Mag Talk Weekly Shonen Jump [2018] - Discussion and TOC Talk

[iceemperor]

I remember on Japanese TV discussion shows, they said something like the police and prosecution were trying to make an example out of Watsuki yet here we are 4 months later with him coming right back to work. He got off with a small fine while probably earning royalties the entire time. Even now, the Kenshin live action movies are playing on TV getting decent ratings. He also probably got powerful lawyers. I for one will never read his work again even if Kenshin is one of my all time favourite series.

 

[De La Croissant]

It seems the people there don't care. If it happened here, I'm sure there would be a boycott or something.

 

[susanoo13]

As a manga lover I on the contrary think Watsuki does deserve a second chance, it might be funny that a guy who wrote a manga with the theme of redemption doesn't get the chance to redeem himself. Yes it does leave a sour taste in my mouth and of course I can understand people thinking "what if by the money he's getting from me purchasing Kenshin he gets those videos, which means I'm supporting unwillingly child prostitution?". If I can sympathyze with a character moving from bad to good, a human most certainly deserves a second chance.
On another note, much like I can listen to Michael Jackson's "Heal the world" and I think it's an amazing song, and not hear "Think about the children" and get pissed like hell, I can disconnect my feelings towards Watsuki as a preson and appreciate Kenshin as a great work of art.

What do you think he needs to do in order to atone and have a fair chance to return as a mangaka?

 

[SharkBait]

As a manga lover I on the contrary think Watsuki does deserve a second chance,

Its much too soon.

 

[De La Croissant]

Yeah, nobody believes in characters that change from bad to good very fast. It's plot convenience.

 

[ChocoBar9]

I'm more upset with how this process was handled than Watsuki really. It really shows a gray morality in their mentality and of course the manga is coming back because business is business. Whatever the case the franchise is forever tarnished because of this and Watsuki will more than likely never make a name outside of it again (which he's been struggling for nearly two decades now).

 

[tirakai]

It's worth considering that what he did wasn't even illegal in Japan until 2014, it's not a matter of business over morals so much as the morals just being different. Heck they even considered banning it earlier back in 2008 or so but the bill got shot down, the ban pretty much only happened due to UN pressure from my understanding. Possessing child porn just isn't that big of a deal there.

Compare it to how in the west people often consider possession of illegal drugs obtained from drug cartels mostly harmless despite how many people are harmed in the process of making and distributing it. People think it's fine since you're not directly hurting anyone just by owning it despite your money helping fund murderous drug lords, and I'm guessing it's a similar principle as that.

 

[iceemperor]

I'm more upset with how this process was handled than Watsuki really. It really shows a gray morality in their mentality and of course the manga is coming back because business is business. Whatever the case the franchise is forever tarnished because of this and Watsuki will more than likely never make a name outside of it again (which he's been struggling for nearly two decades now).

This process was most likely shifted through a powerful team of lawyers. In addition, there are quite a bit of people that are looking forward to it returning on twitter though there are sentiments that its return is rather quick.

 

[tirakai]

The return certainly is a bit fast but everyone knew it'd be returning eventually. I guess with it being such a high profile case they figured it's not something where they can just wait for it to blow over and be forgotten, so they figured they might as well bring it back as soon as they can.

I can't imagine Viz picking it back up any time soon though, there'd be a lot more controversy for them than with the Japanese audience.

 

[ruggia]

What do you think he needs to do in order to atone and have a fair chance to return as a mangaka?

I mean, there wasn't much "atonement" in the first place outside of the main serialization put on hold simly because Watsuki doesn't have time to draw since he is busy with the legal process.

The Ruroken novels were still running on Jump SQ each month uninterrupted, and the franchise was still business as usual with different crossover events with mobile games and such.

 

[Avok]

I don't think Viz will pick any Watsuki work ever again. The backlash would be massive.

 

[tirakai]

Back to other stuff, Viz has started elDLIVE's final season on their site so they're only 2 chapters behind now. I wonder how long this last season will be, hopefully Amano's got more plans for new series once it eventually finishes.

 

[shoyoboyo]

Funny thing is, Watsuki can easily just return with a new work with a pen name, and no one but the editorial department would even know.

Has there been any official statements from colleagues or any other mangaka? I wonder how Oda feels about the topic since he was an assistant for Watsuki.

 

[Franz]

It seems the people there don't care. If it happened here, I'm sure there would be a boycott or something.

Why ?

 

[ChocoBar9]

I mean, there wasn't much "atonement" in the first place outside of the main serialization put on hold simly because Watsuki doesn't have time to draw since he is busy with the legal process.

The Ruroken novels were still running on Jump SQ each month uninterrupted, and the franchise was still business as usual with different crossover events with mobile games and such.

I think the Kenshin mobage ended.

 

[ruggia]

I think the Kenshin mobage ended.

I'm talking about these:

• Puzzle & Dragons
  
• Genmetsu Toshi 2

 

[Mammo]

hmmmm, you people automatically liked Build King the moment it was announced Shimabukuro will do a new oneshot
someone even used its mc as his avatar
other were asking about the chances of it getting serialized/how fast until something is serialized
last week, you said you liked the leaks that didn't make any sense without context
yesterday you said you liked the raw despite not speaking Japanese

so today after you read the full oneshot in English and you say you like it what gives your opinions any credibility? for weeks you've been admitting to liking a thing without reading it and literally judging a book by its cover
also, how do we know you haven't done this to other titles? how do we know you didn't like/dislike something without reading it?

Jump sq is fine without him.

The manga industry is fine without him.

humanity is fine without him
fucking disgusting, I can't fathom that they're employing and paying a guy that used his money to purchase CP
he enabled monsters to harm real kids

 

[101nemesis]

he enabled monsters to harm real kids

Yep. I cannot believe there are people here telling he needs a second chance. No, he doesn't. He knew what he was doing while doing it. He does not deserve a chance again. But clearly Japan thinks otherwise, so what can we do!?

 

[iceemperor]

Build King really reads like it was made with a serialization in mind. It doesn't give much information about the world or a lot of characterization but there is some charm to it. The way it runs through its story is similar to Toriko but the art is almost a downgrade from Toriko. Something about the line-work seems off. Also I know Shimabukuro has always had rather old-fashioned art but this seems particularly so. Also, the pages are too busy. Its very much "pure shounen", on the same level as BC but in a different vein. There is however something almost too childish, almost like its made for Coro Coro's demographic. With a little reworking, I think it could make it big in Jump plus knowing Nakano, he probably wants Shimabukuro back in Jump.

 

[101nemesis]

With a little reworking, I think it could make it big in Jump plus knowing Nakano, he probably wants Shimabukuro back in Jump.

Wasn't it revealed in a recent interview that he made Kubo, Kishimoto, Shimabukuro all promise that they'd return with a new series while he was the EIC?