Archive
Beamcast – September 20
[download link – 125min, 56mb]
In this week’s show:
News
Fairy Tail anime second season confirmed
Shonen Jump running one-shots by six legendary mangaka
Imamura Norio fined 500k yen
City Hunter receives live action Korean TV series
Weekly Oricon rankings (9/6 – 9/12)
New releases
[anime]
Bleach (DVD 32) $24.92
[manga]
Black Jack (vol. 13) $16.95
Discussion / Weekly Poll
Last week’s results:
Multiple choice – Which of these shonen genres do you enjoy?
1. Action (32%) | 2. Comedy / Mystery (tie) (22% each) | 4. Sports (13%) | 5. Romance (11%)
This week:
How do you prefer to read manga?
(Localized volume releases, online scanlations, original raws)
The Great Shonen Tier List
Characters added:
Boa Hancock (One Piece)
Konan (Naruto)
Kagura (Gintama)
Ogami Rei (Code:Breaker)
Sano Seiichirou (The Law of Ueki)
Mikura “Kazu” Kazuma (Air Gear)
Anime Discussion
Highschool of the Dead (ep. 11)
Seitokai Yakuindomo (ep. 11)
Legend of the Legendary Heroes (ep. 12)
Nurarihyon no Mago (ep. 11)
This Week in Manga
0:41:07 – Kure-nai 34
0:45:41 – Naruto 510
0:49:35 – Bleach 420
0:55:58 – Bakuman 101
1:01:20 – Beelzebub 77
1:05:24 – Fairy Tail 200-201
1:11:29 – Hayate no Gotoku! 288
1:15:12 – History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi 398-399
1:20:40 – AR∀GO 35
1:24:12 – Toriko 110
1:29:05 – Mahou Sensei Negima! 302
1:31:39 – Psyren 134
1:34:05 – Nurarihyon no Mago 122
1:38:52 – Zettai Karen Children 230
1:43:42 – GE ~ Good Ending 50
1:46:44 – Kimi no Iru Machi 105
1:49:46 – Enigma 1
1:58:48 – Deadman Wonderland 38
1:59:38 – Air Gear 287
2:00:13 – Code:Breaker 104
2:01:02 – Defense Devil 64
2:01:44 – Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 306
Chapters of the Week
Final Flash
Comments / questions / additions? Email the show.
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Credit: AnimeNewsNetwork
Bleach 420
[scanlation by Binktopia]
From the plethora of available “420” jokes, let’s just go with something like “wasn’t that the only way to enjoy Bleach anyway?” and move on.
After some flashback pages of the earlier fight between Ichigo and post-Fountain of Youth Zangetsu, the twist is finally revealed: the “Final Getsuga Tenshou” is when Ichigo himself becomes Getsuga.
The important note: I don’t find this terrible. I still think it’s stale and uninteresting to have Ichigo become taller, older, and longer-haired, and I certainly have to laugh at the Hot Topic-catalog laziness of designing Final Form Ichigo with flowing black hair, black fabric, and a black aura, but I will give some credit to Kubo: this concept is acceptable. To defeat Aizen, whose abilities are “broken” (despite being improperly written in the last few chapters), Ichigo needed to achieve some kind of powerup that wasn’t just a linear increase in strength. There’s no telling how deep Kubo will go into the concept, and it’s entirely possible that the spiritual evolution part of the process will be conveniently forgotten and/or rewritten as though this is a linear powerup, but from initial indication, “becoming Getsuga” seems to work.
The less-important note:
The rest of the chapter is pretty standard Bleach: Venom/Aizen gets pissed and yells too much, and Ichigo uses a big monochromatic attack.
Final Flash: Not “good,” but “good for a recent Bleach chapter,” meaning surprisingly acceptable overall.
Bleach 419
[scanlation by Binktopia]
So much unnecessary dialogue. Tension is important during a fight, but that doesn’t mean the pacing of the fight should be interrupted (or, in this case, completely overwhelmed) by text.
