Fairy Tail 187
[chapter link]
Another double false advertisement on this week’s cover page. First, it says “Climax of the Edolas Arc” again, and second, there’s an attractive female. Don’t try to fool me into thinking I want to read this.
There’s still a small chance Mashima could pull a decent twist and have this Erza actually be the Edolas Erza. Doubtful, but possible.
Never mind. Hopes die quickly when reading Fairy Tail.
Okay yes, thank you, everyone and their mother knew that this would happen. Please don’t waste any more pages explaining what was painfully obvious.
Unsurprisingly, Knightwalker is still able to fight. Also unsurprisingly, some kind of cataclysmic event is happening that the cast will have to race against time to prevent. This happens in every arc.
Gazille’s fight is looking like it might be interrupted by the arrival of the cast. This must not happen. Allow the few interesting characters in this series their time to shine.
Final Flash: The “climax” remark seems closer to the truth this time, but we’re still not there. At least two fights plus one catastrophe-avoiding Natsu moment to go.
ColossalCon 2010 Addendum
Huge thanks to everyone who attended all Shonen Beam-affiliated panels at ColossalCon 2010! You were absolutely fantastic audiences; I hope that you enjoyed attending the panels as much as I enjoyed delivering them.
As promised, here is the full list of titles covered in the History of Shonen panel. Series in bold indicate the more notable or influential series, not necessarily quality. If you’re using the list to expand your knowledge of shonen as a whole, I would recommend you start by reading the series in bold (or at least becoming suitably familiar with them), then filling in the gaps from there.
I must ask that no one use my work for any purpose other than personal reference and enjoyment without my permission.
History of Shonen – Series List
Series discussed in the Evolution of Shonen panel include:
Cyborg 009
Dororo
Ashita no Joe
GeGeGe no Kitaro
Violence Jack
Mazinger Z
Fist of the North Star
City Hunter
Rurouni Kenshin
Dragon Ball
Slam Dunk
Great Teacher Onizuka
YuYu Hakusho
Naruto
Bleach
Death Note
Also, I’ll look into creating a forum, since some of you showed interest in a community.
Thanks again for attending. Hope to see you around the site and at future conventions!
Beamcast – June 7
[download link – 108min, 54mb]
In this week’s show:
News
To Aru Majutsu no Index receives second anime season
One Piece Strong World DVD/Blu-ray release info
One Piece / Schick collaboration
Studio 4°C to animate new Thundercats
Weekly Oricon rankings
Oricon rankings – First half 2010
New releases
[anime]
Moribito: Premium Box (DVD) $129.99
UFO Ultramaiden Valkyrie – Seasons 3 + 4 S.A.V.E. (DVD) $19.99
Current/Classic Reviews
Bakuman
Law of Ueki
The Great Shonen Tier List
Introduced this week:
Son Goku (Dragon Ball)
Kujo Jotaro (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
Urameshi Yusuke (YuYu Hakusho)
Asakura Yoh (Shaman King)
Onizuka Eikichi (Great Teacher Onizuka)
Ueki Kousuke (Law of Ueki)
Hanabishi Recca (Flame of Recca)
Kimura Kenshin (Rurouni Kenshin)
Kazuma (Scryed)
Vash the Stampede (Trigun)
This Week in Manga
0:49:02 – Bleach 406
0:53:36 – One Piece 587
0:58:31 – Naruto 497
1:02:45 – Bakuman 88
1:07:23 – Beelzebub 62-63
1:10:17 – Hayate no Gotoku! 274
1:12:07 – Mahou Sensei Negima! 290-291
1:16:29 – Psyren 121
1:19:15 – Hajime no Ippo 896
1:22:23 – Zettai Karen Children 219
1:24:16 – Gamaran 50
1:29:42 – Lock On! 14
1:30:45 – Toriko 96-97
1:34:29 – Metallica Metalluca 3
1:37:52 – AR∀GO 21
1:40:01 – Deadman Wonderland 35
1:41:43 – D.Gray-man 195
1:42:39 – GE ~ Good Ending 36
1:43:32 – Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 292
1:44:19 – Kimi no Iru Machi 92
1:45:22 – Nurarihyon no Mago 107
Chapters of the Week
Final Flash
Comments / questions / additions? Email the show.
