But you know, his newest manga is actually not bad.
Despite having a silly name like KISS x DEATH and having an equally silly premise (5 tiny alien parasite criminals escape and take over 5 human girls, the warden takes over the biggest introvert boy there is and the only way to remove the parasites is by kissing), it's a fun ride with more action than the RomCom premise would have you imagine.
And sometimes it's disturbing.
MangaGAF, I'm looking for a battle manga recommendation, one that has some fun powers mechanics where the characters keep developing new techniques or at least crazy weapons - think Yuyu Hakusho, Gamaran or Akame ga Kill!. Flash over substance is fine (though let's not get into Tenjou Tenge levels if possible, please).
Wowa, thanks a lot guys, didn't expect so many recommendations
I already read the usual suspects (HxH, JJBA, Kongo Bancho, etc) and know some of the others but they didn't scratch my itch (Gash Bell). Didn't know Keijo had a manga (I've seen the gifs), hah.
Will look into everything I can! Law of Ueki, Animal Kingdom and Fujita Kuzuhiro works all look like what I've been looking for. Tanabe Yellow is the Shuumatsu no Laughter mangaka, isn't (s?)he? That is some good stuff.
Yakitate!! Japan has been in my "to read" list for some time, but I thought it was slice of life. May give it a chance now, too.
Picked up and read my first manga this week, it was a pretty great experience.
21st Century Boys ch1-10: Brilliant, a really nice mix of a nostalgia tinged coming/came of age story and intrigue towards the over all mystery that's building. The structure reminded me a little of It actually, which is funny with the movie out right now. Maybe it's just literally the movie that made me think of that though. Felt like it may have tipped it's hand just a touch
felt like it was wanting the reader to think Otcho is "the friend", but the comment about filling the Budokan made me think of the guy Kenji nearly joined a band with.
. Really looking forward to where things go.
Nijigahara Holograph: This was fantastic (if you can call something so sad fantastic or enjoyable); maybe just really compelling and engaging. The sheer level of skill involved in the story structure and the writing itself was amazing. Really liked it. In terms of the actual story and overall themes, I think I got at least a good deal of what Asano wanted to say and there is hope in there but it does feel super nihilistic at times lol. Not a bad thing but yea, very bleak and unwavering in what it sets out to do.
I wanted to try an installment of something that was told over multiple volumes and something self contained, feels like a good start. Would definitely look into more by the same creators.
I'm really interested in the payoff for this and hope it's worthy of the suspense they've built. If she's just a crazy lady obsessed with her son it won't be nearly as fascinating, I really hope the build up leads to something better based on Happiness (which is also good).
This is pretty okay. Obviously, Abs-chan and her expressions are the best part. Is homeboy really gonna rock that bandage on his nose forever though? Just how badly did this kid get bopped?
A Trail of Blood ch. 13
My goodness, this poor girl has no idea what's in store for her.
Picked up and read my first manga this week, it was a pretty great experience.
21st Century Boys ch1-10: Brilliant, a really nice mix of a nostalgia tinged coming/came of age story and intrigue towards the over all mystery that's building. The structure reminded me a little of It actually, which is funny with the movie out right now. Maybe it's just literally the movie that made me think of that though. Felt like it may have tipped it's hand just a touch
felt like it was wanting the reader to think Otcho is "the friend", but the comment about filling the Budokan made me think of the guy Kenji nearly joined a band with.
. Really looking forward to where things go.
Nijigahara Holograph: This was fantastic (if you can call something so sad fantastic or enjoyable); maybe just really compelling and engaging. The sheer level of skill involved in the story structure and the writing itself was amazing. Really liked it. In terms of the actual story and overall themes, I think I got at least a good deal of what Asano wanted to say and there is hope in there but it does feel super nihilistic at times lol. Not a bad thing but yea, very bleak and unwavering in what it sets out to do.
I wanted to try an installment of something that was told over multiple volumes and something self contained, feels like a good start. Would definitely look into more by the same creators.
