The final volume arrives in January! End of an era!
Japanese cover:
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F0T484Iu.jpg&hash=d5d9dc0563242458b85bbd736d9bbfbef7047a24)
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fo1nkXVQ.jpg&hash=e0ebe5feea8aa6fc9c19e8a2c836d1b8d0d2555d)
I really love that cover so much. Rikdo Koshi's art sure changed a lot.
Oh yay, you're on here now! :D Hopefully the domain will start redirecting to this forum tomorrow.
I really do love how he redrew the first cover. His art has gotten so much more unique.
Quote from: Foggle on August 27, 2013, 10:19:45 PM
Oh yay, you're on here now! :D Hopefully the domain will start redirecting to this forum tomorrow.
At first I thoght the forum was hacked again... :shit:
...until I notice your nick :wth:
I felt trolled :il_hahaha:
Quote from: SWamP on September 07, 2013, 07:35:25 PM
At first I thoght the forum was hacked again... :shit:
...until I notice your nick :wth:
I felt trolled :il_hahaha:
I was worried people might think that. :lol: Glad you made it, though. I just hope people don't give up if they bookmarked the actual forum and end up on our 404 page...
Welcome back, SWamP!
Yeahh, I checked the old forum out of habit as well, but my bookmark led me to this page, which confused me for a bit.
http://animationrevelation.com/Excel.htm/index.php
I'm guessing it's because my bookmark had index.php at the end so it redirected me to the non-existent index.php page on this domain. Any way to fix that?
Hmm... Let me try something real quick.
Fixed it! Try that link again! :)
Yay, it works! Now no one will get lost.
Sweet!
Amazon now has the cover art up.
I didn't realize it was out, I've been going by Amazon's release date. I have to go pick it up.
Or I would if anybody sold it.
I forgot to check, goddamn..! I ordered it right now, from bookdepository.co.uk !!!
Man, last book... I'm sad now...
I too forgot. lol
It's not out until the 14th in the UK on Amazon, I intend to order it when it becomes available, it'll be the end of an era! :el_cry:
I actually had a friend send me the Japanese volume 27 (and other volumes) about 2/3 years ago, but of course I couldn't read them so I'd no idea what actually happened, the only thing I got from it was the massive spoiler on the last couple of pages.
Spoiler
Holy Brownie
@Duomaxwe
If you live in the UK, then why not just use the site I mentioned above..? It's a UK based site, and ships for free within Europe and UK too naturally..! I mean if a single day even makes a difference to you :P
Well mine won't arrive regardless until sometime next a week, because overseas stuff... Blarhg...
I got it! I found one store that sells Excel Saga and I got it, and I read it, and now I'm really sad that it's over, and horribly confused, and a little skeeved out. :el_cry:
Does anyone remember that post from the old forum, which noted that the last volume had sort of a crossover with Holy Brownie? Was it Uncreativity who mentioned it? (Is there an archive of the old forum?)
Quote from: Sean Gaffney on January 14, 2014, 03:34:25 PM
Does anyone remember that post from the old forum, which noted that the last volume had sort of a crossover with Holy Brownie? Was it Uncreativity who mentioned it? (Is there an archive of the old forum?)
Yes, yes, and yes. http://excelold.animationrevelation.com/ :im_nabeshin:
Also, my collection is finally complete! :joy:
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpbs.twimg.com%2Fmedia%2FBd-PAfiCEAAL_vp.png%3Alarge&hash=02bfecdfe6bafcb6d261ce4faff3149bcdc07e7a)
Ah, yes, found it. Carl, perhaps unsurprisingly, does NOT mention this connection in the notes, but it is still translated 'Pio', so we can indeed directly the two.
So, did anyone understand what happened at the end?
Quote from: Mullon on January 15, 2014, 10:59:00 AM
So, did anyone understand what happened at the end?
I sort of did. But its really confusing.
Spoiler
There are two cores. Two beings of god like powers who can never return home because they're broken. Paradoxically they're broken because they can't return home.
They got bored of the world. They wanted to create something new (a child) but one of the facts of their existence is that they can't reproduce.
One tried over and over again. So much so that he went insane and forgot who he was.
Excel was one of his experiments.
Il palazzo is the core of order while the other is the core of chaos.(I think)
So when excel was devastated at the end of volume 26, she retreated into her own mind. Basically self induced coma. Which allowed the orb of Chaos to take over.
