Each week we will be providing some thoughts on what we read in the latest issue of Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. We also detail the T.O.C. (table of contents) for each issue and preview the following week’s issue.
This week’s table of contents order:
Ichi the Witch (Cover & Lead Colour)
1 – Someone Hertz
2 – ONE PIECE
3 – Blue Box
Akane-banashi (Colour)
4 – Class 2-B Hero Destroyerz
New – HAL FORMULA
5 – Me & Roboco
New – Animal Signal
Roku’s House of Oddities (Colour)
New – Cannon Master (23p)
6 – SAKAMOTO DAYS
The Elusive Samurai (Special Chapter/Colour/41p) by Matsui Yuusei
Haiso Gakuen (Oneshot/19p) by Hayashi Seiji
7 – HUNTER×HUNTER
8 – Witch Watch
9 – Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi
10 – Shinobi Undercover
11 – Nue’s Exorcist
12 – Drawn to the Fire
13 – UNDER DOCTOR
14 – Kinato’s Magic
Quick Thoughts on the manga we read:
Hunter x Hunter – Chapter #412
Frog F: Shimanu, Shimano. Potayto, Potarto. Tomayto, Tomarto. I see what you’re doing here Togashi. Also these dude’s were largely unphased by Kurapika’s reveal and still keen to kill a baby. Please protect Woble/Fake Woble.
K Bug: Nothing like linguistics and legal documentation to get the ol’ Shonen blood pumping. I’d say it’s good knowing that Woble isn’t a legal target of the murder game, but knowing how Togashi is with happiness in his stories…
One Piece – Chapter #1187
Frog F: That’s an all-timer of a final page. The wait for Luffy vs Imu is finally over.
K Bug: Everyone has a plan to rule the world through systematic fear and oppression until they get punched in the face.
Ichi the Witch – Chapter #89
Frog F: More ping pong aye? Intriguing alliance formed between the Witches and the Magikeepers. Some teasing at Ichi’s true origin. Why is he the only man who could use magic? Maybe the series will finally start to explore this now.
K Bug: Looks like our boy Ichi has some existential questions to ponder. He did win at ping pong, though; that’s a plus.
Under Doctor – Chapter #23
Frog F: I’m enjoying the character moments, but I think the story needs something bigger to really push it forward. It still feels like a series that’s unsure of its identity.
K Bug: So, Haiji has a princess in love with him, a business partner annoyed by him, and the worst wingman in history? Dude has a strange life.
Kinato’s Magic – Chapter #22
Frog F: It’s a simple payoff, but Sazaku being beaten by the very ideals she rejected works really well. Kinato’s ability to rely on others instead of trying to do everything himself continues to be one of the series’ biggest strengths. I hope Terasu sticks around after this arc wraps up. She’s been a great addition.
K Bug: The true enemy of corrupt power and the desire to control is dance and relaxation. Who knew?
Roku’s House of Oddities – Chapter #13
Frog F: Gevaudan really thought a shirt labelled DOG was enough to blend in. The fact that nobody questioned an 8-foot-tall hairy man walking around is the exact brand of comedy I love from this series.
K Bug: A nature trip, new threads, and some bonding: how lovely. That dog is still big, though.
Someone Hertz – Chapter #40
Frog F: At this point, I’ll happily read these idiots doing literally anything. This chapter was a lot of fun. Mimei finally getting a rival of his own was a nice moment.
This week’s One-Liner Corner :
Mon-mid still on break so no one liner this week.
Animal Signal – Chapter #5
Frog F: Turns out rabbit instincts involve a lot more blunt-force trauma than I expected.
K Bug: MC does not escape bunny girl senpai.
Hal Formula – Chapter #4
Frog F: Suzukaze’s approach to racing continues to be: “I’ll figure it out at 300 km/h.”
K Bug: A new challenger has appeared, and it seems like a clash of cars and egos is on the horizon.
Cannon Master – Chapter #3
Frog F: The pacing has been refreshingly confident. Three chapters in and it already feels like the adventure is well underway. Bharat feels more like an older brother than a traditional mentor, and I think that’s why the relationship clicks. His uncertainty is what makes him believable. He doesn’t always know the right answer, but he keeps moving forward anyway.
K Bug: No rest for the weary, as they say. Probably not the smartest idea to fight something called a Demon, they also say.
A look towards next issue:
Next Issue (#33):
Cover & Lead Colour Page: ONE PIECE
Colour Pages: Blue Box; Drawn to the Fire; Eyeboy (Oneshot/47p) by Yachi Taiyou
Credit and thanks to Weekly Shonen Jump reddit for T.O.C.
All images belong to Shueisha.