It’s not just “Deicide” anymore; there’s a subtitle? Even Kubo is bored with this.
Aizen transforms into some unspeakable creature. First, how ugly. I’m sure that’s somewhat the point, of course. Secondly, and most importantly, this signals a continuation of a worrying trend: The Hougyoku being treated like a linear power-up rather than the plot-altering device it’s been shown to be. It’s certainly not as though the Hougyoku should be able to rewrite the plot according to Aizen’s desires, but for it to quietly be demoted to something as simple as this is a critical consistency error.
Once again, Aizen proceeds to deliver a long-winded monologue, and as with last week’s chapter, Ichigo counters with a trite, throwaway line. Also, Ichigo’s new hairstyle should not make his entire self look older. If Kubo wanted an older, more “badass” character, he should have written Ichigo as such to begin with.
Next week will be the unveiling of the “Final Getsuga Tenshou.” Maybe that will equate to some decently-paced action, instead of one-off twists and incessant dialogue.
Final Flash: A letdown even by already poor Bleach standards. Kubo has written himself into a corner with his treatment of the Hougyoku.
Bleach 418
[scanlation by Binktopia]
It’s not like I could take Ichigo seriously before, but his new hair gets me laughing every time I see it. Well, that, and his sad expression.
Aizen certainly is long-winded this week. As this is Bleach, I assume he will continue assuming things about Ichigo’s powerup until Ichigo makes his move, proving Aizen wrong.
Ichigo is able to stop Aizen’s sword. To be fair, Ichigo has yet to respond to Aizen’s theory that Ichigo used all his reiatsu to reinforce his strength, so Ichigo could still have some hidden capability that would make this less ridiculous. That said, if Ichigo is only using pure strength, this is unimaginably awful writing. With the Hougyoku, Aizen has the ability to rewrite the plot of his own series; there’s absolutely no excuse for him being overpowered.
Resorting to Kidou is the Bleach equivalent of raising the white flag… or triggering your own death flag.
All this Ichigo dominance bears no credibility whatsoever, but at least the protagonist is doing something for once.
Final Flash: If it makes people this strong, maybe I should grow a mullet.
Beamcast – August 30
[download link – 136min, 58mb]
In this week’s show:
News
Director Satoshi Kon passes away
Arata Kangatari to receive anime adaptation in 2011
One Piece sells over 20 million volumes in 2010
Shueisha reports first ever annual loss
Gintama movie DVD to bundle bonus new animation
Weekly Oricon rankings (8/16 – 8/22)
New releases
[last week]
Naruto Season 3 Box Set 2 (DVD) $49.99
One Piece Season 3 Part 2 (DVD) $49.98
[this week]
Bleach (vol. 32) $9.99
Elemental Gelade (vol. 12) $10.99
Suzuka (omnibus, vols. 13-15) $21.99
Discussion / Weekly Poll
What underlying power system concept is the most interesting?
(Alchemy, Changing A to B, Devil Fruits, Gourmet Cells, Nen, Stands)
The Great Shonen Tier List
Re-tiered this week:
Allen Walker (D.Gray-man)
Introduced this week:
Might Guy (Naruto)
Ishida Uryuu (Bleach)
Enel (One Piece)
Sani (Toriko)
Erza Scarlet (Fairy Tail)
Kurama (YuYu Hakusho)
Anime Discussion
Highschool of the Dead (ep. 8)
Seitokai Yakuindomo (ep. 8-9)
Legend of the Legendary Heroes (ep. 9)
Nurarihyon no Mago (ep. 8)
This Week in Manga
0:42:23 – Bleach 417
0:47:21 – One Piece 597
0:58:36 – Naruto 507
1:04:54 – Bakuman 98
1:11:55 – Beelzebub 74
1:15:48 – Fairy Tail 197
1:18:55 – Hayate no Gotoku! 285
1:21:46 – Kekkaishi 317-318
1:25:08 – History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi 395
1:28:09 – Toriko 107
1:33:26 – Gamaran 52-60
1:39:22 – The World God Only Knows 111
1:42:07 – Psyren 131
1:46:54 – Zettai Karen Children 228
1:50:12 – Hajime no Ippo 903-905
1:55:51 – AR∀GO 32
1:59:22 – GE ~ Good Ending 48
2:03:48 – SWOT 8
2:06:23 – Bloody Monday: Season 2 – 38 (new series!)
