Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 284
[chapter link]
Shitt-P Shitt-P Shitt-P Shitt-P Shitt-P Shitt-P Shitt-P okay it’s out of my system. Let’s hope there’s something else to talk about.
Someone who looks much older than they are who’s conflicted about playing a sport? Your new name is Musashi.
A boxer, too? I understand making opposing characters similar, but this is getting ridiculous… unless these new characters aren’t opponents, but people sent by the mafia to substitute for the Vongola family in their everyday school life, so the Vongola can go run the mafia. Now that would be more interesting.
“Gokudera’s shown interest in Shitt-P.” Damn, that’s a terrible fight. Why does Gokudera get stuck with lame fights?
Whoa. Bottom-left panel, page 11. Hello, fanservice character. I hadn’t quite noticed exactly how endowed Adelheid was.
Lambo! That was something criminally wrong with the Future arc: Not enough Lambo.
Final Flash: We get the point – these students have some significance relating to the Vongola. We don’t need any more hints and setup. This is already better than the Future arc, but let’s get moving.
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.
Fairy Tail 178
[chapter link]
Please: Fewer cats.
A character named Pyro? I’ll just pretend it’s the Pyro.
“Sugerboy,” too. Wow.
Oh, good. Cats.
… and a million more cats. That square-faced cat makes me rage a little bit every time I see him.
Even if you like Happy, you couldn’t sensibly argue that this arc was a good idea. I love One Piece, and I love Chopper, but a One Piece arc with an entire parallel world full of Choppers would be putrid. Nearly as putrid as this, even.
Final Flash: Hurry up and rescue Natsu. He’s the only chance this arc has of any redemption.
Lock On! 6
[chapter link]
These backgrounds are actually painful. They make it hard to read. Speed lines are bad enough in action scenes; don’t use them when a character is standing still. (Page 6, top-left.)
Niko’s nervous polygonal hair is pretty amusing. First time I’ve found a positive in the art.
Did I just compliment the art? Nevermind. What a disappointing full-page action scene p17 is.
To illustrate my point about the backgrounds, I’ve taken the time to examine the background of every panel in this chapter:
Total (% of 90 panels):
Drawn – 20 (22.2%)
Effects / Speed Lines – 41 (45.6%)
None (no room) – 7 (7.8%)
None – 22 (24.4%)
If you’re anything like me, effect/speed lines and no backgrounds (when space is available) are the same problem, which would mean that to you, a whopping 70% of the panels in this chapter were substandard. As far as I’m concerned, that’s just not acceptable for a series in a major magazine.
Final Flash: It’s not as though the art is detracting from a good series, either. Something needs to improve quickly.
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.
Toriko 88
This fight has been fantastic. I seriously hope the Toriko anime is on its way soon; I would love to see this animated.
I’ll never get tired of seeing Toriko’s “killing intent” face.
Removing constraints/weights/limits is usually poorly used, but this time, it’s happening so late in the fight, I don’t mind.
Whoa. Brutal. What a fight.
Page 14! Center panel. I already liked this series, but it’s growing on me exponentially.
Wow, I didn’t see this confrontation coming. Interesting.
Final Flash: It’s amazing how quickly this series has moved up my recommendation list in just a few weeks.
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.
Kimi no Iru Machi 83
I know Haruto is trying not to become attached to or distracted by anyone here, but he could at least not be a jerk. His time in Tokyo so far has made me think less of him.
Oh, good, Mishima is taking care of that.
I’m sure the author is going to create some romantic tension between these two, given the genre, but I’m finding it difficult to retain interest in the supposed “right” couple since we haven’t so much as seen Eba in so long.
Yeah, there it is. Harem series protagonist innocently calling a girl cute. Never fails.
Final Flash: Eba needs to show her face soon, because between the two-week break and non-chapters like these, this is quickly losing any remaining momentum.
Psyren 112
Over 500 survivors? Another interesting difference during this trip to Psyren.
Marie is cute, and seems to be more determined this time.
Amamiya jealous is something I would like to see, if there was enough time to take focus away from the main action. Right now, there isn’t.
Ageha’s sister! And a baby. Whoa.
Their dad? Wow, this is completely different.
Enemies convenient in number for the purpose of individual fights!
Final Flash: I suppose technically a transition chapter, but one fascinating enough not to feel dull in the slightest. This Psyren trip has yet to disappoint.
Nurarihyon no Mago 99
It’s about time that Hagoromo Gitsune’s followers get a little spotlight. (I emphasize “little.”) It was starting to feel like they would be relegated to the shonen-requisite “author forgot to make this enemy important” mid-fight flashback.
Yeah! Medieval Ghost Rider(s)!
Actually, on that same page… couldn’t the assistants have taken more than 30 seconds to draw the citizens’ faces? They look more grotesque than the youkai.
Is Kubinashi going to improve? That would be a welcome change.
Oh… huh. That was pretty sudden.
Final Flash: Nice to see any of the members of the Hyakki Yakou leveling up, and too short is better than too long, but that was quite abrupt.
Hunter x Hunter 302
Hakoware is totally going to kill CellMeryem. Solo. OHKO, even.
More creepy borderline perversion from the King’s subordinates.
You’re fooling no one, Togashi; thought bubbles are no different from narrative boxes.
The more I see her, the more I feel confident in saying Komugi is one of the ugliest characters in manga.
Final Flash: This is looking dangerously close to a fight involving one of the two main characters. I wonder how we’ll be swerved this time.
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