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Credit: AnimeNewsNetwork
Kimi no Iru Machi 92
[chapter link]
Aftermath of the declaration of war. This series could finally be going somewhere.
As heartless as it might seem in the moment, Haruto is absolutely doing the right thing. It would be more demeaning (both to Kazama as a character and to the readers) to hold back because Kazama is sick. Furthermore, it would be far worse to see Haruto and Eba reunited after Kazama dies.
As expected, Kazama is up for the challenge.
Nagoshi’s flustering is so cute. It’s a pity she wasn’t in the series when she could have been a significant love interest.
On the same note, Mishima is fantastic. She’s easily my favorite character of the series right now.
Nagoshi! How adorable. Sorry, young lady, but Haruto is busy spending time with the girl he should end up with. You’ll have to wait. (Please feel free to continue being appallingly cute in the interim.)
Final Flash: A glimmer of hope! This series is finally starting to progress the main storyline and move out of pure angst. I’m fine with a little angst, as long as its relevant, but we’ve had to endure far too much angst for too long.
Bakuman 88
[chapter link]
Hattori, no! You’re perfect for the job!
I’m glad to see Fukuda is still trying to compete with Eiji and Ashirogi. He’s a fun character who deserves some more spotlight.
Chief is one of the more complex characters of this series. He’s in a position where he must stand up for Shueisha, and is rightfully pessimistic towards Ashirogi, yet he is clearly kind enough to allow them the chance they took. Surely, Perfect Crime Club will be competing with Eiji before 25 chapters.
I want an Otters 11 figure. Please don’t let me down, Shueisha merchandising department.
Hiramaru’s obsession with Aoki Ko is priceless. He even gets a phone call this chapter! Maybe he has a chance. … maybe. (…)
Within a few panels of having met up with Ashirogi again, Hattori is already proving why he’s invaluable to them.
Considering how much of the focus has been on the stories Ashirogi have come up with lately, it’s refreshing to see so much focus on Mashiro’s art.
Miura ended up growing on me. It took quite a while, but I’m just a little sad to see him leave. That said, I’m far more happy to see Hattori return.
Takagi providing only the text is a fantastic idea, as already evidenced by Mashiro posing in a manner befitting of Eiji.
The last panel of the chapter is perfect! I can think of no better role for Iwase than the spurned girl. Extremely happy about this turn of events.
Final Flash: Great chapter. Watching Ashirogi try to be serialized again was quite good, but there’s a completely different kind of excitement about watching them actually create.
Naruto 497
[chapter link]
For all this series’ missteps over the last couple years, the Naruto vs. Kyuubi cover art on this issue of Shonen Jump makes this feel like a truly monumental chapter. Let’s hope it doesn’t disappoint.
Naruto rapping to himself is not exactly the start I’d hoped for.
P4: What a fantastic spread. Excellently drawn. This is what power looks like, Kubo.
Gargantuan Rasengan? I would love to see this against a different type of opponent.
I shouldn’t be surprised that Naruto can lift Kyuubi, but I admit I am, if only a little. He’s grown so much since the last time we’ve really seen him interact with Kyuubi.
P11: Another excellent action scene. Great use of white space, speed lines, and slight sketch-art. Kubo and Togashi could both take note.
This entire chakra tug-of-war thing may never have been explained, but it’s being used in an interesting fashion.
What?! Out of nowhere, Naruto’s mother. Consider me surprised.
Final Flash: I am legitimately impressed by this chapter. Superb art, good plot progression, and a genuinely interesting twist. It wasn’t flawless, but this chapter proves to me that Kishimoto still remembers how to make enjoyable manga.
One Piece 587
[chapter link]
What a puzzling cover page. Den Den Mushi require watering, apparently.
Oda can draw such perfectly ugly people when the situation calls for it.
Bluejam is an interesting case within the world of One Piece. We’ve become used to treating pirates as de facto “good guys” and regarding the World Government as the true evil, but every once in a while, a pirate like Bluejam comes along that reminds us that the people of this world are rather sensible for considering pirates evil. Bluejam is hardly the first case of this happening, but it’s refreshing to see someone like him now and again.
Ace used Haki. Wow.
Dadan! I was wondering where she’d been all this time.
It’s such a weird feeling to see ‘death flags’ popping up left and right for characters we know survive this flashback.
