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MiXiM☆11 89
Not sure if the scanlation editor being sick is sufficient excuse for two awful typos (“truely,” “existance”) in the first sentence.
More “creepy clown” Dodo art. What was once interesting is now stale.
Can’t take Ichimatsu seriously with his finger puppets. What a completely ludicrous idea.
Why so many recap panels? Move on with the fight already.
Translators, take note: No one cares what you have to say. We don’t read the series you translate because we like you. We read because of the series. Unless you’re explaining something translation-related, enough with the translators’ notes. (Same for editors’ notes, or any scanlating position.)
Unsurprising that Dodo is so powerful, but is it really necessary to spoil the next chapter in the final teaser?
Final Flash: A thoroughly unsatisfying beginning to this fight.
Kekkaishi 299
I officially disapprove of A-Team Scans for supporting Manchester United. Might as well support a credit card company. Come on you Gunners.
Masamori is again edging closer to being consumed by evil to attain his goals. That’s become fairly routine and tiresome.
Tokine! I’ve enjoyed the recent focus on Yoshimori, but it’s good to see her.
She’s confronting her inferiority complex, too. About time.
Final Flash: Pretty uneventful chapter. Some important developments, but nothing exciting. First time in many chapters I’ve felt the story drag a little.
Kimi no Iru Machi 83
I know Haruto is trying not to become attached to or distracted by anyone here, but he could at least not be a jerk. His time in Tokyo so far has made me think less of him.
Oh, good, Mishima is taking care of that.
I’m sure the author is going to create some romantic tension between these two, given the genre, but I’m finding it difficult to retain interest in the supposed “right” couple since we haven’t so much as seen Eba in so long.
Yeah, there it is. Harem series protagonist innocently calling a girl cute. Never fails.
Final Flash: Eba needs to show her face soon, because between the two-week break and non-chapters like these, this is quickly losing any remaining momentum.
Psyren 112
Over 500 survivors? Another interesting difference during this trip to Psyren.
Marie is cute, and seems to be more determined this time.
Amamiya jealous is something I would like to see, if there was enough time to take focus away from the main action. Right now, there isn’t.
Ageha’s sister! And a baby. Whoa.
Their dad? Wow, this is completely different.
Enemies convenient in number for the purpose of individual fights!
Final Flash: I suppose technically a transition chapter, but one fascinating enough not to feel dull in the slightest. This Psyren trip has yet to disappoint.
Nurarihyon no Mago 99
It’s about time that Hagoromo Gitsune’s followers get a little spotlight. (I emphasize “little.”) It was starting to feel like they would be relegated to the shonen-requisite “author forgot to make this enemy important” mid-fight flashback.
Yeah! Medieval Ghost Rider(s)!
Actually, on that same page… couldn’t the assistants have taken more than 30 seconds to draw the citizens’ faces? They look more grotesque than the youkai.
Is Kubinashi going to improve? That would be a welcome change.
Oh… huh. That was pretty sudden.
Final Flash: Nice to see any of the members of the Hyakki Yakou leveling up, and too short is better than too long, but that was quite abrupt.
Hunter x Hunter 302
Hakoware is totally going to kill CellMeryem. Solo. OHKO, even.
More creepy borderline perversion from the King’s subordinates.
You’re fooling no one, Togashi; thought bubbles are no different from narrative boxes.
The more I see her, the more I feel confident in saying Komugi is one of the ugliest characters in manga.
Final Flash: This is looking dangerously close to a fight involving one of the two main characters. I wonder how we’ll be swerved this time.
Weekly Power Rankings – 3/14 – 3/20
One Piece 579
More Law, please.
Still can’t come to terms with Blackbeard’s new powers. This stands alone as the one aspect of One Piece I completely dislike.
Pandaman! Page 5, part of the fleeing crowd.
Buggy’s terrified face cracks me up every time.
Wow, Coby. Wow. I liked him already, but my respect has grown immeasurably.
Shock of the week. Shanks, out of nowhere.
“Bitch, what have you done to my hat?!”
Final Flash: It’s hard for One Piece to get any more into serious mode, but Oda found a way. We can never have too much Shanks.
Bleach 397
How do you follow the worst manga chapter in a year? Let’s find out.
Don’t do extreme closeups of body parts when you can’t draw them properly.
