Bleach 400
[chapter link]
First panel, a roof and no background. Really setting the stage, aren’t you?
I am finding very little to say. I’m not saying shonen must always have recognizable moves with names, but fights must at least be able to be followed. There’s no flow to this fight whatsoever.
Gin’s Bankai isn’t the longest zanpakutou? That’s depressing knowledge. For the record, Kubo, we don’t need or want to see the longest.
Speed lines, white backgrounds, and sword slash cutaways. This chapter is yet another primer on how not to draw manga.
Oh, good. All we needed was for Aizen to power up. How about you write some character development, Kubo?
I suppose it’s appropriate that a milestone chapter was such rubbish.
Final Flash: Horrid. Also, what was the point of showing Matsumoto if she wasn’t going to do anything?
Naruto 491
[chapter link]
What the hell? Why does Naruto have to eat a frog?
Naruto the celebrity will be hard to get used to.
Officially tired of Kage meetings. This is an action series, Kishimoto.
Gaara is further establishing himself as a mature leader. Surprising character evolution.
Same-chapter prediction-to-development is so shallow. The frog says you’ll find the octopus on an island, and mere pages later, Naruto heads to an island.
They finally meet. I’ve already been sick of Bee. This is going to be difficult.
Final Flash: Frogs, a meeting, and a boat ride. Fairly inconsequential chapter.
One Piece 581
Excellent cover page. Interesting to ponder where this scene would fit in the overall timeline.
It is always good to see the Supernovas. Always.
The fourth Yonkou is “Big Mum”? Hm. This could help to quell the idea that Kaidou is female, if nothing else.
Oh no! It’s Brownbeard! … I hope we get to see him again after this. The idea deserves a cover story, at least.
Poor Bepo.
Jesus, Ivankov is scary.
The escaped prisoners (and presumably Ivankov) want to head to Kamabakka Kingdom, where Sanji is currently located. Could this be the start of the reassembly of the crew?
Some serious conspiracy material seeing the light of day. Someone higher than Sengoku is calling for the cover-up of the Impel Down escapes and having Doflamingo take out Moria? Excellent. Some Gorousei activity, finally? (Incidentally, how did Moria end up completely alone with Doflamingo and the PXs? Everyone was there just a moment ago.)
Final Flash: A reaction-heavy chapter, but the interactions on the ship were great, and the last few pages were fantastic.
Fairy Tail 180
[chapter link]
Nice try, Doppelganger! Save it for Queen Doppelpopolis. … wait, wrong series.
At least one Erza was kind enough to put markings on her face.
The way I picture Erza shouting “Explosion!”
I’m actually interested in seeing Gazille in more action. Hopefully he won’t be taken out too quickly and leave all the rest of the Dragon Slayer responsibilities to Natsu.
So all of the main characters are back and they can use magic? Good. We can make actual progress in this arc (and then be done with bizarro-world).
Final Flash: Disappointing that the Erza fight will last more than one chapter, but I can’t complain that we’re moving forward.
Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 286
[chapter link]
This week’s cover page: In case you still haven’t noticed Adelheid’s chest.
“You never asked.” was a pretty funny line.
There’s even more of the Reborn who I’ve missed.
The ninth knows all about your fight in the future, which paradoxically shouldn’t happen (have happened?) now.
Robot Roll Ca– er, Upcoming Characters Roll Call!
P12, top-right panel: Literally laugh-out-loud funny. Actually laughed audibly. What a pleasant return to form. Sustain this, please.
Conveniently, Reborn reveals that people will attack Tsuna right before someone attacks Tsuna.
Not liking the hugeness. Anyway, first fight since the future arc.
Final Flash: This is the first big test. Tsuna is reverting to Hyper Mode, where, in the future, he was way too determined and suave instead of cowardly but noble. This fight will go a long way in seeing if Amano can carry over any remnants from the future arc without spoiling what has so far been an enjoyable arc. (By the way, why did Hibari and Adelheid get the cover? They were barely even in this chapter.)
Gamaran 44
[chapter link]
What?! The only good one wasn’t so good after all? This never happens!
P5, bottom panel: What’s with Naoyoshi’s mouth?
Jinno Ichiou certainly features eye-catching character design. I don’t recall seeing many characters from series in this era with scruffy facial hair.
Ranmaru’s message is the best news in a while. This series needs considerably more Jinsuke. It’s one thing to announce the standard of excellence in a series; it’s another to show it.
Very tired of the “Do you hate me? Then grow stronger”-style of foreshadowing. Those villains rarely turn out to be complete villains, too.
Midou Shingo is reminding me strongly of Gedatsu. Not saying there’s any plagiarism going on, because the hairstyle suits the era; it’s just amusing to picture Gama’s next opponent talking with his mouth closed and failing to cross his arms.
Final Flash: Another Gama fight! It’s about time. Also, excited at the prospect of finally seeing Jinsuke.
Another New Shueisha Magazine – Shonen Jump Next
Hot on the heels of news regarding Jump SQ.19 comes word that Shueisha is launching yet another magazine. Entitled Shonen Jump Next, this even-newer magazine will be a quarterly release in the style of another of their existing magazines, Akamaru Jump. Like Akamaru, Shonen Jump Next will primarily serve as a launching pad for young artists hoping to establish themselves before being serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump or another Shueisha property.
