Topic: Manga and Anime discussion

I am now on the last couple of episodes of season 1 of Solo Leveling, and its such a reminder to me that no matter how much people may downplay it, in a visual medium visuals matter. Solo Leveling has insane hype around it and I just do not believe it is due to the story, or characterisation, or pathos, or world building, or any of that stuff, cause you could fit all of that onto a postage stamp.

Every episode is basically the same. Sung goes to the same grey cave interior, waxes some monologue about how life is unfair or whatever boohoowahwah, extreme, bloody, violence happens and then his OP streamdeck gives him some YuGiOh asspull thing so he can win at the end. See you next episode for the same thing.

If that extreme, bloody, violence looked like One Punch Man Season 2, the conversation on this show would be completely different, I truly believe that. But instead it has these almost cinematic, high budget, looking set piece moments and suddenly its one of the most hyped shows of the season.

And that isn't even me saying this show is bad, I just think its the most average six out of ten, fine to watch to have something on while you eat your tea, forget all about it the moment it has finished anime I've seen in a while. But the way people are hyping this is like its one of the best anime of the decade.

Watched the first episode of Hitori No Shita. It is a ten year old anime I probably would have gone my whole life never knowing existed, but for some reason it is getting a new game this year, and this anime appears to be backed by Tencent? So I guess it must be some big franchise in like the mobile gaming space or something which is just a complete blindspot for me. First episode was very slow, and had pretty mediocre production values, it also wasn't what I expected at all. The game appears to be a martial arts based 3D arena fighter but this show saw a girl with a meat cleaver fighting zombies or something. Kinda interested to see where it goes, but first episode didn't leave a great impression.

It's been a long while, but here's everything I've picked up over the past few months.

the Boy & the Heron - I'm usually not huge on Ghibli's more fantastical fare (maybe I'm an odd duck, but I prefer stuff like From Up on Poppy Hill, Ocean Waves, & Only Yesterday to Ponyo, Princess Mononoke, & even Spirited Away), but I actually really got into this one. Maybe it's because they spent so much time setting things up in the real world. Never thought anyone could manage to make parakeets so unsettling, lol.

Bubblegum Crash - the first & third episodes aren't updated the best (they didn't have access to the original film, so tried upscaling previous a previous SD master. They did get the film for the second episode & it looks fantastic), but at the end of the day it's more Bubblegum Crisis, and that's not a bad thing.

Cutie Honey (+ the Live) - Just started the OG series so I can't say much on it yet. As for the Live, I'm usually not big on Tokusatsu stuff, but this managed to hold my attention the way through so I'm calling it a success. It does do it's own thing with the background lore though & adds two extra transforming girls (& doesn't feature the series usual big bad, even though her organization is still the main antagonizing force).

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex ( + Second Gig) - Haven't watched this since it used to air on Adult Swim back in the day when I was in high school. I wasn't sure if I wanted to add it or not since I wasn't huge on it back then (probably a bit too "deep" for me back then, especially since I wasn't guaranteed to keep up with it every week), but I'm glad I went for it. It's absolutely fantastic (though I slightly prefer the first season), and I had more nostalgia for it than I thought.

Macross: Do You Remember Love? - When I learned that the new Japanese 4K release had English subtitles I knew I had to import it (especially given the rights shenanigans that will probably keep it from getting an official US release). Given that it's a rework of a 50 episode TV series into a single film, it moves at a brisk pace & is probably best watched if you have prior experience with the OG TV series, but it's an absolutely beautiful film & a classic.

Megazone 23 - This has all three OVAs (the third of which is split into two parts). Part of the long tradition of 80's fare of bike riding delinquents getting caught up in sci-fi shenanigans. They're not a patch on Akira or Venus Wars, but worth a look if you like the genre/era. The first two were my favorite.

Patlabor - My new retro obsession. I've managed to collect everything except set 2 of the TV series (can't find the Blu-Ray for a decent price). The TV series is equal parts cozy workplace slice of life & mecha action, and the movies (what I've seen so far) go for deep political/criminal intrigue with a completely different vibe so there's something here for any mood.

Photon: the Idiot Adventures - Watched this on Amazon Prime a number of years ago & thought it was pretty amusing (and apparently it's a loosely connected Tenchi Muyo! spinoff), so when I heard that it was getting an HD remaster I had to get it.

Currently playing Sekiro. Interested in reading Lone Wolf and Cub, especially interested in the Dark Horse Omnibuses versions of the manga. Has anyone here read it?

Catching up on S2 of Solo Levelling. Pacing of this season is weird. Feels like the unspoken shounen rules are you introduce just one S-Rank first (or whatever the equivalent is), who massively alters the paradigm of everything that came before it. But S/L kinda jumps over that and just skips straight to all the S-Ranks teaming up, which kinda normalises their aura, especially as the Ant King just immediately starts one shotting them all. Just made them feel a lot less special than if they had a more considered introduction (maybe it is better in the novel or manhwa, I dunno).

