Code:Breaker 81
It’s a little cheap the way The One Being Sought always has another power handy. Now he’s Diavolo and Wolverine?
“Presser” is a bad attack name.
Code:Names? Uh-oh. That’s the sign of the next major series of fights. I never like when enemies are prefaced like this. At least these won’t all have Spanish titles. (I hope.)
The Seeking One, is it? That sounds a little less cool. Too bad.
The direction this chapter is going, by humanizing The Seeking One, is making me worry that we have another Itachi on our hands, i.e. the credible villain the series has built up since the beginning is actually a good guy (… well, kinda) and other, stronger people are the real evil ones.
“Deep Presser” is even worse.
The two-page spread is pretty cool.
The second two-page spread is even better. Itachi scenario avoided; this storyline has a little similarity, but is far better.
Final Flash: Mixed feelings about this climax, because of the foreshadowing of the Code:Names, but overall, the fights were good.
Mahou Sensei Negima! 283
“We’re in the middle of an extremely serious situation right now, and I really don’t think it’s the time [for a fan-servicing bath scene]…” – Negi, reading my mind
I need to verify whether or not you’re a fake, so… let’s have sex? Good plan.
So much dialogue for a scene with a half-naked girl in chains.
Kissing solves everything. Oh, sorry. “Pactio.” By the way, why aren’t there hundreds of Negi cosplayers at anime conventions? It’s the perfect excuse to run around and try to kiss as many girls as possible. Just draw them a card and apparently they’ll be satisfied.
A new harem member! I’m relieved. Negi was running low.
Final Flash: Whether or not you like this storyline, you can’t complain about the pacing. The series is progressing through important storylines much more quickly than most current series.
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.
Lock On! 4
I don’t care how many different ways you draw them; speed lines are not proper backgrounds.
Everything about this series so far has been distinctly mediocre. The beginning of this chapter is no exception.
Here’s some guy who seems like a delinquent. I bet he’s not such a bad guy.
I know our main character has some ability related to the eye under that Akito/Agito-ripoff eye patch, but that back flip is just ridiculous.
Huh. That’s not exactly the twist I expected out of Yamato, at least.
Final Flash: This series has a long way to go to escape early cancellation.
Beelzebub 53
What an amazing cover page.
What is Oga doing? Weird.
Damn, I love Oga’s creepy face. Two pages, no less. And a Baby Beel creepy face! Excellent.
Of course Kunieda misunderstands. So cute.
Evil grin dodge! This is a fun chapter.
He got the answer right! I’m actually laughing audibly.
An interesting development on the last page, too.
Final Flash: Fantastic chapter. All my disappointment at the abrupt ending of the Demon World arc is gone.
Naruto 487
Did Sakura finally admit to herself that she’s useless? That’s quite the achievement.
Sasuke, continuing his descent into terrible villainy. Not in the “his actions are heinous” way, but the “this character is horribly written” way.
Sakura: Worse than useless. Actually a detriment to her own team.
I was just worrying about the lack of rap.
I don’t mind several Akatsuki members, but I really don’t care about Zetsu.
Oh wow. There’s a face we haven’t seen since… well, since the series was good with any reasonable measure of consistency.
Final Flash: Not looking forward to any of this Zetsu/Kisame/Bee business, but the last page could prove for an interesting future.
Bleach 396
Byakuya drinking Starbucks. Wow.
… actually, can I read that series instead?
It’s Ichigo! I wonder what move he’ll use.
Oh, he used his one move. Neat.
Ichigo looks unbearably lame with the Hollow mask.
Whoa, a black background! In my best J.R., “Business is about to pick up!”
You have to be kidding me. Everything according to plan? This is absolutely pathetic.
Final Flash: I would say “this series can’t get any worse,” but I know I’ll be proven wrong. Still, putrid. Colossally poor. Maybe I should read Incarnate instead.
Psyren 111
Whoa. Impact right away. Pretty cool, though I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking of Wild Wild West a little bit.
Unless I’m forgetting something major, this is a vastly different Psyren. Interesting.
Is Kyle ever not awesome? I wish he was part of the main group. In fact, I’m just going to consider him a main character.
I still like Melchsee’s Door, even if it might make Ageha a little broken.
