What manga are you reading now?
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Spark_Heal
Student Council President
Choujin X by Sui Ishida Chapters 1 - 43
Ishida’s successor to his international mega-hit Tokyo Ghoul. The artist has been very open about the stress that working under tight deadlines caused him. To the point he claims that he'd lost his sense of taste during Ghoul's publication. Fortunately Choujin X being released on a digital platform has allowed him to have a more sporadic release schedule with varying page limits. Some chapters can be 20 pages and others 100 pages and a new full length volume being collected and released every 5 months. Ishida’s consistent yet inconsistent output is resulting in the same amount of work while (hopefully) allowing him to prioritise his health.
This lack of pressure can be felt all in the opening chapters of Choujin X. Tokio Kurohara’s listless existence in a world radically altered by super-humans known as Choujin remains chilled out and even meandering. Despite awakening his powers as a Buzzard Choujin and the occasional bouts of life-threatening danger Tokio has no great calling or moral compulsion to use his powers for anything. He has to muddle through his daily life and figure out what is best for him. The leisurely pace of these earliest chapters might discourage readers expecting a more action packed or sad series. Eventually when it comes time to put his cards on the table Ishida makes the journey worth it. There's a set of very impactful chapters that pull these desperate events together into a clear picture of the central conflict. A conflict more layered and entertaining in ways that would have been impossible if the series rushed to get into it.
As somebody with a very scattershot experience with Tokyo Ghoul it feels as if Choujin X (while having the same basic premise of a boy who is turned into an inhuman monster by the whims of fate) was designed to address many of its predecessor’s weaknesses. Or more likely just trying something different now that he's more seasoned and coincidentally landing on something I like more. Tokyo Ghoul it was dead-set on being a tragedy where poor sap Ken Kaneki was crushed over and over, always shaping himself into whatever he needed to become for the sake of survival. Certainly tragic yet not someone I found especially engaging as a lead. Despite sinister plots taking root and infecting the lives of the characters Choujin isn’t married to being constantly foreboding. Resulting in Tokio’s life feels more textured. He has good days and bad days but when Tokio finally commits himself to a course of action he always feels like he needs to take accountability for it. He’ll panic in a crisis or ruminate on his ennui but never feels like he’s resigned to fate or solely relying on external pressure to develop his perspective. The irony of his biggest fault initially being choice paralysis mean is that Tokio Kurohara is aware that he has multiple options at all times. That awareness leads him to being indecisive but also be open-minded about ways he could help or try to improve the situation. Which is very optimistic for a horror fantasy series and allows Ishida’s oddball humour to breathe.
So I’m looking forward to reading more of this at some point. Volume 11 releases in English in February, Volume 15 is set to release in Japan. Incidentally, the volume covers use a pattern of covers being red, blue, yellow and then green before starting over again. If the pattern maintains that the series will likely end on a multiple of four, I'm guesstimating Volume 24. Possibly Volume 25 with the final book having a completely new look to give it some finality.
Ishida’s successor to his international mega-hit Tokyo Ghoul. The artist has been very open about the stress that working under tight deadlines caused him. To the point he claims that he'd lost his sense of taste during Ghoul's publication. Fortunately Choujin X being released on a digital platform has allowed him to have a more sporadic release schedule with varying page limits. Some chapters can be 20 pages and others 100 pages and a new full length volume being collected and released every 5 months. Ishida’s consistent yet inconsistent output is resulting in the same amount of work while (hopefully) allowing him to prioritise his health.
This lack of pressure can be felt all in the opening chapters of Choujin X. Tokio Kurohara’s listless existence in a world radically altered by super-humans known as Choujin remains chilled out and even meandering. Despite awakening his powers as a Buzzard Choujin and the occasional bouts of life-threatening danger Tokio has no great calling or moral compulsion to use his powers for anything. He has to muddle through his daily life and figure out what is best for him. The leisurely pace of these earliest chapters might discourage readers expecting a more action packed or sad series. Eventually when it comes time to put his cards on the table Ishida makes the journey worth it. There's a set of very impactful chapters that pull these desperate events together into a clear picture of the central conflict. A conflict more layered and entertaining in ways that would have been impossible if the series rushed to get into it.
As somebody with a very scattershot experience with Tokyo Ghoul it feels as if Choujin X (while having the same basic premise of a boy who is turned into an inhuman monster by the whims of fate) was designed to address many of its predecessor’s weaknesses. Or more likely just trying something different now that he's more seasoned and coincidentally landing on something I like more. Tokyo Ghoul it was dead-set on being a tragedy where poor sap Ken Kaneki was crushed over and over, always shaping himself into whatever he needed to become for the sake of survival. Certainly tragic yet not someone I found especially engaging as a lead. Despite sinister plots taking root and infecting the lives of the characters Choujin isn’t married to being constantly foreboding. Resulting in Tokio’s life feels more textured. He has good days and bad days but when Tokio finally commits himself to a course of action he always feels like he needs to take accountability for it. He’ll panic in a crisis or ruminate on his ennui but never feels like he’s resigned to fate or solely relying on external pressure to develop his perspective. The irony of his biggest fault initially being choice paralysis mean is that Tokio Kurohara is aware that he has multiple options at all times. That awareness leads him to being indecisive but also be open-minded about ways he could help or try to improve the situation. Which is very optimistic for a horror fantasy series and allows Ishida’s oddball humour to breathe.