But when the crew yelled for her to come back, she expelled the core's essence which then went into the Miwa not. During the fight something happened and a new core was created. The orb of chaos merging with an imitation core created a new core.
And with Tenmugu out of Lord Il, the real lord(orb of order) returned and all was well.
Oh and excel and lord il erased the minds of excel and Hyatt and left them to live normal lives.
At least that's how I see it. But it was confusing.
I find that Excel Saga makes a lot more sense if you read all the volumes in sequence. I'm going to do a complete re-read before I open 27. I'll see if I can't explain my thoughts then. ;)
The parts I'm still confused about are:
Spoiler
Who was the competent Il Palazzo personality.
Who turned Excel's hair blue.
Who was Miwa.
Which body was Shiouji's father hiding in.
Why was Iwata competent by the end.
How did Momochi know how to contact Shiouji's father.
Was Excel Il Palazzo's daughter.
Why was Umi a loli at the end.
Quote from: Mullon on January 16, 2014, 11:02:58 PM
The parts I'm still confused about are:
Spoiler
Who was the competent Il Palazzo personality. - Tenmugu (shioji's father)
Who turned Excel's hair blue. - (it was blue? Thought it was black.) Anyway, the chaos(evil?) core(as I call it) being.
Who was Miwa.- a robot controlled by the chaos core.
Which body was Shiouji's father hiding in. - Lord Il Palazzo
Why was Iwata competent by the end. - Because he was.
How did Momochi know how to contact Shiouji's father. -He contacted her first.
Was Excel Il Palazzo's daughter. - Sort of. Il Palazzo is a being of pure energy that fell to earth. I call him the Order Orb. His goal was to try to reproduce as his species can't. Excel is one of his attempts. Who succeeded.
Why was Umi a loli at the end. -To make Shioji happy.
I answered your questions in the spoiler tag to the best of my knowledge.
But the thing is if
Spoiler
the Chaos Core was in Miwa, then what was in that vault they broke into?
My review of the final volume: http://suitablefortreatment.mangabookshelf.com/2014/01/19/excel-saga-vol-27/
Quote from: Mullon on January 18, 2014, 06:50:57 PM
But the thing is ifSpoiler
the Chaos Core was in Miwa, then what was in that vault they broke into?
Spoiler
It could have just been controlling the robot remotely. If memory serves, the first time Excel opened the door the Miwa Bot pulls a rope that sends her and the ACROSS team down a pit.
Quote from: Sean Gaffney on January 19, 2014, 08:39:46 AM
My review of the final volume: http://suitablefortreatment.mangabookshelf.com/2014/01/19/excel-saga-vol-27/
It's a good, solid review. I enjoyed it. :D
Also, yes, I love page 187. Last panel. It's priceless.
What a crazy ending.
Spoiler
Is it just me or does Excel become god at the end?
Quote from: Randomness. on January 20, 2014, 11:55:01 PM
What a crazy ending.
Spoiler
Is it just me or does Excel become god at the end?
Spoiler
No. God like, yes. But Lord Il Palazzo will always be God.
:kabapu:
[attachment deleted by admin]
Okay, so if understood the entire series correctly:
Spoiler
Kabapu was bored, so Momochi, who somehow had Tenmangu's phone number, called Tenmangu and asked him to antagonize Kabapu. Tenmangu invaded Il Palazzo's mind and becam the competent Il Palazzo. Then he activated Miwa, who did stuff for some reasons. Then some other stuff happened, and...actually the last couple of volumes are kind of a blur.
Quote from: Micki! on January 13, 2014, 05:25:37 AM
@Duomaxwe
If you live in the UK, then why not just use the site I mentioned above..? It's a UK based site, and ships for free within Europe and UK too naturally..! I mean if a single day even makes a difference to you :P
Well mine won't arrive regardless until sometime next a week, because overseas stuff... Blarhg...
Only seeing this now man, I usually just get them on Amazon so that's why I just waited for it on it! And as a matter of fact I've only got it today, it took longer than I expected through Amazon they're usually quick!
Quote from: Sean Gaffney on January 14, 2014, 03:34:25 PM
Does anyone remember that post from the old forum, which noted that the last volume had sort of a crossover with Holy Brownie? Was it Uncreativity who mentioned it? (Is there an archive of the old forum?)
