MSR April 2020

If you enjoy this monthly blog, I also put out bi-weekly animated film reviews and semi-regular manga reviews, among other content. Check out my Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/kyoukasuigetsu) and Ko-Fi (https://ko-fi.com/kyoukasuigetsu) to support my endeavors. Thanks so much

Disclaimer: Scanlations and official sources both have a place in the community, but buy official manga volumes to support the author. If you can, also subscribe to Crunchyroll and/or Shonen Jump through Viz Media to read chapters nearly simultaneous with Japan. Most of the series covered can be found through legal means, so please encourage the industry that gives us what we love

March saw Samurai 8 conclude and April so far has Zipman conclude. And we have round of 3 new series coming in April and May

2 new series this month in Shonen Jump, running fairly smoothly besides a break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a break upcoming for Golden Week at the beginning of May

Moriking (Shinrin Ooja Moriking in Japanese, which is Forest King Moriking) by Tomohiro Hasegawa (previously having done Spring Weapon Number One that started in late 2016 and ended in early 2018, a good run) tells a story about Moriking, a rhinoceros beetle pupa raised by Shouta, a 3rd grader. He metamorphoses and is, surprisingly, a human with a horn and shell of his bug form, explaining his “destiny” to be the King of the Insects, deciding to live with Shouta’s family, his sister Shouko taken aback by things, but going along anyway

Bone Collection (literally the same in Japanese, just Engrish) by Jun Kirarazaka (new author far as I can tell) tells about exorcists fighting youkai (a bit clichéd), but our lead, Kazami Jinai, is seen as a failure in spite of being from a high ranking family, his childhood friend Rino having much more talent. He finds a mysterious girl that falls out of the sky from a portal and discovers later she is a SSS ranked (highest possible?) youkai Gasha Dokuro, using a forbidden spell to defeat a powerful A rank youkai, though Rino discovers this, making things complicated

World Trigger 194-195

After drawing Inukai and Tsuji to Chika, Yuma and Osamu manage to take down Ninomiya, Chika actually shooting Tsuji with a real Trion bullet instead of the Lead Bullet strategy, throwing the leader off and Osamu using a delayed Hound strategy to deal significant damage, Yuma finishing him off, to give Tamakoma 2 the win

Dr. Stone 146-148

We get more drinks, including beer (the process explained in flashback and utilized in the present) and a cocktail for Matsukaze, who remembers how his lord wanted to show that humanity was not so weak and easily tempted as they unfortunately were by the petrification devices and their power.  Matsukaze suggests training, Hyouga revived, who asks that he be allowed to revive 2 people, Moz and Homura, the fighters all training to improve theirs and Matsukaze’s skills

The group, using short wave radio transmitted from Ishigami Village, gets a rough idea of their position and with Chrome’s help, they make a sunstone to discern the sun’s position even in the stormy seas, making their trek to America in 30 days successfully

After splitting up into a resource gathering team and corn searching team, the two factions reunite, encountering some wild crocodiles, but the fighters manage to defeat them. Along with having some gator burgers, Tsukasa discovers that one of the crocs swallowed an ear of corn that’s the right kind they need

We Never Learn 154-156

Rizu and Nariyuki are saved when Sawako comes in a boat, (Misao able to pull her out of the water) getting closer while trying to start a fire (Rizu wearing Nariyuki’s shirt as it gets chilly). Fumino then remembers Rizu bringing up the game to her before and when she saw Rizu challenging Nariyuki to the game around Christmas

Sawako’s birthday is celebrated, Rizu showing a game she made, though it needs a number of tweaks. The group has fun together, though things move towards learning more about Sawako’s backstory, her mother arriving to give her some money, but also asking her if she might come back home, Sawako agreeing, to Rizu and Nariyuki’s shock

Sawako’s mother reveals she’s divorcing her husband, wanting Sawako to help, but also not wanting to pressure her. We learn that Sawako partly blames herself for her family growing apart over the years because of her pursuing academics more was misinterpreted and it caused fights, her parents ultimately agreeing with her that they should all be free to do what they want (even though that’s not always a good solution). Rizu, Nariyuki and Misao all decide they want to help their friend.