Two shounen I really like have started their new seasons this week, Windbreaker in season 2 and Fire Force in season 3. Jumped right into season 2 of Windbreaker as season one only aired a year ago, but I think I might rewatch season 1 as I forgot just how good this show is. For Fire Force, I've decided to rewatch it from the beginning, as it is going into its third season, and I'm pretty sure season 1 is already six or seven years old, which is really scary to think about. Another show that I forgot just how good it was.

Been reading and loving Lone Wolf and Cub Omnibus Volume One. Stellar manga, much prefer it to Berserk.

@Hapless It's very good! But there's twenty-eight of those "chunky" Dark Horse Omnibus tomes, for Lone Wolf and Cub, you know. I plan to get them all, but I might be being overly-ambitious.

@Hapless They are Gorgeous, I plan to read them all this year. I've always been a huge fan of Darkhorse's hardcover editions. So much so, that I've double dipped on many of my favourite series. Their Art books are always special. My bookcases are dedicated to many a Darkhorse edition.

I'd taken a little break from gaming til a few days ago and had spent the few weeks watching a bunch of different anime with my daughter.

Jujutsu Kaisen I honestly don't see what the hubub is about regarding this series. Watched 3 episodes altogether and found it incredibly boring and generic. Dropped it like a lead balloon.

Overlord We didn't have much in the way of expectations with this but ending up having a fair bit of fun with this. I was a bit bored with the lizardman arc at the beginning of season 2 but everything else was pretty good and I enjoyed the characters. Kinda wished there was a bit more rather then 13 episodes a season as it did seem a bit rushed.

SpyxFamily Aside from finding the vignette episodes a bit annoying towards the end of season 1 I really enjoyed this. I was especially happy to get a six episode long arc dedicated to Yor and her assassin life in season 2 which had otherwise been just a side note and completely unexplored til now as the main focus was on Loid's spy work and Anya's school life.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Yeah this amazing. I totally didn't tear up in the first episode. Definitely a slow burn but so SO good. The first OP song is absolute banger too. The music in general throughout it is fantastic in fact!

@Hapless I have the Colossal editions of Attack on Titan, Hardcovers would be nice but those are great editions. Vagabond is a series I've yet to try.

Posted in the other thread but sharing here:

I've been reading Blue Period recently, which I absolutely love. I'm onto Vol 8 now.

For those who don't know, it's about a teenager who discovers a love of art and the trials and tribulations they go through trying to get into Tokyo University of Arts.

It's pretty grounded but very well written. Some nice characters.

I read a bit more of the first Lone Wolf and Cub Dark Horse Omnibus, I am about 2/3 of the way through it so far and greatly enjoying it, superior to some cinematic productions (nopt specifically referring to the adaptations of this), for sure, love the art direction and style.

I started Vagabond: Definitive Edition Volume One. Apparently the very best samurai manga, seems excellent so far.

Edit: Read the first issue now, does a great job of setting the scene.

so i have all the volumes and Vagabond is an excellent manga, The only downside is that the series isnt finished and the creator is on a indefinite break from the series. I would also recommend Blade the Immortal @BlAcK_Sw0rDsMaN It is also a samurai manga but with a supernatural twist. Very good indeed

@Skarasny I had a look at an Amazon review of Blade of the Immortal , the anime version, which is based on the manga, and there is some stuff in it that I believe I would find unsavoury, so I think I will pass over that in favour of Samurai Champloo and Vagabond ,which, like I said, I am currently reading already, as they don't seem as dark. I got put off Berserk for the same reason. More of an action-adventure guy than a horror guy.

Read a few more issues of Vagabond Definitive Edition Volume One. I think it's brilliant. Great action and art, like watching a decent samurai movie, reading through it.

Edit: Finished it now, I thought it was very good. Excellent samurai swordsmanship contained in the pages of this fabulously illustrated manga tome.

@Hapless Thanks for the rec.Added it to the list.Good luck with Vagabond I think you'll have a great time with it! .Now I'll see your Isaak and raise you one Dororo have you heard of it? I haven't read it but I've heard it's very good, so I thought I'd pass that one along in return.

@Hapless It is very 'chunky'. I've read most of the first volume and thoroughly enjoyed it. Idk if I can make it through all 28, though I would like to. Looking forward to reading more Vagabond and hopefully starting Issak soon too, if I don't get too distracted. 😉

I dunno if it's been mentioned in this thread yet but I've really been enjoying Roar: A Star in the Abyss. I guess there are similarities to Oshi no Ko, but it's a bit darker.

Highly recommended.