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Toriko 99
[chapter link]
[scanlation by Hi Wa Mata Noboru]
Toriko’s question has shocked everyone out of their Century Soup-induced stupor. This shows the relative importance of a Full Course, specifically in relation to Toriko. The statement of disbelief by Match reinforces this thought.
This is exactly the kind of determination Komatsu has needed to keep up with Toriko. His character would be ruined if he became too strong or confident, but he’s been too much the lackey and not enough the partner to Toriko.
Confident Komatsu
The Century Soup plaque being affixed to Toriko’s Full Course is just begging to be animated. The last hint of a possibility of a Toriko anime was at last Jump Festa; it’s unfortunate we have yet to receive any more word.
Evidently Match lives in the Fist of the North Star part of the world:
 Toriko |
 Fist of the North Star |
The Disease Principal diet is a great concept. Toriko doesn’t exactly make it clear if this diet is exclusive to Aimaru or if others follow it, but regardless, it’s worth being explored further. Hopefully Aimaru will get a little more exposition.
Meanwhile, Sani has been training with Yosaku… and by “training with,” I apparently mean “being destroyed by.” It’s good that Sani’s storyline is proceeding simultaneously. The rest of the Heavenly Kings have been out of the picture for quite some time, given the Ice Hell arc.
More Century Soup faces. Cute.
Final Flash: Important chapter for both Toriko and Komatsu, and some good backstory.
Lock On! 17
[chapter link]
First chapter review since finding out this series is being canceled. The experience of reading a work that is known to end before it intended is always surreal.
It’s difficult to reconcile Niko’s heartfelt expression of her past problems with the cheap sexual harassment jokes that precede it and the “setting of the week” dojo that follows it.
I must say, I didn’t expect Utsuru’s shutter-eye to be used to nab a groper. That by itself isn’t a terrible plot device (though it’s far from a great one), but the way it’s being used is a microcosm of the overall problems with Lock On!: Poor execution of acceptable ideas. Casting someone important from Niko’s past as the groper is a fair choice, but for this revelation to carry any weight, the character in question needs to have been established as a positive figure for Niko. Instead, the introduction, conflict, and resolution all to take place within a single hurried chapter. As a result, any intended shock is weakened to the point that this chapter feels shallow, as though the author is throwing one of a dozen available plot devices at his audience, in hopes that this one will win them over.
On the positive side, this chapter has provided some overall storyline progression: Niko’s trust in Utsuru continues to grow, as evidenced by her accusal of her former teacher based solely on Utsuru’s claim. I particularly liked the following combination of panels, even without backgrounds, as they conveyed that sense well.
Proof of growing trust
As rushed as this chapter felt, the finishing kick still managed to end up on the last page. If this series is so intent on presenting brief stories, it should at least wrap them up properly within the chapters in which they’re introduced. A chapter like this doesn’t require an “aftermath” chapter the following week.
Final Flash: A potentially good storyline let down by insecure pacing.
Toriko 98
[chapter link]
[scanlation by Hi Wa Mata Noboru]
Still chilling, even with the delay between releases.
So much for 20 years for each. Of course, we were never going to wait nearly that long, but it’s relieving to see the determination of both Toriko and Komatsu reinforced by such a quick turnaround.
Shimabukuro was generous enough to create a Toriko icon for everyone, right in this chapter:
How kind.
Adorable scene between Komatsu and the penguin. Toriko’s relationship with Terry was sweet, but Toriko is too manly to be this close to an animal.
Shy little Komatsu is receiving worldwide recognition! This is a major step in his development, and in the progression of the overall story. It was apparent that he would be Toriko’s chef/partner, but until now, he hadn’t truly demonstrated his worth. As far as establishing Komatsu as a legitimately important character, this is an excellent chapter.
(Don?) Patch recommends a bodyguard, even. Surely that will be Toriko himself. Or Rin!
Only Toriko could make soup so tantalizing. Shimabukuro does a fantastic job of conveying taste and sensation through text and imagery.
Fantastic reactions from everyone, especially Komatsu as he watches the others.
Komatsu’s Century Soup is good enough for Toriko’s full course, no less!
Final Flash: Truly, a great Komatsu chapter.
Lock On! Canceled; SWOT, Oumagadoki Doubutsuen to Debut
Early internet reports indicate that the final chapter of Lock On! will run in Issue 30 of Weekly Shonen Jump, which hits store shelves in Japan on June 28.
Lock On!, the first major series by newcomer mangaka Tsuchida Kenta, never strongly established itself within Jump, but fans of the series could be justified in crying foul over its cancellation prior to Kiben Gakuha, Yotsuya-senpai no Kaidan, another Jump series which debuted a week after Lock On!. Since both series became eligible for fan-voted rankings, Yotsuya has ranked below Lock On! in every week except for two, one of those being the upcoming issue in which Lock On! publishes its last chapter. Yotsuya itself is still far from safe, and could very well be canceled the week after Lock On! ends publication; this depends on whether the Jump editors will treat Hunter x Hunter (again on hiatus) as the other title to move aside in favor of new series. If the editors don’t regard HxH as such, another series would need to be cut to make room for the two debutants, and that series would likely be Yotsuya.
