Shounen Enigma by Sakaki Kenji

[FanOfAniManga]

Enigma is consistently interesting, so I don't understand why it doesn't rank higher each week. I guess the Japanese readers hated Kijima. SPOILER ALERT is definitely more of an appealing "Sasuke"-type rival that WSJ readers love, so I'm interested in seeing if the ranking rises for Chapter 40.

Spoiler

It looks like Sumio is the next Enigma. It almost feels like the series is just beginning, which is very odd seeing as it's almost been a year. I'm very excited for next week! We'll probably be getting a transition chapter after 42 chapters of non-stop action and exposition. Sakaki is a very impressive magaka, I have to say. She has a very intriguing career ahead of her.

Also interesting to note is that the current timeline of the series has only spanned five days so far (September 17 to September 21, 2010), with chapter 1 covering the first two. That's 41 chapters over 3 days. Considering there are 52 weeks in a year, I think Sakaki did a great job in terms of storytelling over such a small timeframe.

I say it's mostly because the entire series has either been suspense action, reflecting every second on the clock, as well as the fact that for many of the chapters, a lot of significant flashbacks were revealed from three years ago at most.

 

[masgrande]

Spoiler

Wow Jaymei is right, this whole first year has been one long introduction arc. Right now what I would like to know is why Kirio believes Shigure is a better candidate for enigma, I'm pretty sure the her being feminine had nothing to do with Kirio's decision.

 

[ErosVp]

I wish to know if the english releases are going to launch the chapters with a regular basis.... This manga is amazing, but I fear it becomes like Kuroko no basket where they are in chapter 126 in japan and chapter 80 here...

 

[FanOfAniManga]

I wish to know if the english releases are going to launch the chapters with a regular basis.... This manga is amazing, but I fear it becomes like Kuroko no basket where they are in chapter 126 in japan and chapter 80 here...

That's about the same as Sket Dance and certainly, it's a more popular series than Enigma. I'd like to know why this tends to happen.

 

[Hamy]

That's about the same as Sket Dance and certainly, it's a more popular series than Enigma. I'd like to know why this tends to happen.

Honestly this is a question I wouldn't really bother asking (for this manga or any manga for that matter), especially since we have roughly an idea that the Edited Manga group aren't releasing it on a more regular interval meaning this is as normal as it gets (and after checking mangaupdates as well as the group site this is pretty much as regular as it is).

Simply put there are too MANY factors with a Edited Manga group - translators while being an integral part of the group are still only one part of the group there are also cleaners, editors, typsetters, RAW acquirers, etc (that's being generous assuming members don't have to take on numerous tasks) - in addition to other projects as well as difficulty of what they're working with (from translation and RAW quality). We can also add group size as affecting it as well as availability due to commitments. Remember Editing isn't their job so this wouldn't take as much priority.

So really I wouldn't bother with this question, moreover this is a question that is better directed at the group hence something you should ask at their site (while Kewl does post here considering how many projects he handles it would be faster to ask someone else in the group). Their site BTW is:
www.cxcscans.co.cc

Though if you REALLY want to speed up the process then as has been said numerous times join the group and help out. Or convince a group with much bigger resources to pick up Enigma.

 

[Jaymie]

I'm not too worried about cxc. The last time their backlog piled up, they dumped 3 chapters at once. I'll be worried once we get 30 chapters behind.

 

[FanOfAniManga]

Honestly this is a question I wouldn't really bother asking (for this manga or any manga for that matter), especially since we have roughly an idea that the Edited Manga group aren't releasing it on a more regular interval meaning this is as normal as it gets (and after checking mangaupdates as well as the group site this is pretty much as regular as it is).

Simply put there are too MANY factors with a Edited Manga group - translators while being an integral part of the group are still only one part of the group there are also cleaners, editors, typsetters, RAW acquirers, etc (that's being generous assuming members don't have to take on numerous tasks) - in addition to other projects as well as difficulty of what they're working with (from translation and RAW quality). We can also add group size as affecting it as well as availability due to commitments. Remember Editing isn't their job so this wouldn't take as much priority.