I believe I was the person who mentioned the Holy Brownie ending, other people might've as well, but I had a friend send me the Japanese volumes a couple of years ago so I saw that ending, other than that massive spoiler at the end though I don't know how the final volume goes so I'm looking forward to reading it here and hoping I enjoy it.
After I read it I'll come back here and read all the spoiler posts. Then it'll be my intention to re-read teh whole series sometime soon to fully soak everything in.
Okay I just read it, and ultimately I didn't enjoy the ending that much, it left too many things confusing and unexplained. Things that were alluded to over the series weren't elaborated on and too much of it is a mystery, like who even is Kabapu? He isn't a deity creature like Il Palazzo...
I'm still happy to have finally finished the series, but I won't deny I was dissatisfied, all and all I still love Excel Saga the early volume humour is top notch and I intend to reread the whole series again now I have it all.
Here is my Excel collection:
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi21.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb262%2Fduomaxwe%2F20140124_234000_zpse9sy9abi.jpg&hash=f2f2975f829f797c1d93e4e3025533ddebce73ec) (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/duomaxwe/media/20140124_234000_zpse9sy9abi.jpg.html)
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi21.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb262%2Fduomaxwe%2F20140124_234011_zpsipfmjjdd.jpg&hash=a8bf161e323d120f20bb6d3810fc39df07e6590f) (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/duomaxwe/media/20140124_234011_zpsipfmjjdd.jpg.html)
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi21.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb262%2Fduomaxwe%2F20140124_234018_zpsucyl2eei.jpg&hash=da8907a8848c89c2eac912842ad4e95e9cd36ac0) (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/duomaxwe/media/20140124_234018_zpsucyl2eei.jpg.html)
And here is the final page from Holy Brownie which is what made me realise a couple of years ago the two series are connected:
Spoiler
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi21.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb262%2Fduomaxwe%2Fholy6_194_zps701935fc.jpg&hash=71622578feae5319185ec6171bb265c967550120) (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/duomaxwe/media/holy6_194_zps701935fc.jpg.html)
overture
noun
1.
an orchestral piece at the beginning of an opera, play, etc.
2.
an introduction to something more substantial.
Hello my dears.
I finally bought the final volume today and while very confused (though the explanations of some here ties my brain back in order) I spent half the volume grinning and feeling happy with how everything was going.
Some things could have been explained better, some questions were left unanswered and a somewhat open ending (which I usually don't like) left me wondering; but all in all I'm happy.
I started E.S. back in 2007, not as long as some here (in fact, a good cut off point to get all the volumes easily) and I finally have a complete collection.
What a wonderful world.
I have to say Umi got the short end of the stick at the end.
Just finished reading it, and wow, this was perfect. Despite how weird the ending was it surprisingly made a lot of sense.
I just wish I could read Holy Brownie now, because clearly there is some connection there.
Spoiler
Since Il Palazzo's real name is Pio, I assume the other core is Fio. Not only did we see her silhouette, but she even did Fio's usual :e_cool: face while possessing Ropponmatsu 3, so I'm just going to call her by that name now.
Also, remember this page from volume 3? It looks exactly like Fio's outfit when she first appeared at the beginning of volume 27. I can't believe Rikdo had the story developed that early in the series.
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FiByq501.jpg&hash=d604a0735d450e34fab858ef91cfe4ad8605c728)
And it blows my mind to think that all this time Il Palazzo was a red-haired floating fairy thing who lost her memory. Just try explaining that to the anime-only watchers!
Quote from: Duomaxwe on January 24, 2014, 05:48:31 PM
like who even is Kabapu? He isn't a deity creature like Il Palazzo...
I think it's safe to just trust Kabapu's explanation about Solaria in volume 13. He is not a deity, just a survivor of an ancient civilization.
For one, Kabapu and Il Palazzo are the only characters who are drawn with cat-like eyes, so I think this means that they are definitely part of the same race.
Spoiler
Except Kabapu was an actual person, while Il Palazzo was just a body being possessed by Pio.
I think maybe those violent memories in Fio's mind might be related to Solaria as well.
lol man, the bottom line is he did a very poor job explaining what actually happened at the end, and so much of it is guess work.
Also I'm pretty disappointed now the English Excel Saga is finished and this is all the comments that happened, only a couple of guys posted really.
