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Naruto 494
Was not looking forward to this flashback at all, so entering with low expectations.
Just as expected: halfway through the chapter, and this has all felt pointless. We already know how tailed beasts ruin kids’ lives. We saw that whole flashback with the title character of the series. Speaking of which, can we go back to him already?
There he is, brooding over the awful truth of this world: That everyone hates you until you save their asses multiple times.
The squid moment elicited a half-smile from me, but I can’t help but feel like this isn’t the time for humor.
Really don’t care at all about Motoi.
And Motoi’s issues with Bee are resolved? How? Was Bee listening the whole time? This doesn’t make sense. You can’t use the audience to convey plot from character to character.
Final Flash: Unnecessary flashback featuring an uninteresting character.
Bleach 403
The next time someone asks me to explain Bleach, I think I’ll just show them the first panel of the first page of this chapter. It pretty succinctly sums up the full depth of the Bleach experience.
Perfect Aizen looks completely stupid. What an awful character design.
Wow, Yoruichi. You don’t say. It’s not like the entire Beamcast crew predicted this mere days ago or anything… not that that makes us special. Anyone with a pulse could have seen this coming.
Oh, good, speed lines.
What the hell does she have on her arms and legs?
Completely unsurprisingly, she did absolutely nothing of value. Even “shocking” character reappearances are devalued in the face of Perfect Aizen.
Final Flash: Well, fanservice-hungry readers probably enjoyed this, at least.
One Piece 584
Why wouldn’t Crocodile and Daz Bones be walking around with mafioso hippos?
Man, Ace and Sabo were jerks when they were young. Well, at least Ace “was.” Who knows about Sabo, yet.
Luffy was a real man even when he wasn’t a real man. Here’s hoping for some serious retribution against Polchemi.
Oh, good. The kids aren’t so bad, after all.
Well, there’s that retribution. Pretty brutal.
While I’ve questioned the placement of this flashback, the fact that it was withheld until after Ace’s death makes the scene where Ace finally accepts Luffy both touching and haunting.
As if Sabo wasn’t certainly going to become an important character already, he’s now also staying with Dadan? Look for him to feature prominently in some capacity.
Tenryuubito. Things are about to get serious.
Final Flash: I would expect next chapter to be the last chapter of the flashback, which would be acceptable. Given that we know most of what happened to Luffy and Ace after this point, I would expect it to be Dadan or Sabo who gets tangled up with the Tenryuubito.
Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 288
[chapter link]
Tsuna, you’d be well advised not to sleep with a PSP. It’ll break if you look at it wrong, let alone roll onto it or drop it a couple feet.
(He sleeps with Nuts, too?)
Another future project for me to consider: A comprehensive list of shonen stereotypes. I say this now because Tsuna’s mom is clearly the quintessential ‘gullible/oblivious parent’, which would surely chart highly on the list.
P6: “Is it really okay [for me to stay]?” “Of course!! Nuts is here too!” … uh, what? Stupid name aside, how the hell does that make any sense?
Gokudera has easily inspired the most confidence in me regarding this series’ return to form. He’s been excellent thus far in this arc.
Studying battle? Amano is going all the way back to the beginning of Reborn for this style of humor.
P16, bottom-left panel: Adelheid is keeping watch. Clearly, the Shimon family aren’t quite as straightforward of allies as the author would have us expect. I doubt they’re enemies, but I’m curious as to their agenda.
The ninth! Good timing.
Final Flash: Solidly enjoyable chapter. The charming humor from the very beginning of the series with a little of the action that set the series apart from its comedy contemporaries.
Beelzebub 59
[chapter link]
No way Oga thought that far ahead.
P2: Yep. Also, love everyone’s facial expressions in the large panel. Especially Beel.
Dual hadokens from Oga and Beel! Excellent.
Furuichi’s little moment of comedy reminds me how much I’ve missed him in the last few chapters.
Fake attack names! Hilarious.
Nanami-senpai? Hm.
Oh, 6 Horsemen. This could become interesting. Or completely one-sided.
Toujou! Yeah, decidedly in the “interesting” camp now.
Final Flash: Still good, but not as excellent as preceding chapters. A little disappointing to see the Oga/Miki fight end unresolved.
