[Manga Chat]

[Psycho666Soldier 246]

Ichinose is in a good groove right now.  It feels like we don't get a lot with only so many pages per chapter, but there's been a hook and push over the last few chapters that has me hyped for whatever comes next.

 

Last 3 chapters of Elusive Samurai have been good, too

Spoiler

I like Shina.  I like the idea of her being a love interest for Kojiro.  Really dig the leg blade.  I do feel like her introduction was kinda shoehorned?  Like it developed nicely, but she just kind of showed up and then was immediately accepted like a primary retainer, without the same kind of build up over a chapter or two like there was for Genba and Fubuki.  So that was a bit jarring, but I like the character and the relationship with Masamune.

 

The little "Masamune arc" was awesome, though.  I loved the whole showdown between Shizuku and Kojiro and him gauging their fighting style based on their initial approach.  And the weapon upgrades for Shizuku is pretty badass.  So one sloppy character introduction, one amazing one, and both really enjoyable characters.  So yeah, overall these have been great, and I'm enjoying the calm in Kamakura after the string of battles we were going through.  Good pacing.

 

Chainsaw Man still has me hooked into the characters and what's gonna happen, but cutting things down to 15-17 pages a chapter has made a few chapters feel like they're lacking and like I don't get enough.  I enjoy the smaller moments with the characters before all the brutal action, but it just feels like not enough character stuff is really happening either.

 

Akane-banashi #52

Spoiler

Kaisei is intense.  So far we've only really seen comedic Rakugo, which makes me wonder about his spin on this tale being so dark.  Is this how it's supposed to be, or is the the form of innovation that Arakawa supports?  Super intrigued by this performance.

 

I also really dug the new Show-ha Shoten.  The wait is never short enough for the next chapter.

[dr. b 460]

^ I'm in agreement about pretty much all of that!

• Ichinose Family has been rather captivating lately, after a brief lull for a few chapters
• The Masamune stuff in Elusive Samurai has been super rad, and those weapons are cool AF
• Chainsaw Man has overall been good, and even when it's not great the vibes are still pretty cool, but it would totally benefit from a longer format (eg, like Choujin X which often has closer to 30 pages, sometimes more... you should totally get caught up on it if you haven't yet )
• Akane-banashi continues to be great overall and now that PPPPPP is over Akane is easily my favourite current artsy manga ( PPPPPPP)
• Every new Show-ha Shoten! is loaded with good stuff even when I don't really get the Japanese stand-up humour

Are you caught up on Sakamoto and DB Super?

 

@Anelle thoughts re: latest JJK chapters???

[Anelle 774]

I'm way behind on sharing my thoughts in here!!! I'm finishing packing (I leave to see Lucy in Scotland tomorrow!!!!!!) but I'll try and slam some of them down tonight! I've missed talking manga with y'all, I've just been frazzled lately

[dr. b 460]

Tell Lucy we say hi!

[dr. b 460]

Finally got round to checking out some of the new stuff. 

 

Beat & Motion is definitely a winner in my books! Nico is hilarious  The art is a bit generic IMHO so it's not as nice to look at as some other series that I'm enjoying at the moment, but I like the basis for the story. I actually read the first two chapters at like 3am this morning when I couldn't get back to sleep while stressing over some dumb work shit in the middle of the night, and this idea of "You just died today, now you should do what you really want to do" struck a chord.

 

Gokurakugai is also interesting, though I am not as into the concept as I am Beat & Motion.

 

The latest Chainsaw Man (123) also has some good stuff going on. Asa is in a bit of trouble here! Denji to the rescue? Or does she save herself?

[Psycho666Soldier 246]

Ditto on all that Beat & Motion stuff.  It has a special heart behind it.  I'm also super intrigued by how the relationship between the two builds up as she flips between drunkenness and sobriety, and how much of that she actually remembers.

 

And yeah, I liked Chainsaw Man this week.  Feels like we're getting ready to ramp back up.

 

Gokurakugai is almost purely an art/aesthetic thing for me.  Best & Motion has the more interesting/personally relevant narrative and characters, but there's a lot of style dripping from Gokurakugai that makes me want to see where it goes.  I still haven't read past the first chapter, though

 

I think I'm gonna drop Jiangshi X.  I haven't read the last two weeks, and it just doesn't really hook me.  It's just your basis Shonen with a premise that's niche enough to not 100% feel cliche, but it's still like 95% cliche.  It probably won't last long anyway.

[dr. b 460]

Wow, we're definitely on the same wavelength here    My gut says Nico remembers more than she is letting on during her drunken outbursts. I dunno why. Probably wrong  

 

I didn't start Jiangshi X yet. I might circle back to it if it enjoys a long-ish run and seems to pick up some momentum. But if it meets an early end then I figure why even bother  

 

I've been thinking about maybe picking up World Trigger if I have time for some binge reading. I watched the first season of the anime way back (hard to believe that was nine years ago! ) and enjoyed it well enough (not that I remember much about it anymore!). It must be doing something right if it's still running...

[Psycho666Soldier 246]

I'm finally caught up on everything and this week was a strong round of chapters.

 

Sakamoto Days #111

Spoiler

This flashback arc has been really cool.  Feels like the first time we're really peeling back the curtain on Sakamoto's past and his connection to The Order.  The fight with the leader was fun.  I'm wondering if the daughter that was part of the disguise might maybe be Aoi?  Though I feel she's probably too young for the timeline to match.

 

Ichinose Family #17

Spoiler

Oh shit!  Just when you think you have all the answers, they change the questions!  Was not expecting this to be a coma dream.  Now that's very interesting.  I wonder what that means for what his brain is experiencing?  Are we gonna see the dynamic going on outside of his brain?  Or is it all some kind of ruse?

