If you enjoy this monthly blog, I also put out bi-weekly animated film 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. Any contribution is appreciated, even sharing to friends.
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
World Trigger is on break until April’s issue, unfortunately, even the anime had a delay due to an earthquake in Japan this month
Black Clover took an unexpected break at the end of the month
2 new series this month, continuing from late January
Witch Watch by Kenta Shinohara (Astra Lost in Space his most recent work) has a world with witches and familiars, as well as ogres, a particular offshoot of familiars that gained human form and interbred with normal humans. Niko, a witch who was friends as a child with Morihito, an ogre, is prophesied to be in danger and he has to protect her, though she’s also clumsy enough that she puts herself in danger within the first day she arrives. Sort of a romantic comedy for the most part
Nine Dragons’ Ball Parade (Kowloon’s Ball Parade in Japanese, the first word Chinese for Nine Dragons) by Mikiyasu Kamada and Ashibi Fukui, features a lead, Azukida, who wants to join a famous team, Hakuou, but fails in spite of a newcomer he befriends, Ryudo, getting approved at the tryouts. However, because he inspired the pitcher with his passion for the game and his capacity for analysis, Ryudo rejects the offer and suggests he and Azukida form their own team to beat Hakuou.
And the sequel to Seven Deadly Sins, 4 Knights of the Apocalypse, began in late January. We’ve met Percival, the grandson of Balgis, a former Holy Knight. They live together on God’s Finger, high in the clouds above Britannia. But Ironside, revealed as Percival’s father, kills Balgis and Percival travels down to seek answers. He meets a group of performers and saves a village from a monstrous wolf as the story continues
4 Knights of the Apocalypse 3-5
Percival clashes with another Holy Knight, Pelgart, who was behind the monsters that we’ve seen with a mysterious symbol on them, and Percival manifests an unusual power
Percival’s ability, which appears to be a magic power, much like Ban’s Snatch or the like, manifests in a number of ways, which confuses Pelgart. Even when it seems like Percival is defeated by Pelgart’s Blaze magic, he summons tiny magic golems that look like himself and then heals his wounds. It’s thought he could be using Hero Magic and could even be from the rumored 4 Knights of the Apocalypse
Donnie, one of the performers, intervenes, trying to help Percival get away, but Pelgart unleashes more of his power. However, a mysterious fox Percival saw as he arrived on land uses a magic ball to teleport them away. The fox, revealed to be able to talk, says that the Four Knights of the Apocalypse have been prophesied to come in the future, Pelgart part of a group that seeks to recruit them. And Percival is one of those knights, seemingly Death (the final Horseman of the Apocalypse)
Build King 11-14
The Vigor Method Construction exam begins after we see Cork give the new schematics for Upside Down Castle, getting compliments intended for Renga and Tonkachi. But Smith, the proctor, throws out a challenge that Nana observes is especially difficult, Whack-A-Nail Moles.
We learn about Vigor and that not just anyone can use this method for construction, only .01% of the Buildon Builders using it (about 600K out of 60M). And while the Whack A Nail Moles are meant to be tough, there’re still several besides Renga and Tonkachi that move onto the next round.
After learning that Two By Four was notorious for destroying a Build King in the past (a building said to be indestructible by normal means) and that the Buildon organization is mobilizing similar massive House Beasts or such, we see that 9 people, including Tonkachi and Renga, passed the first stage. Tonkachi is told by Smith that his Vigor is likely so strong that it explains why his houses kept falling apart, the materials unable to handle it because Tonkachi hasn’t learned proper control. The second stage begins at the Valley Styx, a bottomless pit that they’ll have to build a bridge over.
The exam’s difficulty continues to increase, the Valley Styx something incredibly variable in how to build a bridge over it. And while the examinees are given a week and materials, only needing to make a bridge across, Tonkachi and Renga are a bit taken aback. And Konechika, an examinee from a ruthless and dangerous area, explains more about his background and how he wants to be a Builder to help his country. Shizuka, one of the top candidates, is noted by Smith to be a Shinobi Carpenter, using Silent Construction methods, but it seems that something underhanded is going on, a person appearing out of nowhere talking about their own goals, while Shizuka is in danger from Preta Spiders as he walks along a thread, his bridge.
Dr. Stone 184-187
The group makes a fortress as a start to Super Alloy City, but Senkuu reveals he knew that Xeno was signaling Stanley’s forces to attack at Araxa. But the Medusas can’t be utilized as easily with their complex and tiny parts, so the one working device will be weaponized to petrify everyone and someone will be out of range (Suika?) to de petrify their side.