I mentioned this title months ago when I found out that the author, Michiaki Watanabe, was publishing the series online to his own members website instead of going through the standard publication routes. He's basically self-publishing which is pretty uncommon for an author that had a manga run so long. I can understand though as he's kind of failed to capture the attention of the readership in his later titles. A bit of it has to do with changing trends but also lays with Watanabe.
In any case, this a sequel to his most famous work, the Violinist of Hameln, a series that ran from 1991 to 2001 and received an anime series in 1996. It chronicles the further journeys of Hamel, Flute, and the others. His other sequel, which was subtitled Nutcracker, involved the children of the original protagonists many years later. So direct follow-up would probably be the most apt description.
The story picks up sometime after the defeat of the Demon King Chestra in the first series. Hamel has suffered greatly despite winning the battle. His own demonic power threatens to shatter him the moment it activates. So he and Flute go on a journey again to seal the remaining demons across the world in the new Pandora's box and to help Hamel. They find out though that the one person that might help him is Balalaika, the last of Chestra's generals.
What really strikes me about this series is that it's not simply just another adventure for the cast. There's a lot of thought put into the direction being taken and what it means for everyone. At the core is the idea that, while the heroes have defeated the Demon King and brought peace to the world, they haven't actually overcome their issues and grown. What they did was banded together to cover each other's weaknesses. That was what helped them defeat Chestra but that won't help them against their new threat. Balalaika, also known as the Fairy King, is actually a dream eater. He feeds on the feelings and emotions of his victims as they sleep. Physical strength means nothing in a battle of the minds. It's really interesting idea to me as it's the author questioning his own characters and whether they've really become better through their trials or simply managed to find something to push them forward.
The series keeps Watanabe's style of serious storytelling that transitions straight into goofy humor. He's dialed the flavor of the humor back just a bit though as a lot of it in the latter half of the original and his other series got into quite a bit of potty humor, dated references, and just general silliness. Some of it is still there but it holds up a bit better. He uses this series as a chance to also develop and give time to the characters that didn't get as much in the original, particularly Trom, Cornet, and Clary. That's not to say that the other characters get shafted because they're still core characters and are there all the time.
Vol 1-9 are out now and it just finished its first major arc setting the stage for things to come. It even has tankoubons that are printed by a small publisher under a label I've never heard of. The print quality is a little rough early on and you can tell the paneling at times is self-published rather than the guidelines used by the major pubs but it's really refreshing to see. Chapters are published monthly so at the pace he's going, it might be done in another 7-8 years for now but it's nice to get a unique fantasy series back again.
Hah, yea, it's pretty grim. I wouldn't want every story to be like that but certainly as it exists, I definitely felt it was executed very mindfully, nothing feels gratuitous or without merit. It hasn't arrived yet but I ordered Solanin too, at least there seems to be ups to go with the downs with that one.
Dark widow 1-4
A manga for man of culture, especially those who like butts and sexy monster musume. I mean, this is about spider monster girl trying to build woman harem for her to impregnate. Can't get more cultured than this.
Hinomaru Zumou Ch146-149: Why is sumo making me cry?
Fire Punch Ch66-67: Pseudo-Incest win? Ey? Ey?
Akatsuki no Yona Ch146: Deus-ex dragons strikes again. But, it did look cool.
LV999 no Murabito Ch1-5: A funny little adaption of an interesting light novel. You can get the basic premise from the title. Worst a quick read if you've got the time.
Beastars Ch49: Young Legosi was adorable as hell!
Saotome-Senshu, Hitakakusu: Got confused over the chapter numbering order. But heck, it was good to read those two chapters back-to-back, the reactions faces were great.
Isekai Tensei Soudouki Ch1-27: Another Isekai story, but out of all I've read this is probably one of the most amusing. Mainly due to the way it's done. Won't explain here, as I feel it needs to be read to be experienced properly.
I enjoyed it. The sequel Back-2-Back is also good. But then again, I am a bit of a NIGHTOW fanboy.
Mousou Telepathy Ch445: Dropping bombshells indeed. Made me spit my drink across my desk...
Love Is Hard For An Otaku Ch20-21: Aww, she's really adorkable. Nao's found a keeper.
