Issue 48 rankings:
Tier 1 (Great):
1: Akanebanashi #227 – Hey, Ikken got his position as an exec! Still needs to become the “face” of Rakugo though. Akane’s rep is growing! She’s becoming a star and a respected individual within the Rakugo world! I’m so proud of her! Shiguma has been replaced! Maikeru is now in the Arakawa Arch Four! Hell of a come up. Very good chapter, lots of things being set up and things being revealed, it’s like one of those classic post arc bits in One Piece lol. Also Akane not going back to the Shiguma school was a given, like I said last week, I think she’s getting farther and farther away from her dad’s teaching and going more the Issho route, but the Shiguma school will work together and put her on the “right” path again, I’m sure. Her older brothers will rescue her!
2: Roku #27 – The ghost photobombing the girls lmao. Guess I’d have some fun like that as well if I were a ghost. The story of the four ghosts is pretty scary, they can show you what you desire the most or they can uhhh…make you disappear apparently lol. And then reappear dead several years later. Get fucked. I was wondering this whole time if Sachiko’s murder was in the news, I mean it happened a long time ago, but there should still be some traces of it and hey, there sure is! Anyway, Roku’s reaction is completely understandable. Finding out what is basically a family member went through such hardship in the past would hurt anyone, even if that family member is basically a ghost and the thing happened several decades ago. It makes it even worse that she was so young and that Sachiko is so nice, the world is really unfair. Once again this series balances comedy and serious/emotional moments very well.
3: Greykeith #7 – Greykeith summoning the Flame Lord as a kid because he wanted to know how to speak his language is very fitting. It’s stuff like this that makes me excited for this series, because it easily could have been him summoning him to fight or whatever, but it stays on topic of being about language and translations. And the Amatsuka detective guy is actually a devil! Hahah the police having devils working for them…yeah that tracks. And he parts with words in the Demon language that Kisaragi can’t understand, but I like that it’s translated for us. He’ll definitely want to eat Kisaragi’s soul one day lol. Speaking of, Kisaragi’s Pyreth is improving and she managed to feed the Baron! Nice.
4: Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi #113 – I knew the “middle” Kitano, the son, would be important in some way. Too unique a design not to be. But I didn’t expect this lol. Him being the culprit was also not expected. And he’s an ex Cross Paladin so he can fight Kiyoshi without me thinking “hmm, Kiyoshi should just take care of him” lol. Also I like Iefuda leaving. It feels like he can be built up as Kiyoshi’s rival, and he’s a fellow human as well, not a demon. Good chapter, good art as well.
5: Witch Watch #267 – Roswitha’s speech becoming more and more corrupt was a nice touch. Shikimi and Roswitha fusing into a giant tree/wood monster is pretty terrifying. Also when Roswitha ponders to Shikimi that she might help people, Shikimi pauses and doesn’t even answer her really, just says “it’s ok, I’m here”. A good reminder that although Roswitha is the powerhouse here, Shikimi is still ultimately the main villain and the one manipulating her and her half brain revived form, as tragic their story is. Lol at the other boys calling Moi out for giving himself a death flag. Nico seems to be feeling bad for Roswitha, actually makes complete sense and something I never thought of. If Roswitha had powerful familiars similar to what Nico has, then none of this would have happened. Nico is finally gonna do something let’s go!!!!
Tier 2 (Good):
Sakamoto Days #280 – I’m enjoying this. It’s a return to Sakamoto Days’s roots, just good action, good panelling, not thinking too much about logic and with some comedic bits here and there. Sakamoto calling up Shin in the middle of the fight to ask about other potential movie sets that are better suited for his fighting style was fun. The boxing part of the chapter was great! Amusing chapter.
Ichi the Witch #103 – Well shit, al the Majiks within Dess are being released. I thought that could only happen if the witch was killed? But I guess her being stripped of her magic power is equal to a witch’s death? Also the whole sequence of Hitsugi appearing in the water and heaven and earth and yadda yadda reminded me a lot of JJK lol. Ah, so the Majiks aren’t all coming out but they’re wreaking havoc within Dess instead, that makes more sense to my earlier question lol. Welp, in kinda seems like Mayoi awakened a much worse version of Dess lmao. Good luck man.