A small discovery is made regarding the Medusa batteries, seemingly composed in a way that they’re fragile enough to specifically crack down the middle, Kaseki trying to make one like that. Suika and Francois head out to scout the area, Suika spotting Stanley and his soldiers sneaking into the forest through the river. But one of them is bitten by a spider that was spooked away by the army ant scent that Suika and Francois have, Suika saving her with some nitroglycerin that jumpstarts her heart. But while Xeno notes that Stanley will not hesitate to kill, Suika is targeted by Stanley’s men.
Matsukaze manages to free Ginro when Francois throws a knife desperately to help in some way and the coward manages to get the courage up again to save Suika. But he’s quickly captured, Francois making a split decision based on a deduction that the soldiers are behaving as such and won’t harm civilians. Thankfully this works, and Francois also sends out a message to Senkuu’s group, which allows them to deduce where Stanley’s group is
Kohaku heads off to try and save Suika’s group, but Tsukasa and Hyouga arrive to support, trying to figure out a strategy that’ll aid in fighting the modern military combat training. They manage to distract them slightly with a recorded sound resembling gunfire, but Kohaku, Tsukasa and Hyouga still have to clash with Maya and her unit to try and destroy the transceiver, so Stanley can’t use the hostages in Corn City as collateral.
My Hero Academia 300-303
Heroes begin to retire, people putting more pressure on them to deal with the problems, something that society has begun to realize was a problem of their own creation in a sense. Stain is shown mobilizing for some goal (more Hero hunting?). And Endeavor is struggling with his guilt, Rei and the others appearing to discuss Touya
We see more of Touya’s past, the expectations of his father weighing on the eldest son, pushing himself in spite of his physiology more like his mother’s, the fire Quirk stronger, but also more prone to self harm with overuse. And this emotional clash overflows as Endeavor tries to get Touya to give up, but the boy lashes out at his mother and Shoto.
Touya gets worse, his own expectations related to how his father basically regards him as a “failure” pushing him to continue his training until it results in the burns we see at present. Rei tells Endeavor how she regrets not acting sooner, saying that the family as a whole, including Shoto, must face Dabi together.
Hawks and Jeanist, having eavesdropped, offer their supports, Hawks even suggesting that he, Jeanist and Endeavor form an alliance, since the Public Safety Commission is basically shut down and can’t do the requests for outside assistance (because the whole world has Heroes, not just Japan) The mystery of One For All is something Hawks wants to investigate and we see that All Might is sensing something in Deku, who appears to be in communication with the predecessors for One For All
Fire Force 252-255
An eyeball looks down on Tokyo, absorbing the thoughts of everyone for some purpose. Charon, not quite disintegrated, unleashes an attack powered by all that massive energy he absorbed that is redirected by Maki and Hinawa at Dragon, though Arthur thinks he still managed to survive somehow. And the planet is starting to change, seemingly warping into the sun that the White Hoods planned it to become
The fire and destruction that begins only encourages the despair that Haumea emphasizes as she shares the emotions of humanity’s collective unconsciousness to the other 8 Pillars. And doppelgangers begin to appear as well
As it seems like things are getting worse, Joker appears, explaining to the 8th Division that humanity’s despair is causing the Cataclysm to progress, so Obi tries to send encouragement to others. And Dragon, floating in space, decides to return to Earth to challenge Arthur, who wants to go back to the 8th’s headquarters for something
One Piece 1003-1005
While it seems like the New Generation is doing well against the Kaidou/Big Mom alliance, Cipher Pol, there as guests, thinks this is to their favor ultimately as the pirates winnow each other down so they can end up on top when the balance shifts with the possible defeat of Emperors.
Tama’s Devil Fruit turns the tide, assisting both Nami and Usopp as well as Franky fighting Sasaki. But as the Akazaya’s location is revealed, Black Maria is heading to take them out, also under orders to get Robin for some reason, who may be in disguise amongst her allies.
Sanji calls out for Robin, seeming to be desperate to get help. And Robin assists, along with Brooke so Sanji can escape, the Tobi Roppo squaring off against the duo. Meanwhile, Yamato and Shinobu try to keep Momonosuke safe from attackers
Black Clover 281-283
Zenon explains briefly how the 2 massive demons were
sealed away by the Grinberryall family, released now to distract and destroy
the Clover Kingdom’s forces. The power is such that even the trained Magic
Knights can barely hold him off, even Mereoleona’s strength faltering. The
Wizard King manages to combine efforts with Damnatio, but it only slightly
works before he reverts to his young form. But Asta comes in and begins Devil
Union with Liebe to save the day.
Unfortunately, Asta can’t make it, but is teleported elsewhere to an unknown group of people who plan to go with him (so Finral’s with them?). Meanwhile, the devils coming out from the Qliphoth are overwhelming the Spade Kingdom, Fuegoleon offering assistance. But then unexpectedly, Noelle’s group, including herself, Mimosa, Luck, Charmy, Leopold and Nero, as well as the Spirit Guardians and Patri arrive to help as well
No comments:
Post a Comment