So I’m looking forward to reading more of this at some point. Volume 11 releases in English in February, Volume 15 is set to release in Japan. Incidentally, the volume covers use a pattern of covers being red, blue, yellow and then green before starting over again. If the pattern maintains that the series will likely end on a multiple of four, I'm guesstimating Volume 24. Possibly Volume 25 with the final book having a completely new look to give it some finality.
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Lucky_Deity
Dragon Knight
The Life-Changing Manga of Tidying Up: A Magical Story by Marie Kondo (Complete)
Gemsy-chan
Himouto
vol 6 of Lout of Count's Family (novel)
Lucky_Deity
Dragon Knight
Christmas Eve
City Hunter - Chapter 1 - 2
Christmas Day
City Hunter - Chapter 3 - 4
City Hunter - Chapter 1 - 2
Christmas Day
City Hunter - Chapter 3 - 4
Dragon Slayer
Soul Reaper
Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest ch 199 - 202
How Not to Summon a Demon Lord ch 130 - 131
In Another World With My Smartphone ch 107 - 108
Monster Musume ch 93
Slave Harem in the Labyrinth of the Other World ch 103
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ch 136
The Rising of the Shield Hero ch 121
Tsugumomo ch 180.2
How Not to Summon a Demon Lord ch 130 - 131
In Another World With My Smartphone ch 107 - 108
Monster Musume ch 93
Slave Harem in the Labyrinth of the Other World ch 103
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ch 136
The Rising of the Shield Hero ch 121
Tsugumomo ch 180.2
Gemsy-chan
Himouto
vol 2 of Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint (novel)
D1tchd1gger
Himouto
Ghost in the Shell vol 1
Before the new series (and re-watching the film with the 4K release) I thought I'd re-read this. It must have been close to 10 years at least since I read it as I can't find a post here recording my reading it and I've been here (second time round) for nearly 9 years now!
Because my main take from that first read through was that the Major is so different from the film I somehow "remembered" that the plot itself was completely different too, but whilst there are many differences, including chapters that weren't adapted, all the main stand out plot points are there (the opening scene, the binmen section, the Puppeteer and the Major's finale).
Before the new series (and re-watching the film with the 4K release) I thought I'd re-read this. It must have been close to 10 years at least since I read it as I can't find a post here recording my reading it and I've been here (second time round) for nearly 9 years now!
Because my main take from that first read through was that the Major is so different from the film I somehow "remembered" that the plot itself was completely different too, but whilst there are many differences, including chapters that weren't adapted, all the main stand out plot points are there (the opening scene, the binmen section, the Puppeteer and the Major's finale).
Shadow Cat
Dragon Knight
4 volumes in to School Live
Kinda feels like Resident Evil Manga Edition lol. Even down to how you'd unlock the basement shutter being something you'd expect from RE
Pretty fun so far
All it needs is more keys, medals and puzzles
Kinda feels like Resident Evil Manga Edition lol. Even down to how you'd unlock the basement shutter being something you'd expect from RE
Pretty fun so far
All it needs is more keys, medals and puzzles
D1tchd1gger
Himouto
Yuru Camp vol 15
Cycling Up That Hill (A Deal With Dog)
Cycling Up That Hill (A Deal With Dog)
RadFemHedonist
Guild Member
Is it really called that? XD
(This is making me think of a card I saw in a card shop today w a picture of I think Stevie Nicks from Fleetwood Mac that said "I heard RUMORS that it was your birthday", I guess today is the annual "god/the universe shows me references to vintage women of rock" day) XD
D1tchd1gger
Himouto
I always do a small summary and a lot of time use pop culture references. In this volume 2 of the characters cycle to a camp site which is up a hill and there's always been plenty of dogs in the books. This one had a dog with its own social media channel and a character who's really good at drawing them!
Spark_Heal
Student Council President
Kagurabachi Chapters 104-107 - Hokazono has so far been able to resolve some big mysteries in the series while keeping the action fast paced and tensions high. I’m guessing this arc ends in the next 6-8 chapters so that they can wrap it up in the 12th volume (they have enough for 11 right now) but this is Jump’s new action series so the story is far from over.
D1tchd1gger
Himouto
The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy at All vol 3
Festival and transformation.
Festival and transformation.
D1tchd1gger
Himouto
Love Bullet vol 1
But she'll take away your pain,
Like a bullet to your brain!
When humans who haven't experienced love die they become cupids that use guns instead of bows! They can earn karma by making people fall in love, but the targets have to be somewhat compatible. If they earn enough karma they can get resurrected. They're given targets, who so far in the missions we've seen, have multiple partner options. But they're not alone, other cupids may help or hinder in order to get the "love" shot in themselves and thus, non-lethal, battle ensues.
We see our main protag as a high schooler who's good at match making, but never gets round to finding love herself before she tragically dies just as she's confessed to by her long term friend! We also witness her early missions, one of which is very personal.
