These will be brief reviews on this week’s Weekly Shonen Jump chapters that are released in the US (that I’m caught up on). Throughout the week I will post more in-depth looks at certain chapters that I think deserve a closer look.
My Hero Academia No 243 – Off to Endeavor’s Agency!
By Kohei Horikoshi
Translation: Caleb Cook
Lettering: John Hunt
Haiku Review:
Endeavor’s got jokes
I feel so bad for Hawks, man
Same, Deku’s Mom, same.
Best Part: The moment between Deku and his mom was great. You, along with his mom, are really able to see how much Deku has grown since the beginning of the series. He feels like a much more mature character.
Worst Part: Not enough Endeavor.
Bottom Line: It feels like the momentum is building towards some great arcs, and plenty of hard-hitting moments that this series does so well.
Dr. Stone Z=121: Medusa’s True Face
Story by Riichiro Inagaki, Art by Boichi
Translation: Caleb Cook
Lettering: Steve Dutro
Haiku Review:
Masterclass in art
Kohaku has refined taste
and best-in-class eyes.
Best Part: Boichi pulled out all the stops this week. You could arguably say that every week but this week made be utter a “wow” almost every page.
Next-Best Part: The only thing that I could put in a “Worst Part” section would be that the writing was equally as top-notch as the art and it’s hard to talk about without spoilers.
Bottom Line: Dr. Stone is easily one of the best series in Jump right now, and this was a Hall of Fame chapter.
One Piece Chapter 955: ENMA
By Eiichiro Oda
Translation: Stephen Paul
Lettering: Vanessa Satone
Haiku Review:
Swords! Swords! Swords! Swords! Swords!
Things are starting to ramp up
Hype! Hype! Hype! Hype! Hype!
Best Part: I freak out when there is ANY mention of swords in One Piece, and this was certainly a sword heavy chapter, so color me pumped. The best singular moment in this chapter though was when Zoro gave Enma a practice swing. That cracked me up.
Worst Part: I’m sweating with anticipation for Zoro’s second backstory (comme Sanji). But they’re just dripping details to us. The little taste we got in this chapter just made me more ravenous.
Bottom Line: This is it people, end of Act Two, and onto the climax of what could end up being the most legendary arc in one of the most legendary Jump series in history.
The Promised Neverland Chapter 150: Vow of 700 Years
Story by: Kaiu Shirai
Art by: Posuka Demizu
Translation: Satsuki Yamashita
Lettering: Mark McMurray
Haiku Review:
Demon art on point
Geelan’s a good character
Queen is a bad bitch.
Best Part: This is The Promised Neverland at it’s finest. It plays to it’s strengths beautifully: subverting expectations with a deft hand, and the demons on a whole have never been more sympathetic.
Worst Part: I have no idea who the guy at the end is.
Bottom Line: This is yet another great chapter in a string of great chapters from this series. I had fallen off TPN for a while but I’m as hooked as ever now.
Chainsaw Man Chapter 38: Easy Revenge!
By Tatsuki Fujimoto
Translation: Amanda Haley
Lettering: Sabrina Heep
Haiku Review:
Denji has great plan
Requiem will haunt your soul
Best tournament arc
Best Part: Denji is great. There’s no way to predict what he says or does, but everything that he says and does makes sense for his character. Which seems super hard so props to Fujimoto (you rule!).
Worst Part: The whole Denji-is-somehow-connected-to-the-Gun-Devil thing is starting to be more prominent, and I feel like I would like it better if Denji was just a guy they pulled off the street. But then again Fujimoto will probably prove me wrong and make it awesome so yeah.
Bottom Line: Chainsaw man is one of those series that doesn’t invite you to look too deeply, but rather asks you to take it as it comes, much like Denji and Power do, and I accept that proposal gladly.
Double Taisei #17 I’m Haga
By Kentaro Fukuda
Consultant: Saki Satomi
Translation: Junko Goda
Lettering: Rina Mapa
Haiku Review:
It’s safe in the shell
The young chick broods in the shell
Shogi breaks the shell.
Best Part: This chapter yielded a GREAT Haiku. Also this was a cool little mini arc for Haga that will make the match between them have more weight.
Worst Part: I can’t remember why he pushed Tendo in the first place.
Bottom Line: This was a decent chapter by itself, but it’s not good enough to make me forget how “blah” this series is.
Beast Children Chapter 16: First Step
By Kento Terasaka
Translation: Christine Dashiell
Lettering: Mark McMurray
Haiku Review:
Behind in the score
Seemingly perfect Ryuso
Has their spine broken
Best Part: Sora is inching ever closer to being part of the team, and I love how much he hates it.