The two new series that will grace Jump are SWOT and Oumagadoki Doubutsuen, both of which received one-shots in Jump in 2009. SWOT, by Sugita Naoya, is a hybrid delinquent / romantic comedy series about a “swot” (defined as a person who spends too much time studying) with lofty ambitions who transfers into a once-prestigious school that has been overrun with delinquents. Soon, he meets a weak boy and a legendary delinquent girl, the latter of which causes him to experience unfamiliar feelings. The other series, Oumagadoki Doubutsuen (“Oumagadoki Zoo”) by Horikoshi Kouhei, is about a clumsy, animal-loving high school girl who applies to work at a nearby zoo which turns out to have a decidedly bizarre secret.
Read the one-shots that preceded each new series: SWOT, Oumagadoki Doubutsuen. (Remember that characters, events, and other plot elements in one-shots may be changed for their series publication.)
Beelzebub 65
[chapter link]
This is only day 2 of practice? I hope we don’t stay like this for too long. This is a comedy/fighting series, not a volleyball series.
The entirety of page 3 is fantastic.
P4 / cover page: … okay, actually, if this is the kind of volleyball we’ll be playing, we can stay in this story arc a little longer. I don’t mind.
A demon lurking in the school would be an excellent way to spice things up. As enjoyable as the school arcs are, the Demon World arc was cut far too short. The major hindrance Beelzebub has before it can be considered a major series alongside its shonen counterparts is that it’s yet to attempt a long, comparatively serious arc. The Demon World teased such an arc, but wasn’t nearly enough.
P7, center-left panel: Priceless reaction.
Thankfully, Oga shares my disinterest in volleyball, and still only cares about fighting. Also, tandem tantrums are cute, Baby Beel.
I have no idea which P13 panel I prefer. What a page.
P14, bottom-left panel: Interesting choice of humor. It’s a funny gag, but it does somewhat take away what menace Miki had left after being emasculated by Izuma.
P18, bottom-right panel: Damn right, Baby Beel! Get on with the action already.
No. Instead, continuation of the Oga/Miki flashback. Hopefully this time we’ll get the full story.
Final Flash: Fairly protracted setup chapter. Some good comedy, but it seems Tamura can’t quite decide where to focus.
Bakuman 90
[chapter link]
P2, top-left panel: I don’t recall Hattori ever being audibly shocked like that. Good sign.
Didn’t expect to see Nakai again. He really disgraced himself when last we saw him. If he’s going to rejoin the main cast, he needs to make up for his mistakes.
Seems like Takagi is still stuck in a Tanto mindset. That’s not entirely bad, in a way. Perfect Crime Club (or whatever it shall soon be named) needs to be drastically different, but Takagi still needs to incorporate what he’s learned from Tanto.
Meeting new assistants is exciting. Really solidifies the sense of publication.
Mashiro has evolved so much as a character. It’s great to see him taking charge of the assistants.
P13, bottom panel: Fantastic! Comical, but also a great example of a confident Mashiro.
P15, second panel: Interestingly drawn panel. The angle, light source, shadow, and facial expression are rather rare for Obata.
Excellent concept for the characters’ names. Pity roman lettering doesn’t lend itself to interesting nuances like that.
… oh dear. PCP. Perfect Crime Party is actually a clever, great name, but… PCP. It’s unfortunate no one at (real-life) Shueisha caught and corrected this, because that’s an instant punchline every time someone new from the Western world reads the series.
P19, top-right panel: Not sure I’ve ever seen speed lines for characters bending over a table. Well, in an all-ages series, at least.
Final Flash: Great chapter. Fun new assistants, a peek into the life of an old character, and some solid development for Ashirogi’s new series.
Psyren 123
[chapter link]
Surprising choice of cover page. As far as I’m aware, Psyren isn’t typically recognized for its women; perhaps Iwashiro wants something done about that. Frederica certainly wants some attention, the way she’s lifting her own dress.
Very organic feel to the way the Tavoo have been drawn in the first couple pages.
P6, bottom panel: Rather difficult to follow exactly what’s going on. I’m aware that an attack is happening, but the massive white beams and sound effects clutter the action.
Disappointing resolution to the Kyle/Delboro fight.
Frederica’s overwhelming strength constantly surprises me. It’s no fault of Iwashiro; it’s more shonen stereotypes playing with my mind.
I’ve never liked when the enemy takes pity on the protagonist to set up a future arc. It demystifies the enemy, weakens the image of the protagonist, and needlessly teases the audience.
