Black Clover

Black Clover

Monday, January 3, 2022

MSR December 2021

 

 

 

 

 

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 216-217

 

The first match begins, the group having to account for their limits by playing more cautiously, but they’re still unfortunately wiped out, Mizukami having an advantage in not having to utilize the teamwork and communication required for that to be effective in strategizing

 




 

 

The long range combo ability used by Mizukami seems more effective, Katori convincing the others to use it in their second match, the melee combo ability not working in their favor before (but having advantages if they could manage to get into close range). The other squads only do slightly better, Mizukami the only consistently good one. Osamu suggests a strategic element so communication between the about unit targeting can improve and a special assignment suddenly comes in asking about why the B rank wars were between more than 2 squads, pushing more time crunch on the group

 

Doron Dororon c1-4

 

Dora Sasaki wants to be a samurai and fight mononoke, but finds he’s unqualified, lacking any supernatural energy. But he discovers a friendly mononoke trying to stop others from eating humans, Dora pairing up with Kusanagi, the mononoke’s ability to transform into weapons combining well with his immense strength

 

While the two discuss what to do, another mononoke attacks samurai that warn Dora about mononoke in the area. It’s unavoidable, but the pair defeats the mononoke and emphasize that Kusanagi is a good mononoke, deciding to be “stray leek samurai” and protect people even if they don’t get recognition, though a samurai seems to recognize them from another incident

 

The samurai, Ginchiyo Yagyu, is a middle tier samurai, finding Dora and Kusanagi, though they clash. It turns out to have been a test of his aptitude and she offers him a chance to cooperate with the samurai, which will help her chances at advancement (seemingly with a rival samurai)

 

Ginchiyo explains to Dora and Kusanagi they need to be ready at any time, calling them to a location in the middle of the night. A Yamakujira mononoke appears and Kusanagi is eaten, though Dora keeps Ginchiyo safe in the meantime. Kusanagi manages to get out and Dora slashes the Yamakujira down, Ginchiyo thinking she found a diamond in the rough

 

 

Ayashimon 4-6

 

We get an important piece of lore as to ayashimon’s physical existence being tied to money they use as a medium and if it’s destroyed, they must wait 99 years to form another, so business is essential to maintaining power overall. The weak ayashimon from before is indeed an underling in a gang, offering them the opportunity to take it over, since his boss is abusive. A ritual duel is set up, Maruo still excited even when it seems like the fight could be tougher, and with higher stakes if he loses and Ten, the underling from before, is pushed by Urara to encourage Maruo. 

 




 

 

The duel ends in Maruo’s favor when the floor collapses and happens to kill the boss and the ayashimon gang recognizes Urara and Maruo as the new leaders. Urara speculates Maruo may be a marebito, a human that potentially has supernatural influence. But she’s approached by the Onmyou Group, the Public Safety division that deals with the supernatural and they let her off with a warning this time, thinking to potentially leak the info to the Enma Syndicate, which Urara plans to take down, having gained some info on their present leader

 

We see Doppo, the present head of the Enma Syndicate, who threatens Hashihime with becoming one of his twisted works of art, since killing an ayashimon doesn’t deal with them directly. The Onmyou Bureau member from before gives some images of Maruo and Urara (after avoiding death when an ayashimon attacks him, a shikigami substituting the damage). But while Doppo acts like he doesn’t care, having Hashihime moved elsewhere (since she likely knows more about the Syndicate), he tells his underlings to find and kill Maruo and Urara, to send a message to fear the Enma Syndicate and gain new respect and prestige.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 Knights of the Apocalypse 41-44

 

As the group heads to Liones, Anne and Sin bicker, since the fox thinks she’s being too emotional and not considering the danger Ardd could have posed. And Anne accuses Sin of being a coward and only helping them after the fact in all their past conflicts. They reconcile, Sin admitting he was wrong, though he confides in Percival and the others he was provoking Anne because he knows anger can motivate more than sadness. Finding the Entangled Forest, Anne “steals” Sin’s idea to lure the enemies in, since it’s supposedly like a labyrinth.