So really I wouldn't bother with this question, moreover this is a question that is better directed at the group hence something you should ask at their site (while Kewl does post here considering how many projects he handles it would be faster to ask someone else in the group). Their site BTW is:
www.cxcscans.co.cc

Though if you REALLY want to speed up the process then as has been said numerous times join the group and help out. Or convince a group with much bigger resources to pick up Enigma.

You're right. That moment, I assumed that the process of Edited Manga was so simple. I'd definitely rather not see the quality of the scans compromised for time, and I'm sure most of us don't either. Still, I am a bit curious about the individual factors. I probably won't, but I still might ask the Edited Manga groups sometime in the future about them, and only if I don't disturb them.

I can imagine how much CXC went through over the past few weeks. Anything from chapter 40 beyond is hell for them. Chapter 40's cover page is definitely going to take awhile to finish, and the crucial state of the plot at the current moment means kewl and everyone have to be extra careful in properly comprehending the storyline. I've faced a lot of challenges on the Enigma Wiki too, having to redirect links many times over the past two months, particularly those involving the true identity of Enigma. I've been worrying about how these kinds of links could create potential spoilers to visitors on the site. I've also been worrying about how to appropriately arrange each individual link throughout the Wiki that links to articles regarding the series, Kirio, Kijima and the skull, as well as how to prevent any perceived ambiguity in the information coming across.

Anyways, I wish CXC all the best with all the extra work they have to put up with.

 

[Hamy]

You're right. That moment, I assumed that the process of Edited Manga was so simple. I'd definitely rather not see the quality of the scans compromised for time, and I'm sure most of us don't either. Still, I am a bit curious about the individual factors. I probably won't, but I still might ask the Edited Manga groups sometime in the future about them, and only if I don't disturb them.

Seeing as the translation has been done I dare say this is more on the side of the only typesetter & cleaner for Enigma, namely [Cross] - if you look at the credits he and Kewl are generally the only ones working on Enigma XD. So either [Cross] doesn't have quality scans to work with or its simply taking more time than expected (with difficulty of cleaning and putting the words along with other priorities). As Jaymie said they'll release when they can - and in batches as they've done in the past - I'd really only begin worrying once we start getting behind 10+ chapters or so from the RAWS. Even then only thing you can do is wait, help the Edited Manga group, or convince another group to pick it up or work in tandem with cxc.

 

[LeDuck]

Enigma 40-42 is out

A great transition! There was tons of infos in those chapters and we finally know how the plot is going to continue. I think it was done very well, because the task they got is really, really hard. I think this Manga could continue up to 150 or more chapters with a very defined story to the end.
Plus we now got sort of leading up story for the prison arc, wouldn't be surprised if they get a few more people with talents to join their team.

 

[Divinenega]

Just read the scans for 40-42. Reading the chapters fully translated certainly helped me to understand them a bit better. Was sort of hard trying to read the raws with the translations on the side.

I;m really looking forward to seeing what happens next though, since so many possibilities have opened up. Kirio's escape will definetly be a major plot point, but I imagine more time will be spent trying to uncover the rest of the Enigma conspiracy, and the identity of the "enemy" after the skull. I hope that Sumio has a talk with his mom about everything, because she definetly seems to know a good deal about the skull. In fact I;d wager that quite a few of the adults in the city may know something about the skull.

I;m also wondering if the series will go down the route of having Sumio possibly get corrupted by the skull since it seems to affect people's personalities pretty strongly.

