Author: Chris Efird-Green

Mangaka: Naoya Matsumoto Publisher: VIZ As Japan continues to fight against the large-scale Kaiju assault, platoon leader Shinonome makes a desperate stand against the overwhelming threat. The last few chapters we’ve gotten of Kaiju No. 8 have been action-packed and emotionally trying. With several specially-designed daikaiju targeting division captains, the Defense Force is up against a threat they’ve never faced before. And while the last few chapters focused on Shinomiya struggling against Kaiju No. 15, chapter 82 follows First Division Platoon Leader Rin Shinonome. Watching helplessly as her fellow platoon leader Tachibana is choked out by Kaiju No. 13, Shinonome…

Another Sunday, another week of new Shonen Jump manga chapters. What’s worth checking out this week? AKANE-BANASHI CH. 53: FASCINATING NEWS Mangaka: Yuki Suenaga (Writing), Takamasa Moue (Art) Grade: B- Akane is faced with the staggering wall that is Kaisei Arakawa. If she wants to reach the pinnacle of the rakugo world, she would eventually have to surpass him. Akane-banashi is reminiscent of series like Hikaru no Go or Bakuman where the shounen coming-of-age genre narrative is used to explore a specific hobby or career. In Akane-banashi’s case, we learn about the world of rakugo and the skills needed to…

Card Shark Developer: Nerial, Nerial Limited Publisher: Devolver Digital Reviewed On: Nintendo Switch Also Available For: PC What’s the best part of playing cards? Is it the thrill of high stakes? The formulation of strategy? The balance between luck and skill? While all of these are key elements to the game, Card Shark will tell you upfront: winning is the best part of playing cards. Set to the backdrop of 18th century France, Card Shark follows a mute young man who falls under the wing of Comte de Saint-Germain (who is based on a real-life count) after events at…

Developer: Phobia Game Studio Publisher: Devolver Digital Genre: Horror PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, macOS, PC Have you ever watched the science fiction horror movie The Thing and thought to yourself, “I’d like to see that story but from the monster’s perspective”? If so, Carrion might be the game for you. From indie developer Phobia Game Studio (the four-person group that previously developed Butcher under Transhuman Design) comes the reverse horror game experience of Carrion. Putting players in the role of a fleshy, monstrous blob, you are tasked with escaping the facility you’ve been contained in while leaving a…

Bleach Special One-Shot VIZ Mangaka: Tite Kubo For Bleach’s 20th anniversary, Tite Kubo has released a special one-shot five years after the series ended. Taking place 12 years after the end of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, the one-shot follows the Soul Society preparing for the Konso Reisai, a ritual that takes place 12 years after a captain has died. For Captain Ukitake’s Konso Reisai, they invite Ichigo to take part because he was close to the captain. However, things soon turn sour as strange Hollow-like beasts attack the vice-captains, and a sinister backstory behind the Konso Reisai is revealed.…

No Dr. Stone this week, but Jujutsu Kaisen is back! Black Clover Ch. 301 – B Noelle finally admits her feelings to herself. Our tsundere queen is growing up. Also, I’m happy to be wrong about Asta saving the day this time since it looks like Noelle will fight her own battle. These are the kinds of chapters I enjoy from Black Clover, and as annoying and one-dimensional Asta is I do appreciate how he inspires those around him. Not gonna lie, I forgot Charlotte and Rill were here though… Blue Box Ch. 15 – A Hina discovers…

Developer: Omega Force Publisher: Koei Tecmo Genre: Hack and Slash Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC Samurai Warriors 5 is the latest installment in the long-running Warriors series by Koei Tecmo. A reboot of sorts, this new game is a fresh re-imagining of the franchise that takes place during the Sengoku period. While this game limits its scope in terms of storytelling compared to previous titles in the series, it focuses on the earlier exploits of characters like Nobunaga Oda and Mitsuhide Akechi that have previously been unexplored in the franchise. As always, Samurai Warriors delivers hack and slash…

Not a lot was released this week, but that won’t stop the Hop! Choujin X Ch. 4 – B- Tokio is still trying to be independent and switch out of his Choujin form. He also can apparently speak to birds now, so he decides to find a vulture at the zoo to seek its advice. The final panel of this chapter was super telegraphed but it still made for a cool image. I’m liking Tokio a bit more just because of his desire to be more than just his friend’s sidekick. Hopefully, this series continues to trend upward with…

This week, we got a special one-shot from Tatsuki Fujimoto (Chainsaw Man, Fire Punch)! Black Clover Ch. 300 – C- Asta finally arrives. A little disappointing that Asta will again be the one to save the day, but at this point, I shouldn’t be surprised. Also really wondering Gaja’s fate since he looks pretty bad off but it’s fairly rare that Black Clover kills characters off. Then again, this arc has been more liberal with deaths so perhaps the stakes are as high as they seem. Hopefully next chapter we’ll get some more action because these in-between chapters…

Another week, another roundup. Let’s get to it! Black Clover Ch. 299 – C- Gaja makes an apparently big sacrifice in order to save Lolopechka. Chapters like these don’t really do anything for me, especially with how formulaic Black Clover is. Someone will make a big sacrifice to try and defeat the great evil and will fail only for the evil to reveal it’s even stronger than the heroes initially thought. Sure, these rising action chapters are what lead to the big climax that I’m sure I’ll enjoy. But that doesn’t detract from the fact that this chapter,…