Weekly Shounen Sunday #40 (2018) Editorial section

All right, and now lets get into the nitty gritty of what happened in the "main" series covered in the blog. If you're looking for TOC/color page action then check out the "features" section here I think eventually I'll have an "extras" section but for now these things will be split into two sections for ease of access. Now, lets get going!

To open up this week's editorials, we go to none other than Evans in his quest to be popular and the newly appointed sidekick Max who wants to follow in his footsteps metaphorically and literally. As I noted in last week's write up, The comedy here comes from Evans reactions being counter what you'd think they'd be. --You'd think that he'd want Max to stay out of his business and leave the ladies to him, but it's not like that. More like, Evans seems to be enthralled in his own poker faced way that someone else thinks like he does. It gets me wondering --does he in fact just want a friend? Or more specifically, maybe Evans should try making friends regardless of sex before he leaps to relationships? Couldn't hurt, right? Though really it's a thing where the audience probably just wants him to notice that Pheebs so clearly has the hots for him. Speaking of Pheebs, she can see right through Max when he compares her to the famous Miranda Kelly (who hasn't actually appeared in the series yet I don't think, and considering how many times Kuriyama has dropped her name, I'm beginning to think when she does show up it'll be a really big deal.)  as a guy who only has one thing on the mind, yet she can't help but be pleased that she was compared to a movie star. I figure some might be annoyed with how shallow that is, but I feel like it works well in what Evans is --people who want one thing but aren't sure how to get it. Max asks Evans at the start if he can name drop him when he meets girls, and Evans being the prideful sort he is allows it, but then he uses it to impress Pheebs, who turns him down because she can't possibly date Max when the man she's interested is right there. Max returns with the bad news (and doesn't mention Pheebs is the girl who turned him down) and that leaves him wondering if he's worth much of anything despite being good with a gun. This chapter works on so many levels despite it being pretty straightforward and I'm more assured that Max is in fact going to work with the cast and crew, even if it does sort of feel like he's only a temporary addition. 

To my surprise it's Takoha and company who star in this week's chapter of Souboutei. I guess it really shouldn't be that much of a stretch since with Kurenai back in, and Sakamaki's story already established there's no where else to go. Despite this, Fujita still gives me what I didn't think to ask for in the chapter in question. 

Strife. With a bunch of folks from different ways of life and perhaps completely different time periods if Kaerikuro and Zanka are to be believed, even with a singular goal it's hard to fathom this group being able to just gel together and work as a unit, which is what happens this week. Sure everyone is up to destroy the killer house, but their reasons are all different and let's be for real, no one's really gotten to know anyone else, not that there's anyone to blame since they were all thrown together in life or death situations without much time for introductions. Takoha is convinced that everyone should hold their horses and wait for backup since this has become a case much bigger than all of them, while Zanka wants to charge forward while the opportunity is good for it. Seiichi agrees with Zanka, while Kaerikuro agrees with Takoha and it's just a big mess between all of the characters, but it's through this that we really get a better idea of who they are.  

In the end however, It's Rokuro who reveals that the tunnel they're fighting over going down was one he's been through since the Nitroglycerin incident and thus one he's very familiar with. He wanted to tell all of them what he knew but couldn't get a word in edgewise with all of the arguing! Even though it was only a chapter of conflict between the characters, I feel like this revaluation of where they stand was important to tackle right now so that later when the big events really start happening we don't have to slow things down. 

Xeno resets the clock with this week's installment, as this chapter seems to be it's own arc called "Door to/of Paradise". If that's not a sign that Nanatsuki and Sugiyama are comfortable in letting Xeno head into a long game, I don't know what is. It still directly continues from the last arc, but it's clear with this that the interest has shifted ever so slightly and now Xeno's reasons for coming to this island namely Kai's secrets are not becoming the focus, even with the Kuga clan's activities looming in the background. For all it's worth, I really like how Manami who started off as a character of the week archetype has really stepped into this role of actively participating in locating the "truth" of her family's ways. However, she's not the only one in this --her uncle Shinomura has also joined in this quest for the truth and if the other Kuga's (or those related to them) have revealed anything it's that this family is mostly in this for themselves and shouldn't be readily trusted, even if they are the seeming victims in this case. Especially when Shinomura is rumored to be working with shady people. 

