
| 10 | +3 | Gamaran | 69 | 66.54% |
| 11 | +5 | Fairy Tail | 205 | 65.39% |
| 12 | -1 | History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi | 403 | 64.91% |
| 13 | +7 | One Piece | 600 | 64.56% |
| 14 | -5 | Psyren | 139 | 64.24% |
| 15 | +3 | The World God Only Knows | 118 | 63.77% |
| 16 | -9 | Bakuman | 105 | 63.09% |
| 17 | — | Mahou Sensei Negima! | 306 | 62.82% |
| 18 | -15 | Kimi no Iru Machi | — | 61.25% |
| 19 | -4 | Air Gear | 292 | 60.85% |
| 20 | -1 | Defense Devil | 70 | 58.08% |
| 21 | — | Naruto | 513 | 56.25% |
| 22 | — | Kyoukai no Rin-ne | 70 | 48.31% |
| 23 | — | GE ~ Good Ending | 56 | 47.33% |
| 24 | — | Zettai Karen Children | 235 | 38.18% |
| 25 | +2 | Katekyo Hitman Reborn! | 310 | 24.97% |
| 26 | — | MiXiM☆11 | 116 | 24.09% |
Absent: SWOT
Hiatus: Bleach
Series Roundup: 10/24 – 10/30
Mini-reviews for all the series without full individual posts.
Air Gear 293
[scanlation by SSA Scanlations]
I’d love to see more of the Air Gear world before ATs, or like this, more of the world as they’re just starting to discover them and everything associated with them.
Gazelle is a girl now? Seriously, what’s going on here? I’m sure Oh!Great has a direction he’s going with this, but constantly changing the identity of Gazelle without any real indication of plot connection is starting to become tiresome.
“Upside-down glowing ice cream cone” is the best description of Tokyo Tower ever. More relevant to the plot, Gazelle being a blank slate and serving as the world’s (or at least this part of the world’s) introduction to ATs is a nice touch.
This suddenly-revealed relationship is far too happy to last, unfortunately. Tragedy is poised to strike Kaito at the end of the chapter, but it’s safe to assume he’ll be saved, which perhaps directly leads to Gazelle’s demise… or turning into Lind? That part is still confusing. What an unfortunate time for a missed chapter next week.
Defense Devil 70
[scanlation by I Eat Manga]
Maybe it was conveyed or drawn in an awkward fashion, but Kucabara’s back-and-forth reaction to his watch being taken isn’t very good. Everyone falling asleep right after that is pretty funny, though.
The very moment of her first mention, Kucabara’s sister arrives, flying beside Jody. That’s a little too convenient.
She has a spell called Pyun-Pyun Bird. Combine that with her face, and I’m finding this character difficult to like already.
There’s an acceptable twist. Bird just being an illusion created by Kucabara’s late sister is far more interesting. The powerful magic she has and her invisibility to anyone but Kucabara still means that she’d be out of place in the main cast, so I hope she doesn’t stick around permanently, but she’s far more tolerable with this kind of bittersweet feeling to her.
Flashback, rainbow bridge, clock hands moving again, end of chapter. Is Defense Devil ever going to return to sensible, extended plot?
Donten Prism Solar Car 2
[scanlation by CXC Scans]
The unnecessarily convenient introduction of Professor Saeki effectively ruins all of the tension from the excellent first chapter. What a complete and immediate disappointment.
Saeki’s lofty speech about the lives and ambitions of students is made bizarre by the mention of the solar car as the path to the future. It’s still a bit early to lean on the crux of the series like this, given that this series is likely an introduction to solar cars for most of the audience.
The car accident provided the perfect opportunity to introduce a little romantic tension, as well as reintroducing some resentment via the destroyed bicycle. Instead, the author opted not only to have Shouta electrocuted, but also to have him talk to his dead father in his sleep? Ridiculous.
Freshly released from hospital, Shouta confirms that all chapter 1 tension is gone by repairing the solar car by himself. Surely, it was obvious that he’d eventually come around, but the second chapter is far too soon.
Junko’s insistence that this project is a responsibility could provide some much-needed drama. With all but the long-term goals from the first chapter resolved, there simply isn’t enough conflict to engage the reader.
Gamaran 69
[scanlation by Overload Scans]
This is a pretty comical conversation to be having with someone ostensibly related to the fearsome village where the Ogame school knows to train.
Rintaro is pretty jovial for a huge swordsman. However, his potential menace is revealed as his eyes are hidden from view when he comments on Gama’s intent to defeat Jinsuke.
