The following are brief reviews on this week’s Weekly Shonen Jump chapters that are released in the US (that I’m caught up on) via Viz’s Shonen Jump app. I make an effort to keep spoilers to a minimum and they can be read before, or after you read the chapter.
One Piece Chapter 957: Ultimate
By Eiichiro Oda
Translation: Stephen Paul
Lettering: Vanessa Satone
Review Haiku:
Old, old tales were told
Big, big bounties were laid bare
but, how sick is Garp?
What I liked: We got so much information and there were so many speech bubbles, but this chapter could have been one hundred pages long and I would have still wanted more. I love the bounties and I love Garp’s past.
What I didn’t like: The method of delivery felt a little sloppy. Like, what was this meeting even really about? And the line where he says, “Anyway, since you’re here…” felt forced. I mean that stuff doesn’t really bother me, the ends justified the means, but I would have appreciated a little more effort. Also, The cliffhangers from last week weren’t resolved.
Bottom line: I liked this chapter for the most part, but the delivery could have been executed a little better.
My Hero Academia No. 244 – Recommended Reading
By Kohei Horikoshi
Translation: Caleb Cook
Lettering: John Hunt
Review Haiku:
Kids need to keep up
Glass melts under extreme heat
Can Endeavor read?
What I liked: Decent action. Hawks steals every page he’s on, even more so than Endeavor.
What I didn’t like: Not a ton from our main trio again. Sooner or later they need to come back front and center.
Bottom line: The story line with Hawks and Endeavor is prime time stuff, like I wouldn’t even care if we never saw Deku again (just kidding, but still).
Dr. Stone Z=123: Brain-Battle Gambit
Story by Riichiro Inagaki, Art by Boichi
Translation: Caleb Cook
Lettering: Steve Dutro
Review Haiku:
Moz is super strong
Gen put’s his skills to the test
Mind versus power.
What I liked: One of these weeks I’m going to have to come up with something different but the art is so sick I can’t help but mention it. I mean, some of this stuff is just so visceral. I can’t get over it. Also it was another well written chapter.
What I didn’t like: My theory about Senku and Moz being somehow related is becoming less and less likely.
Bottom line: I love where this is going and I can’t wait to see where they take it from here.
Double Taisei #19 Destiny’s Child
By Kentaro Fukuda
Consultant: Saki Satomi
Translation: Junko Goda
Lettering: Rina Mapa
Review Haiku:
Even with everything
Like the noble dodo bird
Destiny is cruel
What I liked: Some of the interactions between the characters was fun.
What I didn’t like: None of these story lines have made much sense, and this one isn’t shaping up to be much better.
Bottom line: This manga has been a dumpster fire since chapter one, and the outlook doesn’t look much better.
We Never Learn Question 129: After Slushy Shenanigans, They Grow Closer to [X]
By: Taishi Tsutsui
Translation: Camellia Nieh
Lettering: Snir Aharon
Review Haiku:
Classic snowball fight
Baths are for saying sorry
That dinner looked great.
What I liked: The resolution of Nariyuki’s situation was perfectly executed, with this series’s usual grace. I also liked the interaction between the geniuses and Sensei, that was a long time coming.
What I didn’t like: The results of the test scores was a little anticlimactic. It was like if in the final chapter of One Piece they have a panel at the beginning that says “Luffy found the One Piece!” and then the crew just has a snowball fight with the Marines.
Bottom line: It seems like this series is nearing the finale. Which is bittersweet because I like it, and don’t want it to end, but I also need to know who Nariyuki ends up with.
Beast Children Chapter 18: It’s Tough
By Kento Terasaka
Translation: Christine Dashiell
Lettering: Mark McMurray
Review Haiku:
As the game drags on
Stamina will be tested
Will the team hold out?
What I liked: This was the perfect follow up to last few chapters, and a great lead in to the final few chapters of this arc. Early on they got smoked in the game, then they started to mount the comeback, and now this is the all-important setback chapter. They set it up well, and had a great hype twist and the end that makes me impatient to see the next chapter.
What I didn’t like: Nothing really to nit-pick here, just a great chapter.
Bottom line: I’m really liking this arc. It’s really well paced and it is really capturing the spirit of rugby.
Chainsaw Man Chapter 40: Love, Flower, Chainsaw
By Tatsuki Fujimoto
Translation: Amanda Haley
Lettering: Sabrina Heep
Review Haiku:
Denji’s coffee girl’s
Definitely a devil
The shark dude is cool
What I liked: I think Beam (shark fiend) and Denji are going to be hilarious together. I like the character design of this new friend (or foe).
What I didn’t like: No chainsaws.
Bottom line: I love how this series seems like pure stream-of-consciousness, just like most of the characters. But if you look close you can see steady through lines, and there is plenty of character progression as well.
Tokyo Shinobi Squad Chapter 17: The Ultimate Decision!
