MSR October 2024

 

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 or Shonen Jump and/or Shonen Manga through Viz Media to read chapters virtually simultaneous with Japan. Most, if not all, of the series covered can be found through legal means, so please encourage the industry that gives us what we love

 

 

 

 

Blue Box’s anime started this month on Netflix, while we have more in the next 6 months for at least 2 other Shonen Jump series

 

Nue’s Exorcist 69-72

 

Gakuro responds that he’s too awkward to have a girlfriend, Tsujita thinking he’s made progress in having a conversation. We see Nue training Gakuro, saying he must make a temporary contract with the 1st Hyo, Gashadokuro, to be able to use the extinguishing factor in his cells. Nue utilizes Zenoblade, prompting Yamato to unleash his Hollow Weapon. And after dinner, the girls have a bath, starting to talk about their romantic feelings, including for Gakuro

We learn Yamato’s Hollow Weapon, having no combat abilities, means he has to use a general weapon that has a trade off, reducing his lifespan each time he uses it. Gakuro sees this dedication and manages to improve his tactics. Afterwards, he and Yamato go to visit his “girlfriend”, who’s in the hospital and doesn’t return his feelings, too likely he’d perish in his exorcist duties, breaking off the relationship after a terminal diagnosis. Vice Captain Yamato acknowledges Gakuro’s hard work as we see Raisei forming a contract with Gashadokuro

 

Returning to the girls’ bath, Kazusa is pressured to admit her feelings, which she says are more like he’s her little brother, Tsujita taking it as an opportunity to make a pass when she helps with resistance training the next day. Kazusa decides to step in, seemingly jealous, the two getting into a struggle. Afterwards, we see Raisei temporarily merged with Gashadokuro and that Yamato has been working with the Level 4 Spirits with the promise of healing Mizuki, his ex girlfriend.

 

Raisei, crushed briefly by Gashadokuro, gets the Hyo’s respect after restoring himself. After more romance talk between Tsujita and Shiroha, we see the training conclude for the day with Nue. Shiroha is approached by Yamato, who sent Gakuro elsewhere, the Fujino family having sent Yamato to take Shiroha back. But Gakuro, realizing something’s wrong, returns to intervene

 

 

 

 

 

4 Knights of the Apocalypse 164-168

 

The tournament continues; as it seems Isolde and Chion know something related to Tristan’s change of heart. We also see someone that attacks Eldin and Howser, also participating in the tournament, briefly projecting Eldin’s soul out of his body, Percival returning it. And Gawain unleashes a powerful attack, negated by someone that appears to be Ban (or possibly Lancelot?), the first round concluding with 16 participants finalized

 

 

We get the names of all the participants as Caperdonich introduces himself via a giant illusion of himself. Gareth is the mysterious attacker who can see souls, Balin the one who negated Gawain’s attack and several others, including Peliodas (a knight from the Liones Festival Arc), Rothes, Turret and Mystery Package (resembling assassins from Seven Deadly Sins, almost like ragdolls). Beltreipe has an underground town for the participants to rest in for the final matches tomorrow. Isolde and Chion reveal that they were tempted by Camelot, wishing Jade back to life, though a hollow representation of their late friend, and Tristan seemingly lost his memories afterwards, Tantris seemingly an undercover alias he used. Percival, in his excitement to have more food, runs into Gareth

 

Gareth tells Percival how he’s been in Annwyfyn since he was born, Percival also affected when the mysterious boy says he senses death and misfortune around him. Anne finds Percival, who reveals he met Diodora, Anne saying he doesn’t need to feel guilty (possibly still holding affection for him?). The next day, we see the lineups, Percival set to fight Gareth in the first match

 

Beltreipe notes one of the participants actually won last time, searching for more opponents. Percival and Gareth’s fight begins (while we get a tease that the mysterious hooded fight knows Tristan), Gareth on the offensive, but Percival unfazed as he knocks him back with a gouren/wrestling attack and then unleashes a swarm of the giant hands he attacked Talisker with in that fight years ago. Gareth appears to lose, but we see he can create an illusion of himself with some unknown ability

 

 

The fight continues as we learn the other Gareth is the ghost of his twin brother Dareth, summoned by Gareth’s magic power, Conjuration. And his sword can temporarily cut souls free (though that means if Percival wasn’t involved, Edlin would’ve died before). But with Percival as his opponent, even that barely fazes him, even starting to initiate the demon spell that kills, Dareth forfeiting before Gareth perishes, Percival the winner

 

 

 

 

MSR September 2024

 

 

MSR September 2024

 

 

 

 

 

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 or Shonen Jump and/or Shonen Manga through Viz Media to read chapters virtually simultaneous with Japan. Most, if not all, of the series covered can be found through legal means, so please encourage the industry that gives us what we love

 

Jujutsu Kaisen follows My Hero Academia in ending a somewhat shorter, but nonetheless popular run from 2018, just over 6 years. At least one more series may end within the year, you’ll hear it here when it happens. My money's on Undead Unluck, mostly since it's the oldest apart from One Piece and other classics

 

 

 

Kyokutou Necromance ended at 18 chapters, unfortunately having to do lore dump right at the end.

