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The arc where everything makes sense!

When someone who doesn't know Gintama asks me to tell the synopsis, I can't explain it. I'm sure you can't either.


The intensity.

But on the other hand I can describe my different states: one second I start laughing and crying, the next I cling to my chair, the next I hold my breath, the next second I scream, the next I applaud, the next I want to cry so much because the emotion is so intense. In short, Gintama is a manga that does not leave anyone indifferent.

If Gintama has not lost her sense of humour, this season is barely ... letting us breathe. When you think Gintama can't do better, a new twist appears!


The arc where everything makes sense!

Let's talk about this new arc. For me, it is the arc where everything makes sense. In 15 years, Hideaki Sorachi has introduced us to characters who are all more atypical and marginal than each other. This arc is an opportunity to see all of them again: the ones we love and the others we love a little less and where we always wondered what they could bring to the story (Prince Hata for example).


A new approach to the main character.

In a typical shōnen, we are used to the character being the one who fights the most fearsome antagonist of each arc. And yet! Gintoki may be charismatic and badass, but he will not solve every situation on his own. This arc is a good example of this as he faces the strongest antagonist of Gintama. EVERY character has a role to play and it is together with their strengths and weaknesses that they will succeed in overcoming the challenges. Friendship, common purpose, teamwork are the key words of this season.


Verdict after 15 years:

Gintama has proven over and over again that it belongs among the greatest mangas shōnen. The mangaka masters the art of intensity with sometimes short, very short arcs (less than 10 episodes). So I was afraid when I saw the manga lasted so many years (700 chapters) and embarked on much longer arches. Well, I have to say, I'm speechless. So many plot twists and all of this without pretension with a dose of humour that makes Gintama a unique shōnen.


Bonus: an opening 21 full of emotion...

I invite you to look at it.

A shōjo like no other (and it feels great!)

Get ready to laugh over and over again!
Wouldn't Skip Beat be one of the most hilarious mangas that exists? Honestly, I think so.

First the synopsis. The main character - Kyōko Mogami - moved to Tokyo to follow her childhood friend - Shō Fuwa - (whom she is in love with). Having become a well-known singer in Japan, he ended up manipulating Kyōko, throwing her away from his life like she was nothing to begin with. Put yourself in her shoes? What would you do? I would probably cry. Well Kyōko has decided otherwise and she intends to ... take revenge. She decides to become an actress and integrate the competing company of Shō which produces stars such as actors and singers. Then she will meet the other main character - Ren Tsuruga – a handsome talented man recognized as one or even the best actor in Japan. He will become his mentor and will start falling in love with Kyōko.

A love triangle like no other
Let's agree, I hate love triangles in shojos, too cliché for my taste. The main character is generally in love with the brown hair guy, the brown is also in love with her but cannot admit his feelings. Then the sad heroine will find some comfort in the arms of a very kind blond, respectful and always present. Their story develops and then plot twist! The brown finally wakes up after months and decides to win back her love and the worst is that he succeeds. And the blond guy (way too nice) lets his sweetheart join his true love... MY GOD STOP!

Skip Beat offers a completely different approach:
1°) The heroine has built a real relationship with the two men. As a result, we appreciate these two relationships.
2°) The three characters are charismatic, funny, ambitious and slightly naive which gives them an endearing side. It also allows the story to go further.

More than 250 chapters...
Skip Beat has been published monthly since 2002. The series is still in progress with over 250 chapters/42 volumes (83 chapters/18 volumes for Ouran High School Host Club, 85 chapters/18 volumes for Kaichou Wa Maid-sama!).

Why is the story still not finished?
If we constantly wonder how the love story will evolve, we do not forget that the main character is Kyōko, and which heroine: beautiful, funny, intelligent, ambitious. She is not just reduced to a girl who seeks love since Kyōko, betrayed by Shō, refuses to fall in love again. She has a real goal: to become the greatest actress in Japan. The story invites us to follow her dream.

In summary
I read a lot of shōjos and for now Skip Beat is my favorite one. I have read it over and over again with the same enthusiasm. I therefore advise it to all those who are revolted by weak main characters who take no initiative. Kyōko Mogami is an example for all the heroines of shōjo.

A shōjo like no other (and it feels great!)

Get ready to laugh over and over again!
Wouldn't Skip Beat be one of the most hilarious mangas that exists? Honestly, I think so.

First the synopsis. The main character - Kyōko Mogami - moved to Tokyo to follow her childhood friend - Shō Fuwa - (whom she is in love with). Having become a well-known singer in Japan, he ended up manipulating Kyōko, throwing her away from his life like she was nothing to begin with. Put yourself in her shoes? What would you do? I would probably cry. Well Kyōko has decided otherwise and she intends to ... take revenge. She decides to become an actress and integrate the competing company of Shō which produces stars such as actors and singers. Then she will meet the other main character - Ren Tsuruga – a handsome talented man recognized as one or even the best actor in Japan. He will become his mentor and will start falling in love with Kyōko.