Saotome-Senshu, Hitakakusu Ch26: The whole weight thing at the end was quite funny. Of course he would know your weight, he's been to most of your weigh-ins.
Great chapter cause ping pong tadokoro and shinomiya would be a fun jump series if they had gone that route.
I hope they make an apple crisp, my favorite dessert.
Promised Neverland 54
Best face.
Good names on the walls.
Boruto 16
I could use another chapter of Boruto Naruto fighting, it was great, Sasuke is training him really good.
The new antagonist are compelling, though feels a bit like a repeat of the Akatsuki's concerns, I assume the writer is playing it safe and staying in familiar territory.
Well fuck. I don't know how much I'm supposed to read into this outcome, but just to be on the safe side, I'm gonna ram my head against the wall repeatedly until I forget I it existed. And then repeat the process every time I accidentally see this post.
My issue is we never learn constantly teases development and then undoes it the next chapter every other chapter. I am OK with it on occasion for big character moments in between large chunks of fucking around and shorter comedic arcs. We're on chapter 30 and it seems like we get a fake out "oh maybe development jk" once a month which is infuriating. I especially hate this trope when the explanation of how status quo is returned requires moon logic like Raku having temporary chronic sleeping disorder in Nisekoi.
I've been reading Ancient Magus' Bride the last few days. I had heard of the series, but by the name, it sounded like some shoujo romance manga that I wouldn't be interested in. I read a review of a movie based on it and it didn't sound like what I expected, so I read a few chapters. So far, I'm a couple volumes into it now. Holy shit, does this series get dark and depressing.
I know I bag on this series every week, but Robot x Laserbeam at this point is borderline incomprehensible. The author needs to better a job making everybody not look the same and actually develop some characters
I may never say this about a Seija doujin again, but that was seriously cool. It's like the manga equivalent of the final level of
Braid
where you watch the story unfold in one direction and get one version of events, then you reverse it and get a different version. Really impressed by how the author managed to do it with a decent length story and without cheating with any of the pages/panelling (as far as I could tell). Sure, it didn't flow perfectly both ways and some sacrifices had to be made to the writing for the sake of the overall effect, but it's still one of my favourite Touhou doujins I've read. Not because of Seija though. She sucks.
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RxL 24
Our boy Robo has done it. I was sure Robo and the team were going to lose but Fujimaki expertly subverted expectations by having them win against the top team on a ricochet off the ball eagle, which was the equivalent of a golf spirit bomb.
Kuroko only lost like once the whole series so I guess I should have expected this. I think the beginning and end of this match were done fairly well. The shouting made for a nice moment too. Due to the way golf works I think the series can afford to have the team win while Robo is still outclassed by golf Hisoka. Anyways I'm glad this practice match is over, since the series has a ways to go about getting us to invested in the team which it should have the opportunity to do now.
Promised Neverland 54
I'm interested by the idea that the guy didn't want them there since they remind him of the people he broke out with. Hard to say how much of that is the split personality thing going on though. Emma calling his bluff was pretty great.
Boruto 16
I am already tired of this new black cloak group. Boruto vs Naruto was fun though. The random bolding of words bugs me. Sometimes it seems like it is on key words, then later just random stuff.
MHA 152
5 minutes! This chapter was very well done. Mirio
Dr. Stone 26
Really strong chapter. Tsukasa has already gathered a rather formidable group of stone people. They got me with the Gen twist. Or rather both Gen twists. We've kind of been side tracked from the medicine for a couple chapters, wonder if we will go back to that next.
Black Clover 154
I'm enjoying the call back to the beginning of the series with Magna. Not sure why he felt the need to double down on Kirsch being a peasant hater when he was more interesting before. The king with another scene stealing line. Fake Xerx may be coming after Yami for top trolling character. Magna vs Luck finals would be neat! Won't happen though.
We Never Learn 29
The angle of that panel, and the history of cliffhangers in this series, tells me that this must have been another kiss fake out. That said I don't think they can really do the Ogata kiss fake out twice so maybe it did happen.
This guy goes down every time Ippo connects with a punch, it doesn't even need to be a clean hit. Ref needs to call the match already, shit is getting old and this guy ain't on his level.
