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Dec 1, 2022
God of Highschool is a manga that's going, you're along for the ride and it's REALLY going. And then it keeps going. And going. And going. And going And going And going And going And going And goingAndgoingAndgoingAndgoingAndgoingAndgoing... until you're not sure why anything is happening in the first place. The final battle puts Lone Wolf and Cub to shame in terms of sheer length, the villain's backstory basically boils down to that meme from the Trolls movie. It gets so tedious that I kept thinking as a read each chapter that the story should have ended 50 chapters ago. Yet until that point, it
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was a pretty good read, so it really comes down to your personal taste on extended fight scenes. You may stop caring at some point, but god damn they look beautiful. The art never drops in quality even once. Overall, a mixed bag.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Nov 22, 2022
Excluding the rushed ending, excluding the pointless University arc, excluding the many character issues left unresolved, I will only say this.
Japanese authors discussing LGBTQ issues love this kind of debate between morality and personal feelings. They love arguing about the rights of others to have negative views against LGBTQ people because attacking them "won't change anything" or something along those lines. This argument can never be presented in good faith as long as these authors ignore the current state of the legal rights Japan has guaranteed LGBTQ couples. Whether or not the attitude in Japan towards LGBTQ people is outright discriminatory, negative attitudes help to
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continue to fuel arguments against pushing for legislative action that would give couples equal legal benefits as heterosexual marriages. Ignoring this issue, while at the same time wanting to discuss Japan's views toward queer people is cowardly and infuriating.
Blue Flag isn't the only manga to do this, and I have seen worse attempts at discussing this issue done in much worse faith by certain authors. *Cough cough* "Platinum End" *Cough cough.* But the argument toward the end of the manga, its conclusion, and Masuimi's character arch as a whole put a bad taste in my mouth and leaves this manga as a sour spot in my heart. Manga that primarily focuses on LGBT issues are better reads than this, I recommend Shimanami Tasogare.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jul 11, 2022
With the fan translation of this manga finally complete, I can write a full review of this series with my complete thoughts on the manga as a whole.
Story: 10.
The story of Akira Satou's assignment to leave his assassin ways behind him takes us through several dark and dangerous situations passed on as completely mundane annoyances or inconveniences. Conflicts are constantly born out of the simple desires of the antagonists, who treat their actions with careful planning and calm cruelty. The story works because of this. The seeming banal response of the characters and even the story itself to what is normally considered tense and suspenseful
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in any other manga draws you in, buttering you up with its black but lighthearted comedy. Then the story will slowly transition to an actual tense and thrilling climax, as both the protagonists and antagonists meet to duke it out. This plays out multiple times, and yet each time a new twist or subversion is added, preventing the arc from becoming stale.
Art: 9.
This manga is incredibly detailed, most likely using a lot of sketching over actual photographs for its backgrounds. But unlike a manga like Dr. Stone, where the backgrounds feel more like a compressed and photoshopped image, the backgrounds in The Fable look like they were drawn manually. I have no understanding of digital art, so I have no clue how this was done, but it is impressive all the same. Meanwhile, the characters are drawn very realistically, with every detail in their face and clothing in view at all times. Because of this, there are very few times where the characters themselves emote or express themselves in a unique way, but when they do it's meant for comedic effect, and it always lands. However, there is sometimes a lack of variety in both panel composition and layout. Sometimes the panels can start to blend together and get a bit samey. This is a dialogue-driven series, so other than the full page and double spreads, don't expect a whole lot of creative shots or interesting angles.
Characters: 10
The seeming mundanity of fighting and killing can only be expressed when the characters themselves treat it as such. But there needs to be a way to express a difference between emotionless and cold-blooded killers, and assassins who have adapted to and understand their way of life. This is what makes Satou, Youko and many of the other assassins such good characters. They have been raised in their ways since they were young, and while characters like Youko have not completely separated themselves from their humanity, characters like Satou have in a way that has not made them callous or sociopathic. It is this that gravitates these characters above edgy overpowered Saitama-esque jokes into well rounded, and very complex characters. Meanwhile, the more normal characters, such as the lowly yakuza henchmen, Misaki, or Satou's new boss, are both incredibly funny and genuine at heart, which helps display Satou's growing humanity in a subtle yet beautiful way.