My Hero Academia 267-269

Dabi beats Hawks back, saying he only cares about bringing Stain’s vision to reality, and revealing who he is (though we don’t see what it is) connected back to Hawks somehow (and knowing his true name). Tokoyami notices Hawks is in danger and goes to help, while Endeavor assists Mirko as she presses forward in spite of her injuries to stop Dr. Ujiko and Shigaraki

The heroes outside handle other Noumus, one able to discern Eraserhead’s Quirk in more detail to combat his disabling ability. Meanwhile, Mirko cracks the container holding Shigaraki and Endeavor saves her, the two concluding they have to stop Shigaraki from being released

Things seem to be going well, the heroes, including Present Mic, push forward to seemingly stop Shigaraki’s resurrection by Dr. Ujiko, though All For One appears to be ready to do something for his protege

Fire Force 213-216

Faerie leaves with Shinra, Kurono ordered to focus on saving him, though Division 2 decides to try and take down the giant. Sho appears with Arrow’s help and fights Faerie, seemingly beating him with a slash that cuts him in two.

Company 4 comes in to assist, Kurono also damaging the giant Infernal as it gets closer, the citizens evacuated with no casualties so far. But as Shinra is spotted, Sho observes that Faerie is unaffected, his powers more complex than mere flight

We learn Faerie’s power is increasing mass with the Adolla Burst power, enabling alteration of gravitational force relative to the earth. He disappears, saying that Sho is now doomed for resisting his duty as a Pillar. After Kurono destroys the giant Infernal, Shinra, still unconscious, awakens in an Adolla Link with a mysterious person

The person Shinra made an Adolla Link with is Inka, the 5th Pillar. She answers his questions on seeing the future by saying that she cannot see anything that isn’t guaranteed. Instead, she suggests that Shinra use his lightspeed motion he can perform and go into the past (because physics work that way), seemingly viewing the pre Cataclysm world. But he also appears to go insane and 3 months pass, waking up in a psych ward, learning that a 5th pillar has emerged in the time that’s transpired

One Piece 976-978

Kanjuro flees with Momonosuke, who tells the others to save Wano and leave him behind. Orochi’s soldiers attack from a distance with long range cannons, but Jinbei, finally returned from fighting off Big Mom’s crew and such, stops them, ready to assist Luffy

The Straw Hats blaze forward, taking out the first group of guards at the tori gate at Onigashima, the rest of the soldiers having their own strategy to get to Kaidou through a rear entrance. At the party, Kaidou mentions a son and the Tobi Roppo (which Drake X is a part of) arrive as well.

The combined armies on the Straw Hats’s side begin their attack, disguised as Kaidou’s pirates with Kinemon’s Garb Garb Fruit. Meanwhile, we meet the Tobi Roppo proper, bickering a bit, but wondering what Kaidou called them there for, only told it was urgent.

Black Clover 246-248

Dante uses a forbidden magic that regenerates his wound, revealing to Yami how he intends to use the Black Bulls’ captain and William Vangeance to generate a Qlipoth tree to the underworld and release all the Devils. Meanwhile, what appears to be a member of the Black Bulls (Vice Captain?) has infiltrated the Spade Kingdom, using shadow magic to stop someone who discovers him.

Back in the Heart Kingdom, 4 of the 5 Spirit Guardians are essentially defeated by Vanica’s Dark Disciples, one of then Svenkin, attacked by Luck. But his Skin Magic is too powerful so far for Luck’s Lightning Magic, Luck still persisting because of being inspired by Asta to protect others as a Magic Knight

Luck remembers training with Gaja and wanting to learn more than just the runes and arrays that allow for customizing magic. He applies Gaja’s True Lightning magic to himself, becoming so fast and powerful he pierces through Svenkin’s Skin Magic