The design of Juuren Village is immediately promising. That huge spire seems particularly menacing, and will likely play a major role in the upcoming training arc.
Sakura’s face is noticeably somber after the mention of Juuren being the location where the next Ogame head is chosen.
69 chapters in, and we finally meet the first woman in the series to be introduced as attractive: Rika. This is actually a positive; the fact that the author didn’t go out of his way to draw previous females in a more presentable fashion nicely evokes the era, as well as being a small victory for rightfully-empowered ordinary women everywhere.
Excellent emotion displayed by Gama, and even more pleasingly, the forced rest is completely skipped over, with the end of the chapter leading directly into the beginning of training.
GE ~ Good Ending 56
[scanlation by iMangaScans]
In addition to being one of the worst, most thoroughly inept romance protagonists of all time, Seiji is also the world’s worst Uno player, in that he fails to meet even the most basic requirement of playing the game.
A training camp arc in a romantic comedy only works in series with at least a halfhearted focus on its particular sport. For example, Suzuka could have pulled it off, because the two protagonists visibly participated in their sport. In Good Ending, tennis is an ignored backdrop at best, but more often a laughable extra.
The brief cooking comedy is welcome, but the positive interplay between Seiji and Yuki is frustratingly kept out of focus. Instead, the spotlight falls on Shou, who is saddened to notice the two having fun together. This author is absolutely infuriating.
Regardless of whether or not the window was open, how the hell would Shou think that Yuki overheard her express her love for Seiji? That’s another example of terrible writing.
Shou asking Yuki for help with Seiji is irritating, because of all of the drama it will inevitably bring, but Shou is at least a respectable character for being honest and brave with her feelings.
Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 312
[scanlation by Binktopia]
“Never refuse an invitation to get it on!!”? Are you coming on to me, Reborn?
This “Lightning vs. Stag Beetle” fight has been amended to a “Lightning vs. Earth Stag Beetle” fight. That’s at least a little more appropriate.
With lines like “I can make the very earth my ally,” I’ve finally figured out Reborn: It’s for kids. I don’t mean it’s aimed at a demographic of young adults and teens, as defined by its publication in a shonen magazine. I mean, it’s actually for small children. Eight year olds (… Dude). Think about it: If you were eight, stag beetles would still be cool and relevant to you, Rauji would be huge and imposing, and the line “I can make the very earth my ally” would be badass. Judged by typical shonen standards, Reborn is trash, but if you look at it as My First Shonen, it starts to make sense.
Lambo dials back on the motivation, so that he can obviously dial it back up later for yet another silly linear powerup.
Reborn (the character) finally plays a role for once. Why has he been ignored so much? He was such a huge reason why this series was so entertaining in its early days.
“Just now, I remembered how to use the Vongola Gear from my past memories.” Complete and utter drivel.
As bad as some other series can be (Bleach, MiXiM☆11), at least they have the decency to attempt cliffhangers properly, even if they often overdo it. A Reborn cliffhanger goes as far as showing the form of an attack, but then doesn’t actually show it striking at anything. Pitiful. Frankly, the most credit that I can give to this series anymore is that it’s making me run out of negative descriptors.
Nurarihyon no Mago 128
[scanlation by reddevilshn]
There’s another reference to the human side of Hagoromo Gitsune. This fight seems to be headed for a murky ending, sadly.
It’s pleasing to see that older characters aren’t being forgotten. Though his appearance is brief, Jami is a welcome sight.
The 13th has become annoyingly repetitive. We’re well aware by now that Rikuo and Yura must work together, and that the final blow must be struck with Nenekirimaru. Continuing to emphasize this point is a waste of space.
Yet another interruption in the fight from Hagoromo’s human side. We’ve had enough teases for this; it’s time to reveal what’s going on.
The pieces are all in place, but the first major action leading to the resolution of this fight will have to wait at least until next week, at which point the fight will need to end fairly soon. This battle just never felt quite right.
Psyren 140
[scanlation by Muda Scantrad]
Everyone being sent back is an odd choice, considering how little publishing life is left in the series. It does provide a truly painful scene, though, as all the kids are essentially left behind to die.
Being sent a year ahead of the previously established present is a good choice if the plot has time to unfold, but again, with a matter of weeks left to tell the end of the story, the author might have been better off ending the series with a climactic fight in the future.
The final arc is set: Find Present (+1 year) Miroku, probably fight him, kill Mithra. That’s a lot to fit in to a few weeks. I’m pleased that this series has a semblance of a chance to wrap up, but breakneck pacing isn’t much better than an abrupt ending.