2:08:44 – Defense Devil 61-62 (new series!)
2:10:29 – Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 303
2:11:53 – Kimi no Iru Machi 102
2:13:08 – Nurarihyon no Mago 119
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-C4
Credit: AnimeNewsNetwork
Bleach 417
[scanlation by Binktopia]
I am ready and willing to classify Ichigo’s new hairstyle as a mullet. His new transformation/powerup/whatever makes him a bit taller, rips off one of his sleeves, and gives him a mullet.
A moment of uncharacteristic suaveness followed by another moment of completely out of place humor. Kubo has the uncanny ability not only to write drivel, but to write drivel that actively upsets the audience.
Ichigo’s new power hides all his reiatsu. Boring. That’s typically Bleach, too, in that it is a natural setup for a twist.
How expansive of you, Gin, to pass the torch to Ichigo like that. Lovely. Surely that cements you as a legitimate “good” character.
Even more laughable than Ichigo’s new mullet is the fact that suddenly he’s able to manhandle Aizen. Ichigo has done absolutely nothing credible as a hero for at least 250 chapters (and that’s being generous), and now he can overpower someone who literally has the ability to write the plot? Pathetic. Kubo could stand to return to Shonen 101, because even linear power levels are more acceptable than this.
Final Flash: It’s been a while since the last laughably bad Bleach chapter. The recent terrible Bleach chapters (read: all of them) have been more of the draining or insulting variety.
Bleach 416
[scanlation by Binktopia]
Why bother giving Bleach the cover if Kubo is always going to make such half-hearted attempts? I can’t recall the last imaginative Bleach cover.
Matsumoto is fine, so Gin gets to be the fallen hero after all. For the record, this kind of plot device works much better when the audience has recognized a character as “good” for more than, say, two chapters.
Also, I’m noticing something wrong with the way Matsumoto has been drawn. I realize that Kubo has designed this character to be a pretty face and cleavage, and nothing more, but a little anatomical consistency would make sense. I believe the human head generally rests on the neck, not directly on top of the shoulder.
So… the Hougyoku is just a Philosopher’s Stone, then?
When the audience has any difficulty at all telling the sky apart from debris clouds, the art is a serious problem.
We even get treated to a little flashback with poor little nice-guy Gin, sacrificing himself for Matsumoto. Don’t over-sell this or anything, Kubo.
Oh good, it’s Ichigo, and he has another slight costume redesign. Remember when Kane still had the mask on but his costume kept losing little bits and pieces, as his character became more “human” (and infinitely less interesting)? … actually, no, of course you don’t, because you don’t watch wrestling. Anyway, this feels similar; Kubo is grasping at straws, trying little tweaks, hoping something good will come out of it. It hasn’t.
Final Flash: Matsumoto knew Gin’s plan all along, yet she was shocked (or “feigned surprise,” if you buy that) when he joined Aizen. If she really cared about him, maybe she could have stopped him long before that… like, in the flashback scene we just saw in this chapter. No, instead she lets him run off and then chases after him. Stay classy.
Bleach 415
[scanlation by Binktopia]
Oh good. A flashback.
Aizen, despite the fact that his chest has been exploded, still has enough about him to strike at Gin. It seems as though broken Aizen will carry on being broken.
A huge scream and a pillar of light. Does this mean last week’s potential outcome #2 has been chosen? Gin dies in a few chapters for no productive reason?
Aizen is a butterfly. If this series didn’t kill any emotion I have every time I read it, I’d be laughing uncontrollably for the next several hours. Our unstoppable antagonist is a butterfly. Also, how horrendous is that close-up of his face?