A love triangle like no other
Let's agree, I hate love triangles in shojos, too cliché for my taste. The main character is generally in love with the brown hair guy, the brown is also in love with her but cannot admit his feelings. Then the sad heroine will find some comfort in the arms of a very kind blond, respectful and always present. Their story develops and then plot twist! The brown finally wakes up after months and decides to win back her love and the worst is that he succeeds. And the blond guy (way too nice) lets his sweetheart join his true love... MY GOD STOP!

Skip Beat offers a completely different approach:
1°) The heroine has built a real relationship with the two men. As a result, we appreciate these two relationships.
2°) The three characters are charismatic, funny, ambitious and slightly naive which gives them an endearing side. It also allows the story to go further.

More than 250 chapters...
Skip Beat has been published monthly since 2002. The series is still in progress with over 250 chapters/42 volumes (83 chapters/18 volumes for Ouran High School Host Club, 85 chapters/18 volumes for Kaichou Wa Maid-sama!).

Why is the story still not finished?
If we constantly wonder how the love story will evolve, we do not forget that the main character is Kyōko, and which heroine: beautiful, funny, intelligent, ambitious. She is not just reduced to a girl who seeks love since Kyōko, betrayed by Shō, refuses to fall in love again. She has a real goal: to become the greatest actress in Japan. The story invites us to follow her dream.

In summary
I read a lot of shōjos and for now Skip Beat is my favorite one. I have read it over and over again with the same enthusiasm. I therefore advise it to all those who are revolted by weak main characters who take no initiative. Kyōko Mogami is an example for all the heroines of shōjo.

Not to be confused with GTO!

Lesson of the Evil had everything to please the seinen fans with a dark and bloody story and yet…

A promising start
The manga starts well even very well. The main character - Seiji Hasumi - is a competent English teacher. He takes care of a difficult class like in GTO but do not be fooled! Hasumi has nothing to do with the famous Onizuka.

Annihilate whatever the method is!
Behind his appearance as a kind, talented and attentive teacher hides a real psychopath. Thus in the first volumes, we witness a strategic fight to bring down all those who would stand in his ... way. Its goal: annihilate each individual and for that all means are good: manipulation, treason, murder...

Killing for pleasure and only for pleasure
The strategic aspect was the strength of the manga but, unfortunately, this aspect was diminished with each volume. The rhythm accelerated during the last volumes illustrating perhaps the madness of the character but I think it made lose the thread and the interest of the manga: the strategy and the manipulation.

Not convinced... Watch the movie!
Adapted from Yusuke Kishi's novel which strongly inspired the manga, the film was released in Japan in 2012. You certainly tell yourself that this film is not worth watching like most adaptations and yet... The film sums up the manga well. If the story quickly turns into a massacre, the performance of the main actor - Hideaki Ito - is worth to watch. His dark humor and charisma make him the perfect psychopath.

In summary
Lesson of the Evil is a short manga since it includes a total of 9 volumes. If the potential was here thanks to the beautiful drawings, the dark universe and the charismatic and detestable main character, the manga changes it dynamics towards half of the story. As a result: manipulation is replaced by massacre, there are no other words... Too bad.

My Hero Academia, the next generation of greats shōnens?

After the end of mythical shōnens like Naruto or Bleach, the Jump publishes since 2014 "My Hero Academia". If you feel its potential right from the start, I admit that I was still doubtful.

A potential not yet exploited
I started with the anime and I thought why not: the characters are endearing, the context is nice, the powers are more or less original. I watch the first season then the second and I detect a potential but not yet fully exploited.

The tension is at its peak!
And then the third season comes and what a surprise! I think I ... should film myself when I watch each episode: I startle, I shout, I cling to my chair, I applaud. I've been waiting a long time for this, that a rather long shōnen (about 200 chapters for the moment) could give me so many emotions.
Horikoshi Kouhei is very strong! He develops his characters bit by bit, creates a hostile context between the heroes and the "villains", he sets up this tension to finally exploit it completely from season 3, episode after episode.

Patience, patience
Before reading the manga, I will wait the end of the third season. My only fear: to be so good at each chapter/episode, I'm afraid to get used to it and to be disappointed over time because let's be honest: many shōnens like Naruto or Bleach have shown flaws notably because of their length.

My Hero Academia, the next generation of greats shōnens?

After the end of mythical shōnens like Naruto or Bleach, the Jump publishes since 2014 "My Hero Academia". If you feel its potential right from the start, I admit that I was still doubtful.