Shonen Jump Next launches April 30 with several oneshots, some from notable mangaka:
Matsui Yuusei (Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro)
Kawashita Mizuki (Ichigo 100%, Hatsukoi Limited, Ane Doki)
Amano Youichi (Akaboshi – Ibun Suikoden)
Wajima Satoshi (Wasshoi! Waji Mania)
The debut issue will also feature a poster of the Bakuman anime, a special Nurarihyon no Mago chapter (featuring color page), eight short histories about current Weekly Shonen Jump series, and nine oneshots from young authors.
Credit: News-Paradise
History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi 380
[chapter link]
Cover providing a little fanservice for the ladies. Assuming ladies read Kenichi.
You’re in trouble, young man! I sentence you to House Arrest, starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Pollak.
Agaard Jum Sai finally has a name, and finally Apachai is aware that he’s moving. That’s a fight I want to see.
Cute scene between Miu and Freya. Amusingly, I pictured the narrative boxes being voices by those old action cartoon narrators. “USING HER INTUITIVE POWERS…”
Touching comments from the masters. Glad Kenichi got to hear that.
Final Flash: Good enough to overlook that nothing really happened.
Beelzebub 56
[chapter link]
The cover is simple but effective.
Actually, the second color page is even better. It might have been too crowded for the cover.
(Also, let’s not neglect how adorable Baby Beel is on that color page.)
Oh, are we translating their name now? The Six Horsemen? Let’s see, that would be Flair, Blanchard, Anderson…
Alex Rodriguez? Um, okay.
Gou is from the Amateur Radio club. That’s fantastic.
P13, top panel: Sometimes, it takes seeing Himegawa from an angle to truly appreciate the pompadour.
Absolutely love the twists in the expected fight pairings. Truly excellent.
That punch. Man. Admittedly, a little reminiscent of Luffy’s OHKO against Bellamy, but still, wholly worthwhile.
Final Flash: Even more enjoyable than I anticipated. Fantastic.
AR∀GO 15
[chapter link]
Honestly, I didn’t expect the old man to be good. Maybe that was just me.
Don’t get hit by the arrowhead, Joe! You’ll gain a Stand!
P6, top panel: What a panel. Excellently drawn.
Ooh, I do believe we have some Doppel action. Good to see, he’s quite an interesting character.
Tons of background on leprechauns.
Joe has history with Patchman! Flashback time.
Final Flash: I suppose chapter 15 is acceptable for a side character flashback.
Zettai Karen Children 212
[chapter link]
Finally, a new arc.
I wonder how many times I’ve seen a manga character in the fetal position.
We move from African plains to trying to get a body for Feather? More time-wasting before real plot. Hooray.
The girls like Minamoto. I get it. Please move forward with this storyline or stop rehashing the same tired jokes.
Hm, a decoy. The decoy mini-arcs earlier in the series weren’t bad. This could yet be salvaged.
Final Flash: If nothing else, I’m glad to have the girls back.
MiXiM☆11 91
[chapter link]
What I’m hearing is “Main character: Focus only on strength, leaving you conveniently out of the picture for a while, while we all fight and lose.”
Okay, officially strongly disapprove of Project Kurai Ryu. Leave your pathetic, unfunny attempts at humor out of the series. You somehow manage to look worse than an already poor manga. One of the worst scanlation groups I’ve ever has the displeasure of having to read. I wish Keishou did this series more quickly.
Such a straightforward, predictable chapter. I bet Dodo will easily brush off Ichimatsu’s next attack.
Sadly, I was right.
No, Anzai, your audience isn’t going to be emotionally moved by the sacrifice of a finger puppet.
Final Flash: Another week, another uninspired chapter.
Nurarihyon no Mago 101
[chapter link]
Kubinashi’s first line is pretty cool, actually.
Ibaraki’s fear is a little difficult to view. A case of too much detail.
So… this fight is Enel vs. Jolyne?
“I’ll take each of your necks and leave them looking like his!” First joke I can recall in many, many chapters. Not bad, either.
Yuki Onna! Nothing wrong with it, but I’m a little surprised to see her dripping blood.
That’s a very foreboding last page.
Final Flash: Hoping to see Kubinashi come back to his senses and fight better with Kejourou. Of course, I have a thing for fighting teams.
Kimi no Iru Machi 85
[chapter link]
Well. Hello, Aoi.
Oh, the perils of being a stalker.
Wow. This turn of events is too much of a stretch. Anyone would see the problem with using another girl for this. You can only make your main character so naive before the audience’s suspension of disbelief breaks down.
When Negi adds a harem member, it’s a great occasion. When Haruto adds a romantic interest, it’s frustrating. Show us Eba already.
This entire chapter is following the most basic of romantic comedy formulas. Seo is a better writer than this. What a letdown.
Final Flash: Well, I suppose since Haruto doesn’t want to see Eba with Nagoshi in tow, there’s a 99% chance it will happen. I wish we didn’t have to drag this disappointing storyline to the long-awaited meeting.
Weekly Power Rankings – 3/28 – 4/3
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