Worst Part: While this chapter does a good job at setting up for a dramatic reversal, nothing super exiting happens.
Bottom Line: Beast Children is shaping up to be a pretty good sports manga. And while this chapter wasn’t anything special, it’s not par for the course.
Tokyo Shinobi Squad Chapter 15: Shinobi vs. Cyborg
Story by Yuki Tanaka
Art by Kento Matsuura
Translation: Nathan A Collins
Lettering: Brandon Bovia
Haiku Review:
Their skills are tested
The shinobi fight cyborgs
They have chemistry
Best Part: The cyborg fight, in a vacuum, was pretty sick.
Worst Part: Throughout the chapter they show Jin not giving a shit, and that affirmed my not giving a shit feelings.
Bottom Line: Some potential here. I like Oniwa, but things that matter need to start happening.
Yui Kamio Lets Loose Chapter 26: All Talk
By Hiroshi Shiibashi
Translation: Daniel Komen
Lettering: Michelle Armstrong
Haiku Review:
Ayako has kicks
Her kicks don’t have any heart
Kiito sees right through
Best Part: Solid art. Solid finish to this arc. I like how Kiito outwardly seems like a typical perfect, arrogant, everything-comes-easy rival character, but inside he’s secretly a typical hardworking shonen protagonist. And that aspect was shown well in this chapter.
Worst Part: This chapter is held back by the series it’s in. I have no idea whats happening (not in a cool FLCL sort of way).
Bottom Line: The plot is so convoluted now it’s incoherent. They’ve been throwing shit at a wall to see what sticks for weeks now and all that’s left is a bunch of shit tacked onto the wall.
Mission: Yozakura Family Mission 4: Recovering the Ring
By Hitsuji Gondaira
Translation and Lettering: Pinkie-Chan
Haiku Review:
Taiyo’s now badass
This new teacher is the worst
Wait, what’s happening?
Best Part: You can see the fruit of Taiyo’s training and it really seems earned. Even though it’s only been a few chapters.
Worst Part: While Taiyo is a pretty cool cat right now, I’m afraid he might go down the way of Ichigo, and not really have anything going personality wise besides protecting just for the sake of protecting someone.
Black Clover Page 220: Visits
By YĆ«ki Tabata
Translation: Taylor Engel
Lettering: Annaliese Christman
Haiku Review:
Clever Julius
Tsundere Prickly Queen
What a waste of time.
Best Part: I’m a big Julius fan, so whenever he gets any lines I’m happy.
Worst Part: The part with Charlotte at the end went on for way to long. Like all of that could have been in one panel.
Bottom Line: This chapter was a rare miss on Tabata’s part, but my bet is he’s going to come back with a beauty next week.
Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru Chapter 18: Always Shop Responsibly
Story by Masashi Kishimoto
Art by Akira Okubo
Translation: Stephen Paul
Lettering: Snir Aharon
Haiku Review:
Comedy duo
is actually funny
First tournament arc?????
Best Part: I like the bit that the two goons do, and I hope they become part of the team. They fit right in.
Worst Part: The fight was anticlimactic. While that didn’t do this chapter any favors, it just means that we are going to see those guys in full force later.
Bottom Line: This chapter was fine, and the jokes landed for the most part. I can almost always get behind a tournament arc so I’m excited for what’s coming next.
Mitama Security: Spirit Busters Code 3 / Cooking
By Tsurun Hatomune
Translation: Amanda Haley
Lettering: Rina Mapa
Review Haiku:
Cooking summons ghost
Cooking dispenses the ghost
Cooking kills protag
Best Part: Of course this guy is good at cooking.
Worst Part: Of course the heroine is bad at cooking.
Bottom Line: I’m still having fun with these characters and I’m curious to see what direction it takes after this last pre-written chapter.
We Never Learn Question 127: The [X]s Face the Fateful Morning Fresh and Pure!
Haiku Review:
It is now crunch time
What’s with the principal’s hair?
Good luck everyone!
Best Part: The moment between Yuiga and the principal was well executed. It really made me feel the progress everyone has made throughout the series.
Worst Part: I can’t take the suspense!
Bottom Line: This is a twist I didn’t see coming.. I hope that this arc sticks the landing because this is a crucial moment in the series.
Alright that’s it for this week! I chose the haiku format for a few reasons. It’s versatile, I can make jokes, get exited, or be critical, but no matter what it’s brief. Also it’s vague by design, I can say some leading things but the reader doesn’t even know it’s a spoiler until they’ve already read the chapter. It seams to work very well, and it’s necessary if I want to be able to write about this many chapters every week. When the in depth analysis posts I will link to it here so keep checking back for more! Thanks for reading.