Within the last couple months, both One Piece and Naruto have had chapters with exemplary demonstrations of textless storytelling. Someone at Shueisha should really encourage Kubo to attempt to emulate other aspects of those two series, such as character development, setting, story, pacing, backgrounds, abilities…
Gin has eyes. That’s the most interesting thing to happen in Bleach this week. Well, I suppose confirmation that Gin has been attempting to play the hero all along is worth a mention.
Final Flash: Bleach is ranked eighth in this week’s Shonen Jump table of contents. Just thought you might want to know that.
Beamcast – August 2
[download link – 107min, 47mb]
In this week’s show:
News
To Love-Ru spin-off
Funimation pre-paid debit cards
Weekly Oricon rankings (7/19 – 7/25)
New releases
[anime]
Naruto Shippuden (DVD Box Set 3) $49.95
Naruto Shippuden Special Edition (DVD Box Set 3) $69.99
[manga]
Bakuman (vol. 1) $9.99
D.Gray-man (vol. 18) $9.99
Gintama (vol. 19) $9.99
Hikaru no Go (vol. 20) $9.99
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure (vol. 15) $9.99
Muhyo & Roji (vol. 18) $9.99
Slam Dunk (vol. 11) $9.99
Current/Classic Reviews
Kekkaishi
Double Arts
The Great Shonen Tier List
Introduced this week:
Nico Robin (One Piece)
Tsunade (Naruto)
Hitsugaya Toushirou (Bleach)
Shishio Gen (Kekkaishi)
Elraine & Kiri (Double Arts)
Saotome Ranma (Ranma 1/2)
Anime Discussion
Highschool of the Dead (ep. 4)
Seitokai Yakuindomo (ep. 5)
Legend of the Legendary Heroes (ep. 5)
Nurarihyon no Mago (ep.4)
This Week in Manga
0:45:19 – Mirai Nikki 54
0:46:42 – Bleach 414
0:54:37 – One Piece 594
1:04:51 – Naruto 504
1:08:49 – Beelzebub 71
1:12:37 – Fairy Tail 194
1:14:56 – Hayate no Gotoku! 282
1:15:59 – Kekkaishi 315
1:17:11 – History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi 392
1:20:47 – Toriko 104
1:24:45 – The World God Only Knows 108
1:26:38 – Mahou Sensei Negima! 297
1:30:37 – Psyren 129
1:32:43 – Zettai Karen Children 225
1:34:33 – Hajime no Ippo 902
1:36:17 – AR∀GO 29
1:37:26 – GE ~ Good Ending 44
1:39:56 – SWOT 5
1:41:33 – Air Gear 285
1:42:14 – Gintama 317
1:42:22 – Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 300
1:43:17 – Kimi no Iru Machi 99
1:44:11 – Nurarihyon no Mago 115-116
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-xB
Credit: AnimeNewsNetwork
Bleach 414
[scanlation by Binktopia]
Both One Piece and Naruto have been sensational this week. I wonder how Bleach compares.
Have to say, the cover page isn’t nearly as blindingly awful as the last several Bleach color pages. Comparatively well done, then.
Last week’s twist was the explicit fourth wall-breaking teaser text saying that there’s tension between Gin and Aizen. Of course, this wasn’t actually shown in any capacity by the narrative itself, but this is as close to storytelling as Bleach gets, so bear with it. Described tension, Gin cover page, “Deicide” chapter naming scheme…
Gin is clearly lying to Aizen about having killed Matsumoto.
Boy, Kubo certainly is making this pretty obvious, isn’t he?
The royal key! Why, that’s a reference to the next arc! We’re finally going somewhere.
Page 12 is a shining example of unintentional hilarity. I use the word “shining” intentionally. “Blinding” would also be suitable.
No! 13km was a lie? How dare you, Kubo?!