You’re right, Aizen; it does seem strange that Ichigo encountered a Hollow for the first time mere moments after meeting Rukia. I was chalking that up to awful writing, but now you’re telling me that it’s all according to keika– er, plan. Great. That reflects well on the author.
As I continue reading, it seems the entirety of page six is a testament to Kubo’s pitiful writing. Not only can he not write, but now he’s even trying to take my job! Well, we’ll see about that.
… apparently he can’t draw, either. At least, not in a fashion that produces character designs that are pleasing to the eye. Proof positive: page 7, center panel.
I hate those ugly melting backgrounds as in the last panel of page 13. If I wanted to know what your manga looked like when set on fire, I’d light it up myself, thanks.
Right on cue, without a hint of surprise, Isshin appears.
Final Flash: Bleach is cementing its position as the embarrassment to shonen manga.
Beelzebub 54
Beel helping Oga brush his teeth is too cute.
What the hell? How does “punch me once” translate into throwing weights?
Kanzaki’s introduction is an incredible panel.
He actually pissed his pants. Excellent.
It’s too bad Kanzaki didn’t get a chance to actually do anything before Miki wiped him out.
Baby Beel on the last page gives this series yet another great facial expression.
Final Flash: The teaser says next chapter is finally Oga vs. Miki. Let’s hope that’s the truth.
Naruto 488
I know this is not the first instance of technology in the series, so I’m not surprised to see monitors, but they feel horribly out of place.
Karin is slowly being reduced to yet another irrelevant girl to pine after Naruto, to no avail.
It’s nice to see all the side characters who are more interesting than Naruto and Sasuke, but it’s also frustrating to know that this is about the extent of their relevance for another 50 chapters.
Did Kakashi just get Hokage-blocked?
Final Flash: It’s difficult to go from endgame-type fight scenes to village camaraderie. This is okay for maybe a few chapters, but it can overstay its welcome quickly.
Bakuman 79
“I don’t think we can beat him. I want to beat him.” Very intelligent, mature line.
Finally, Miura starts to support Ashirogi. It’s taken long enough.
Takagi! That’s the ambitious writer we knew.
It’s so refreshing to see Ashirogi excited again.
The faces in the middle-left panel of page 14 are hilarious.
Very interesting dialogue between Niizuma and Hattori.
Miura’s apartment suits him rather well.
Hattori and Miura working together! Excellent. Ashirogi have missed Hattori’s influence.
Final Flash: Pretty much the best possible outcome. I look forward to few series’ weekly releases as much as Bakuman.
Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 283
That cover. Wow.
So the next arc is the inheritance ceremony? If Amano completely forgoes everything that made the Future arc tedious, there is potential for a return to form. The best moments of this series were early, when Tsuna was a frantic kid who didn’t want any part of the mafia life being thrust upon him. That would be interesting. Box weapons and a generic calm bishonen hero would not.
… her name is Shitt P. Shitt P. Seriously. Shitt P. You have to be kidding me.
Hibari in the context of school is far more interesting than Hibari fighting battles he doesn’t really care about, so maybe this conflict will bring back the better Hibari.
Unsurprisingly, Kozato (and surely the rest of the transfer students) have some kind of secret relating to Tsuna and company.
Final Flash: Too early for an overall verdict, but… Shitt P. Come on. Shitt P.
Kekkaishi 298
Interesting chemistry between Yoshimori and Tokimori Hazama.
Try your other hand? Yoshimori is just like Echizen! You still have lots more to work on…
The casual reference to Yoshimori’s mom’s terrible sewing ability is yet another nice, small touch that helps set the mood of the series.
Mudou was captured before even being able to finish taunting. Amusing.
Final Flash: It’s a training chapter, but like other such Kekkaishi training arcs, it doesn’t feel tedious.
Gamaran 41
More enemy introductions, and more Ranmaru fighting.
This seems unusually straightforward. Still waiting for the mandatory mid-fight advantage shift.
Looks like we’ll have to wait until next chapter, too.
It’s the only brother Naoyoshi likes? Wow, that’s completely… expected.
Final Flash: I really don’t care for how long we’re focusing on Ranmaru. His flashback was decent, and the fact that he’s also Ogame school is interesting, but this is taking too long.
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