Ironic. Two scanlations came out way too early this week. Two scanlations came out later than usual this week. They enjoy making my tip of ‘read the early scanlations’ appear as though a mere farce, don’t they? They being scanlators. Yeah, I bet they read my dub review earlier this week just to figure out when they should release their scans. Bastards.

Bakuman 84

This is Ryu Shizuka. Do I really need to write anything witty in this caption?

In Bakuman this week, we picked up where we left off before the holidays. A not-so-shocking plot development. It may just be because I read Death Note and loved it, but I’m expecting amazing plot twists in Bakuman. I’m not getting what I hope for. Still, Takagi has a story idea now. With serious humour. About someone who wants to commit the perfect crime. He ticks off all the things the idea has, and it fills all columns needed. Although, no major crimes will be committed, to keep it popular with kids. So its basically an OCD prankster. I’m cool with that – it’ll be interesting. Anyway, Mashiro and Takagi get on with it, with Mashiro saying that it is Takagi’s best name ever. Meanwhile, Shizuka is told to get True Human more popular, therefore a bit less darker, or Ashirogi will overtake him, as everyone is still expecting KTM from them. He also apparently needs a social life, to which he answers ‘cabaret’. Sure.

Also meanwhile, it’s Miho’s birthday, and Kaya gets her a present. However, Takagi, whilst in his prefect crime mentality, calls Mashiro and they swap the one piece she bought Miho with a drawing of Miho that Mashiro drew, wrapping it up in the same paper and everything. Clever. They send Kaya’s present afterwards, so everyone’s happy. They also got called by Miura when they were swapping them, in a comedic ‘shit, we’ll wake Kaya up from her humourous sleeping pose’ moment. Anyway, they eventually tell Miura they have something, after he was berated a bit by higher-ups. Everyone’s excited. Hope it ends up as good as the excitement is building it as. Chapter 1 finished anyway – The Perfect Crime Club.

One Piece 583

The 'bad liar' joke never gets old, even when a chapter is quite unimpressive.

Now, I like One Piece as much as the next guy, but for some reason this chapter was quite a let-down. It was more serious, as it was continuing the previous ‘memory’ of Luffy meeting Ace, as they lived with some bandits. Ace originally doesn’t like Luffy, as when Luffy attempts to befriend him, he walks away and causes landslides, or gets animals to attack Luffy. Luffy being Luffy, however, he continues to attempt to befriend Ace, even though he goes missing when getting lost. Eventually though, he ends up at The Grey Terminal, the trash wasteland, where Ace has been visiting daily. There, Ace meets up with Sabo and adds more cash to their treasure, which they are going to use to buy a pirate ship. Then Luffy intervenes, over-enthusiastically speaking about pirates. He is subsequently captured.

Ace wants to kill him, as he knows too much. Sabo agrees, but neither have killed before, so neither want to. However, then Porchemy of the Bluejam Pirates shows up, and wants the money that Ace stole from his crewmates. Sabo, Ace and Luffy hide, but Luffy eventually goes up to them. He then says he knows Ace, which cues an ‘I can’t believe it’ head-drop by Ace. When asked where Ace was, Luffy lies. However, Luffy can’t lie, and that’s where his problem lies, as he’s then taken away at the end of the chapter. I still didn’t like it much, so let’s hope the next chapter is more interesting, or exciting or something.

Bleach 402

I don't know which part of this picture is more unusual: the fact that Aizen cut into Urahara with only his hand, or Aizen has branches growing out of his shoulder...

Urahara appeared last time, and this time he and Aizen continued their staredown. After some friendly talk between the two, where I stress ‘friendly’ as sarcastic, in which Aizen blatantly insults Urahara for not having mastered the Hougyoku, whilst he has, they start to fight. Aizen makes the first move, appearing instantly at Urahara’s chest, stabbing him. However, that was Urahara’s portable gigai. Clever bastard. Nice way to simultaneously trick and embarrass Aizen. Urahara then goes into a string of bakudou, using Rikujyoukouro, Sajo Sabaku and Kuyou Shibari in quick succession, restraining Aizen well. This was all a stall for a bigger hadou, though, as he then releases Senjuu Kouten Taihou to blast Aizen. But it missed.

Whilst Urahara thought it hit, he stated that Aizen was careless. He was careless. He can now afford to be careless as he has God Powers. He cuts Urahara without a sword, and shows signs of merging more with the Hougyoku, which I now want to see animated. That’d be fun. Anyway, Urahara again turns the tables and traps Aizen in a seal, which diverts his reiatsu back at him, ending in a large eruption. How’s that for a cliffhanger? Brilliant chapter, awaiting next week’s chapter. Here’s hoping for either an Isshin shikai, bankai or an Urahara bankai.

Naruto 493

"Hi, I'm Bee. My hobbies include rapping, rhyming and panda-wrestling..."

Naruto faced off against Dark Naruto this week. Of course, since he IS Naruto, they are fairly evenly matched. After attempting to goad him into fighting, Dark Naruto explains that he is the Naruto that the Kyuubi prefers. Seems obvious, now that he says it. Naruto apparently can’t get rid of him, so they fight. Yeah, makes sense. Still, what occurs is a semi-awesome fight scene in which they get in a deadlock and then both use Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, and still no winner comes forth. Meanwhile, Bee wrestles and beats a giant panda bear. As you do. He then has a conversation with the Hachibi on whether he should help Naruto or not. Naruto then opens his eyes.

Apparently, all the Dark Naruto stuff was in his head, and he’ll need to beat him if he wants to be able to control the Kyuubi’s power. Motoi is then pressured, or maybe persuaded, into giving some backstory on Killer Bee. He does so, and then says how Bee never complained when he was shunned by his village, as he was the Raikage, A’s, brother. He was a good Jinchuriki for the Raikage, apparently, and even completed the training at the Waterfall of Truth in ‘no time’. Motoi then stresses how much respect he has for Bee. However, when Naruto asks him to ask Bee how to beat Dark Naruto, Motoi says he isn’t worthy, as he once tried to kill him. Here comes another memory chapter. I’m getting pretty pissed off with the amount of these chapters popping up everywhere, but this chapter was fairly interesting. Motoi’s a fun character for a plot mover.

And that’s it. It is late because of the previously-mentioned late scanlations, the broken english of the early scanlations, and because the British Election was so enthralling. News on the starters for Pokemon Black & White will be revealed soon, but we do have silhouettes, so I may put something up sooner rather than later. Still, don’t expect much. It is me we’re talking about.