Archive
Psyren 116
[chapter link]
Kyle time!
Kyle vs. 5 Wise seems like a fair fight. Well, maybe not entirely fair. Kyle still has a bit of an edge.
P6, main panel: I can already tell this is going to be another series of fights that will look excellent once animated.
Kyle’s power is interesting. Reminiscent of Kekkaishi, obviously, but a totally different mechanic.
He’s able to keep up with all five of them. Excellent.
Ash, Necca, Varley, Odo, and Delboro. The names aren’t bad.
Final Flash: Very good stretch of chapters recently, and next chapter, a serious solo Kyle fight, should be no different.
Bakuman 83
[chapter link]
Finally. I’ve been anxious to find out what the postcard signifies.
P2, middle panel: Very reminiscent of Yagami Light. Except, you know… that it’s about trailing someone instead of murder.
It’s great how seriously they’re taking this, turning off their phones and all.
Masks and sunglasses! This is fun.
Hattori’s selections at the bookstore: Absolutely priceless. This is exactly how to properly weave a narrative. Characters don’t always have to come out and explain plot.
Wow. Iwase looks gorgeous. As always, Obata’s art makes a great story even better.
“Your youth is certainly dazzling”? Hilarious.
Follow that taxi! This will be a fantastic episode when the anime gets this far.
So happy to hear that Hattori wanted to be their editor after all. I (like many others) always presumed as such, but it’s good to hear reassurance.
Takagi is finally inspired. After such an enjoyable chapter, I have huge hopes for whatever he comes up with.
Final Flash: Excellent chapter. The tone was a refreshing change of pace, we got to see a little more than expected from some side characters, and Takagi has an idea. Very fun read.
Kimi no Iru Machi 86
[chapter link]
P1: Ah, unreasonable expectations.
Of course, Nagoshi is completely misunderstanding the situation. Not just a little. Completely.
Don’t be fooled, Haruto! Let Nagoshi have a bad time!
A haunted house. Cue standard “I’m scared, let me fall into your arms” scene.
Surely Eba is one of these ghosts.
What better way to wrap up an entirely stereotypical chapter than with Haruto falling on Nagoshi and revealing some skin?
Yep, Eba. I take no credit for seeing that coming. Painfully obvious.
Final Flash: Highly disappointing. Romance series can be somewhat derivative, but being outright formulaic is unacceptable.
Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 287
[chapter link]
Cover: “The All New Popular Series!”? This has been running fox six years. Maybe they mean “arc” instead of “series.”
P2, bottom-left panel: Again, Amano’s use of speed lines reflects poorly. She’s a great artist, but speed lines are not only tacky, but they make the scene harder to read.
Yeah, I pretty much have no idea what’s going on throughout page 3. Thanks, speed lines.
Short fight. I can’t tell if it was good. I know it wasn’t awful, because there was no excess melodrama, but the art made it too difficult to follow.
Yes, yes, Enma has hidden powers. We know that. Let’s just hope he’s not going to turn evil and fight Tsuna.
Katou Julie is stalking Chrome, readily admits it, and asks someone to say ‘hi’ to Adelheid’s thigh? Sounds like we have quite the winner, here.
Enjoying Gokudera’s increased role as a right-hand man so far.
Gokudera’s teams: Predictable, or most predictable?
Did we really need yet another chapter to establish that Enma is secretly the leader? Assume your audience has a little intelligence, Amano. Some things are better left assumed.
Final Flash: Another chapter that leaves me feeling hesitantly good about this arc. Good enough to be optimistic, but not quite good enough to feel confident.
Hayate no Gotoku! 269
[chapter link]
Few series deliver immediate punchlines as well as Hayate. Poor Alfred.
Mikado really is going through with this. Wow.
The Yakuza guy! Hayate’s interactions with him have always been amusing.
Hayako!
This has been a Klaus-intensive chapter… comparatively.
Final Flash: Some fun jokes and some nice scenes of Nagi’s friends worrying about her. Light chapter, but nice.
Defense Devil 46
[chapter link]
Why, hello there, fanservice.
P2: Fanservice!