Beamcast – May 10
[download link – 78min, 38mb]
In this week’s show:
News
Naruto becomes fifth Shueisha manga with 100+ million copies in print
Dragon Ball Z Kai to air on TheCW4Kids on Saturdays during 2010-11 broadcast season
AnimEigo unable to license rest of Yawara! anime
Japan to spend 214.5 million yen to train animators
Welcome to the NHK, Excel Saga artists each launching new series
10th One Piece film, Summer Wars to compete at Annecy
Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood director confirms FMA manga to end in two months
New Gainax series: Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt
30% of Kodansha manga rejected by iTunes
Weekly Oricon rankings
New releases
[anime]
Darker Than Black – Complete First Season (eps 1-26) (DVD) $69.98
Dragon Ball – Season 4 Uncut (eps 93-122) (DVD) $49.98
Dragon Ball Z – Dragon Box Z Set 3 (eps 85-126) (DVD) $59.98
Rozen Maiden + Rozen Maiden Traumend – Complete Set (DVD) $49.98
Tsubasa, RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE – Collected Memories (1-52 + movie) (Bluray) $99.98
Vandread – Ultimate Collection (complete + OVAs) (DVD) $49.98
You’re Under Arrest: Full Throttle – Collection 2 (eps 13-24) (DVD) $39.98
Initial D: Stage 3 Movie (DVD) $29.98
Initial D: Stage 4 – Part 1 (eps 1-12) (DVD) $59.98
One Piece – Season 2, Part 7 (eps 131-143) (DVD) $49.98
ShinChan – Season 1 Complete Set (Dub DVD) $49.98
ShinChan – Season 2 Complete Set (Dub DVD) $49.98
Xenosaga – Complete Series – Viridian Collection (DVD) $24.98
Air (TV) – Complete Series – S.A.V.E. Edition (1-12+OVA) (DVD) $19.98
xxxHolic – Complete Set – Viridian Collection (DVD) $49.98
[manga]
One Piece (vols. 44-48) $9.99 each
Maou: Juvenile Remix (vol. 1) $9.99
Current/Classic Reviews
Bleach
Great Teacher Onizuka
This Week in Manga
0:39:48 – Mirai Nikki 51
0:40:41 – One Piece 583
0:42:44 – Naruto 493
0:45:09 – Bleach 402
0:48:01 – Bakuman 84
0:50:37 – Beelzebub 58
0:51:56 – Fairy Tail 182
0:53:35 – Kekkaishi 303-304
0:55:16 – Hayate no Gotoku! 270
0:57:19 – Mahou Sensei Negima! 287
0:59:26 – Psyren 117
1:01:59 – Hajime no Ippo 892
1:04:43 – Lock On! 10
1:06:59 – AR∀GO 17-18
1:08:17 – Toriko 92-93
1:14:11 – GE – Good Ending 32-33
1:14:31 – Hunter x Hunter 307
1:16:04 – Kimi no Iru Machi 87-88
1:16:53 – Nurarihyon no Mago 103
Chapters of the Week
Final Flash
Comments / questions / additions? Email the show.
Want to share with friends? How kind. Have a shortlink: http://wp.me/pJOZe-g1
Credit: AnimeNewsNetwork
Weekly Power Rankings – 4/25 – 5/1
One Piece 583
[chapter link]
Loving the cover image. I wouldn’t mind a cover story with these two, or any of the Thriller Bark side characters.
It’s been hundreds of chapters since we got to see any kid Luffy. The shrill sound you hear in the distance is the female portion of the fandom (or the more effeminate males) cooing over how cute he was. Can’t say I disagree, though.
I’m finding distant-Ace interesting.
Sabo, hm? Clearly, we’re going to meet this character all grown up sometime, and hopefully soon. Also, for some reason, he reminds me of a young Setzer.
Porchemy’s tattoo looks slightly similar to the Sunny Pirates emblem.
Luffy lying is hilarious.
Final Flash: Everything I could have asked for from a Luffy/Ace flashback. Assuming the flashback doesn’t last for too many more chapters, this will be a welcome addition to the overall story.
Fairy Tail 182
When’s the last time you saw One Piece, Naruto, Bleach, etc., use a narrative box for recap purposes? Even Hunter x Hunter doesn’t do that, and it goes on hiatus for months at a time. Major series don’t need to refresh anyone’s memory.
Magic vs. … a guy who throws boats.
Wait, or is it magic vs. an amusement park?
Okay, two notes on the other, uglier baddie: 1. Kurama; 2. his weapon can make anything soft and limp? I don’t even have to say anything; the jokes write themselves.