 

[sir_arles]

Chapter 42 seemed like the end of the prologue to me. The real deal starts now! >=D

 

[7sun]

The Chapters are awesome! I'm glad to see it continues with a good idea after
the E-test. And Sumio's eyes looks very strange when he touches the skull.
I wish I could vote for Enigma :P

 

[Newkerzy]

Enigma's currently in a bad position in the ToC this week. I just hope it picks up soon. This manga has so much potential. In fact, I could see Sakaki-sensei truly becoming the next Arakawa. And to hell with Amano-sensei. She's got nothing on her junior.( Although, I will have to wonder whether Arakawa can still keep her throne with her current series.^^)

 

[Hamy]

Enigma's currently in a bad position in the ToC this week. I just hope it picks up soon. This manga has so much potential. In fact, I could see Sakaki-sensei truly becoming the next Arakawa. And to hell with Amano-sensei. She's got nothing on her junior.( Although, I will have to wonder whether Arakawa can still keep her throne with her current series.^^)

Wouldn't worry so much about this so much at the moment since it seems Magico and Ikkyu (No T_T) are the ones closer to the chopping block, and Bleach is just dropping like a dead fly so~, can't wait as well as to what will happen now that Sumio is Enigma. Actually from the chapters recently scanlated what the heck is Enigma... From my rough understanding Enigma is a being that can control fate... Assuming of course that you conquer the being that is Enigma that seems to posses the current host for it. At least that is my rough idea of what Enigma actually is. Given that then the real opponent seems to be that phantom killer who wishes to become Enigma, of whom we know nothing about...

Moreover, I am starting to wonder if Kirio really did kidnap Sumio's mom since compared to everyone's wishes his would be the most solid one, or rather the only one among the contestants who has had something forcefully taken from him to create a wish. Course it could be part of Kirio's wish but... really it is quite an oddity since you would think of all the wishes Sumio's wish would be the one that should be insisted on being fulfilled since he had his mother disappear. Seeing as Sumio clearly still doesn't have his mother at this point I am guessing that the person who kidnapped the mother is associated with the phantom killer, course it begs the question of the mark of Enigma. Sumio's mom is currently one big important plot point since we have no idea what has happened to her or how she is.

 

[k-dom]

Do you think that the creation of talent was something that happens only once because of Kirio wish or does the skull do it on a more regular basis. It seems like the killer is in a shadow transformation stage, that means he certainly possess a talent
Anyway the skull has a very multi-cushions way of granting which.
I guess the ones who are after the skull are former Enigma since the wish counter is reset.
Finally I wonder if the person Kurio has a grudge upon is the mysterious killer or his father. The way he address his enemy his always so unclear.

 

[Hangedman]

chapter 43 full raw online HERE

 

[Hamy]

Spoiler

Hm did everyone's wishes get granted? I even see Sumio's mom has been returned. Bit of a shock that they're getting their wishes fulfilled like that but I wonder if this will be the calm before the storm.

 

[Crude]

Yeah... I'm a little confused. What exactly happened these last three chapters? From what I understood the gang met up with Enigma, who turns out to be Kirio, and the reason he set up the E-Test was so that he could find strong people with talents who could then aid him in his escape from where he's currently imprisoned. The flashbacks were the most confusing part. How exactly did he become Enigma? What is Enigma? What is the skull? I'm also confused with Kijima and his part in all of this.

 

[k-dom]

From what I understood of Kijima purpose, he thought it was safer for the talented guys to be shadows rather than being targeted by the ones pursuing Enigma....

 

[[Cross]]

The flashbacks were the most confusing part. How exactly did he become Enigma? What is Enigma? What is the skull? I'm also confused with Kijima and his part in all of this.

Well basically Kirio's father gave him the skull, which I assume is the medium for the being called Enigma. That's why the one who holds it becomes Enigma, because they get possessed by Enigma or is just influenced by its power. Kirio's father tried to pass the powers to Kijima however it didn't work, because he wasn't compatible so his father disowned him and his mother. Kijima came to realize that the skull was the reason his father was influenced to act as such, and when Kirio made his wish to be saved during the festival, Kijima knew it was Enigma's power at work and... somehow knew that the result of the wish would create talents for everyone. Thus he went on to protect the people who might be targeted because they got involved due to Enigma's meddling. His goal is to break the chain of succession which occurs when someone new is granted the ability to twist destiny with their powers granted by Enigma (since they have three wishes each time), so when he suddenly got a notice to be a prison guard and gets in contact with Kirio in jail, he works for him in hopes of being able to break the chain of succession.