Great to see Hiryu rejoin the group. He’s even not one of my preferred characters, but the story has shifted away from the original group considerably. This is a welcome return.
As expected, Elmore may not make it out of this arc alive. While this is important, I hope it doesn’t detract too much from what should be an engaging rescue arc.
Final Flash: Decent chapter and promising outlook, but an unfortunate conclusion to this part of the story. Some major fights were left unresolved.
Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 294
[chapter link]
Unsettling cover page, given what happened at the end of last chapter.
Tsuna, having just turned down the inheritance despite not wanting his friends to be hurt, is being confronted with a situation where he’ll likely be convinced to accept the inheritance because his friends have been hurt. This storyline is a sensible way to move the plot forward, but it certainly won’t be winning any praise for complexity.
P6, center panel: Surprisingly grim artwork for this series. Even in the future arc, there was still a sense that these were just kids caught up in something serious. This is far from seinen, but it’s hardly a childish scene.
Reborn fluctuates too much between passive guardian and active member of the group. I don’t mind either role for him, but it would be nice for him to stick to one of them.
Someone had time to write a message in blood? Mizuno stupidly left a calling card, or Yamamoto somehow had enough energy left? Either way, that’s fairly silly.
That little vial the ninth was carrying turns out to be Vongola’s Sin. This is going to involve even more connections to the original Vongola. The connections that have already been drawn are tiresome, so hopefully this will involve more history and fewer contrived parallels between Tsuna’s group and the original guardians.
Sure enough, Tsuna steps up when he’s needed. So long as he’s reluctant and doesn’t turn back into the suave and collected pretty-boy from the insipid future arc, I’ll be curious to see how this develops.
Final Flash: Decent chapter, but the series has lost a step with the straightforward revelation that the Shimon family isn’t as friendly as we were supposed to expect.
Bleach 408
[chapter link]
Comedy right now is a little more acceptable than during a major face-off against an overwhelming enemy, but it still feels out of place.
Bear with him, Isshin. Your son is useless.
You can tell it’s a flashback because all the backgrounds are pure black instead of pure white.
Do we really need more than one panel to explain the Bleach ripoff of the hyperbolic time chamber? Certainly, we don’t need three pages and a diagram.
Six pages to explain a flashback that didn’t actually have to be a flashback because it just happened.
Why is this still within the “Deicide” chapter labels? That arc is over.
P13: Hey, wait a minute, I know that guy! He’s one of those guys from back when the series was tolerable!
This is far from an excellent time for a traditional shonen “our hero will save the day because that’s who he is” speech. Right now, our hero inspires absolutely no confidence and has shown absolutely no skill. Proper shonen storytelling involves convincing the audience of a character’s skill and/or strength through actual events, not through rhetoric.
Final Flash: My relief at being finished with the previous arc has already faded.
Naruto 499
[chapter link]
Nice to see Naruto becoming calm as he advances towards mastery of the power available to him, rather than becoming a berserker type. Also, his positivity here is a huge plus. This series got too bogged down in angst and negativity. Hopefully Naruto will soon be strong enough to back up his convictions and return the series to its enjoyable roots.
Assuming Naruto can use Rasengan Barrage outside of his own body, he’s becoming a far more formidable fighter already, even before the upcoming upgrade.
P8: Excellent art, and such ridiculous strength.
P12: What a moment. It’s going to be interesting to see exactly what Naruto will be capable of henceforth. Also, stand by for imminent Naruto re-tiering in our Great Shonen Tier List project.
Cracks are beginning to appear in Kyuubi’s strong facade. For his importance to the story, he’s barely been developed. Naruto’s reassuring statement to him seems to hint at a possible development in both Kyuubi as a character and the symbiosis between the two.
Kushina being the previous Jinchuuriki may not be hugely surprising, but it’s great that we’ll tackle the entirety of the past of Kushina, Minato, and Naruto within this arc. Also, a truth-unveiling flashback is a fitting time for the series to hit chapter 500.
Final Flash: Naruto is firmly back in the echelon of good shonen. Pleased by this chapter and excited for the next.
Beelzebub 64
[chapter link]
Baby Beel has a Push-Pop! I want a Push-Pop.
Only Furuichi could focus exclusively on panties in those circumstances.
Very happy to see Kunieda’s role and importance increasing within the group. I realize this is for a silly volleyball match, but surely their bonds are growing stronger overall and not only within the context of sport.
MK5? That was a little unexpected. Cannon fodder to prove the main group is ready, perhaps.
“Lose in one page” is fantastic. That’s the first time I can recall Beelzebub explicitly breaking the fourth wall.
Miki training can only bode well. This little volleyball arc is amusing, but I don’t want this series to go the way of Prince of Tennis before it and take away from the intensity of its main storyline with too many nonsensical side stories.
