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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.
Lock On! 5
Looks like Bleach is getting some competition for worst Shonen Jump art. These backgrounds, these buildings, these character designs…
Yamato may be generic, but he’s proving to be a more interesting character than Utsuru.
All the drama of Utsuru’s speech is wiped away by the photography references. Photography is not a good backdrop for this type of story.
Resolution within one chapter, and now they’re probably going to be standard schoolkids-series buddies.
Final Flash: Maybe the series will improve once there are enough members to start the club… if the series hasn’t been cut by then.
Bakuman 78
All marital issues should be solved with rock-paper-scissors.
Top-left panel of page 5 is amusingly reminiscent of Death Note.
Miyoshi, everyone wants to play Quoits.
(Yes, I had to google Quoits.)
Wow. I had Yamahisa pegged as a shady character, but that was a pretty great speech. Too bad it didn’t go over well with anyone but me, it seems.
Miura: Learn something.
The shock reaction running joke is hilarious.
Mashiro finally displaying confidence in wanting to quit is a great step forward for the series.
Oh wow. What a last page.
Final Flash: Every change of direction this manga takes is a fresh, exciting step forward.
Lock On! 4
I don’t care how many different ways you draw them; speed lines are not proper backgrounds.
Everything about this series so far has been distinctly mediocre. The beginning of this chapter is no exception.
Here’s some guy who seems like a delinquent. I bet he’s not such a bad guy.
I know our main character has some ability related to the eye under that Akito/Agito-ripoff eye patch, but that back flip is just ridiculous.
Huh. That’s not exactly the twist I expected out of Yamato, at least.
Final Flash: This series has a long way to go to escape early cancellation.
Beelzebub 53
What an amazing cover page.
What is Oga doing? Weird.
Damn, I love Oga’s creepy face. Two pages, no less. And a Baby Beel creepy face! Excellent.
Of course Kunieda misunderstands. So cute.
Evil grin dodge! This is a fun chapter.
He got the answer right! I’m actually laughing audibly.
An interesting development on the last page, too.
Final Flash: Fantastic chapter. All my disappointment at the abrupt ending of the Demon World arc is gone.
Naruto 487
Did Sakura finally admit to herself that she’s useless? That’s quite the achievement.
Sasuke, continuing his descent into terrible villainy. Not in the “his actions are heinous” way, but the “this character is horribly written” way.
Sakura: Worse than useless. Actually a detriment to her own team.
I was just worrying about the lack of rap.
I don’t mind several Akatsuki members, but I really don’t care about Zetsu.
Oh wow. There’s a face we haven’t seen since… well, since the series was good with any reasonable measure of consistency.
Final Flash: Not looking forward to any of this Zetsu/Kisame/Bee business, but the last page could prove for an interesting future.
Bleach 396
Byakuya drinking Starbucks. Wow.
… actually, can I read that series instead?
It’s Ichigo! I wonder what move he’ll use.
Oh, he used his one move. Neat.
Ichigo looks unbearably lame with the Hollow mask.
Whoa, a black background! In my best J.R., “Business is about to pick up!”
You have to be kidding me. Everything according to plan? This is absolutely pathetic.
Final Flash: I would say “this series can’t get any worse,” but I know I’ll be proven wrong. Still, putrid. Colossally poor. Maybe I should read Incarnate instead.
Psyren 111
Whoa. Impact right away. Pretty cool, though I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking of Wild Wild West a little bit.
Unless I’m forgetting something major, this is a vastly different Psyren. Interesting.
Is Kyle ever not awesome? I wish he was part of the main group. In fact, I’m just going to consider him a main character.
I still like Melchsee’s Door, even if it might make Ageha a little broken.
Fist-bumping: It’s never cool.
Final Flash: So far so good, this trip to Psyren.
Hunter x Hunter 301
Careful, Togashi. That first panel of the first page looks dangerously close to a completely drawn background. Don’t get ahead of yourself, now.
Cell lives! The worst non-Bleach chapter of manga in a year wasn’t for nothing.
Wait, maybe it was. Amnesia?
No, it’s actually being used as means for Pouf to try to act against the King. Not bad.
Wings? Oh no! Perfect Cell!
Meleoron is one of the best characters of this arc. Also, page 17 recalls the satisfaction and excitement of a successful use of Gon 3, for any J!US players out there.
Final Flash: Good mix of development and action, and some instances of decent art. Nice chapter.
Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 282
With a name like “Farewell, Future.” this chapter has to be an improvement, right? … right?
Goodbyes are taking too long.
I certainly hope there’s an MST3k Time Chasers-like moment coming soon. “I left my keys at the Manchu Wok of the future!”
No more boxes?! This is getting better already.
Oh, never mind. sigh.
Final Flash: Not much of a chapter, but it’s such a tremendous relief to see the words “Future Arc – End.” Amano hasn’t always been this poor, so let’s hope for a return to form.
Nurarihyon no Mago 98
Nice cover. It feels like ages since we’ve seen regular/human Nura.
Gyuuki must be an amazing hair stylist to keep his style flawless at all times like that.
Maybe it’s just me, but I think how Gyuuki defines a Hyakki Yakou was all pretty much assumed anyway.
Zen breaking the fourth wall is weird. This doesn’t seem the series to do that.
Good to see Zen back. I felt he was an interesting character. Certainly interesting enough not to relegate to as little exposure as he’s had.
Final Flash: Training chapter, just as expected, but with a couple good moments.
One Piece 578
Beautiful color spread. I require a poster.
Very happy to see some more Buddha action. I would like to know a little more about the specifics of Sengoku’s abilities, though.
Aokiji’s apology doesn’t seem sarcastic. He’s easily the best admiral.
Jinbei is increasingly amazing.
SPEAKING OF AMAZING. Crocodile.
Betting lines are open: Buggy 12/1 to accidentally become Pirate King.
A submarine with lanterns and a familiar logo. Only one man is this cool. Oh yes.
Final Flash: No coincidence that the awesome started flying around once the focus turned away from Blackbeard. We need a little break from him. How about those last two pages?
Psyren 110
No white backgrounds! Bad Psyren!
Fist-bumping: It’s never cool.
Shinkibenibone? Rolls right off the tongue.
I like the new Nemesis Q. Having an ominous, detached figure worked for as long as it did, but it was time to evolve.
More Kabuto, please.
Final Flash: As good a set-up chapter as we could expect. Now, to business.
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