Kagurabachi #136 – Ah yes a group intro with a double page spread, again something I am a sucker for lmao. The Mikaboshi having a weeb in their ranks is kinda funny ngl. And he has basically Albinism! Shurin is his name and he’s Ariu’s brother, apparently. Interesting to see someone with none of the “required” physical traits a higher ranking Mikaboshi “should” have, yet he’s higher up anyway. So clearly the physical traits are not important power wise, but they’re pretty focused on them anyway. I suppose that’s true of the world anyway, physical appearance matters a lot. Cool chapter.
Someone Hertz #54 – Ohh Komai is listening to a different radio show. Makes sense that there’d be more of course, but didn’t think we’d necessarily get introduced to them lol. Haha his little “kouhai” feeling and calling Mizuo and Mimei his senpais got to them, I mean how can you not help after that to be fair. Lmao at them not answering if they’ve had a “romantic” moment. Cute chapter, it was fun to see the duo act as senpai to a younger person, and he’s running for student council! Very wholesome.
Under Doctor #37 – God FF is so sadistic lol. Haiji taking his glasses off means it’s serious time. Don’t think we’ve ever seen him look like this so far. Kinda chilling. His assassin mode has been activated. The art of the double page spread was pretty cool and seeing Hajii go out equally so. His hair spiking up is SO anime lol.
Shinobi Undercover #102 – Aoi thinking that her flying through the air was fun is so her lol. I think the panel where Aoi just says to wing the dance did a lot for me regarding her tbh, never really cared about her before but she’s finally kinda starting to feel like an actual character to me. Or she’s just growing on me after reading the series for a while lol. Either way. A cute chapter, I buy them as a couple tbh. Of course, Aoi will have to find out about all this ninja stuff eventually, if she doesn’t know already and is pretending to not know. Ahh the accidental kiss trope, hey if it makes Aoi realise her feelings for Yodaka, all for it.
Class 2-B #25 – Tbh I don’t know why, but I didn’t assume this Jurou guy was a Dragon lol, thought maybe he was just a high ranking knight. LMAO, also I was thinking the whole time seeing him that he looked like someone from Fist of the North Star and then lo and behold, he actually is supposed to be that lol. Good stuff. Kaburagi’s entire sidequest is actually really funny. I wonder if they’ll even end up back at the school? Who’s to say they don’t end up somewhere else? Guess we’ll find out.
Hal Formula #18 – Cool strat by Miharu to basically play defensive and block the paths that Masuno could take to overtake him. Kyogoku’s challenge is also pretty cool, forcing Miharu to do different things each lap. Helps build up his arsenal of turns and such that he can do and keeps him unpredictable to his opponents. The whole hunter/survivor visual was cool, it also feels like Miharu is gonna be way too good for WF4 pretty soon, if not already. Or maybe Kiryu can pull him back into the realm of WF4!
The Ura Files #6 – Didn’t expect there to be lasting consequences from the pilgrimage last chapter lol. The princess carry of Kibitsu was humorous and there was some nice little emotional moments in among the comedy. I really like that Kibitsu thanked her twice just in case he didn’t manage to get the first one out, a little subversion of the “falling asleep whilst thanking someone” trope lol. Cute chapter.
Tier 3 (Ok):
Cannon Master #17 – Basically just repeating what I’ve said for a few weeks with this series now. The art is fantastic, the fight choreography is really good. The character designs are sick. It’s being rushed because it’s axed. Yadda yadda lol.
Animal Signal #19 – The Mangrove Snake anima SUCKS lol. Why the hell does this dude just straight up look like a hamster with abs, instead of a human who kinda looks like a hamster lmao. Also hey, even the Snake anima has some good things to it, look at that acceleration! I like Fukamori, hope he appears more in the future!
Nue’s Exorcist #166 – Shiroha standing up to Istuki like that was pretty satisfying. Pretty much just an action chapter with some good character moments for Shiroha, I will say that if Itsuki had a weapon that powerful this whole time, why didn’t he use it earlier lol. Or what stops more from being custom made like that? Hmm.
Me and Roboco #302 – I don’t really care about poetry so I don’t have much to say here. Pretty funny the author still managed to get in a HxH reference though lol.
Very good issue this week imo!
