This is the first issue of WSJ where I'm up to date with every series in the magazine. Brief thoughts on the series I caught up with:
- We Never Learn - I've been hurt before by the worst girl winning in Nisekoi so was resistant to read this, but since I looked into the multiple routes I gave it a go and (to my surprise) all the girls in this are pretty likeable though the series really suffered from an overlong filler middle and all the routes so far have been been a mix of highs and lows. In terms of the girls: Asumi > Fumino >> Rizu >>> Uruka > Mafuyu (having a teacher as a 'love interest' is just weird, guys).
- Dr. STONE - Really wasn't fan of the Stone Wars chapters, but everything from Treasure Island onwards has been really fun. Wish I knew one of the major characters (Ryuusei Nanami) was bisexual because that's really cool, especially since he's such a fan favourite. Would have made me pick it up much sooner.
- Ayakashi Triangle - I'm a completionist. I'm not the target audience for this, but I'm still gonna read.
The Great
1. Phantom Seer - Fantastic first chapter. While it is basically the same premise as Mitama Security and Ayakashi Triangle (high school girl who attracts spirits with a main character who exorcises them), instead of gags or fan service this plays up the horror. Both the art and comedy was improved from the one shot, it looked great. Hoping it manages to set itself apart from others of its kind in the coming weeks/months. I think having the shamans summon in combat would be nice though that seems more unique to the protagonist. High hopes for this one after a lot of lacklustre first chapters this year.
2. Burn the Witch - This is comfort food in manga form. It feels like I'm reading Bleach again, Kubo pacing and all.
3. Chainsaw Man - Makima... (-:
4. My Hero Academia - A+ action in the first half of the chapter but it felt so short.
5. Mashle: Magic and Muscles - Great end to a great fight. Definitely shifted from enjoying this series to being a proper fan now.
The Good
6. Black Clover - I'm a sucker for a captain meeting chapter. Curious to see how the new Vice Captain factors into things.
7. Dr. STONE - Well I guess Senku has a (temporary) girlfriend now then. Good chapter.
8. Jujutsu Kaisen - Nice double spreads this week. And that final kill in the chapter? Ouch.
9. Hard-Boiled Cop and Dolphin - After having this as my least favourite of the magazine since it started, this chapter was the first that I thoroughly enjoyed! Big fan of trading the crude humour for actual progression, actual villains, and a sense of direction. Much prefer this to the aimlessness of the previous chapters. This is what I wanted from Ryuhei Tamura.
10. We Never Learn - This is going to be the best ending, calling it. Senpai is the best girl. Loving that this all takes place in a time skip putting them both in their twenties and we don't need to fill in the gaps of the other girls.
The Decent
11. Moriking - Got a few chuckles from this but with the sudden dip in the rankings and less than impressive sales I can see the end on the horizon.
12. Mission: Yozakura Family - Enjoyable, but my main takeaway was that the art didn't really deliver the action scenes as well as they could.
13. Me & Roboco - Didn't reach my usual laugh quota this week.
14. Time Paradox Ghostwriter - Well that's a shame. Teppei gets away with plagiarising and succeeds with such ease that it just all feels a bit hollow. Rather than a crammed final chapter this one felt so padded, as if it only had six pages worth of content left. This is sure to disappoint a lot of newcomers.
The Rest
15. Agravity Boys - It might just be me accepting its eventual fate but I keep wanting the series to take itself in a better direction now that the series is likely not going to last that much longer but I don't think that's going to happen.
16. Magu-chan: God of Destruction - At least Magu was cute as ever.
17. Undead Unluck - No thoughts.
18. Ayakashi Triangle - This is probably going to be last place every week for me but at least it's a quick read.
