dr. b

I never gave Otr of the Flame a try. Kinda assumed it wouldn't last. I just looked it up in the Jump app and apparently chapter # 34 (just a couple weeks ago) was the final chapter. So, if I'm ever bored, I guess I might as well zip through it. Wouldn't take long to read 34 chapters. Of the other new-ish ones that I never tried out, Ichi the Witch seems to be doing well (67 chapters and counting, and seems to be popular). Shinobi Undercover and Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi are also in the 60-70 chapter ballpark so there must be something good about them. I think I'd rather wait for some of these to finish, and then check them out and binge-read them if they're good enough. I highly recommend Someone Hertz if you haven't started on it yet. It's very good IMHO. Also, are you caught up on Witch Watch? It's starting to get really exciting again. Higher stakes than collecting butterflies.

Harukaze Mound ended today at 30 chapters. That was a bit of a bummer. For a hurried ending, it wrapped up pretty nicely. I would have liked to get more of this story instead of rushing straight to the ending (time skip) but at least it was an uplifting ending. I'll fill in all the blanks with my imagination I guess. It sure seems tough for sports manga to last. Ekidon Bros (marathon running) didn't get past 20 chapters. It wasn't an incredible series or anything, but I thought it was enjoyable enough. The recent-ish golf and ping pong mangas also got cut rather quickly. And of course Martial Master Asumi didn't last super long despite being quite good IMHO. Blue Box, on the other hand, seems to be going strong still. I still haven't read it. Tried watching the first episode when it premiered on Netflix and it didn't really grab me. Maybe I should give it a second chance. The new one this week is called Under Doctor. An assassin turned doctor (presumably an underworld, back alley, kinda doctor?) I'm not going to try it out just yet. I'll wait and see if any of the other new ones I'm reading (Gonron, Someone Hertz, Mage Next Door, JJK Modulo) have any staying power. Odds are at least one of them will end prematurely if the popularity isn't there. So I'll wait for another one to end eventually before trying another new one. I'm enjoying learning more about Shomei in Akane-banashi. Wasn't happen to see... Zensho (?) appear in the final pages though. He's probably going to do something with the Isshokai to mess with Akane

Agreed on both! I enjoyed this week’s chapter of Elusive Samurai a lot. One last game of tag 🥲 The idea of using fun house mirrors to get to the real Uzuki in Sakamoto Days was clever too. I’m curious to see what twists and turns remain in this fight. I doubt Sakamoto has solved Uzuki’s multiple personality thing this easily…?

This week’s episode of JJK was epic stuff. Unsurprisingly, it had nothing to do with rules for the Culling Game Maki is a savage Poor Mai

Happy bday @KR ! Come back and say hi sometime

It certainly would be less of a heartbreaker if Tokiyuki dies from illness, so I agree that would be much less of a gut punch. I guess it would feel somewhat anti-climactic though Still don't want it to end

First episode just came out last Friday 1/16

Elusive Samurai # 234 It's almost over for Tokiyuki and the boys I feel conflicted about this arrangement with Takauji. It makes sense and all that, but it's somewhat of a bummer at the same time. Tokiyuki is a true leader though, that's for sure Very curious to see his final shenanigans in the last chapter(s) Kurumizawa's Folly # 12 I feel bad for Hata, what a messed up life for this poor kid. The last page of this chapter... Sakamoto # 244 I saw it coming a mile away but this was chapter was still 100% awesome. Sakamoto comes back at just the right time. Bad ass. And then writing on the camera Kagurabachi # 108 This fight has been epic. Look forward to this title more and more every week. Very gritty art style. Witch Watch # 232 It's getting serious again! I am very excited for this arc, hopefully it doesn't let me down. Someone Hertz # 17 Beautiful colour cover pages in this chapter. I love the characters and character designs in this series. Mizuo The page of her crying on the swing was very impactful. You'll get 'em next time! Spy Fam # 127.3 Amusing little back story Ms. Schlag (Goraimaru Narukami )

We had a pretty good Xmas overall. A couple of long days because I’ve had this cold for a week or so and there was so much going on. I was tired Fortunately I’ve pretty well kicked the cold now. My kiddos and wife all enjoyed their gifts. Great success! I got a couple of nice bottles of booze to slowly enjoy over the course of the winter. Trying to cut back a bit these days

What are you guys and gals doing for the holidays? What did you give? What did you get? etc.

Great job existing Happy birthday dude

Bumpin’ ye olde Xmas thread 🎄 What are you dudes doing for the holidays? Give out some nice gifts?

My top #5 in 2025. No surprise that it’s all series that I started from the beginning and binge read. Not sure why Blue Exorcist didn't make the cut. I binged to current on that over the last few weeks. Those monthly titles (Seraph, Twin Stars, Blue Exorcist) have some beefy chapters! Both Seraph of the End and Blue Exorcist seem to be nearing the endings. Could be several months before they actually finish though.