An explosion and a path? Dragon, likely. 15 pages in, I was hoping to have seen more of him. Any of him, really.
There he is. It was Ivankov after all. Although… there has not yet been confirmation that Ivankov is not Luffy’s mom…
Kuma?! Whoa. Also, I guarantee at least one of those silhouettes is someone notable. Particularly, the silhouette with the sword in front of Kuma, or the other hulking mass beside him.
Sabo! I am unbelievably happy he lives. Surely, he will tie us back to the present. Expect a reunion between Sabo and Luffy soon. I anticipate brief commiseration of Ace’s death, followed by Sabo cheering up Luffy enough to continue his journey and meet up with the crew.
Final Flash: We’re almost done with this flashback, and it’s been well worth the time spent. Fantastic.
Bleach 406
[chapter link]
A bunch of white space in the first panel? Hello, Bleach!
Unsurprisingly, Aizen is unscathed. Can he just take over the world or whatever it is he’s trying to do already? I think I’m far from alone in being ready for the next arc.
Gin is the ombudsman of Bleach. All legitimate complaints about Ichigo are being channeled into the series through Gin.
Of course, we don’t actually get to see Aizen take out those three. I understand the effect Kubo is going for — Aizen has some sort of massive, overwhelming, incomprehensible strength that Ichigo needs to visually discover firsthand later — but this storytelling effect is weaker than if we were able to see Aizen demolish Isshin, Yoruichi, and Kisuke. Given the state of Bleach, and given Aizen’s complete lack of credibility as a villain, I’d prefer ‘Aizen legitimized through sheer power’ to ‘mysterious strength’ any day.
Aizen’s questioning of Gin lends further credibility to the idea that Gin has his own motives. If Ichigo is somehow an important part of Aizen’s plans, Gin trying both to scare him off and to kill him would put him directly at odds with Aizen.
Oh, neat. Aizen has a face again.
Isshin isn’t down for the count? Kubo can’t even have Aizen play the ‘mysterious strength’ angle correctly.
Final Flash: Unbelievably pleased to be done with this arc. The future does not look bright yet, but at least we’re changing settings.
Weekly Power Rankings – 5/23 – 5/29
Beelzebub 62
[chapter link]
The title of this chapter is “Boobie Volley”? Assuming that’s not some kind of ridiculous typo, I’m intrigued.
Hildegarde transferring to the school only bodes well for fans of the Kunieda/Hilda rivalry, myself included.
P4, top-left panel: Furuichi is incredible.
Alain Delon! Wow. My reaction is pretty much equal to the students’.
Page 9 is a testament to how fantastically funny this series is.
Great Furuichi chapter.
Final Flash: The exchange between Izuma and Miki gives hope that the sports festival will just be a cover for fights, but the main cast did nothing to dissuade me from worrying that we’re moving too far away from the action. Still, as a comedy chapter, excellent.
Beamcast – May 31
[download link – 109min, 55mb]
In this week’s show:
News
Final Full Metal Panic! novel to be released this August
OneManga cracks top 1,000 sites
New Gainax anime set in 20th century Britain
Weekly Oricon rankings
New releases
[anime]
Beck – Complete Series – S.A.V.E. Edition (DVD) $29.98
Brighter than the Dawning Blue – Complete Collection (Sub.DVD) $49.98
Slayers Evolution-R Season 5 (DVD) $59.98
[manga]
Library Wars: Love & War (GN 1) $9.99
Current/Classic Reviews
Beelzebub
Cross Game
The Great Shonen Tier List
Introduced this week:
Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)
Kurosaki Ichigo (Bleach)
Uzumaki Naruto (Naruto)
Akashi Kaoru (Zettai Karen Children)
Toriko (Toriko)
Sumimura Yoshimori (Kekkaishi)
Makunouchi Ippo (Hajime no Ippo)
Negi Springfield (Mahou Sensei Negima!)
Utsuru Sanada (Lock On!)
Oga Tatsumi (Beelzebub)
Natsu Dragneel (Fairy Tail)
Arago Hunt (AR∀GO)
Ageha Yoshina (Psyren)
Shirahama Kenichi (History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi)
Amano Yukiteru (Mirai Nikki)
Ashirogi Muto (Bakuman)
Ayasaki Hayate (Hayate no Gotoku!)