SWOT 14
[scanlation by Red Hawk Scanlations]
Speaking of series with only a few weeks left, if SWOT doesn’t get canceled before Psyren, I may just shut down the website completely. This week’s distraction is the Knight Rider theme song, because even David Hasselhoff commands more respect than Manabizaki… and because watching KITT jump over things is infinitely more entertaining than reading this.
A tsundere in the first panel is an appreciated warning about the forthcoming suck.
No, adding romantic comedy elements to your series is not going to help matters. You’re still going to get canceled, so you’re only watering down what little substance you have.
All the girls in the series worked at one café, and now Yamikura works at the one convenience store we’ve seen? Does this city only have three locations?
Ladies and gentlemen, the transition between pages 8 and 9 is, officially, The Single Worst Manga Moment of the Year. Granted, SWOT could yet trump itself in its remaining chapters, but it’s going to take some serious effort to top this. No matter how bad a manga may be, the single most fundamental aspect of a manga is using art to tell a story. By replacing visible action with speed lines, SWOT has failed to achieve even the simplest, most basic, most absolutely necessary concept in all of comics, let alone manga. Even Bleach chapter 396, Aizen’s infamous “everything was according to my plan” chapter (and my previous contender for Single Worst Manga Moment of the Year) at least managed to show characters performing actions. This is an affront to manga. This is unforgivably abominable. I rate each chapter of each series that I read on a scale of 1 to 10, and while chapters like Bleach 396 deservedly earned a 1 for culminating years of plot in a single putrid sentence, SWOT has set a new low. SWOT 14 earns a zero.
There isn’t much else to review. Some little kid is the leader atop Teppen. I’m not concerned about that. I’m concerned with people who actually enjoy reading this series. I don’t even mean that in an aggressive or confrontational way. I simply don’t understand how anyone can find this remotely legible on a recreational basis. I feel like observing you with binoculars from behind a massive steel fence, as though we are from completely different species. I want to learn from you. Please, someone, explain a single point of appeal presented in SWOT that hasn’t already been done exponentially better in another series.
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Feel that one or more of these series should be getting full-review treatment each week? Show your support by participating in chapter discussion in comments. Actively-discussed series will be considered for full reviews.
Bakuman 107
[scanlation by SleepyFans]
What a strong proposition from Mashiro. While I still worry about the focus diverting away from a unified Ashirogi striving for their ultimate goal, I do appreciate that Mashiro is getting some compensatory treatment after the spotlight was so distinctly turned away from him for a while. That said, Mashiro developing enough skill as an author to contribute is one thing, but him developing enough skill to stand on his own as a solo mangaka would effectively ruin the point of Ashirogi Muto, at least from the standpoint of Mashiro and his desires.
Perhaps I won’t have to worry too long about whether Mashiro will overshadow Takagi as a writer, considering that his determination to spearhead the one-shot was apparently founded on pure confidence, without an actual idea to support it yet. That’s a suitably amateur way of acting, enough to keep Takagi firmly in the picture.
It feels like it’s been such a long time since we’ve actually seen Aoki in an actual scene, rather than in a small cutout panel. I love Weekly Aoki Ko and all of Hiramaru’s comical longing for her, but she deserves more attention than just that.
Aoki’s editor is absolutely right in not wanting her to write another romance, but a hybrid fantasy/romance could be the perfect style of manga for her to stand out enough to work her way back into the main cast.
Iwase is also doing a romance series? I hope something changes, as I’d hate for the two female mangaka to be generalized and gender stereotyped to such an extent.
No, if the middle of this chapter is any indication, I definitely don’t have to worry about Mashiro becoming an incredible author.
Creativity is hard
Mashiro’s walk carries a pretty listless and fairly depressing tone. Writer’s block and lack of inspiration are respectable problems, but Mashiro realizing that he has no particular interests or hobbies is a little sad, whether or not the scene is meant to convey such an emotion.
The relationship between Hiramaru and his editor has grown in a fascinatingly bizarre way, to the point where Hiramaru is almost the one in control, as he deliberately provokes the editor into offering him incentives for working hard. The editor still has enough grandiose plans up his sleeve to maintain the advantage for now, at least.
Like Inception, except incredibly shallow
Whoa. Is this the creepiest panel Obata has ever produced?
Do your worst, internet
The rapid exchange of panels, shifting between Mashiro and Eiji each explaining their ideas for the one-shot competition, is a brilliant idea executed to perfection. Seeing Eiji again is enough of a positive, but Mashiro’s contribution to this entire scene is so great that Eiji doesn’t completely steal the show. Wonderful end to the chapter, and the fact that everyone is coincidentally aiming to do romance one-shots is fantastic as well.
