Main Menu

Weekly Shonen Jump Weekly update (hopefully)

Started by IronGraham, 05 November, 2013, 11:55:42 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

IronGraham

I did a bit of research and it seems to be sorted now
We're werewolves not swearwolves

The Adventurer


THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

IronGraham

I voted for Morning Star some I found not very engaging
We're werewolves not swearwolves

Hawkmumbler

Here it is. Tried several times but its still there. :(

Spaceghost

Quote from: The Adventurer on 24 December, 2013, 11:27:29 AM
Don't forget to read and vote for the 6 Shonen Jump Manga Competition finalists!


Interesting that none of them are from Japan.

The Japanese edition is running it's own competition. We're only being invited to vote for our fellow gaijin.
Raised in the wild by sarcastic wolves.

Previously known as L*e B*tes. Sshhh, going undercover...

The Adventurer


THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

Hawkmumbler

Got in from a night out, slightly tippsy. That news sobbered me up right and proper. Excelent news.

IronGraham

We're werewolves not swearwolves

The Adventurer

Next issue will be my 1 year anniversary reading Weekly Shonen Jump. It's always interesting looking back on the my first year on a title. Especially when that title is a weekly serial anthology, which are a very uncommon breed in English.

I'd been aware of previous versions of Jump in the past, when it was a monthly print anthology. But it's line up never seemed to appeal to me. Yu-Gi-Oh and Dragon Ball always seemed predominant. Neither of which I had any interest in, and I had no reference for One-Piece, Bleach, and Naruto. All of which seemed like more of the same. Which was too bad, because I really wanted to read another serial anthology. In particular a manga based one. Unfortunately I never found a manga anthology with a line-up that really grabbed at my tastes. Somewhat mature action/adventure.

But alas. At the time it just wasn't to be.

Fast forward to late 2012 though, I'd just bought myself a brand new iPad. With the express purpose of switching to full digital for all my comic reading. (An experiment that has pretty much been a rousing success on all fronts btw).  But at the time I was still working on transitioning from one format to the other and looking for new digital reading material while I was working through the last of my print pulls. I was reading through Anime News Network and came across an article about The recently relaunched, digital only, English version of Weekly Shonen Jump. The big news is that was going day and date with Japan. The other news was that they would be printing Akira Toriyama's Kintoki one-shot in the next issue. I wasn't too interested in the day and date thing, since I didn't read any of it. But the idea of a stand alone one-shot sounded interesting. And the best part?

Weekly Shonen Jump is only one dollar an issue!

Because that's the rub, if WSJ wasn't so dang cheap, I probably wouldn't have taken a chance on it. As it were, I actually got a little impatient since the Kintoki issue wasn't out yet I wound up taking a shot at the latest issue. The first day and date issue.

What I found was interesting to say the least. Let me be clear, I don't fear coming into long running series mid stride. If I did I wouldn't be reading 2000 AD, or Savage Dragon, or Usagi Yojimbo, or (at one time) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. In fact I often relish the opportunity as it means I can not only keep up with current events, but also gradually fill in the missing gaps. Double the pleasure!

To say WSJ is heavy with long running series is a bit of an understatement. At the time One-Piece was coming to the conclusion of an arc, as was Bleach, Naruto was starting one, and Toriko was in the middle of one (I think). Nisekoi and Cross Manage were the newest series, one being rather episodic and the other easy enough to follow if you've seen a sports anime before. It was certainly a strange mix of sense bombardment.

Oh, and there was one brand new series.  One-Punch Man. Which, looking back, is what truly rewarded my impatience. If I had missed its first installment I'd have really been pissed at myself. Best series of 2013. Hands down.

After the Kintoki issue came out I was quickly falling in love with WSJ in general. Toriko was pure madness, in a good way. I was starting to understand the hype around One-Piece. Cross Manage was surprisingly endearing (RIP). Once Blue Exorcist rolled around I found a lot to like in it too (though it got a little bogged down mid year). World Trigger would launch and while not the most exciting comic, it's entertaining enough. In all only three strips were total dogs in my eyes; Nisekoi (so generic it physically hurts), Naruto (a year latter I still have no idea what's going on), and Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal (actually is visually interesting, but a complete shill of a comic).

Which brings me to this week. Today as the release of a special bonus issue that premiered the new strip, All You Need Is Kill. Regular Jump is off this week due to a holiday in Japan, so this was a pretty welcome way to spare us another Jump-free week. I'm actually pretty excited about the inclusion of this comic. I'm a big sci-fi fan in general, and I love my sci-fi violent and somewhat thought provoking. Based on this first installment, this looks like it's going to deliver both in spades.

I just like the fact that English WSJ seems to be taking more chances with older audience material. Seraph of the End premiered a few months ago, that one also tends to push more mature themes and situations. Jump is slowly starting to become the kind of manga anthology I was looking for all those years ago. And that's what's got me the most excited for its future I think. If 2013 was anything to go by, my second year is going to be just as exciting as the first. Can't wait!

THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

IronGraham

I would say in my readin of the weekly the one series that surprised me was Bleach since it's return has became really entertaining especially this current fight being a lapsed wraslin fan Mask is a character of the year for me. One Piece may have it's new golden arc with Punk Hazard set up and Dressrosa. Naruto... Toriko wow that fight with Starjun was intense but the arc lasted almost all year and got a bit tiring. Nisekoi I was liking especially the Mother chapter with Raku working at another sweet shop, but last week just made me cringe, Yu-gi-oh it card games and is really silly for how serious they make it. Blue Exorcist not into this, World Trigger series that survived the opening block and has improved more and more. Dragon Ball really good only seen the anime and my god how much padding that had this is just lean action. One Pinch man my second favourite after one piece but the art is the best. I'm glad that this finally got released in the uk this year and hope for more series to be added next year.
We're werewolves not swearwolves

Hawkmumbler

Another pair of thumbs up from me. Once again it's Naruto, YuGiOh and Nisokoi that continuesly dissapoint, frustrate and infuriate. Putting those three aside though, WSJ is one of the most consistently grat anthologies on the market.

Both Bleach and One Piece are old friends of mine being amongst the first comics I ever read, so even if the current arcs wherent incredibly fun in their own right I would still be reading them for that lovely smell of nostalgia.

Toriko and Blue Exorcist where boths eries I was familiar with going in but had never read before, both have been big surprises to me and are often highlights of my week.

Completely new titles Cross Menage, World Trigger, Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, Seraph of the End and, of course, One-Punch Man have all proven to be successes and contribute to my continual enthusiasm for the fold.

All You Need is Kill looks to be another promising addition to the series and I am very happy with the first chapter and indeed how the entire comic book compliments itself so well.

The Adventurer


THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

Hawkmumbler

According to the pod cast, one of those series will replace DBZ in a few weeks.

sheldipez

Quote from: Hawkmonger on 04 February, 2014, 12:56:38 PM
According to the pod cast, one of those series will replace DBZ in a few weeks.

DBZ is massive filler; surely everyone and their dog read it before? The colour is hardly a selling point.

Spaceghost

Which series did they say it would be Hawkmonger?
Raised in the wild by sarcastic wolves.

Previously known as L*e B*tes. Sshhh, going undercover...