I found it entertaining, at points quite funny and others moving. The art is very nice too.
But she'll take away your pain,
Like a bullet to your brain!
When humans who haven't experienced love die they become cupids that use guns instead of bows! They can earn karma by making people fall in love, but the targets have to be somewhat compatible. If they earn enough karma they can get resurrected. They're given targets, who so far in the missions we've seen, have multiple partner options. But they're not alone, other cupids may help or hinder in order to get the "love" shot in themselves and thus, non-lethal, battle ensues.
We see our main protag as a high schooler who's good at match making, but never gets round to finding love herself before she tragically dies just as she's confessed to by her long term friend! We also witness her early missions, one of which is very personal.
I found it entertaining, at points quite funny and others moving. The art is very nice too.
Spark_Heal
Student Council President
Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Chapters 1 - 3: Jujutsu Kaisen always felt like a very Rob Zombie action manga. The series might as well be called Super-Doom-Hex-Gloom-School. With that in mind the shift to focusing on aliens who know magic kung-fu feel almost makes sense.
I swear the Rob Zombie comparison made sense then I started writing this out.
Roughly 70 years after the ending of the original series, Japan has found itself in a strained diplomatic position made worse by the arrival of alien visitors, who are ready for first contact. Because both the aliens and Japanese Jujutsu practitioners can use magic they seem to have something in common. This means that instead of fighting Demonoid Phenomenon it's up to Earth's kung-fu wizards to broker peace with refugees from beyond the stars, while both sides know that those Hovering Over The Dull Earth could wipe them all out in open conflict. So peace is the only option and it involves teaming up an alien observer with two teenagers to prove that cooperation and understanding between planets is very possible.
That sounds really jarring compared to the original series... because it is. And honestly such a sharp and sudden change in art, tone and content helps Modulo break away from its predecessor. If you are cool with Gege bringing in aliens to his urban fantasy series then you'll probably also be someone interested in seeing how he handles a first contact story. He definitely watched Arrival at some point. Jujutsu Original was interested in political disputes and behind-the-scenes negotiations but never fully took the plunge. Nor did it find a way to juggle them with the main cast's adventure. Here they are joined at the hip and the people involved aren't squabbling rich people: they are literally representatives of the Japanese government trying to broker a peace deal with a totally unknown faction while also trying to hash out a strategy of introducing extraterrestrials to the public without triggering a wave of anti-immigration hysteria that will trigger the end of the world. It feels a lot more confident and layered than a smoke-filled room of evil old man doing things to make Yuji Itadori's life harder.
It's unfortunately not that interesting to read. The science fiction stuff is well-done but none of the main characters are that interesting. I've read a bit of the most recent chapters and it's not really boosted my confidence. I've seen two different Mahoraga fights, it lost both of them, I don't find the concept interesting enough for a third.. Hopefully the fans enjoy it. And most importantly I hope Gege explains why Maki lets one of the three clans boss her and her grandkids around her entire life. That is the one thing a Jujutsu Kaisen sequel cannot do. It's really weird that it is foundational to this story.
That sounds really jarring compared to the original series... because it is. And honestly such a sharp and sudden change in art, tone and content helps Modulo break away from its predecessor. If you are cool with Gege bringing in aliens to his urban fantasy series then you'll probably also be someone interested in seeing how he handles a first contact story. He definitely watched Arrival at some point. Jujutsu Original was interested in political disputes and behind-the-scenes negotiations but never fully took the plunge. Nor did it find a way to juggle them with the main cast's adventure. Here they are joined at the hip and the people involved aren't squabbling rich people: they are literally representatives of the Japanese government trying to broker a peace deal with a totally unknown faction while also trying to hash out a strategy of introducing extraterrestrials to the public without triggering a wave of anti-immigration hysteria that will trigger the end of the world. It feels a lot more confident and layered than a smoke-filled room of evil old man doing things to make Yuji Itadori's life harder.
It's unfortunately not that interesting to read. The science fiction stuff is well-done but none of the main characters are that interesting. I've read a bit of the most recent chapters and it's not really boosted my confidence. I've seen two different Mahoraga fights, it lost both of them, I don't find the concept interesting enough for a third.. Hopefully the fans enjoy it. And most importantly I hope Gege explains why Maki lets one of the three clans boss her and her grandkids around her entire life. That is the one thing a Jujutsu Kaisen sequel cannot do. It's really weird that it is foundational to this story.
I swear the Rob Zombie comparison made sense then I started writing this out.
RonJB
Thousand Master
The Disowned Queen's Consulting Detective Agency v1: This one was a lot of fun but, sadly, there is yet to be a sequel and I want to see what happens to Octavia. It's in the far future after a disaster involving a previous king apparently running amok and civilisation being saved by angels (aliens?) who appear to have taken over. There are dangerous remnants of old technology, a phantom thief, family squabbles, royal shenanigans, a little romance and many mysteries.
Now reading An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride, which so far is interesting and amusing if a little clunky in parts. At least there's more than one volume (and an anime, apparently).
Now reading An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride, which so far is interesting and amusing if a little clunky in parts. At least there's more than one volume (and an anime, apparently).