I would join the conversation but my copy hasnt shipped. I bought it alongside spice and wolf vol 10 so i could end up getting it when thats released in april :/ bloody amazon.
Only managed to pick up volume 27 yesterday after finally getting a free Saturday and couldn't comment much up to this point.
But I've been watching this thread closely, spoilers and all -- I'm a glutton for punishment at times! :sweat:
Well do read it and give your opinion :e_hail:
Quote from: Lan on February 09, 2014, 04:04:59 AM
I would join the conversation but my copy hasnt shipped. I bought it alongside spice and wolf vol 10 so i could end up getting it when thats released in april :/ bloody amazon.
Oooohhh, I love spice and wolf. Especially the anime. Manga or light novel?
light novel. check out my reviews for them in the anime section.
I ended up splitting the order and getting ES27 quicker. now all i gotta do is read it.
I read the final volume today. Its a shame things were not as clear as they could have been. however i dont come away feeling disappointed. it did everything it needed in order to be a satisfying ending. the answers are all there, its just a matter of reading it again, or reading what you guys have to say to make it clear. im going to miss this series. :el_cry:
If anyone is curious, here are Pio and Fio as they appear at the end of Holy Brownie.
Spoiler
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fdp2Pdkz.jpg&hash=964f7c99541619e4b3c1b99475ab394c727c0152)
(https://animationrevelation.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Ftc8omnb.jpg&hash=beea88a49275452356ae0893bcb7b0c7a646b4e3)
Spoiler
Yes, that beautiful woman with the baby is Pio (better known as Il Palazzo).
And Fio is as much of a pervert in Holy Brownie as he was at the end of Excel Saga. He looks fucking fabulous with that long dark hair though.
Does anyone know of some good scanlation group that takes commissions? It would be nice if we at least somehow got the last two chapters of Holy Brownie translated.
Spoiler
By the way, earlier in this thread someone asked why Umi was a child at the end.
I assume it has something to do with Excel's godly powers. Being the ruler of the world, she wanted to make everyone happy. She "fixed" Hyatt and Elgala by turning them into normal girls. She even got Elgala to stop thinking out loud. So maybe for some reason she just thought that Umi being a little girl would be for the best? I'm not sure. I just hope Umi was okay with that.
Also, I find it cute how Mince is living together with Umi and Gojo Shiouji at the end.
Goddamn guys, I wanna join in on these discussions, I need to read that damned book..! :el_cry:
Quote from: Mas on March 02, 2014, 03:08:28 AMDoes anyone know of some good scanlation group that takes commissions? It would be nice if we at least somehow got the last two chapters of Holy Brownie translated.
I'm also thinking about us having the Excel Saga Commemorative Book translated as well. Foggle says there's something of a plot to it. I'm more curious than ever to know what's going on. :e_shocked:
As for that interesting Pio and Fio connection, I've been busy trying to wrap my head around that one since about over a year ago when Uncreativity brought it up.
Quote from: Mas on March 02, 2014, 03:25:42 AMSpoiler
By the way, earlier in this thread someone asked why Umi was a child at the end.
I assume it has something to do with Excel's godly powers. Being the ruler of the world, she wanted to make everyone happy. She "fixed" Hyatt and Elgala by turning them into normal girls. She even got Elgala to stop thinking out loud. So maybe for some reason she just thought that Umi being a little girl would be for the best? I'm not sure. I just hope Umi was okay with that.
Also, I find it cute how Mince is living together with Umi and Gojo Shiouji at the end.
I do agree with your theory..
Spoiler
When Excel lost her memory and came under the care of Umi Rengaya as "Teriha," she spent a lot of time with her and learned much about Umi's life and personality. After Excel started regaining fragments of her memories of who and what she was in the order of things and then went away to sort herself out, Umi left an important and positive impact on her as a friend - a character who has a childlike innocence and brought much kindness in her time of need.
I can speculate that Excel believed Umi had a certain need to have her childhood brought back by shaving some years - Possibly a deprived childhood in her younger days, she was unable to fully accept adulthood as she got older.
While I don't think it to be unusual at all for anyone to cosplay in their late teens (I believe Umi was 18), I'm thinking Rikdou was conveying something with this.. bringing attention to the reader that Umi has some amount of difficulty integrating into the adult world with her constant enjoyment of dress-up and imagination. Excel felt the need to give Umi a gift of youth in return for the gift of their friendship. In short, Excel did what she thought would ultimately make Umi the happiest.