A potential not yet exploited
I started with the anime and I thought why not: the characters are endearing, the context is nice, the powers are more or less original. I watch the first season then the second and I detect a potential but not yet fully exploited.

The tension is at its peak!
And then the third season comes and what a surprise! I think I ... should film myself when I watch each episode: I startle, I shout, I cling to my chair, I applaud. I've been waiting a long time for this, that a rather long shōnen (about 200 chapters for the moment) could give me so many emotions.
Horikoshi Kouhei is very strong! He develops his characters bit by bit, creates a hostile context between the heroes and the "villains", he sets up this tension to finally exploit it completely from season 3, episode after episode.

Patience, patience
Before reading the manga, I will wait the end of the third season. My only fear: to be so good at each chapter/episode, I'm afraid to get used to it and to be disappointed over time because let's be honest: many shōnens like Naruto or Bleach have shown flaws notably because of their length.

Much more than a manga, a lesson in life!

Nana, Nana, Nana how to describe in a few paragraphs all my feelings on this manga which, I think, will remain my favorite all kinds included.

Shōjo or Josei?
Many define Nana as a shōjo however I would say that Nana is a josei because a shōjo is intended for a rather young female public whereas a josei is intended for a more mature female public. I started reading Nana at the age of 18 and have been reading it regularly ever since (currently over 80 times). 80 times would you tell me? Yes I did and yet each ... time my analysis changes slightly. I think we need to step back in order to appreciate all the subtleties of the characters. You can ask 10 different people what they think of this or that character, they will all answer something different.

Shattered stereotypes
Despite a world out of the ordinary for most of us: fame, music, rock, punk, Ai Yazawa has brilliantly managed to show all the human complexity. All the clichés and stereotypes with which we constantly live, especially in France, are shaken.
Some topics covered:
- love in all its forms
- love between two people: can one love several people at once?
- adultery
- friendship
- family
- dream VS reality
- sacrifice
- glory
- hope
- forgiveness

Imperfect characters
Ai Yazawa shows us all the facets of men, all their fragilities.
If Nana Osaki with her punk look seemed to be strong, imperturbable, independent, she shows as the story progresses her weaknesses, her doubts, her doubts that she has trouble managing due to her past.
On the other hand Nana Komatsu seems unstable, fragile or even superficial. However, as the manga progresses, she becomes the rock, the person on whom one rests.

Nana is a surprising manga because the characters themselves are constantly evolving. We are used to putting each human being in boxes: he is kind, he is beautiful, he is strong, he is intelligent, he is... However Nana proves to us that human beings evolve, learn or not from their mistakes, continually seek to be happy, to make others happy.

Is Nana depressing?
Nana like her characters cannot be placed in a category. The story is sad but only if we see it from a certain perspective because it is also very funny. To be honest it was one of the mangas that made me laugh the most, we recognize Ai Yazawa's humour.

A story that holds us in suspense
The manga is currently on break since 2009 and has a total of 84 chapters or 22 volumes. 84 chapters rich in emotions and twists. We quickly learn that the story is told by Nana Komatsu thanks to flash-backs. An unexpected event shakes the lives of the characters and it will be necessary to wait for volume 20 to understand what happened. Meanwhile the manga keeps us in suspense, the characters are continually confronted with their desires and their uncertainties.

This manga is above all human, it makes us think about our dreams, our behaviour. He invites us to ask ourselves what we would have done in this or that situation. We can call it the magic of Ai Yazawa, the magic of Nana.

Before Nana

The heroin is not an angel suggests the title and yet it looks like she is.

Ai Yazawa's codes
We won't lie to each other, we can recognize the work of the incredible Ai Yazawa: an authentic drawing even if it is less worked than Nana's (1991/1994 VS 2000/2009), a retro style, charismatic characters, very funny moments, permanent doubts and an atmosphere that vacillates between lightness and questioning.

Privilege your own happiness?
Like all of Ai Yazawa's works, I can read this shojo over and over again with the same excitement. Unlike "Nana" "I am not an angel" or "Tenshi Nanka ja Nai" shows the story of high ... school students. And yet, despite their young age, we find the characteristics of all human thoughts: favour your own happiness or that of those you love. This happiness can sometimes be incompatible, we do not always get what we want.

A touching heroine
Midori just wishes to spend good moments with friends and live happily with the one she loves so much: Akira. However this boy turns out to have a complicated past that forced him to hide his emotions. This is a huge difference in their couple: she shows all her emotions whereas he hides its.