Final Flash: It’s amazing how great this series can be when highlighting the strengths of the established cast, rather than unnecessarily building up a new character far too late in the game. The lack of Shiratori and the interplay between the strongest characters in the series made for a refreshingly good chapter.
AR∀GO 41
[scanlation by Trinity BAKumA]
Even if Arago is right to claim to be in trouble, the fact that his regeneration has kept him alive through this barrage is hugely impressive.
Arago’s insistence on staying out of the line of fire despite his Brionac powers is a comforting sentiment. This series would suffer immensely if Brionac evolved to the point where Arago could eschew clever tactics and trickery in favor of brute force. Some series work well with conventional shonen stereotypes, but AR∀GO would not be one of them.
The scene played out over only a half a page, but Arago refusing to fire Brionac in a manner that would kill a human has the potential to be a series-defining moment. Arago has always intended to protect humans, but this fact was never highlighted as intensely as this moment. Another more directly threatening moment could force Arago to reassert his refusal to use Brionac on humans, which would inevitably draw comparisons to pacifist protagonists such as Vash the Stampede and Kenshin, not that such comparisons necessarily would be unwelcome.
In stark contrast to the earlier reassurance provided by the explicit limitation of the regeneration ability of Brionac, the ability to fire beams is disappointing. The strength of this series lies in its exploration and adaptation of various myths and legends. This alternative feel has been complemented by the low-key Brionac power, which has somewhat resembled a Stand from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, in that it’s been shown as a limited power used in situational and insightful ways, rather than as a linearly-upgraded, Dragon Ball-style power. If Brionac continues to evolve down such a path, I can’t help but worry that Brionac would be overpowered for the subtleties of the legends AR∀GO explores, which could lead to Arai seeking balance by changing the overall feel of the series to a more traditional shonen style. Hopefully this is an isolated incident, but I admit to being wary.
Please, leave the shonen beams to the professionals
The next day, Cloteaux is noticeably absent from the investigation proceedings, and Coco is unreachable. After the disappointment of Brionac-beams, this is a pivotal moment. If Coco has been kidnapped for the purposes of a straightforward “damsel in distress” plot line, this series will have made major strides in an unwanted direction. On the other hand, if Arai defies expectations and uses Coco’s disappearance as an opportunity to establish her as a self-sufficient character, or at least varies a kidnapping scenario by having Coco actually suffer in some capacity at the hands of Cloteaux, then AR∀GO will still retain its unique feel compared to its shonen contemporaries.
Final Flash: Still an enjoyable chapter, but one that presents far too many unpleasant possibilities for the future.
Zettai Karen Children 236
[scanlation by JS Scans]
Supplement’s back, thankfully.
It seems last chapter was not the end of the Phantom Portrait arc, despite several indications that it was. Instead, we kick off with a curtain call for the play. Likely this chapter is going to be a wrap-up one for the arc.
The truce between Fujiko and Hyoubu continues for now, but that doesn’t stop them from baiting each other. Despite subtle hints that Hyoubu is becoming more open-minded towards normals and the government, it’s nice to see he can still banter like an antagonist. While I still expect him to change more significantly in the long run, last chapter was enough of a personality shift for a while.
Minamoto, being still in the dark about Hyoubu’s hidden agenda, compliments him for coming just to see the kids’ play. It seems like Hyoubu is going to slip under the radar this time, which is all the more promising. That said, his reaction when he realizes he just got a compliment from Minamoto is great.
It's not like I agree with your principles or anything
Kaoru kind of knows that Hyoubu did something, but has no idea what. Her intuition could do with a little more elaboration. Knowing vaguely that something happened doesn’t do anything much here other than give Hyoubu another opportunity to knee-combo Minamoto.
Yuuri seems to be building up a library of memories and souvenirs, the latest being her costume from the play. It’s fairly insignificant by itself, but if it becomes a thing, it could be used to flesh out her character whenever Phantom Daughter reemerges.
Last of all, the mascot characters, the most disparate pair in terms of relevance. Seriously, Feather is a plot-central timestream-hopping super-esper, while Momotarou is Hyoubu’s telepathic flying squirrel.
Because you're a squirrel
Apparently Feather’s obligation to change the past didn’t come into things today. Given how broken she’s been shown to be, it’s probably good for the plot that she’s not involved in every little thing. That statement she makes at the end, though, the one about things that Hyoubu let happen, is cryptic and could be referring to either his backstory or something yet to occur.
Final Flash: The Phantom Portrait arc ended without another major upheaval, which is probably for the best.
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