Well... that's my two cents.
Quote from: Lord Il on March 02, 2014, 08:55:41 PM
Quote from: Mas on March 02, 2014, 03:08:28 AMDoes anyone know of some good scanlation group that takes commissions? It would be nice if we at least somehow got the last two chapters of Holy Brownie translated.
I'm also thinking about us having the Excel Saga Commemorative Book translated as well. Foggle says there's something of a plot to it. I'm more curious than ever to know what's going on. :e_shocked:
To elaborate on this, the book starts with the first of the two bonus chapters from Young King OURs (with the characters at the hot spring), and continues from there, with everyone fantasizing about various scenarios that appear throughout the rest of the art book. It goes back and forth between Rikdo's story and these guest drawings, the former including all the stuff from the bonus chapters along with pages I've never seen before. Probably not much substantial to be honest, but there's a lot of dialogue in it.
Quote from: Lord Il on March 02, 2014, 08:55:41 PM
As for that interesting Pio and Fio connection, I've been busy trying to wrap my head around that one since about over a year ago when Uncreativity brought it up.
Yeahh, and while google translating some Japanese reviews, I noticed that some people even say you shouldn't read volume 27 of Excel Saga before reading Holy Brownie. I guess the connection is that important.
Spoiler
What I'm most curious about is how it all relates to Solaria, and also who that child is in Pio's arms. I mean it's... not who I think it is, is it?
Quote from: Lord Il on March 02, 2014, 08:55:41 PM
I do agree with your theory..
Spoiler
When Excel lost her memory and came under the care of Umi Rengaya as "Teriha," she spent a lot of time with her and learned much about Umi's life and personality. After Excel started regaining fragments of her memories of who and what she was in the order of things and then went away to sort herself out, Umi left an important and positive impact on her as a friend - a character who has a childlike innocence and brought much kindness in her time of need.
I can speculate that Excel believed Umi had a certain need to have her childhood brought back by shaving some years - Possibly a deprived childhood in her younger days, she was unable to fully accept adulthood as she got older.
While I don't think it to be unusual at all for anyone to cosplay in their late teens (I believe Umi was 18), I'm thinking Rikdou was conveying something with this.. bringing attention to the reader that Umi has some amount of difficulty integrating into the adult world with her constant enjoyment of dress-up and imagination. Excel felt the need to give Umi a gift of youth in return for the gift of their friendship. In short, Excel did what she thought would ultimately make Umi the happiest.
Oh! That would make sense, yeah.
I really need to reread all of Excel Saga. Those Teriha volumes are such a blur to me now.
Quote from: Foggle on March 02, 2014, 09:16:22 PM
To elaborate on this, the book starts with the first of the two bonus chapters from Young King OURs (with the characters at the hot spring), and continues from there, with everyone fantasizing about various scenarios that appear throughout the rest of the art book. It goes back and forth between Rikdo's story and these guest drawings, the former including all the stuff from the bonus chapters along with pages I've never seen before. Probably not much substantial to be honest, but there's a lot of dialogue in it.
That sounds interesting. Rikdo's dialogues are always a good thing.
Quote from: Micki! on March 02, 2014, 01:36:47 PM
Goddamn guys, I wanna join in on these discussions, I need to read that damned book..! :el_cry:
I hope you can soon!
Woot, finally read it!
I, Inkwolf, do not wish to brag, but I understood very little of it! :el_cry:
Thank goodness I have you guys and your explanations in this thread. :D I am now tempted to re-read it with the knowledge of what is actually happening. Still, it was a fun read, and I enjoyed the return in the end of the crazyness and energy of the early volumes.
I read it finally myself, it was kick-ass, weird and cryptic but all in an Excel Saga fashion, Can't complain about it being consistent I guess...
The many throwbacks to the older volumes brought a figurative tear to my eye..!
I really loved it, wish It could somehow keep going forever but that's my inner collector speaking...
I'll catch up on the discussion in this thread eventually, then we can all finally talk about it together..! Although you guys likely already covered most things already which leaves me to spectate your comments rather than join in...
And Carl's ending message was heartwarming, it really was great to see the entire series pull through with this much care put into it, without any rushing changes or *gasp* cancelling it..!