Naruto certainly didn’t introduce nor revolutionize the concept, but given the recent popularity of Tsunade as a character, Brillheart and her similar age concealment gimmick feel a bit stale. (That said, we have no reason to believe Tsunade doesn’t wear panties; Brillheart certainly fulfills fanservice requests more directly.)
The Coneheads-esque outfits worn by all the subordinates in these fights are… well, not the pinnacle of design, let’s say.
P10: Okay, maybe these guys are supposed to be comical. I have no other explanation for this move.
About time Jupiler revealed her obvious hidden power. Why else would we focus on the same endangered child so many times?
P17: Fanservice!
Final Flash: Good action. In fact, notably good, since it’s difficult to keep good pacing with so many separate fights going on simultaneously. Also, fanservice!
Nurarihyon no Mago 102
[chapter link]
Every chapter Kubinashi is involved in seems to involve copious amount of mutilation.
Kino has been drawn beautifully well in the flashback. The art in this chapter seems to stand out more than usual.
Glad the board is about to crack. I would have been disappointed if this was the end of the fight. I want to get back to Nura, but Kubinashi and Kejurou are interesting characters, and they deserve quality fights.
Final Flash: Straightforward chapter, with not much to write about, but enjoyable.
Gamaran 45
[chapter link]
You know who Jinno (scruffy old man) reminds me of? Fry’s dog, from Futurama.
 Jinno Ichiou |
 Fry's dog, Seymour |
The resemblance is uncanny.
The sudden personal conversation about Jinsuke is a little jarring. It could have been used to good effect if Shingo was trying to get in his head, but he quickly goes back to boasting. Doesn’t quite work.
This fight is exceptionally easy to follow. That seems to be a major strong point of Gamaran as a whole; the art always clearly illustrates what’s going on, even in a heated fight.
Final Flash: Interesting beginning to the fight. Hope the rest is memorable, because barring a huge plot twist (Gama deciding to take on everyone), we move away from the most interesting character when this fight ends.
Hunter x Hunter 306
[chapter link]
To say that I have high hopes for this chapter would be a fairly colossal understatement.
Whoa. What happened to Gon? … What happened to Gon’s shirt?
Initial impressions on mature Gon: Not to my liking. A little too uncharacteristic of the little boy I’ve enjoyed following over hundreds of chapters. The face and overly-toned muscles are too out of place. I don’t mind the hair, though maybe I’ve grown to expect it a bit, given Togashi’s previous work.
That said, few attack catchphrases send a chill of anticipation down my spine quite like “First comes rock…” I know it’s a little cheesy, but Togashi has done a great job making it carry serious meaning.
Were I some rabid forum-trolling fanboy, that punch would elicit a long string of exclamation points and bolded text. What a moment.
Final Flash: Questionable feelings regarding Gon’s “mature” state aside, I’ve been waiting for that punch for years, and no amount of nitpicking over the way muscles are drawn or scribbled speed lines will stand in the way of my enjoyment of this chapter. My only concern now is whether Gon will be able to maintain this state and challenge the King, or whether he’ll have used up all his nen and be reduced to watching from the sidelines again as other characters take the spotlight. I seriously hope for the former.
Bleach 401
[chapter link]
Oh good, the Hougyoku is even more broken than anticipated. It’s not just a linear power-up anymore, but a wish-fulfilling Wonder Ball. That’s all Aizen, and consequently this series, needed.
Talking.
More talking.
Hey, there’s that long sword again.
Some more talking.
There we go. It wouldn’t be a Bleach chapter without a “shocking” appearance/revelation/power-up on the last page. (You might notice quotation marks around the word “shocking” in that last sentence.) Now taking bets on who shows up/dies/unleashes a heretofore-concealed power next.
Final Flash: This series is entirely without hope of being salvaged. Absolute rubbish that continues to decompose by the page.
Naruto 492
[chapter link]
I’m enjoying Naruto’s reluctance to accept Bee. That fairly well sums up how I feel; he could still impress me, but I’m initially turned off.
Ballad-rapping? No one find inspiration in this, please.
I didn’t know Gai-sensei could get seasick, either. Of course, I didn’t even remember that he was on this trip.
Bee’s house looks more like an ox than his beast.