Story by Yuki Tanaka
Art by Kento Matsuura
Translation: Nathan A Collins
Lettering: Brandon Bovia
Review Haiku:
A battle with friends
The commish says it’s to death
Will it force their hands?
What I liked: We got a good look at the nature of the organization that Jin works for, and what they and society expect of shinobi.
What I didn’t like: The situation where a shonen hero is “forced” to kill their friend has been done to death. Which is fine except they took two chapters setting up and then agonizing over this decision, in which the outcome was obvious at the start.
Bottom line: Not a terrible chapter, just not a great one. So far this series has yet to grab me in any real way. It’s not bad, but it’s not great.
The Promised Neverland Chapter 152: Time
Story by: Kaiu Shirai
Art by: Posuka Demizu
Translation: Satsuki Yamashita
Lettering: Mark McMurray
Review Haiku:
Big reveals baby!
Where will we go from here on?
That eyeball was huge!
What I liked: Whooo baby this was a thicc chapter. That info on Norman was awesome, the queen fight ended spectacularly, and we got a truly great cliffhanger ending that left me satisfied and hungry for more, while not feeling cheap or forced… beautiful.
What I didn’t like: Not much to say here, but if they were trying to get sympathy for the queen, it didn’t work. She was a greedy SOB through and through.
Bottom line: This series just keeps reaching higher and higher each week.
Yui Kamio Lets Loose Chapter 28: The Boss in the Sole Castle of Mirrors
By Hiroshi Shiibashi
Translation: Daniel Komen
Lettering: Michelle Armstrong
Review Haiku:
Mushi everywhere!
Top secret girl boss is cute?
That dude is a jerk.
What I liked: The design for the person at the end was pretty cool.
What I didn’t like: Nearly everything else.
Bottom line: There’s almost no redeeming this series. There’s no coherence anymore, let’s just get to the boss and get it over with. I probably won’t even review this one next week.
Mission: Yozakura Family Mission 6: Flower Bin Delivery Headquarters
By Hitsuji Gondaira
Translation and Lettering: Pinkie-Chan
Review Haiku:
Some more great action
He lost his composure, duh
Strings are OP.
What I liked: Now this is how you make tension with an obvious outcome. Where Tokyo Shinobi Squad took two chapters to set up and knock down their decision, MYFM only needed a few pages. This worked better for a few reasons. First of all, the internal conflict occurs after seven pages of fast paced (well drawn) action, which catches the reader (and the protagonist) off guard, even though it was foreshadowed earlier in the chapter. Second of all, they use a specific, already established part of the MC’s backstory, to serve as the motivation for his decision, instead of relying on them simply being “the good guys,” in TSS. Lastly, the MC takes less than a page to make a call before we’re swept back into the action, and we see the benefits of it by the end of the chapter. Who doesn’t like instant gratification?
What I didn’t like: That this chapter was so good I had to write a whole paragraph about it.
Bottom line: This author is so talented. This series has been such a joy each week I can’t beleive it’s only been six chapters!
Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru Chapter 20: Partner
Story by Masashi Kishimoto
Art by Akira Okubo
Translation: Stephen Paul
Lettering: Snir Aharon
Review Haiku:
Nice wink Ryu 😉
One tough looking keyholder
Battle Royale, Start!
What I liked: The great backgrounds are back, and I’m super interested to see Kotsuga’s backstory, and what kind of decisions he makes at the end of the tournament.
What I didn’t like: The extreme amnesia bit is starting to get on my nerves a little.
Bottom line: Yes, I counted the emoticon as a syllable.
Mitama Security: Spirit Busters code 5 / Haunted by Love
By Tsurun Hatomune
Translation: Amanda Haley
Lettering: Rina Mapa
Review Haiku:
Spirit love story
Mitama-san is so cruel
Great things are to come
What I liked: This was a great riff on the classic shonen love story trope. There were a few really clever jokes that I won’t spoil here, but just know that they’re in there. I have a feeling that we might see some Gintama level comedy/drama based on the quality we’ve seen and the serious direction they’re hinting at.
What I didn’t like: I feel like I’m missing out on some jokes here and there that would make more sense in Japanese, but maybe that’s just my FOMO kicking in.
Bottom line: Another winner for this Mitama and Rena Haze.
Black Clover Page 222: Just Between Us
By YÅ«ki Tabata
Translation: Taylor Engel
Lettering: Annaliese Christman
Review Haiku:
Rubble in Dreamland
Dorothy’s still in Kansas
She was just asleep.
What I liked: I’m glad we got to see Captain Dorothy in action, she’s awesome!
What I didn’t like: There was a lot of beating around the bush here and in the end we didn’t really learn anything concrete. It felt like an episode of One Piece an anime that was adapted out of one, fifteen page chapter.
Bottom Line: Man, I wish they would just get out of Clover already and start a new arc!
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