Weekly Power Rankings – 3/7 – 3/13
AR∀GO 11
I love the coloring of the color page.
Eames’ power didn’t work on regular humans?
Rio is excellent. She’s really helping to solidify this series.
Now that’s a plot twist. Didn’t see this coming at all.
Final Flash: Great chapter, and the next should be as well.
Kekkaishi 297
“Where have you been hiding for the past 400 years!?” “Sorry. Stuff happened.” – Best explanation ever.
Was … was that a Skull Joke from Madarao?
It’s about time Yoshimori gets some proper guidance from someone so important.
Hm. Very interesting last page.
Final Flash: This seems like the prelude to a training arc, but with Kekkaishi I don’t really mind. Such a tasteful series.
Code:Breaker 80
We’re starting with a flashback? Last chapter ended on such an excellent moment, too. Interesting.
There’s not much depth about The One Being Sought. He’s evil, sure. That’s really all we know. The flashback is only serving to reinforce that, rather than expanding upon it. Maybe there’s nothing to expand upon. Too bad.
It seems The One’s power is a little less Dio and a little more Diavolo.
The little twist in the action is giving this fight a very end-of-series feel, which can’t be right (given, at least, the foreshadowing remarks at the end of Toki’s fight).
Final Flash: This fight is odd. It isn’t bad, but there’s an awkward feeling about it.
Hajime no Ippo 887
This fight needs to end.
Ippo has been saved by the bell way too many times. Everything about this fight is ridiculous.
Some inane chatter from the crowd, the exact same scenario in Woli’s corner, and the chapter is over. This fight has killed any momentum this otherwise brilliant series had.
Final Flash: Awful. Please let this be over soon.
One Piece 578
Beautiful color spread. I require a poster.
Very happy to see some more Buddha action. I would like to know a little more about the specifics of Sengoku’s abilities, though.
Aokiji’s apology doesn’t seem sarcastic. He’s easily the best admiral.
Jinbei is increasingly amazing.
SPEAKING OF AMAZING. Crocodile.
Betting lines are open: Buggy 12/1 to accidentally become Pirate King.
A submarine with lanterns and a familiar logo. Only one man is this cool. Oh yes.
Final Flash: No coincidence that the awesome started flying around once the focus turned away from Blackbeard. We need a little break from him. How about those last two pages?
Gamaran 40
“… and you are?” I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels this way about Ranmaru.
A Ranmaru flashback? Well, at least it’s short.
Brutal scenes like this are such a big part of the appeal of this series, which is why I’m irritated by how much unnecessary exposition we’ve been given recently. It’s a pure samurai action series; give us action with the bare minimum amount of plot to keep it interesting.
The art in the large panel of page 16 is bizarrely reminiscent of Good Ending. Maybe it’s in the hair.
Final Flash: One moment of action excellence doesn’t make up for the pacing. You have swords! Use them!
Psyren 110
No white backgrounds! Bad Psyren!
Fist-bumping: It’s never cool.
Shinkibenibone? Rolls right off the tongue.
I like the new Nemesis Q. Having an ominous, detached figure worked for as long as it did, but it was time to evolve.
More Kabuto, please.
Final Flash: As good a set-up chapter as we could expect. Now, to business.
Zettai Karen Children 209
What an amusingly unimaginative arc title “Lost Guys” is.
Sakaki’s muscles look like papier-mâché.
This chapter (and arc, so far) is just making me want to read more Cage of Eden. Where are the current scans of that?
Final Flash: At least we’re going somewhere, but it just feels like we’re taking forever to get there. Knowing the premonition of the future means that everything that happens between now and then feels that much longer.
Weekly Power Rankings – 2/28 – 3/6
Beelzebub 52
Not surprised that Miki was an old friend of Furuichi. Can’t trust him, though.
Yeah, figured.
Good comedy between the two members of Rokkisei. Oga’s reaction-face is priceless as ever.
A ruler! I love Kunieda.
Final Flash: Excited for this fight. Been a while since we’ve seen Oga himself in some real action.
MiXiM☆11 87
Pandora’s explanation: … what? Seriously, what the hell?
Another creepy Dodo shot. That’s the best I can hope for during these flashbacks.
That’s it? This flashback has taken way too long, for no real purpose. I don’t find Arachne or Nemesis any more interesting, nor do I care more about them.
Final Flash: At least it’s over.
Bakuman 77
Very interesting conversation between Mashiro and Azuki. Beyond how great it is that they’re talking, even.
“Our love is still growing.” Hooray!
Hattori’s role is growing by the chapter. I’m not complaining whatsoever.
Final Flash: Excellent final page. Excellent chapter.
Hunter x Hunter 300
Gintama began five and a half years after the debut of Hunter x Hunter, yet they both reach chapter 300 in the same week. Really puts all those delays in perspective.
Characters are meeting up again. It feels like we’re going places.
Is Gon finally going to fight someone?
… or is the whole “do this or Gon will kill you” scenario repeating itself? I hope not.
Final Flash: Getting closer to long-anticipated action. Please come soon.
Nurarihyon no Mago 97
Anime in July! Exciting.
Flashback? Or a dream? Interesting if Nura met Hagoromo-Gitsune in the past.
Gyuuki is a character I’d like to see used more.
I’d prefer if there wasn’t a training arc in between fights, thanks. At least keep it short.
Final Flash: Nura does need to improve, but make it quick.
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