 

 

The Dark Talismans, a group of 5 (now 4) continue pursuing Percival’s group, Arthur telling Pellegarde to just provide him results (still seeking a wife for himself as the King of Chaos). In the Entangled Forest, the knights split up. Percival’s magical “clones” are used to draw them away and Elgin, the Carrion Eater, is the first to encounter them, a quartet attack used to try and take him out with the element of surprise

 

It seems Elgin is stronger than the group, complimenting some of their tactics in spite of mocking their weakness. But Nasiens notices that Elgin’s magic’s nature as degeneration, which the knight confirms as Wither. With the Cernunnos Horn mixed as a “venom”, Nasiens strengthens himself, along with the Wither poison that Elgin uses, Percival landing a final blow as the knight falls to his doom

 

Afterwards, Nasiens suffers the side effects of the venom, too weak to keep fighting, Elgin actually saved by Percival’s magic from a fatal fall. And Percival is similarly fatigued after flying them through the forest to avoid the other knights, including one riding a magical beast called Sleipnir. And they plan to kill the children, not taking them as lightly as Elgin did, Fiddich, their leader, warning them to not underestimate their power.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Stone 221-223

Ryusui and the others discuss that Stanley is indeed the better choice, Xeno used as a sort of “hostage” for motivation, Stanley more than willing to do the mission. And while it seems that Ryusui is accepting of the substitution, his desire to go into space remains

 




 

 

With vinyl acquired, space suits are produced, as well as LCD screens, ostensibly for a smartphone (which is only portable in one aspect, the computer still over 60 pounds itself), but really intended for use on the spaceship so it’s as lightweight as possible for the round trip

 

The launch is initiated, mild concerns about a 5% chance of death on the mission, but everyone standing together as Senkuu, Kohaku and Stanley are prepared to face Why Man

 


 

 

My Hero Academia 335-337

 

 As Deku and the others train, we see Hagakure eavesdropping elsewhere, learning that Aoyama (suspected to be the traitor since a chapter that teased it probably 2 years ago) is the mole for All For One, his parents indebted because Aoyama was originally Quirkless, given one by the Villain. Deku is told this by Hagakure, having noticed that he seemed off, but Aoyama still insists he’s a villain for what he’s done

 




 

 

Hagakure blocks Aoyama’s blast with her powers (briefly showing her face) and Aoyama is taken in, along with his parents. They insist All For One just keeps them around to use, not knowing anything more to help them find the villain. In spite of Aoyama continuing to claim he’s a villain for his continued betrayal, Deku says that, like Nagant, Aoyama was manipulated by All For One and can still be a hero.

 

While Aoyama and his family are taken into police custody, Aizawa and Class 1-A agree to a plan that must be kept secret from Aoyama and his parents (so they can possibly deceive All for One). Deku and Iida go to repair their equipment, meeting up with Hatsume again

 

 

Fire Force 294-296

 

Mari seems to be in her right mind (thankfully), but Shinra still can’t manage to land a blow on Haumea, the Evangelist’s connection letting her utilize more of the Pillars’ abilities, like Iris’ divine protection along with Inca’s precognition of disaster. But Shinra realizes that he needs to unite with Sho and Mari, to utilize the miracle that happens when a family is united 

 



 

 

Shinra realizes that Haumea is shouldering the Evangelist’s despair, suggesting that he, Sho and Mari align their souls to bear hope against the despair. And with a fantastic Soul Eater motif, they resonate together and Shinra changes forms to face off against the Evangelist and Haumea

 

 

One Piece 1034-1035

 

While Momonosuke keeps trying to keep Onigashima from crashing into the Flower Capital, Queen and Sanji clash. A courtesan that the Tobi Roppo wanted to pay but rejected him tries to get her pet mouse to safety and Queen attacks, Sanji utilizing his enhancements to create even hotter flames and unleashes a combo to deal massive damage. 

 



 

 

King and Zolo clash after we determine Sanji is the winner in his fight against Queen. The mystery man’s mask comes off, his white hair and brown skin visual information that supposedly could be given to the World Government for a reward. Having figured out that the flames are a major factor in King’s defense, Zolo uses the points where it isn’t manifesting to attack and they have a major stand-off, Zolo seemingly having defeated the Lunarian

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black Clover 316-317

 

Asta and Liebe, utilizing their Devil Union form again, cut through Lucifero’s massive body with the Demon Slasher blade, able to choose what it cuts. Thus, Yami and William are safe

 



 

 

Unfortunately, even as things seem to be getting better, we see that Lucifero has half manifested, Megicula saying as much via their weakened form (or another devil entirely). Asta arrives, the others affected by Lucifero’s gravity and the supreme devil planning to take down the Spade Kingdom

 

No comments:

Post a Comment