Naruto 499
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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.
History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi 386
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Naturally, the “decisive battle” features Touchuumaru. He’s top tier, after all.
P2, top-left panel: For the first time, I find Matsuena’s art a bit off. Apachai’s posture looks rather awkward to me.
An uncharacteristic admittance of weakness from Niijima.
P5, top-left panel: Whoa, again. Maybe the screentone of Miu’s shirt is throwing me off, but her posture seems strange. I’d also say Miu’s chest looks ridiculously torpedo-esque, but I can hardly claim that’s a new transgression.
P6: Wow. Thoroughly impressive spread.
P7: Wow. Thoroughly impressive… yeah. Hello, ladies.
P11: Absolutely fantastic drawing of Shigure. Maybe my favorite page of the whole series. Excellent.
A gratuitous pole-dancing scene mid-fight. Matsuena must have a clear understanding of his fan base.
P15: Yet another excellent shot of Shigure. Not as great as p12, but still great. For the record, I’m judging this on serious artistic merit, nothing else. Honestly.
Final Flash: Promising setup for the main battles of the arc, and some wonderful Shigure action. Great chapter.
GE ~ Good Ending 38
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Shonen mothers are so eager – whether intentionally or unwittingly – to stay out of the way when their idiot sons finally land a girl.
P2, center panel: Weekly Shonen Magazine again pushes the boundaries of the shonen demographic. Between this and Bloody Monday, the defining line isn’t nearly as clear as it used to be.
What a lovely outfit Yuki is wearing. Sasuga has a good sense of fashion.
If shonen is any indication, Japanese boys should deliberately remain terrible at math. Evidently, it directly leads to intimate situations with beautiful girls.
Utsumi is chasing her? Requisite fall-on-top-her moment in 2 or fewer pages…
P10, top-right panel: Amusing expressions, and good use of speed lines.
Seamless transition from enjoyable (if a little stereotypical) romantic comedy to some serious character introspection. The romantic comedy / harem / ecchi genre is often labeled as all fanservice and no story, which is a fair criticism for many series, but the best series of the genre go beyond scantily-clad women to develop some motivation and purpose in their male protagonists. I’m pleased to see this series is hinting at that, and I hope to see further development.
… of course, right after a serious moment comes pornography and groping.
Final Flash: Good chapter. It would have been easy to keep to overused scenarios, but the author has inserted a moment of real promise in between the ecchi fare.
Fairy Tail 188
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At least this chapter doesn’t claim to be the climax.
As usual, Lucy is useless. Screaming at inanimate objects tends not to solve problems, dear.
In the long run, the disappointment of Gazille’s fight being cut short could pave the way for more focus on him in the future. Hopefully, the fact that he (presumably) will have a cat companion means that he will begin to matter as much as the main group.
That said, I find myself depressed at the prospect of a character being legitimized thanks only to a cat.
“I don’t need infinite magic. I want an infinite smile!!” is a horrible line. This girl is approaching cat-city levels of terrible.
Mashima has no capacity for dramatic scenes. “Even if it splinters my body, I’ll just stop it with my soul!” Really? That’s the best you could do? Terribly cheesy.
I take it back. This cat-city focus is too much. Can we go back to the little girl now?
There’s no sense of shock in revealing a “major” secret about a character we’ve never met. Also, lone-wing character design is stale.
The lack of character establishment leading to this moment would likely have prevented me from enjoying these scenes regardless, but it’s absolutely impossible to take it seriously because they’re cats.
Final Flash: At least the cats are approaching the climax of their storyline. Anything to be done with them.
Beelzebub 64
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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
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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.
Kimi no Iru Machi 93
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Always nice when magazines remind us how super popular a series is.
Amusing first two pages. That’s the kind of small touch this series has missed.
So, if Haruto freaks out Eba, Mishima is going to beat him with a bat? Brutal. Actually, that’s excellent.
Kazama certainly isn’t helping his own cause. It seems as though he’s trying to set Haruto and Eba up again, knowing he’ll soon be gone.
