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AR∀GO 14
[chapter link]
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
[chapter link]
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.
History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi 378
[chapter link]
I want to play Conan the Great. Where’s my copy, Sakaki?
I love the masters, but I hope Kenichi has time to properly find his limits, overcome them, and evolve at least a little before they come to help.
Center panel, p5: Whoa proportions.
Excellent short fight. Well-drawn, easily-followed action, with an obvious grounding in real martial arts (even if unrealistically spiced up a little).
There we go. We all knew the old man would break out soon.
Final Flash: Felt like a short chapter, but an exceptional one. The only worry is that Kenichi is now too injured to continue fighting. He’s solely responsible for the recent resurgence of quality.
Hayate no Gotoku! 266
[chapter link]
Bikini-clad girls splashing around in the sea. Quite a sharp difference from the last few chapters.
Hina found out, which will surely lead to her not giving up on Hayate. Hina fans, rejoice.
Sand Gundam! Working our way back towards familiar comedy, I see.
Good, I was wondering if Athena and Nagi would ever meet. That’s a pretty spread, too. If colored, it would make for an excellent wallpaper.
“I’ll return that for today.” Great layered conversation going on.
She’s returning after all? That might work out for the best. The rejection saves the harem comedy style, but she can just join the harem now.
Poor Klaus.
What a cute and interesting last page. If this is a new storyline, let’s hope for more Genshiken than Comic Party.
Final Flash: This concludes Hayate‘s first major serious arc. Overall, considering the existing style and perception of the series: Extremely well done.
Zettai Karen Children 211
Maybe I’m a Lion! ha! … I’m sorry.
What was the point of such lame humor in the first few pages?
The characters finally meet up. Maybe the story will go somewhere now.
I know this guy is evil because he’s black and white. And he uses a sword.
(Oh, and he brutally slaughtered a water buffalo.)
Spirit Gun!
“He’s using a convergence of psychic waves for long distance sniping!” … no, he’s ripping off Yusuke.
And we’re back to comedy. Meh.
Final Flash: Can we be done with bathroom humor yet?
Hayate no Gotoku! 265
Hayate looks devastated on the first page. That’s a depressing look.
“I loved you” is always awfully depressing. This arc has been great, but I hope this series remembers soon that it’s a comedy.
Hayate answering her feelings and apologizing is too sad.
So. It’s over. I wonder where we go from here.
Final Flash: A suitable conclusion. The series could use some time off from the drama, but I hope it doesn’t become too episodic.
AR∀GO 13
The art style of AR∀GO may not fall into the universal definition of “great,” but it suits the series well, and it’s always a welcome change amid all the other series I read.
I can’t say I didn’t have my doubts as to Seth’s possession.
Translator’s note reveals that he messed up the translation last chapter, and it was “Orc,” not “Orca.” Consider me disappointed.
More body parts? This is turning into Steel Ball Run.
The cemetery scene was tastefully done.
Hm, competition. The supernatural stuff is good, but I am also interested in Arago’s position in CID. This feels like a good time to switch gears.
Final Flash: The small arc with Seth was just enough to interest but didn’t overstay its welcome. This series continues to impress early in its publishing life.
History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi 377
This week’s cover: In case you forgot fanservice was an important part of the series.
Excellent first page. Sets up the fight perfectly.
Wow, he actually got close. I’m hoping for some serious evolution in Kenichi in this arc.
Just a few pages in, and already a couple trademark “Kenichi sprinting” scenes.
I also want to eat some daifuku, sir.
The author’s hinting pretty seriously at the old man being very aware of his surroundings.
I wonder how injured I’d have to be to accept an old man putting chewed grass on me.
Final Flash: Good action and a good setup for next week.
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.
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.
Zettai Karen Children 210
I find it harder and harder to come up with anything to say about this series. I blame this on the series.
A battle of bladders? What the hell is this?
Can’t stand non-chapters like these. Literally nothing of consequence happened. A fight continued to not happen, two guys continued to run away from things, and people continued heading in a direction.
Final Flash: If you can’t be bothered to write anything interesting, I can’t be bothered to comment.
Defense Devil 41
It’s amazing how this art manages to be incredibly detailed yet easy to follow. Some series (Trigun Maximum, for one) have so much detail that it overwhelms the eyes.
Sweeper alert! Further proving the infatuation mangaka have with the term “sweeper.”
Oh dear. A pig.
“I must wear evil cutie makeup” – This may be profoundly ridiculous, but at least it’s honest. Better than dark fantasy series pretending to be legitimate while leaving a trail of glitter all over the place.
The car’s name is “Jody” when the license plate clearly says “Zodi”? Really, I Eat Manga? I have my doubts.
(Oh, by the way, start your KITT references now.)
The car is also perverted and makes bad puns? The hood skirt-flip was amusing, but this could become tiresome.
“GILTY”? Come on, even if that was in the original (which it is), fix it.
Go-go-gadget ridiculous car chapter.
Final Flash: Overall, displeased with the car. Not a good fit in this series.
AR∀GO 12
I don’t know, I’d say “Orca of Oppression of Revolution” is just as catchy as “Seth.” Might want to rethink that.
This is just about the right time to introduce a longer storyline.
It’s also the right time to explain Patchman’s powers further. Arai seems to have good pacing so far.
Unrelated to the series itself: I love Trinity BAKumA for releasing this (and Sket Dance, whenever they do), but their font choice for Seth’s speech is poor.
Even the devil comes from the talk-too-much-and-lose-your-chance school of villainy.
Final Flash: Good fight and good exposition.
MiXiM☆11 88
Not a flashback! This is a better start than recent chapters.
So… yeah, of course Ichimatsu is going. It’s a shonen action series. The protagonist will always ignore warnings. That’s what was so painful about those long flashbacks: They were obviously irrelevant.
“Stewm” is such a terrible name.
Short chapter, and absolutely nothing happened. How many pages does it take to ignore a warning and start a fight? I’d say three, at most. Not fourteen.
Final Flash: Maybe the fight will be good. I have no expectations going into it.
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