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Mahou Sensei Negima! 285
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Negi, the perfect example of a male protagonist unwittingly making every girl around him fall in love. So innocent.
Why, hello Evangeline. So nice of you to drop in.
(Love that she’s playing a retro game on a retro TV, the way it’s meant to be done.)
Shonen paraphrasing: “There is an option but it’s dangero–” “I MUST DO IT”
All these overt parallels to RPGs (well, video games in general) present the obvious, mandatory scenario: An American release of the inevitable comprehensive Negima (Suikoden-esque) RPG encompassing at least the entire Magic World arc. This must happen.
Page 15: Kage Bunshin no Jutsu and Chidori on the same page? Hm.
Nodoka meets up with Yue, too! I was hoping this would happen soon.
Final Flash: Great fight scenes and the final character development necessary before the climactic fights.
Lock On! 7
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Even the coloring on the cover page is uninspired.
A new character? She seems to have some personality.
Oh, she knows Sanada. That’s too bad. With a personality like that, she might have made a good rival.
Large panel, p9: Cementing that the series’ photography theme is an excuse for full-body shots of girls.
Sanada really is famous. Huh.
Yuki, the requisite kindhearted idiot. I swear, I’m not trying to hate this series, but it’s so standard.
Final Flash: A rescue mini-arc. I have no expectations. Maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Fairy Tail 179
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Let’s see how much I can write without mentioning cats.
“What path is left in Edolas without any help?” is a pretty shallow statement. It wouldn’t be predictable shonen manga without someone coming to help them right about now.
Hm, handcuffs that restrain special powers. That sounds familiar.
Activate the Buster Ca– er, Code ETD.
“So, the purpose of strengthening our military was for this…” Yes, it was, Dalton.
What do you know? Someone showed up to help.
Final Flash: The swerve of the humans waging war on the Eksheed is the only redeeming quality of an otherwise linear chapter.
Beelzebub 55
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The more Baby Beel, the better. Not that there’s anything wrong with Oga.
“I trust Miki-kun.” Priceless.
Center panel, p10: Haven’t seen this face from Oga much. Usually he’s more comical or sadistic. Interesting expression.
Oga may not be much for team spirit, but he certainly acts like a leader.
All set up for fights next chapter!
Final Flash: Beelzebub finally gets its year anniversary recognition and issue cover next chapter. Well-deserved.
MiXiM☆11 90
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No better way to get into serious mode than with a character with an onigiri for a hand.
You know the point in professional wrestling matches where all the obvious losers use their finishing moves in quick succession before inevitably being beaten? That’s what the first part of this chapter feels like.
(… what do you mean, you don’t watch pro wrestling?)
“Lets’s fly”? Really, scanlators?
Momoko doesn’t look bad with short hair. However, I don’t need to be told this by idiotic translator’s and editor’s notes.
Fact: Predictions ruin anything.
Final Flash: At least they’re fighting. Get the lesser characters out of the way as quickly as possible.
AR∀GO 14
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Very amusing cover.
I’ll be disappointed if Joe really is distancing himself from Arago.
Rio! Everything’s better with Rio.
“The Arrowhead of Fairies”? I wonder if that will later change, like “Orca” did. Hopefully it will change to “Orca.”
Arago and Joe arrive at the same conclusion. I like that; shows that each is a good detective.
Final Flash: Joe could potentially learn about Arago’s powers. Next chapter should prove important.
Kekkaishi 300
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300 chapters. I’d imagine we’re closer to the end of the series than the beginning, but I’d be perfectly happy reaching 400 or even 500+ chapters. Kekkaishi has managed to be engaging and fresh for its entire duration to date, and is in the minority of series that are equally good to marathon and read weekly. With the series coming to Adult Swim this summer, I hope it will become more recognized in America.
Having a bit of a difficult time following what the founder is doing.
Center-left panel, p9: Very reminiscent of Sven Vollfied’s 3-koma in Jump! Ultimate Stars.
The Lord! Anything involving him is fantastic.
Page 16 is so nice.
Finally, time for Yoshimori to get to the more exciting stuff.
Final Flash: The conversation in the first part of the chapter won’t make much sense until later. Like Mago chapter 100, it doesn’t feel particularly like a milestone chapter, but it was still good.
Kimi no Iru Machi 84
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Suzuka and Yamato fighting! Cute and unsurprising. Unfortunately, the constant references to Suzuka are beginning to have a negative effect; I’ve enjoyed Kimi no Iru Machi as a whole, but not nearly as much as Suzuka.