Enjoyment/Overall: 10
The Fable manages to do all which it seeks to accomplish. When it tried to be funny I laughed, when it tried to be tense I was worried, and when it tried to be grounded and sad I felt the pit in my stomach sink ever so slightly. There is nothing quite like this manga, both in style and substance, and it's probably in my top 10 manga of all time. So if you got the hours to put away pick up this manga, it's a long ride but it is well worth it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Mar 27, 2022
*Spoilers in this review*
This is the first time I'm reviewing a show I've dropped. Most shows I drop, I drop pretty early, and why bother talking about it further when the process of watching it was a huge waste of my time. But Sabikui Bisco, oh Sabukui Bisco, how dearly the hatred in my heart runs for you. Never before has a show made me so genuinely angry and frustrated, and I don't even know if it is truly your fault.
Here's the thing about tropes, tropes are not inherently bad (real groundbreaking stuff here). The entertainment of the tropes you are using in your creation
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relies on how you can best convert those tropes into your own unique style or take. When a trope is done well, it can even subvert your expectations and turn the entire story in an interesting new direction. Now in Sabukui Bisco, two polar opposite dudes, the unassertive, caring, and soft-spoken Milo, and the brash, sarcastic, and insanely strong Bisco, team up and go on a bizarre adventure through strange lands to find the mystical MacGuffin Mushroom which will save the world. I'm sure you can identify the tropes within that description, and now the question is "did this show pull off these tropes well?" The answer to that question is very subjective from what I've seen so far, but to me, it pulled it off well enough by having the duo be mostly entertaining in their interactions with each other and some of the side characters. The dialogue could be witty and funny, and the world in which the characters were traveling in was incredibly interesting, filled with strange mutated animals sometimes converted into weapons or vehicles similar to the old young adult book series "Leviathan." Then came Episode 8 and the reintroduction of our main antagonist.
Kurokawa is a man almost annoying as he is uninteresting. I think he is like an example for aspiring fiction writers on just how abundantly horrible characters can be when you don't subvert or try to change previously established tropes. A man who is practically the incarnation of evil because he just is, working to do evil things because he just can. He checks every god damn box there is, the mustache-twirling monologues, the mocking of the downed hero so his hubris can be his downfall, the comedically over the top performance, the 70 gazillion deus ex machina level aces he has up his sleeves to he can keep getting back the upper hand when he is on the verge of defeat, a verge he is in almost every 5 FUCKING minutes. He literally survives getting shot in the eye with an arrow and then falling 50 feet onto a steel slab without explanation just so he can get into a final confrontation with Bisco and so they can both *tragically* kill each other. Episode 10 is one of the worst pieces of fictional media I have ever watched, a trainwreck from beginning to end, so incredibly frustrating that the death of the main character just fills you with anger rather than sadness because his death has no logical reason for happening besides a dramatic finish with a villain I wish never even existed.
Now you might be wondering, why is this sole complaint the reason I dropped this show? This isn't just a complaint of one aspect of the show overall, this is a complaint about the final third of this show because I am not kidding around when I say that 3 whole episodes are dedicated to this ridiculous conflict (and hour of your time btw) and 90% of those episodes are just Kurokawa ranting about how he is eviler than satan himself, how he enjoys torturing puppies and children, how he the architect behind every single bad thing to ever happen in this show because why the fuck not? Three whole episodes of this, with occasional breaks for when he nearly dies so he can then pull his UNO reverse card out of his ass and then goes back to his ranting. It is all I can talk about because it is all I can remember, all the goodwill I felt towards this show just evaporated into thin air when I finished episode 10, and I honestly don't care if Bisco comes back through the power of friendship or whatever, his resurrection would be as meaningless as his death. Here's the thing about tropes, when you lean into them as much as Sabikui Bisco does, all you've shown is that you've run out of ideas.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Mar 2, 2022
A previous reviewer already typed a review that more or less summarizes my feelings. Gantz is batshit insane and awesome. But while that reviewer gave it a 5 in a fair interpretation of Gantz's flaws which, to him, harmed the reading experience, I found that none of these drawbacks hurt my enjoyment experience of the series overall.