Final Flash: Good comedy, but I’m most excited about the “Next issue, Oga vs Miki again!?” teaser at the end of the chapter.
Lock On! 16
[chapter link]
P2, main panel: I found one! That’s a background! Right there!
“Why is he so stupid when it comes to relationships?” Because he’s a shonen protagonist.
The box punchline is rather good.
Cherish this moment, Matsuri. Everyone remembers their first time [sitting on a box].
Oh, come on. The immediate reaction would be childhood friend, not pedophile.
This flashback is actually incredibly touching. It’s not just good by Lock On! standards, either.
Disappointing to find a teaser for sexual harassment at the end of a notable chapter.
Final Flash: Good by any measure, and fantastic when compared to the rest of the series.
Psyren 122
[chapter link]
Asuka seems to have a superior version of Melchsee’s Door.
Nevermind, he’s going Super Saiyan! Or turning into Hisoka (Hunter x Hunter)! Or Akuma (Street Fighter series)! Or… generally looking out of place.
He must be doing this at some great cost to himself. He’s just too strong.
Vigo’s still alive! Looking like Elmore might sacrifice herself to save Van and/or Marie.
P16, bottom-center panel: Translators, there is a considerable difference between “kukuku” (evil laughter) and “kkk” (racist organization).
Ahh! Natural sunlight! Actually, I have no idea what happened at the end of the chapter.
Final Flash: Some nice action, and at least one major long-term development (Marie’s kidnapping). It sure feels like a training arc is right around the corner, after this beam of light and before rescuing Marie.
Bakuman 89
[chapter link]
This is interesting insight into the dynamism of a mangaka duo. I wonder if Obata prefers to receive names or manuscripts.
P2, bottom panel: Kaya has been written as such a good character that even tiny, seemingly-throwaway scenes of her like this are enjoyable.
Same goes for page 3. Ashirogi Muto wouldn’t be nearly as strong a team without Kaya as support.
P4, center panel: Kaya with adorable-lazy-Obata face!
I can see some serious lesson-learning coming for Miura in the near future. Just picking up the manuscript can’t be enough in a working relationship like this.
Eiji, still fantastic. He’s an unusual cross between a rival and a mentor figure, at times. (Well, he’s always unusual.) It’s going to be fun to see if Miura can actually contribute anything, or if he’ll just be swept away by Eiji’s pace and brilliance. With Perfect Crime Club poised to succeed, I look forward to little more than Eiji having to get serious.
P7, top-right: Eiji gets the Obata-face this time!
“He’s probably psychic” is a great line when delivered as deadpan as Hattori intends it.
P10, right panel: Great facial expression on Mashiro. Obata doesn’t draw faces like that often.
There’s already a movie by that name? What a nice, odd touch.
A couple great series being referenced on page 12, though I find Slam Dunk to be considerably more excellent.
As expected, Iwase is now a handful. She’s already fantastic in this role. That said, she’s not wrong; Miura should be providing more insight for his authors. He’s going to find it tough to again follow Hattori.
Of course Hiramaru carries around an Otters 11 figure in his jacket. I would, too, if I had one. (Hey, Shueisha…) Also, how can Aoki not be impressed by that Otters 11 figure? I just don’t understand women sometimes.
Mashiro’s solution for the main character seems rather reminiscent of Sket Dance: Completely ordinary kid with exceedingly ordinary “power-up.” Still, considering the main character of Perfect Crime Club needs to be ordinary for the story to work, this has potential.
Final Flash: Engaging developmental chapter. The series will need to move soon from the preparatory stages of Perfect Crime Club to actual publishing and competition with Eiji.
Lock On! 15
[chapter link]
P3, top-right: Regarding the fact that they’re in the same club, why hasn’t that actually manifested into a storyline? Getting the required signatures was such a major plot point before it actually happened. Now that the photography club has been formalized, the concept of its advantages and legitimacy has vanished.
For the record, I’m still just as embarrassed by the art in this series as I ever was; I just comment on it less because I don’t want to repeat myself. It hasn’t improved in the slightest.
Another new character. I suppose that’s not terrible, but I’d like to see a little development in those we already have.
This guy feels entirely flavor-of-the-week, but the “Hottie” tips are fine for a cheap laugh.
That chart might not apply as well to relationships outside of Japan.
Fortunately, Ikeya is being used as a catalyst to spark a little character growth between Utsuru and Niko. If that’s how new characters will be used, bring them on.
Heartfelt moments work better when characters don’t have a character trait as obviously bizarre as a differently-colored eye. Or a massive nosebleed. Or with backgrounds. (Sorry, had to get it in there.)
Final Flash: Still a subpar series, but chapters like these are acceptable. If the mangaka can do nothing about the art, I hope he’ll at least continue to focus on character development.
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