I just discovered this dude Donny Benét today. It's a kinda goofy take on 80's pop and disco. Pretty incredible stuff. The bass line on "Mr Experience" I'm gonna take a deep dive into his albums on Spotify over the weekend.

Seriously enjoying the Mei Semones LP "Animaru". Highly recommend you folks give it a spin

I got turned on to this artist Mei Semones and wow she and her band are a talented bunch Fun mix of jazz, indie, bossa, among other influences. The style and range of her vocals may not be to the liking of some, but even if you don't like her singing you've gotta appreciate her skills on the guitar. Born in the year 2000...! I feel old AF Also I've been playing guitar since before she was born and she could play circles around me. I've gotta practice more. Here's a set they did on KEXP.

Lots of good stuff this week in Jump I don't have comments on everything, but a few thoughts popped into my head... Spy Fam #125 Bill is officially one of my favourite dudes now. Tonitrus Bolt is no big deal, we gotta help Mr. Henderson! Then taking out the gym coach as a 6 year old Elusive Samurai #228 It's really going to end soon Seems like we skipped a chunk of time here from the previous chapter to this one. Interesting turn for Takauji after they drove the evil spirit from his body. What will the final encounter between him and Tokiyuki be like..? Akane-banashi # 184 That last page... Master Issho seems like such an evil bastard Surely it will all be explained later in the story as some grand plan of his to ultimately benefit rakugo, but his methods seem to be rather suspect. Someone Hertz #11 I just love the vibe of this one. The two main characters are so darn likeable. Kagurabachi #102 I feel like the battle that's about to start is going to be epic. Very hyped. Could be the beginning of the end of the story. I am curious to see what happens.

I know, what a cliffhanger! Things really escalated fast in this chapter of Kurimizawa. And it’s on a two week release schedule now so we gotta wait for the next one to drop Does he wriggle his way out of this situation somehow or does it all come crumbling down??? I love the style and an athletics of Gonron Egg too. Something about the looks of it grabbed me right away. There’s a bit of rawness to it that I like. Not everything needs to be super polished. The story and dialogue are quite simple. I assume it has to get deeper at some point if it doesn’t get axed early. We’ll see.

If you want something a bit more upbeat: “She Bangs the Drums” or “This is the One” Something a bit more psychedelic: “Waterfall” Moodier and a bit heavier: “I Wanna Be Adored” and “Made of Stone” If you like some of these tracks then you’ll probably enjoy the whole album. Their style was a mix of indie rock, 60s-esque pop and psychedelia, and dance-y vibes. I don’t enjoy their second record as much, and unfortunately they never did anything after that, but the self-titled album is IMHO a masterpiece that I never get tired of.

Anya will set things straight for Mr. Henderson even if he decides to call it quits in the end 😤 Ditto on Elusive Samurai. I love this series. Have you checked out Gonron Egg or Mage Next Door? They’re both pretty decent so far.

Mani, bass player of The Stone Roses and later Primal Scream, died His bass lines were such a big part of my favourite Stone Roses tracks. Have to listen to this one tonight, really loud, through my best headphones

Witch Watch #225 Whoa, I did not see that coming!!! Part #3 starts now. It’s serious. The Elusive Samurai #227 It’s going to end soon

Spy Fam #124 I'm enjoying this little story arc. This guy who did Mr. Henderson dirty better get caught. Anya to the rescue! The Elusive Samurai #226 Kojiro is a certified badass Sooooooo close. But the important thing is he got out of there alive. Phew! I enjoyed all the other new stuff this week but I guess I don't have much else that jumped out at me to comment on. Still think Gonron Egg is cool after three chapters. And the first two chapters of The Mage Next Door were better than I expected them to be. I like how Osoegawa is this sort of super-mage, but his magic is all about random stuff to make life more convenient, and yet he can use it in clever ways to out-wit and overpower other mages. It's sort of similar to Sakamoto in the sense that Sakamoto is very strong and skilled, but he also uses pens or whatever else is around him to win a fit instead of the stereotypically OP weapons like guns, etc. Finally, Someone Hertz is rapidly becoming one of my most-looked-forward-to new chapters every week. I love the art style and the subtle humour. It's very charming.

I would have laughed so hard (and also kinda hated it) if the umps had overturned that call. Smith's foot did appear to come off the plate for a moment just as the runner was sliding into the plate. Can't decide the World Series on a stupid challenge review though. It was extremely close, but Out was the correct call. As a mega Jays fan, it's hard for me to be objective, but I do genuinely feel like they were the better team for a good portion of the World Series. A shame they didn't find a way to win it. At the very least, this year the Jays won the division, knocked the Yankees out of the postseason (an absolute knockout!), won the ALCS, and were plenty good enough to have won the WS. The Yankees didn't make the Dodgers work nearly that hard in the 2024 WS, for whatever little that's worth

Yamamoto is a very good pitcher indeed. Bummer.