Mostly I'm just surprised with how biblical this case has gotten with references to the old testament, and the narrative of Genesis are clues to finding the hidden entrance pictured above to the right, that lead to a stairway promising of more secrets, and a truth yet unseen. For a set up chapter this wasn't bad, but the real substance is still far off, and I can't wait to see where Kyouichi and Suigyama take us with it. 

Memesis is in serious mode even if it does feel like the series is still holding back a little bit. Runlun is the first opponent that Ash and Kijira aren't able to take down in a page or two --in fact it's quite the contrary as you can see above --she's able to take down many named warriors including Rose with relative ease thanks to her "gear" system that works very similarly to Toguro's percentile strength increases in YYH. She shifts to a new gear and gets that much faster --and deadlier. Considering how cleanly and quickly everyone is being defeated, it's hard to believe that the characters are really down for the count, however. Still Yagyuu does a convincing job of showing Runlun isn't just another monster. 

Especially when she can just stop Ash and Kijira --who haven't had any trouble up until now with a single palm. This chapter is pure and simple a means to really drive home the point that the boys are in trouble with this one and they'll need some help. Leon anyone? The final line of the chapter certainly speaks like he does, and the editorial side text makes it sound like it can be no one else. If you remember he did say he'd be heading off in our heroes direction a few weeks ago. Is it really Leon, and if it is....what does it mean for the revenge quest that moved this story to begin with? 

What's undeniable about Shinobi no at this point is that the series is moving really quickly. Toward what, I'm not sure, but all hell has broken loose in an significantly expedient fashion. There's not really much for me to talk about on a historical standpoint, but I can most certainly lament how this incredible artwork may no longer be visible in WSS, since it does seem pretty obvious that Ogaki is being told to wrap things up.

But hey, he's doing a great job of illustrating fights. I adore the distorted way Hajime looks in the upper panel as Todou comments it's impossible to sense him due to the way he moves. He's like an engima despite standing right before him! Meanwhile, Koto is taking on the rest of the Shinsengumi, and yeah, like I said, everything is happening all at once.  

Meanwhile Hanzo is about to complete his own assassination mission when a very familiar face drops in and borrows an arm --slicing it clean off in a violent bit of irony. That's right, Pops is back on the scene, and although I'm happy to see him, it just lends even more credence that the series is on it's way to it's conclusion since now all of the major players in this arc have lined up and all the climatic confrontations have lined up conveniently in one place as if to make it that much easier to wrap them all up. I trust that Ogaki will make it as polished and amazing looking as this chapter does, but I want more time with pops. 

Marry Grave too feels like it's heading towards something quickly, but at least this week the series slows down a bit and doesn't forget the emotional core that has brought us thus far. Though man, Sawyer sure has been through a lot as he died once before the story began in the present --which is to say that Rozalie has brought him back to life twice. Granted the situation was a lot less dire last time, probably because she was able to get to him right away, but I find that really interesting as well as a parable to what might be one of Marry Grave's issues --the lack of agency of the protagonist himself. Though I've mentioned this several weeks in a row before this, so I won't bother rehashing that same conversation again. For now let's just celebrate Rozalie finally coming around on Sawyer and thus the story of "Marry Grave" really finding it's start. 

We've been treated to an extended prologue for the last few weeks, and it is rewarding to see the series loop back to a point that's familiar to the audience, even if Saywer is still being stubbornly "Oblivious Shounen protagonist" and knows his feelings but doesn't act on them as above. There wasn't much to speak of in this chapter, but I like seeing these three characters in a happy situation even if it's pretty clear it won't last due to exactly what makes this familiarity nice --we know where things are heading after this. I admit I am mostly wondering what happens to Dante who hadn't been mentioned or seen until now. What is his fate among all of this? 

I gotta say, I really enjoyed Birdmen this month for what it did narratively, even if the plot didn't move ahead very much. Though really plot not taking leaps and bounds ahead at a time is what Tanabe yellow is all about. Even with Kekkaishi she was very methodical in her approach to story telling, allowing the characters to take over the "plot" and advance their own agendas in their own way. Birdmen too takes the same approach of there being a central "plot" but the characters engaging with it on their time. This week is a meeting between Eishi and his wayward father --a meeting that hasn't happened at least since the manga started and timeline wise for a long while. It's as extremely awkward as one would expect, but what I like about this is Eishi isn't above calling out his own problems as he reprimands his Dad for running out on his mom.