The two things that caused me to binge this manga in my first read over the course of 7 hours was the creativity. Sure Oku's edgy atmosphere and inherently unlikable characters are not exactly original, sure there are a million different "hostile aliens invade Earth" stories that have
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come before it, and sure the rules and limitations initially set by Gantz mirror a death game style manga, but you will never see the kind of design, fights, or climax that Gantz brings to the table when all things are said and done.
The second thing is the overall negative characteristics of the manga. In my opinion, they are not actually that bad. I found a good majority of the characters to be likable, even if partially one-dimensional. The main character starts off as a total annoying shithead in the beginning, but I'd say he drastically improves after the 3rd fight, which is quite early on in the story. The answers to all the big series questions are in line with what the manga had been trying to convey for a while, and you can still enjoy the conclusion given even if you fundamentally disagree with Oku's worldview on a philosophical level.
Finally, there is the final arc. There isn't a lot that this arc is meant to say. The series escalates a few of its plot points into insane degrees, some characters grow in a negative direction, a lot of one-off side characters are introduced, and some of the fights that happen are against monsters that you don't even care about. One of the main characters goes off on this wild adventure completely separated from all of the other characters that both feels like a bare-bones societal commentary on the relationship humans have with animals and also just a bunch of concepts and ideas Oku wanted to draw on paper. Yet despite all these criticisms, I could not stop reading, Gantz is just too unlike anything I have ever read and I wanted to not just see how it concluded, but what wacky shit Oku would come up with next.
I feel like how you approach Gantz is going to be what shapes your experience. A lot of people hype up this manga and tout it as one of the greatest. But that issue is that this is a manga whose entertainment value factors heavily on your personal preferences, much more than other manga. If you can start this manga without letting the hype and initial crazy beginning overblow your expectations, I believe you will find a very entertaining manga that can both amaze and horrify you (in a good way).
Finally a bit of a warning, I am sure you know how graphic and gory this manga can get, but a lot of civilians and innocent people die in this manga, and pretty brutally at that. This kind of goes unmentioned when people discuss this manga, and if you have any qualms about that I wouldn't read this manga.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Feb 27, 2022
In a way, Fire Force somewhat reminds me of Gurren Lagann. What starts out as a relatively simple yet interesting plot surrounding the growth of characters as they take on this big bad tyrannical and secretive organization slowly develops into cosmic level stakes where the fate of the entire universe hinges on our charismatic and optimistic protagonist, concluding on some of the most batshit crazy antics to ever appear in anime/manga history. The difference here is that while Gurren Lagann performs this jump with the grace of an Olympic athlete, thus making the whole spectacle emotional and entertaining, Fire Force performs this jump like a
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semi-competent high school gymnast.
The point of this annaology is that while Fire Force is entertaining (sometimes through the pure absurdity and nonsense of its plot), it doesn't leave you with any lasting impression, nor does it say anything truly interesting. It attempts to confound and astound the reader with its metacommentary, but it fails to follow through by dragging on its pacing and finishing in a semi unsatisfying manner, concluding on a literal deus ex machina so our hero can save the world through a literal act of "don't care, didn't ask."
Now, this sounds very funny on paper, and it is, but the laughs I got from this ridiculous premise are not the things I'm going to remember when I look back on this manga. What I am going to remember is when this manga spent 3 (or 4?) of its chapters dedicated to the author lecturing his audience on how fanservice is never bad, and it can't be jarring or ruin the tone of a scene, and how you should shut the fuck up and stop criticizing him because you are the actual loser here and he can write his manga however he wants. Okay looking back while writing this review that is in fact amazing. That is probably why I am still giving this manga a 7 despite everything.
My advice while reading this manga is to not expect the kind of finalizing conclusion or deep character moments like we got in soul eater, and just go into this expecting a wild ride from beginning to end. Sometimes you just got to say "screw it" and let yourself relax as two men fight as one cuts the moon in half with the power of his self-delusion.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Feb 3, 2022
Hiroya Oku is a very unsubtle man when it comes to his work. He wants to state his opinions through his art, and so he does so with the thinnest line of subtext possible. He sees the people he hates killed or punished through his work, and he portrays the suffering of innocents through the cruelest and most brutal ways possible. This makes him a very polarizing writer, so I understand why many come to view his work unfavorably. However, I think this is what makes his work so interesting to read.