To sum up
You will see friendly characters, touching scenes, strong links between each character, a light atmosphere despite twists and turns, shōjo short (8 volumes).
Special reference to Chapter 31 (Volume 7) <3

The shōjo that frustrated me

And yet the story began so well.
I will not reveal the final choice of the heroine however elements could spoil you (even if for me the course of the story should not surprise you because you can find the same mechanics in a lot of shōjos.)

First impressions
A rather banal pitch like many shōjos but I let myself be tempted and there I am surprised: the drawings are beautiful, the characters are stylish especially one of the main character - Shishio Satsuki - who regularly changes his look. The heroine - Suzume Yosano - is different, authentic with a unique personality. She ... makes fun of prejudices. I said to myself: okay, it's going really well.

The brown guy VS the blond guy... The return of the cliché?
The love story between the teacher and his pupil develops little by little and I have to say I think forbidden relations are more catchy. Then the further the manga goes, the more I feel that the love story will turn into a love triangle. So why not? It can be a good idea only if the story is well developed. Indeed, between the two lovers there is another person: her friend - Mamura Daiki - who seems to be in love with Suzume. Should I mention he's blond? A little cliché - the brown guy VS the blond guy - but ok why not.

The first plot twist
So the story between Suzume and Shishio develops little by little, even really little by little. Suzume is too shy especially because she is scared that Shishio could lose his job. This is understandable but their complicity is turned upside down and here we are… that fateful moment: the rupture... And what a breakup.
In short :
- Suzume (while crying): Do you love me?
- Shishio (distant, cold): Sorry I am not in love with you.

Goodbye Shishio... or not!
And there, the main character so dynamic, intelligent, with such a great personality turns into... a typical heroine of shōjo. Yes you are going to say that she gets up with the help of Mamura. Their relationship deepens. Well... that's what a lot of Mamura fans say, I rather thought she was thinking a lot about Shishio (which is normal but still).
And a new plot twist appears. You guessed, didn't you? Shishio returns and he wants to start over again with Suzume (well I would not have guessed it! 😉). And now she doubts who to choose? Personally I find that the relationship between Mamura and Suzume is platonic.

But who will she choose? It does not matter.
Until the penultimate chapter we wonder who she will choose. I don’t really like when the manga is ending when the heroine make a final choice, it is like the heroine has been reduced to a simple love story. I have the impression that Yamamori Mika gave everything in the first 20 chapters then let herself overwhelmed by the classic codes of shōjo (it is surprising when you look at her other work: Sugars).

Don't worry, Yamamori Mika has published 2 chapters focusing on the character Suzume did not choose. However theses chapters has proved to me that this famous character was developed in such a way that we can only can say: the poor guy! Those who read the end will understand but by trying to not look like others shōjos, the mangaka simply reduced the potential of his character. Didn't she even feel sorry for him by dedicating two chapters to him, barely developed, on a new love story in which, after all these years, he still hadn't forgotten the heroine?

In summary:
As a result, all the potential has been reduced bit by bit. Conclusion: FRUSTRATING.

3 men, 2 points in common: handicap and passion for basketball

With Real, Takehiko Inoue signs, once again, a masterpiece. I have to point out the magnificent drawings!

Disability
Takehiko Inoue tells the story of 3 young men who have seen their lives destroyed because of disability.

Tomomi Nomiya has just been expelled from high school. Passionate about basketball, he has not played since he caused a motorcycle accident in which his passenger - Natsumi Yamashita - lost the use of his legs.
While visiting Natsumi, Tomomi meets Kiyoharu Togawa. Amputated with one leg, Kiyoharu started playing handi-basketball but he finds his team mediocre.
Hisanobu Takahashi became leader of the basketball ... team after Tomomi's dismissal. One day he gets hit by a truck trying to steal a bike. Surgeons tell him he's lost the use of his legs.

Inoue Sensei and his love for basketball: a recurring theme
Takehiko Inoue has already praised basketball in his mythical work Slam Dunk (I have never laughed so much).

In Real, the mangaka uses basketball as therapy. Basketball, as a lot of sports, unites and enables people to surpass themselves.
Thus these three characters must accept their handicap, face it and especially stand up against it.

Friendship, love, family
The characters may gradually face their disability but it would not be the same without their loved ones who try as best they can to help them. They also have had their lives turned upside down. Standing beside each other will enable them to overcome the handicap little by little, defeat after defeat, victory after victory.

The publication rate is too slow
The only negative point is undoubtedly the publishing rate (13 volumes since 1999). If Takehiko Inoue had declared several times that he wanted to take his time and publish at his own pace, the wait becomes very long and we end up losing the thread...

You can still start the manga which currently contains 13 rich volumes. Some chapters have been released since...

In summary
A realistic and touching manga, sometimes funny, sometimes sad.
A truly inspiring lesson, sometimes very hard, that shows that no matter what the hardships, you have to get up again and again because life is worth living.