For anyone interested, the cast are at a real race track: Tsukuba Circuit, in Ibaraki Prefecture. (Haruto calls it Ibaragi, an apparently common mispronunciation.)
I think I could have done without Kazama being sick. It’s already enough to swap out half the cast of the series midway through; don’t make me care for a whole new set of dramatic circumstances. Couldn’t Kazama just be an aspiring racer?
It’s hard to tell if Kazama is actively trying to push Haruto and Mishima together or only joking.
That ended quickly. Haruto is the one who needed cheering up, not the audience; we don’t need an entire chapter at a race track.
Final Flash: I read a theory online that Kazama is Eba’s new boyfriend. This would be horrible and unnecessary. I’m okay with Kazama and Mishima now, but please, not too much more. Stick to the main storyline.
Nurarihyon no Mago 100
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I like that Kubinashi is going on a rampage, but I still don’t understand how he suddenly remembered how to be strong.
Top panel, p12: Ordinary men! *dissonant chord*
What a bizarre character design for Ibaraki Douji. It’s like he’s cosplaying Wilson from Home Improvement. (Don’t try to tell me Wilson didn’t have a sword behind that fence.)
Not much to discuss in this chapter. Fairly straightforward, and side character-heavy.
Final Flash: It’s about time for Nura to finish his training. Decent chapter, but certainly not 100th chapter quality.
Weekly Power Rankings – 3/21 – 3/27
Gamaran 42
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Like Kenichi, I appreciate how Gamaran attempts to provide a realistic basis for its fighting styles.
Man, that’s pretty cruel to blame your death on someone as you’re dying. I mean, I get that you’re pissed off that you’re dying, but to curse someone you love when you know they’ll have to live with it seems harsh.
Top panel, p16: These scenes are the reason that, despite its faults, I enjoy this series.
Yet, the fight isn’t resolved. That’s unfortunate.
Final Flash: Some decent action, but these aren’t the characters I care about. I hope the fight ends next chapter.
Bakuman 80
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It seems Ashirogi are aware that Hattori is helping them. Not bad.
I understand culture difference, but I don’t think I could live in a situation where I could be presented with a dinner like Takagi is facing.
Money and Intelligence and Appearance may not be catchy in English, but I like the idea, and KTM is pretty catchy.
Takagi’s mention of Chanel lipstick hints that he may soon walk a very thin line between creativity and upsetting his marriage.
Top-left panel, p10: Priceless.
It’s so exciting to watch a rejuvenated Ashirogi.
“Want to take a bath together?” Go for it, Takagi!
Considering all the buildup was contained to this chapter, I’m not surprised KTM didn’t make the cut. Also, I’m happy for Shizuka’s sake that True Human did.
Final Flash: Extremely anxious to find out what Saiko realized. Great chapter.
Hunter x Hunter 303
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The first page explicitly says “Killua vs. Pouf.” This better be an actual fight involving a main character.
Pouf attempting to convince Killua to quit is silly, but Killua actually responding (even negatively) is outright stupid.
Finally, she’s off his back. Real fight, begin.
Pretty sure that black guy is wearing a Bulls jersey. That’s… pretty racist.
Now Pouf is again off to destroy something else instead of fighting Killua. Disappointing.
You can’t keep teasing me with brief shots of Gon, Togashi. Pitou healing Kaito better not take more than a few weeks.
Final Flash: An absolutely minuscule taste of action in an otherwise underwhelming chapter.
Psyren 113
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Swimming through ground? Huh. Neat.
Damn! Moriyama was totally my favorite character.
So, he can pass his body through others’ at will? Interesting power, if a little unoriginal.
Aw, he’s an artist character. Those are definitely unoriginal.
That’s right, Shao. No one touches Marie.
Final Flash: One Shonen Jump war ends, another begins. This one may not have the epic scale of the other, but it could still be good. The only worry is the relative anonymity of the enemies.
Bleach 398
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Human and frog! No, that’s the other series. Shouldn’t be another living thing, anyway, that’s done to death. Human and … the internet! Wait, that’s Freakazoid. … man, how much would I rather be watching Freakazoid right now? That was a fun series.
I should really do the same panel background study I did for the last chapter of Lock On!, but telling you that the backgrounds of Bleach are horrid wouldn’t exactly be breaking news, would it?
Oh. It’s Gin. I remember that guy. … yep.
Come to think of it, there’s another study: I wonder how many chapters of Bleach in the last year have had a “shocking” character appearance. Two years, even. Wouldn’t be at all surprised if there was a streak going.
I bet Ichigo’s dad is going to win, guys! Did you see that attack?! That’s gotta be it!
Final Flash: It’s no Freakazoid.
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