 

There's that small part of me that feels like "oh, maybe this is a copout," but I think if it's an integral/climactic part of the plot as opposed to an ending twist, then there's so much to explore with that and it fascinates me.

 

I'm blanking on specific things to say about the rest other than the Spy x Family chapter was a bit underwhelming,  but overall I enjoyed reading everything this week.

[dr. b 460]

Every week I read all the new chapters and I feel like I have so many things to comment on, and then I pull up this thread and my brain mostly draws a blank   

 

I am enjoying the flashback in Sakamoto too. I feel like the happenings in the past are going to explain a lot about Slur's motivations. 

 

I am also super curious to see what happens next in The Elusive Samurai. Fun times sight-seeing in Kamakura are on hold for now..! Back to the action.

 

Ichinose Family #17

 

I'm not sure how I feel yet about this latest plot twist... but I will reserve judgement until we see what happens next. It wasn't a bad chapter.

 

You up to date on DB Super as well? We're properly getting into the Super Hero story now. I guess reading it after having seen the movie already is a bit boring, but whatever, the movie was a really good time so I'll enjoy reading the manga adaptation too.

[Psycho666Soldier 246]

I just read that chapter this morning. I figured we were getting into the movie now, which I still haven't seen, so I'm happy to just go through it blind and then see the movie later.  I dig the way they're setting up the Red Ribbon revival though.

 

Also, #16 being Gero's son is 100% canon now!

[dr. b 460]

Yeah that was an interesting little piece of background info showing the Dr. Gero family tree. 

[Psycho666Soldier 246]

Ichinose Family #18

Spoiler

Yeah, I like this direction.  I was hoping it would be a bit more than just "Tsubasa's in a coma and having coma dreams.  The angle that they're all connecting through dreams is pretty awesome.  That keeps a proper supernatural element that I expect from this mangaka.

 

[Revolver 25]

Has anyone else read To Your Eternity? Just bought and read the first volume. Was really impressed. A unique story that is deftly told. Reminded me a lot of Fire Punch. By the author of A Silent Voice.

[dr. b 460]

7 hours ago, Psycho666Soldier said:

Ichinose Family #18

  Reveal hidden contents

Yeah, I like this direction.  I was hoping it would be a bit more than just "Tsubasa's in a coma and having coma dreams.  The angle that they're all connecting through dreams is pretty awesome.  That keeps a proper supernatural element that I expect from this mangaka.

 

I liked the chapter this week too. There’s more to it than what I might have thought last week, but it’s also not too convoluted. Pretty good balance in that regard. 

 

Situation is getting critical again this week in The Elusive Samurai!

 

Sakamoto was short this week   

[dr. b 460]

Lots of good stuff this week  

 

The Elusive Samurai

Lots to take in from one chapter! Behind the scenes it seems like lots of Hojo supporters got taken out rather quickly. I guess those pesky Tengu figured out all their locations and directed the Ashikaga forces to them..? The bit with the Miuras was quite sad. But props to Tokiyuki for getting all these dudes to fight to live. 

Now there are some pretty bad hombres headed for Kamakura. Do Yokiuki and friends get driven out of Kamakura after they just got there..?  Or can they hold the fort? Can't wait to see.

 

Fabricant 100

Alright, they hooked me in again with the sparks. Our guy's regenerative ability is pretty awesome!

 

Akane-banashi

I had a feeling there was something more to that new guy. Turns out he's another rakugo wunderkind. And then that other girl is back in the spotlight... She was the voice actress IIRC. No shortage of rivals for Akane!

 

I am feeling pretty lost in Ichinose Family right now  A bit reminiscent of PPPPPP in that regard. Eventually I assume it will all make sense.

 

And I think I am even more lost in Jujutsu Kaisen. Gonna need to read a plot summary when the Culling Game arc ends  

 

New chapters of Gokurakugai and Show-ha Shoten! hit today too. I will read them tonight.

[dr. b 460]

The Elusive Samurai #109

 

Yorishige   

 

Finally something exciting is set to happen in Jujutsu Kaisen  

 

We also skipped ahead to big stuff in Akane-banashi! I am kind of nervous to see things go for Akane.

 

Latest chapters of Sakamoto Days have been great too. Very curious to see the conclusion of these flashback chapters.

[Psycho666Soldier 246]

I feel like a few manga where competitions are held have had the protagonists lose.  Maybe it's mostly Showha Shoten I'm thinking of, but that feeling alone makes me want to see Akane pull this off.

 

Sakamoto Days has been awesome the last few chapters, too.  Excited to see how this all resolves, and it was cool to see the origins of The Order.  I wonder if we'll get to see how the newer members joined?  Or that super old guy.

 

I've also been following Tenmaku Cinema and been enjoying that so far.  Haven't really read any of the other new series, though, and not sure they particularly interest me.  I definitely don't have high hopes for Nue's Exorcist considering it's the same creator as Bone Collector, and that was pretty crap.

 

Elusive Samurai

Spoiler

We were talking about things going too well, and the last few chapters really did capitalize on making us regret enjoying everything.  A lot of dead, Takauji seeming invincible despite being absolutely insane, and then Yorishige dying.  Not to mention Fubuki being brainwashed.  Very curious where it all goes from here.

 

Ichinose Family

Spoiler

Well, I gotta say this manga does a good job of changing up the foundation right when you think you know the pattern and the coming events.  Did not expect him to wake up from the coma, and I like that now we're exploring more of his self-hate as he comes to terms with how the actual world has changed on the outside.  My guess is the rest of his family is still out of touch with their selves and not at peace with him being in a coma, but I know Taizan5 usually has some strange supernatural element, so I'm curious if them being linked to his coma dream will become a concrete plot point as opposed to just a metaphorical thing.