Fist-bumping: It’s never cool.
Final Flash: So far so good, this trip to Psyren.
Fairy Tail 176
More focus on talking cats. Hooray. That’s all this series needs to improve.
So… we had a talking cat. Then a cube guy. Now a cube cat.
Exactly what kind of a hand motion is Nadei making on page 9?
An entire town full of talking cats. What little respect I had for this series and its author is evaporating with each new page.
I guess that hand motion is Nadei’s trademark. Sure, whatever.
 Nadei (Fairy Tail) |
 Gecko Moria (One Piece) |
(Okay, okay, I’m trying on that one.)
Someone we thought was good is actually bad! But they’re still good! But… they’re supposed to be bad! sigh.
Nope, sorry. A talking cat’s tears earn no sympathy points.
Final Flash: I remember being excited at the very beginning of this arc, when the Fairy Tail guild house disappeared. How stupid I was.
Hunter x Hunter 301
Careful, Togashi. That first panel of the first page looks dangerously close to a completely drawn background. Don’t get ahead of yourself, now.
Cell lives! The worst non-Bleach chapter of manga in a year wasn’t for nothing.
Wait, maybe it was. Amnesia?
No, it’s actually being used as means for Pouf to try to act against the King. Not bad.
Wings? Oh no! Perfect Cell!
Meleoron is one of the best characters of this arc. Also, page 17 recalls the satisfaction and excitement of a successful use of Gon 3, for any J!US players out there.
Final Flash: Good mix of development and action, and some instances of decent art. Nice chapter.
History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi 376
Ok, the band-aid moment is excellent.
Niijima is… useful? This strange new world confuses me.
Keen-eyed car enthusiasts will note that Tirawit Kokin is driving a convertible Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione:
 Tirawit Kokin's car |
 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione |
At what point is the term “fanservice” not strong enough?
This entire chapter could translate to some amazing anime.
With Kenichi still caught somewhere between disciple and master, this next fight should hopefully bring some needed development.
Final Flash: This series had been spinning its wheels for a while, but it’s finally starting to find its stride again. Good chapter.
Hayate no Gotoku! 264
It might finally be time for fallout from this arc. I rarely look forward to reaction chapters, but I’m curious to see what happens now among the other girls.
The cover page art, particularly because of the crescent moon over the building, is quite reminiscent of Franky House.
“She’s always mad.” Fantastic.
Well, I can’t say this resolution was unexpected, given that this is a harem series. While I was never rooting for Hayate to go for Athena, especially since she’s barely been around, it would have been a refreshing change for the male lead to make a decision mid-series.
Final Flash: I guess it’s back to everyday business soon, then. That isn’t bad, but it feels a bit like an opportunity lost.
Kimi no Iru Machi 82
Two weeks off felt like a long time for a romance series.
Not sure how I feel about Haruto’s new acquaintances. I have yet to warm up to them.
Oh, Rin-chan.
I know Seo has a distinct art style, but Rin on page 13 looks exactly like Suzuka.
Well then, that will certainly help me warm up to Kazama. Good last few pages.
Final Flash: We have entered the main stretch of standard romance series heart-wrenching. As always, I hope the conclusion will be worth the trouble.
Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 282
With a name like “Farewell, Future.” this chapter has to be an improvement, right? … right?
Goodbyes are taking too long.
I certainly hope there’s an MST3k Time Chasers-like moment coming soon. “I left my keys at the Manchu Wok of the future!”
No more boxes?! This is getting better already.
Oh, never mind. sigh.
Final Flash: Not much of a chapter, but it’s such a tremendous relief to see the words “Future Arc – End.” Amano hasn’t always been this poor, so let’s hope for a return to form.
Nurarihyon no Mago 98
Nice cover. It feels like ages since we’ve seen regular/human Nura.
Gyuuki must be an amazing hair stylist to keep his style flawless at all times like that.
Maybe it’s just me, but I think how Gyuuki defines a Hyakki Yakou was all pretty much assumed anyway.
Zen breaking the fourth wall is weird. This doesn’t seem the series to do that.
Good to see Zen back. I felt he was an interesting character. Certainly interesting enough not to relegate to as little exposure as he’s had.
Final Flash: Training chapter, just as expected, but with a couple good moments.
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