Kurogane Gama (Gamaran)
Allen Walker (D.Gray-man)
Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Maka & Soul (Soul Eater)
Igarashi Ganta (Deadman Wonderland)
Sakata Gintoki (Gintama)
Gon Freecs (Hunter x Hunter)
Nura Rikuo (Nurarihyon no Mago)
Sawada “Tsuna” Tsunayoshi (Katekyo Hitman Reborn!)
Kirishima Haruto (Kimi no Iru Machi)
This Week in Manga
1:04:11 – Mirai Nikki 52
1:05:39 – Naruto 496
1:08:58 – Bleach 405
1:11:29 – One Piece 586
1:14:50 – Bakuman 87
1:17:25 – Beelzebub 61
1:19:45 – Fairy Tail 185-186
1:22:08 – Kekkaishi 305-308
1:25:21 – History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi 383-384
1:30:16 – Hayate no Gotoku! 273
1:32:06 – Mahou Sensei Negima! 289
1:33:28 – Psyren 120
1:34:54 – Hajime no Ippo 895
1:37:43 – Zettai Karen Children 217-218
1:40:00 – Lock On! 13
1:41:06 – Gamaran 46-49
1:42:48 – AR∀GO 20
1:43:37 – Toriko 95
1:45:00 – Gintama 309
1:45:24 – Hunter x Hunter 310
1:46:02 – Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 288-291
1:46:17 – Kimi no Iru Machi 91
1:46:25 – Nurarihyon no Mago 106
Chapters of the Week
Final Flash
Comments / questions / additions? Email the show.
Want to share with friends? How kind. Have a shortlink: http://wp.me/pJOZe-jc
Credit: AnimeNewsNetwork
History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi 384
[chapter link]
Cover page: … oh boy.
These guys! They’re pretty fun. Hermit’s there, too.
Nice to see Hermit socializing a little, even if it’s technically with the enemy. These enemies are a special case.
P9: Toriko is supposed to be the series that makes me hungry. What are you doing to me, Kenichi?
P12, top-right panel: “Don’t worry, he won’t hurt them.” Brilliant line.
Pages 13 and 14: Wow. I know the Elder is strong, but I thought Kenichi was trying to maintain some semblance of realism. Clearly, this series takes martial arts concepts to ridiculous extremes, but it does so with the pretense of being grounded in some realism. Garyuu X basically performing a Hadoken opens up new doors for just how incredibly strong the Elder is.
Even more confirmation of Kenichi vs. Tirawit Kokin and Apachai vs. Agaard Jum Sai. Excellent.
Final Flash: It’s always fun to see the Elder give us a glimpse of his insane strength.
Fairy Tail 186
A cover page with animals on it? No parallels to be drawn here. Nope. None.
Shut up, Conis! … I mean, Wendy!
Oh, good, Gazille. That’s not sarcasm, either; he’s about the only character I care to see right now.
“I’m gonna make him my cat.” I sincerely hope this happens. Gazille is pretty cool.
P17, bottom-right panel: Was that really necessary?
Oh, Erza. I was wondering how long it would take to get back to her.
Bizarro Erza won? Doubtful. She’s probably the real Erza, ex-quipped to look like the Bizarro Erza, to get past the door.
Final Flash: On one hand, that wasn’t enough Gazille. On the other hand, we get more Gazille later.
Toriko 95
[chapter link]
Let’s learn more about Blackbeard’s other life.
Interesting to see Teppei interact in such a cutesy, familiar way with Yosaku.
Setsu is feared by absolutely everyone. This is excellent.
P7: Oh, Toriko. Straightforward as ever.
Therapy Tulip! Another creative species via reader submission. Toriko has a built-in fantastic connection with its audience.
Yosaku is a bit more upfront of a burly-but-nice person than I expected, not that I’m complaining. Subtlety isn’t this series’ strong point, anyway.
20 years for both? Wow. Thankfully, these seem more like absurd challenges for Toriko and Komatsu to overcome, rather than an actual estimate (or worse, a timeskip).
Final Flash: A bit of a subdued chapter. Fun to learn about Yosaku, but we didn’t get nearly as many species introductions, and it’s still transitional plot.
Shonen Beam Social Network
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