What really works about this exchange is 1) We know that Eishi too has more or less run away from his mother, and while he is doing it for good reason it doesn't excuse the action. and 2) he does acknowledge that his mom despite being overbearing has done a lot for him. I really think this shows his maturation as a character since he can now take an objective look at his folks and himself to realize that actions do have consequences. Not only that but he can understand that despite her methods, his mom really was looking out for him. His father does acknowledge he's screwed up and takes refuge in that his son is more like his mother than him --which is a good thing. His last apology that he "didn't think it through what it means to have children" is honestly genuine as well. Sure it is simple enough to have children, and the idea of raising them sounds straightforward too, but actually putting these things into practice is difficult. So while it doesn't excuse his actions, I can understand to a point why he did what he did. 

Of course that's not to say there was no plot at all this week! The Seraph are moving, and now claim they will save the world by changing it. Above is an unknown character who appears to be joining the fray, and now the message to humanity is that much more dire. This was an important pit stop but the Birdmen car is moving right along again and you'd best get on or be left behind. 

I gotta say Fukuchi really pulled a fast one on me this week with Saike! Who would have thought the main character wouldn't get the rematch against the person who defeated him last time, and to a further more pleasant surprise that Ana would get two chances to shine in just as many weeks? This blog is mostly to talk about Shounen Sunday and the manga that run within, so I try not to bring too many outside elements into my writeups, but now that this is more of an editorial than before, I suppose I could comment a bit more rather than simply summarizing. It seems in recent memory more than ever that the role of female characters in shounen manga has been a topic of hot debate. I personally would like to see women taking a more active role in the shounen demographic but I think it should be done with more fidelity than "she can fight so better representation", which kind of belabors the point since it's essentially kind of implying that only girls with male traits matter. Although I do like Ana because she's cute, I also like that Fukuchi has turned that notion on it's head with her being both a bruiser and feminine. I guess what I'm trying to say here is this: There's more than one way to tackle an archetype, and the popular solution has it's own problems as well. 

So Saike having an ability that's mostly defensive really sets itself up well for that too. Not to mention Hizu being the one who needs rescuing also topples the notion of the "damsel in distress". Mostly though, I'm just pleased that Fukuchi has organically toppled so many tropes --I seriously doubt he really did it on purpose --this is clearly him just being himself, but it works so well. Though yes, the opponent this time is one who has an oracle who turns pain into pleasure, and he is one who hates women. Hilariously Saike points out that his oracle means that "pleasure" becomes "pain" so he defeats the guy with a back rub and gentle words. Again it probably isn't meant to be funny, but Saike's cold expression as he gives the guy a back rub is amazing. Ana gets in on it as well getting her revenge for what he did before, and the chapter ends summing up it's strengths well as Saike quips "You're being punished for ridiculing women". Way to go Fukuchi, you've done a good job. 

Kuro's back this week and we take a break from wartime to talk about...fans? If you remember the last chapter, Seiji had a flier of Makoto with a fan but where did it come from and why is she on it? Turns out the answer is pretty straightforward, but that's not really what makes this chapter tick. Rather, it's a tale of a cute first meeting for the two. The flier was one done for a company Seiji worked for and Makoto was chosen because she's the daughter of an acquaintance. The fan itself is rather noisy and the company along with Seiji are trying to find a means of quieting it down. Seiji suggests finding a screw to put in a strategic place to help with the noise factor and finds himself at Makoto's work place to look for screws when he runs into his future wife and they interact for the first time. 

Turns out he hadn't remembered this until now despite Makoto knowing him the whole time, but that solves the mystery of the fan advertisement at least! I've said it countless times, but I do think it's great that Satou never forgets the human element in this Youkai story, and both sides get a chance to shine. It's also nice that the story isn't in any hurry to conclude, though sales indicate that there may not be much time for the Youkai theater.....still for now, let's just enjoy this supernatural take on the human (and youkai) condition.

And that's all for the first editorial post! Do you like it? Do you think it could use some sprucing up? Tell me in the comments what you think! Hopefully I can get this out a little sooner next week so fans aren't going several days between the features and the editorial. If you're interested in the TOC, color pages, and manga that aren't mainstrays of the blog, then head here. Until next week, take care!