Currently Running Manga Discussion

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

Out of curiosity, around what chapter does the manga diverge from the anime?

I checked out the anime last year and found it to be one of the most generic things that I've ever seen. On the one hand, it wasn't nearly as terrible as I expected, but absolutely nothing about it was any better than average. It was so mundane and boring that I actually kind of wished that it was a lot worse so it could be entertaining in that "unintentionally funny" sort of way, like the last few years of Naruto's run.

I may check out the manga if it gets better, but I don't want to slog through any parts that are mostly the same as the anime.

[LumRanmaYasha]

The anime adapted the first four volumes in it's first 17 episodes. The series diverges with the very first chapter of volume 5, chapter #16, which also begins a long arc that's where I personally feel the series comes into it's own and what ultimately won me over to it.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

OK, so it looks like I should start with volume 5 of the manga. Thanks! That saves me a lot of time.

[Spark Of Spirit]

For a second I thought you guys were talking about Seraph. That's much too much praise for something that rarely reaches the level of mediocre. 

Blue Exorcist is all right. It's definitely the better monthly series in Jump.

[Spark Of Spirit]

Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #20 (April 18th, 2016):
Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma (Cover, Lead CP)
1- Black Clover
2- One Piece
My Hero Academia (Center Color)
Assassination Classroom Side Story (Chapter 3)
3- Mononofu
Mononofu (Special Chapter, 8 p.)
Yu-Gi-Oh! Transcend Game (Special Chapter, Center Color, Part 2, 29 p.)
Hunter x Hunter (Center Color)
4- Yuna of Yuragi Manor
5- World Trigger
6- Haikyu!!
7- Toriko
8- Gintama
9- Samon the Summoner
10- Kimetsu no Yaiba: Blade of Demon Destruction
11- Hinomaru Sumo
12- The Mishaps of Kusuo Saiki
13- Straighten Up! Welcome to Shika High's Competitive Dance Club
14- Kochikame
Chronicle of Isobe -Life is Hard- (Center Color)
15- Nisekoi
16- Bleach

Out of curiosity, when was the last time World Trigger got color pages? It feels like it's been a long time.

EDIT: Real list

[LumRanmaYasha]

The last time World Trigger had color pages was chapter 104, which came out last June. So yeah, it's been almost a year since it's had color pages. Though it should hopefully get them (and the cover) when Jump finally decides to celebrate it's third anniversary.

[Spark Of Spirit]

Wow, it's been a while.

On another note, I updated the list. Apparently the original was fake.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

Not gonna lie, I had a hard time following what was going on in the latest chapter of HXH. Each chapter is so dense with information that you can easily forget a lot if you haven't read any of it in over a year. I'll need to re-start this arc from the beginning, later on.

[VLordGTZ]

I usually wait until Viz's WSJ release to read the new Jump chapters, but I decided to make an exception for HxH since it's been so long.  While I definitely need to go back a read the previous chapters again, I think was able to decently understand the current situation with the Kakin prince conflict. 

Spoiler

I'm also happy that Biscuit and Melody are going to be involved in this arc. 

[close]

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

I like that they brought Kurapika's master back as well.

I'm actually wondering if this arc will write Gon out of the story for a while. Despite being the apparent "main character" of the series, I wouldn't put it past Togashi to defy expectations by doing this. For one thing, his character arc is already pretty much complete since having met with his father. Furthermore, he really has no stake or purpose in joining this expedition, and Togashi doesn't tend to keep characters around "just because," as has been seen with Kurapika and Leorio, and now (unfortunately) with Killua, aside from a few brief mentions here and there. Additionally, we've barely seen Gon so far.

To me, Togashi seems to be setting up for two-to-three ongoing story-lines. One is with Kurapika and the team that he has assembled, and I have a feeling that Leorio will end up working with him directly, eventually, and the other is with Ging and Paristan's rivalry, which is by far the best thing about this arc at this point. With two characters who I find to be more interesting than Gon, and two who I find to be more fun, I honestly wouldn't mind if Togashi gives Gon some downtime for a while.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

So, I just caught up with Twin Star Exorcists since Cartoon X and Desensitized said that it gets better later on, though there wasn't really as much of the manga out as I expected, so catching up was extremely short and easy in this case.

Overall, while I do agree that it gets better and shows some promise, it's mostly just "alright" status with me. I guess you could say that the overall package is certainly entertaining for what it is, but the individual aspects which make it up are fairly average.

[Spark Of Spirit]

World Trigger
My Hero Academia
Food Wars
Black Clover

This chapter is why I enjoy World Trigger so much. Lots of strategy and well composed and directed action with a good cliffhanger that makes me want to see what happens next week. It's easy to complain about how long the Rank Wars have been going, but they're always so enjoyable that it doesn't bother me at all. I'm so glad it has been able to recover in the rankings since Ashihara had his operation and hope he can continue to make this such a pleasure to read every week.

Meanwhile, it looks like the villains are finished in MHA. The heroes' raid has completely taken down both their hideout and the Nomu. It seems like Midoriya's gang didn't need to go out after all. But that all went too well. I can't help but wonder if there isn't something else at play here. We still haven't seen what All For One is up to yet.

In Food Wars it's nice to see Soma have some personal stake in whether Azami succeeds or not. Not a whole lot happened otherwise, but setting up motivation goes a long way to improving the current situation.

It was nice seeing Noelle not being a jerk for once in Black Clover. I doubt it'll last, but it was nice to see her grow at least a little. All in all, it rounds out the top 4 nicely.

[VLordGTZ]

Rumor has it that Naoko Takeuchi may be helping Togashi with Hunter x Hunter.

[Spark Of Spirit]

Words to live by.

[Spark Of Spirit]

Makoto Raiku is starting a new weekly series in Weekly Shonen Magazine.

This should be something to keep an eye on.