Ugh, taking a roller-coaster picture? Really?
Dramatic Natsu panels have lost all their edge at this point. They’re like “shocking” twists in the last three pages of any given Bleach chapter.
Nice to see Aquarius facing a real challenge. She was too one-dimensional of a character.
Mashima would be well served learning to stagger fights in such a way that not every single protagonist is on the brink of the losing, while simultaneously the world faces some kind of cataclysm, before inevitably someone (Natsu) turns the tide and saves the day.
Final Flash: Stupid amusement park.
Defense Devil 47
[chapter link]
Little difficult to take Idamaria seriously with cat ears.
P2: Whoa. Apparently Idamaria’s stand is from RahXephon.
Why did Mario games never let you hitch a ride on those huge irritating fish?
P6: 6 + 2 = 7. You heard it in Defense Devil first.
P7: I… have absolutely no idea what’s going on in this fight anymore.
So, a bear, with other bears for hands, is punching demons in full-body spandex?
P8, bottom panel: Why, hello there, Yagami Light. How nice of you to cameo in another manga.
Hurry, Luffy! Escape from the stomach of the giant snake! … oh, wait.
I wish my heart looked like a smaller, angrier version of me.
Hell clothing: Designed with panty shots in mind.
Final Flash: Some solid action, some completely nonsensical action, some more fanservice.
Weekly Power Rankings – 4/18 – 4/24
Beelzebub 58
[chapter link]
Toujou would only make these fights better.
The cover page is Beel being adorable, yet again.
I love Baby Beel’s recent inclination towards swearing. Well, baby-swearing.
P10, top panel: Immensely gratifying.
Toujou went to the wrong school! Amazing.
Kanzaki! Whoa. Makes sense, but I didn’t see that coming at all. Good that he’s not down for the count (… yet?).
P17: Uproariously funny. Evoked huge laughter from me. Fantastic.
Final Flash: The slight disappointment of last chapter, along with the worry that Oga would too easily be beaten, is completely wiped away. Excellent chapter.
Kimi no Iru Machi 87
[chapter link]
How convenient; Haruto finally remembers to care after the damage is done.
After making us sit through the date with Nagoshi for so long, Kouji might as well have wrapped up her small storyline properly. Instead, Haruto explains that she left. That isn’t proper narration.
Wait a minute… who is this girl again? I feel like I’m supposed to know her. … oh, that’s right, it’s Eba, who we should have seen weeks ago.
Clearly, this isn’t going to go well.
So, it finally happened. I still don’t necessarily believe Eba, and will refuse to believe her outright until we see her supposed new boyfriend, but this is the storyline development that needed to happen. Unfortunately, it needed to happen several weeks ago, so most of the impact is gone.
Final Flash: The author made the audience wait too long; much like real relationship issues, one side’s indecisiveness has soured the whole experience.
Beamcast – April 26
[download link – 72min, 35mb]
In this week’s show:
News
Seitokai Yakuin-domo receives anime adaptation
Tokyo “2d child porn” bill postponed at least until fall
Kashikoi Ken Rilienthal canceled, Metallica Metalluca and Shonen Shikku to debut
Weekly Oricon rankings
New releases
Gintama Collection 1 (DVD)
Yotsuba&! vol. 8
Current/Classic Reviews
One Piece
Slam Dunk
This Week in Manga
0:28:45 – Naruto 492
0:31:32 – Bleach 401
0:34:44 – One Piece 582
0:43:45 – Bakuman 83
0:47:18 – Fairy Tail 181
0:50:00 – Hajime no Ippo 891
0:54:08 – Hayate no Gotoku! 269
0:57:08 – Psyren 116
0:59:39 – Zettai Karen Children 214
1:00:44 – Gamaran 45
1:03:54 – Lock On! 9
1:05:18 – Defense Devil 46
1:05:58 – Hunter x Hunter 306
1:08:20 – Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 287
1:10:10 – Kimi no Iru Machi 86
1:10:34 – Nurarihyon no Mago 102
1:11:10 – MiXiM☆11 92
Chapters of the Week
Final Flash
Comments / questions / additions? Email the show.
Want to share with friends? How kind. Have a shortlink: http://wp.me/pJOZe-fe
Credit: AnimeNewsNetwork
Weekly Power Rankings – 4/11 – 4/17
Shonen Beam Social Network
Shonen Beam 