Beef stroganoff? It’s a bit odd to hear that used in the context of haute cuisine. Perhaps Chef Boyardee has tarnished the name of good food.
He’s actually going to make it. Our protagonist, ladies and gentlemen.
Final Flash: Unsettling turn of events. It’s nice that Haruto is being persistent, but it will feel like a shallow victory for Haruto (not to mention a colossal waste of time for the series) if Kazama continues to practically hand over the girl he’s supposed to be fighting for.
Psyren 122
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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
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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
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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.
Weekly Power Rankings – 5/30 – 6/5
Naruto 498
[chapter link]
Good punchline from Naruto’s mom. Good punch, too.
Naruto realizing who she is and hugging her is a pretty touching moment. Well done.
“Just thinking how glad I am to see my mom’s a babe!” Uh… Naruto…
On the other hand, “You definitely take after me!” is a great line.
Her chakra being special will surely come into play shortly.
The flashback scene is sweet, but it’s also thought-provoking. It makes me consider the possibilities of the Naruto story without Sasuke. Minato certainly seemed to do well for himself without a pouting, unconvincing rival-turned-villain that taints what plot he touches.
Excellent last page.
Final Flash: Very nice chapter. One of the few instances I’ve found myself accepting a break in intense action.
Bleach 407
[chapter link]
Without any detail on those rocks, it looks like Aizen and Gin are walking between giant teeth.
Aizen attacking things for the sake of attacking them is an improvement. It may not be great, but at least he’s acting in some fashion, rather than just slowly allowing things to happen around him.
Ichigo has been rendered useless. It’s one thing to keep your protagonist realistically challenged by new opponents so s/he can evolve over the course of the series. It’s another thing entirely to completely limit the hero until obvious training arcs, then issue him/her a standard level-up. If the strength progression of the main character in good shonen manga were to be graphed, it would curve upward, or at least be linear; the same graph for Bleach would look like stairs.
Speaking of training arcs…
Also, on that point: Really? The final Getsuga Tenshou? How about a different move?
Final Flash: Not much to judge here. Nothing happened.
One Piece 588
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Lovely color page!
Oh… no. Right away, too.
When the Tenryuubito, as an entire organization, finally get the revenge that is coming to them, it will be a glorious day for fans worldwide.
‘Ace just ate his Devil Fruit’ theory nullified. Both Ace and Luffy will get to see Sabo’s fate together.
Does anyone else doubt Sabo’s death? Everyone’s treating it as a certainty, but we never saw his corpse. I’m extremely hesitant to pronounce him dead.
Only discovering Ace’s similarities to Roger now is all the more difficult considering his eventual fate.
Regardless of what actually happened to Sabo, it’s sad to see Ace and Luffy like this.
One theory down, another fueled: The crossed-out ‘S’ on Sabo’s letter is the reason behind Ace’s tattoo. (Not my theory, mind you, but a good one.)
“Endless lamentation,” indeed. What a flashback.
Final Flash: With the break next week, it seems the flashback is done, but the angst may not quite be over yet. Luffy still needs to recover. I still believe Sabo has survived, and will soon meet with Luffy.
History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi 385
[chapter link]
Garyuu X has muscles on his muscles. Ridiculous.
During all this insanity, it’s interesting to note that Garyuu X dodged the bullets instead of letting them bounce off him. Nearly all of this is completely unbelievable, but at least the author is making an attempt to keep this grounded in some semblance of realism.
Of course Niijima has night-vision goggles. Why wouldn’t he?
It’s Raoh! Wait, wrong series.
The fanservice as Shigure catches the lance is a little strong.
Someone willing to directly stand up to the masters? They lack serious rivals (or, those who have rivals rarely see them), so I’m enjoying this. That said, prepare to die, whoever you are.
Everyone will have an individual fight after all. Fantastic.
Final Flash: Fun chapter, and either the last or second-to-last setup chapter before the fights begin. It’s time.
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