In all seriousness, Gin’s “true” bankai (who knows if this is the actual, final truth) is even more ridiculous now than ever before. It doesn’t merely extend and contract, but instead it dissolves into dust, while simultaneously the interior of the blade secretes a cell-destroying poison. That’s a crazy amount of abilities from one zanpakutou.
Now, that said, while this combination of abilities makes Gin rather overpowered in the Bleach universe, the primary complaint I have isn’t with his bankai at all, but with Ichigo. These kinds of bizarre abilities are exactly what shonen characters should have. By comparison, Ichigo and his one attack look more pathetic than ever.
Still, I’m deliberately trying to find positives to provide some decent analysis of a thoroughly insulting chapter. No, this chapter doesn’t carry the same disgraceful impact as chapter 396 (the “everything was according to Aizen’s plan” chapter), but in terms of putting up the middle finger to long-term fans, this takes the cake. Bleach fans, Kubo would like you to know that the last three years have been completely worthless. Assuming Aizen dies here, the last three years of plot maneuvers have been shunned in favor of establishing a new arch-villain who is weaker than the last one. Of course, there is always the possibility that Aizen’s reality-altering hougyoku will shamelessly save him once again, but then that merely introduces a brand new slap in the face, which is killing off Gin out of nowhere within a couple chapters, all for the sake of yet another uninteresting “twist.” Either way, this is drivel.
Final Flash: A tutorial on how not to write a story.
Beamcast – July 26
[download link – 138min, 60mb]
In this week’s show:
News
OneManga closing
Yen Press+ launching as online magazine
Marvel anime to run on G4 in 2011
Bakuman spin-off in upcoming Jump double issue
Weekly Oricon rankings (7/12 – 7/18)
Licensing announcements
Seven Seas: To Aru Kagaku no Railgun
Yen Press: Highschool of the Dead
Viz: Genkaku Picasso, Death Note Black Edition
New releases
[anime]
Dragon Ball Season 5 Uncut (DVD) $49.98
Love Hina – Complete Series (DVD) $39.98
Soul Eater: Part 4 (DVD) $59.98
[manga]
Black Jack (vol. 12) $16.95
Cirque du Freak (vol. 6) $10.99
Code:Breaker (vol. 1) $10.99
Negima! (vol. 27) $10.99
Oh My Goddess (vol. 15) $10.99
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (vol. 7) $10.99
School Rumble (vol. 14) $19.99
Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle (vol. 27) $10.99
Current/Classic Reviews
Toriko
Devilman
The Great Shonen Tier List
Introduced this week:
Jiraiya (Naruto)
Tony Tony Chopper (One Piece)
Ichimaru Gin (Bleach)
Devilman (Devilman)
Coco (Toriko)
Minami “Ikki” Itsuki (Air Gear)
Anime Discussion
Highschool of the Dead (ep. 3)
Seitokai Yakuindomo (ep. 4)
Legend of the Legendary Heroes (ep. 4)
Nurarihyon no Mago (ep.3)
This Week in Manga
1:06:47 – Naruto 503
1:12:12 – Bleach 413
1:17:02 – One Piece 593
1:26:43 – Bakuman 95
1:32:01 – Beelzebub 70
1:35:26 – Fairy Tail 193
1:38:21 – Hayate no Gotoku! 281
1:39:58 – Kekkaishi 314
1:42:08 – History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi 391
1:47:11 – Toriko 103
1:50:55 – The World God Only Knows 107
1:52:52 – Mahou Sensei Negima! 296
1:55:24 – Psyren 128
1:58:56 – Zettai Karen Children 224
2:00:32 – Hajime no Ippo 901
2:02:47 – AR∀GO 28
2:04:56 – GE ~ Good Ending 43
2:06:57 – SWOT 3-4
2:11:17 – D.Gray-man 196
2:12:43 – Gintama 316
2:13:37 – Katekyo Hitman Reborn! 299
2:14:37 – Kimi no Iru Machi 98
2:15:45 – Nurarihyon no Mago 114
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-wj