 

Psych House concludes at 17 chapters, even more disappointing because it was a fun slice of life that filled a niche that’s only semi filled with Super Psychic Policeman Chojo, still going strong

 

3 new series this month, first is Ichi the Witch by writer Osamu Nishi (of Welcome To Demon School Iruma-kun fame) and Shiro Usazaki (artist of Act-age). In a world where magic is alive in the form of Majiks, those who acquire them are called Witches. Our lead, Ichi, is a hunter who grew up in the Druid Mountains where Uroro the King Majik resides. And the strongest Witch, Descarras, discovers Uroro’s heart cannot be pierced by a woman, saved by Ichi’s intervention. And this allows Ichi to become the only male Witch in the world

 

Next is Shinobi Undercover by Ippon Takegushi and Santa Mitarashi, the team behind Candy Flurry. Yodaka, a skilled ninja, is tasked with guarding Aoi Mukai, a clutzy high school girl. And, while he’s excellent in combat, he struggles in social interactions, assisted in the mission by other ninja on the same general mission, all managing the “fake” life for Aoi

 

Last is Hakutaku by newcomer Kouki Ishikawa, features high schooler Hikuma, who’s developed a talent for playing games even at school, learning about people’s habits and patterns. Not even realizing he’s being bullied, he has a positive and generous outlook. New student, Raika Noto, bringing up his situation and how she can help, suggesting he use his gamifying talent and have her help him make a game for their class to counter the bullying. And the responses are so good that Hikuma decides he really wants to make games

 

 

 

 

Kyokutou Necromance 18 [END]

 

We meet the sorcerers that created the rings (seemingly African in origin?), meeting up with the Shiryo Sorcery Society head at an airport. Their leader, a shiryo from an unnamed African nation, meets up with Kaoru. After an invasion, the country released shiryo across the world, the Chitari-lookalike holding a flame for Kaoru’s great great grandfather. Unfortunately, it means she targets Kaoru’s grandma, thankfully only using her as a threat so Kaoru can agree to marry her. And things conclude as Yoji, who faked his death, is fishing, seemingly getting a call about another job

 

 

 

 

 

Nue’s Exorcist 64-68

 

We see Kazusa and Gakuro helped by other Exorcist Captains, Gakuro still able to fight in spite of his Hollow Weapon breaking. Gakuro notices Raisei’s Hollow Weapon is the same design as his, Nue previously allied with the Exorcist Bureau to seal the other Hyo, but was seemingly betrayed as well. And Kasha is said to be the one who created the system that created the Level 4s (or possibly Nue? Maybe people just assumed it was Nue), the Hyo prepared to destroy everything. The two Hyo clash, compared to two natural disasters

 

We see Jinpachi, a student that featured early on, is part of a family that venerates Kasha as a god that protected them from a tsunami (plot point that comes too late?). Meanwhile, Nue and Kasha’s fight continues, but Raisei decides with Kasha to leave for now, planning for the upcoming resurrection of the Hyo. Nue bids him goodbye, revealing his surname is Fujino (same as one of the major exorcist clans). The next day, Hakutaku is revealed to be captured by Nue and they “interrogate” her under the guise of a welcome party

 

As everyone enjoys the party, Hakutaku opens up in a slight way, given her weakness to kids and “teaching” them. We learn Raisei was indeed of the Fujino clan and their unique constitution allows them to absorb spirits, seen with Shiroha in her introduction. And Raisei’s plan is to speed up the Hyo’s resurrection, likely starting in 2 weeks. But his plan involves a particular member, since he doesn’t have the Ritual Blades

 

We’re told Shin, another of Raisei’s Level 4 allies, can copy any physical thing he touches with a special ability (in a painful process we see part of). And Kasha’s ability to manipulate dimensions would speed up the resurrection if he can unlock it with a Ritual Blade, even a copy. Izane, the Exorcist Bureau Head arrives, appointing the Sixth and First Branches to defeat the Hyo. The Ritual Blade is completed by Shin, while Gakuro begins training with Nue, assisted by Vice Captain Yamato

 

 

 

Nue explains how Yamato Rido has a barrier power that protects people from a Hyo’s negative effects (which has a huge range). Gakuro is unable to admit any crush, Yamato claiming such an accomplishment is the bare minimum for captain qualities. Nue then volunteers the idea for Gakuro to confess at the summer festival. After training, Yamato teases Gakuro, suggesting the young captain wants to date the many girls in his social circle and Tsujita accidentally interrupts Gakuro as he leaves, asking if he’s dating anyone

 

 

4 Knights of the Apocalypse 159-163

 

Gawain explains that they’ll have a chance to attack Beltreipe if they win, since he’s that arrogant. And she introduces her grandma and grandpa, a wood golem and dragon skeleton respectively, also saying that she can help the group get weapons for the tournament. Percival approaches Kay, who tells him about his past with Arthur, his adopted brother, who pulled Excalibur from the stone and treated him kindly even when he tried to usurp his position and lashed out in anger. Percival agrees to take Gawain, even saying Kay raised her better than he thinks

 

 

Gawain takes the group to the kitchen where it’s revealed her chef is Dubs, the Giant blacksmith that forged the Sacred Treasures used by the Seven Deadly Sins.  He initially refuses to make weapons for them, but hearing about Lancelot’s struggles to find a compatible weapon has him change his mind. The group heads to Annwfyn, while we see what appears to be a more feminine dainty Isolde saved by a taller Tristan (called Tantris)

 

The group meets up with Tristan/Tantris, who doesn’t recognize them at all (Arthur’s Chaos magic in Camelot probably affecting his and Isolde’s memories), but Percival confirms it is Tristan, the tournament about to start

 

Gawain summons a chest where Dubs will put the weapons in when he’s forged them. Percival wants to go with just Gawain, the danger more clear now, but the others insist. The first stage is a free for all, the final 16 passing to the next level of combat. Percival is attacked by an armored knight, who is called out to by others as Diodora, to his shock

 

We see Diodora wants to return Ironside to normal, his father insisting he has no son (seemingly due to Arthur’s converting him and Pellegarde). Percival faces off against Diodora’s aides, one using Life Spirits to attack. Nasiens and Anne also fight back, though Anne is helped by Bors (who I actually forgot was still involved) and also Chion and Isolde (the other Isolde a fake)