No, I don’t want Naruto to rap.
I would be happy with more Yamato, though. I’ve yet to find anything to dislike about his character.
We’re really doing this, Kishimoto? We’re going down the “evil twin / embodiment of my faults” route?
Final Flash: Maybe he’ll turn into Paladin Cecil and the series will get better.
One Piece 582
[chapter link]
One Piece got the Jump cover this week, and it’s nice. Highlights: Mashiro, Jaguar, Kuroko, the trio of Oga (with Beel!) / Yotsuya / Hadesu. Lowlights: Nura (hat doesn’t suit him), Medaka (these breasts are getting out of hand), Ichigo (and his terrible fat-triangle face).
Fantastic color spread. Where’s my poster?
It’s going to be hard to watch Luffy’s reaction.
The fact that we’re back at Amazon Lily lends even more credibility to the idea of Hancock joining the crew. She can properly say her farewells to everyone. Still not sure if it will happen, or if I’d want it to, but I can’t ignore the signs.
I love Bepo more every time we get to see him. Poor talking bear.
I feel horrible for Luffy.
Good time for a flashback. We need to put most of the Ace/Luffy backstory behind us. Also, anything to interrupt Luffy’s agony. This is difficult to read.
Dadan! Officially recognized as their foster mother, too. I have to say, she’s a little… different… from what I expected. Not that that’s a bad thing.
Is this the first time Oda has placed an arc-relevant flashback after its relevant event? I’m so used to seeing flashbacks before fights that this carries even more impact.
Final Flash: A clinic on the benefits of proper character development. I feel genuine sympathy for a fictional character. This chapter is an accomplishment.
Fairy Tail 181
Cat Island is expendable, for the record.
Natsu’s face is amusing, but his reaction is predictable. So little originality in his character.
Wendy might be the stereotypical “little girl with secret power thrust into difficult situation,” but she’s still cute.
Gazille! More of him would be entirely acceptable.
So he’s just going to go punch the crystals? Yeah, I’m sure no one will interfere.
… “I’m sure no one will interfere,” he said.
Transparent foreshadowing, but unlike Naruto, where it leads to plot advancement, this is entirely gratuitous. An amusement park? Really?
More weirdo enemies.
Final Flash: “At least we’re moving forward” is becoming a tired assessment of this series. Some decent storytelling along the way wouldn’t hurt.
Beamcast Launch!
[download link – 92min, 44mb]
Shonen Beam is proud to announce Beamcast, a new weekly podcast covering the world of shonen! Each week, Jean, Clint, and Drew will discuss recent news, analyze current manga chapters, and offer entertaining special features.
In this week’s show:
News
Shueisha takes a stance against manga piracy; the demise of Raw-Paradise
Shonen Jump Next
Oniwaga to Ushiwaga (new series from GetBackers duo)
DBZ Kai on Nicktoons
Strong World in Hawaii
Weekly Oricon rankings
Licensing announcements
Psyren, Kurozakuro, Itsuwaribito Utsuho
New releases
D.Gray-man Season 1 Part 2 (Blu-ray)
NANA Box Set 4 (DVD)
Bleach 27 (DVD)
Ikkitousen: Dragon Destiny 3 (DVD)
Petite Cossette (DVD – OVA)
Ghost in the Shell vol. 2 (omnibus)
House of Five Leaves vol. 1
This Week in Manga
Bleach 400
Naruto 491
One Piece 581
Bakuman 82
Beelzebub 56-57
Fairy Tail 180
Kekkaishi 302
History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi 380
Hayate no Gotoku! 268
Mahou Sensei Negima! 286
Psyren 115
Zettai Karen Children 212-213
Lock On! 8
Gamaran 44
AR∀GO 15-16
Soul Eater 73
Deadman Wonderland 33
Hunter x Hunter 305
Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 286
Full Metal Alchemist 106
Defense Devil 44-45
GE – Good Ending 31
Kaitai Shinsho 0 6
MiXiM☆11 91
Toriko 90-91
All that and more packed into 90 minutes of clever, humorous, insightful discussion. Join us every week!
Comments / questions / additions? Email the show.
Credit: News-Paradise, AnimeNewsNetwork
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