While Inuyashiki may be categorized as edgy or torture porn, I don't think that's
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the case. The cruelty that comes to pass in Inuyashiki is the author's idea of the worst humanity has to offer. It's not a statement on edgy teenagers, and it's not an indictment of humanity, it is just what a human being is capable of doing. We all know people like Hiro exist, we've seen enough true crime to understand his way of thinking. He is cold and apathetic towards human life unless he likes you, which is the case for most real-life psychopaths. Nothing made him this way either, he simply is, like many people with serious mental health issues.
At the same time, Inuyashiki is not some saintly figure, he is Oku's way of portraying the best humanity has to offer. He is a testament to human compassion and empathy, things that he believes people keep no matter what they go through. Many people try to help those weaker than them, but feel hesitant, not because they don't care, but because they feel insignificant and powerless. If you were given the powers to help others, when it required so little, I (and Oki) believe that many people would follow the path Inuyashiki takes.
That is what makes Inuyashiki such a good story for me. It is not just a shocking manga meant to disgust and horrify you at the sight of the villain's actions (though it does), it is also a celebration of the inherent kindness in humanity and the joy and wonder it brings. And I think at its most uplifting times, Inuyashiki is truly beautiful.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jan 28, 2022
I think this anime works best if you know what to expect going into it. It's a story about the last people on Earth surviving and trying to find joy and purpose in their day-to-day lives. It's a combination of commentary about the bleakness of mass technological progress and its more negative implications for humanity, but at times it takes those aspects and praises them as well.
The characters find meaning and drive to continue for the same reason we do as the audience, curiosity, and amusement. They talk and mess around, they experiment and play, they find joy in the little things that we
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notice subconsciously in our minds but never really dwell on. But dwelling on things is all they really can do. Some people will find this boring, and some like me will find it both captivating and entertaining. I don't think Girls' Last Tour is setting out to say anything groundbreaking, I think it's simply taking us along for the ride.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Oct 24, 2021
Fena: Pirate Princess is not a story about pirates or princesses. In fact, it is a story about nothing, nothing with any meaning at all. Rather, it is a bunch of concept art for a different beautiful fantasy show mashed together by a story with absolutely no sense or reason. It is an excuse to create serene scenes of beauty, mystery, and wonder. Which sounds okay, but when you consider the only way to watch these serene scenes is to waste around 4 hours of your life, it would suite your time better to go look at art on Pinterest.
When concerning the characters, the story
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makes sure to waste anytime we could have with the fun ones such as the main cast of Goblin Knights or The Rumble Rose Pirates in order to spend time with a bunch of boring no name English soldiers lead by the most boring and uninteresting villain of all time. Who is basically the insane man described in The Police's hit song "Every Step You Take," but also a murderer. And don't worry, we'll be sure to waste so much screen time on him playing his dull villain theme that you'll begin to wonder what great impact he'll have on the story, only for him to have none at all except to waste time. That's all this show is btw, a waste of time. You want to watch samurai combined with interesting tech and outlaws, just go watch Appare-Ranman.
Reviewer’s Rating: 4
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Jun 30, 2021
What disappointed me with the first Megalo Box was the main protagonist: Joe. His personality was underwhelming, his motivations were a dime a dozen. "I like fighting strong opponents because I like fighting at its core concept is the character archetype of a dozen different Shonen characters I have seen before who made up for their lack of interesting characteristics with a bombastic and theatrical personality. Joe had none of that, so it was up to the side characters to make up for his slack, which they did to a certain extent.
In Nomad, Joe undergoes an entire change. He is more dark, thoughtful,
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and layered. His actions conflict with his desires, and he makes very bad mistakes that end up costing him. His push for redemption makes up two thirds of the entire season, with the rest being devoted to the lesser characters from Megalo Box 1 and new characters inserted for the final conflict. All of them are masterfully written, and none of them follow a straight line when it comes to the way they progress as characters.
I am talking about characters so much because ultimately, that is what makes up the core of this show. The animation is okay, and does not slack when it comes to the fight scenes, which makes them fun to watch. The story it tells is mature in its themes, but in the end it is simple in its cries for humane treatment of immigrants and how big tech conglomerates abuse human rights for their own gains. In the end what kept me loving this show was the way not only Joe grew as a person, but the way his opponents and Team Nowhere did as well.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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