As we head into Jump this week, the magazine is fighting a somewhat uphill battle when it comes to its output of titles. While I don’t read them, both Black Clover and Ayakashi Triangle being taken out of the magazine is a major shift in the lineup. With the former being on hiatus as Tabata preps for the final arc of the series, and the latter being moved to the bi-weekly Jump+, it means that the editorial staff have to rely on their established mainstays now more than ever while trying to build up newer creators for the future.
In the case of those mainstays, I would say that unfortunately they hit kind of a stumbling block this week. This week is already a staple title in My Hero Academia, as Horikoshi hashes out the next stage of the battle of the Todoroki brothers. I already said that this is fine given the quality of the material we’ve been getting, but I will say this gives us an interesting window into what Jump will be like once this world of heroes has reached its conclusion.
The series that hit the biggest wall this week is unfortunately Jujutsu Kaisen, as we get a chapter that starts with a pachinko rule sheet to set up Akari’s domain expansion ability. Just like real life slots or pachinko machines, the rules are complex and layered, to the point that even with two and a half pages of diagrams and exposition wasn’t enough for me to initially understand the rules.
It wasn’t until I reread the chapter that I started understanding it better, but that still brings up an underlying problem with the series. The power system in Jujutsu Kaisen has an insane amount of depth, where some characters' abilities can get so complex and situational that they leave wondering what is happening. These more abstract techniques are interesting and at times creative, but they can also take you out of the fights that are presented, which especially hurt this multi-chapter conflict and Akari’s character. The mixture of these in-game cutscenes from a fictional manga with some uninteresting fight choreography and minimal backgrounds made for one of the weaker chapters to date.
Despite these setbacks involving these pillars of the magazine, I will say that newer series are showing major signs of growth as well. While I still feel like the concept is still generic, Doron Dororon is developing some really fun character dynamics between its samurai officers and the duo of Dora and Kusanagi that help breathe life into its world. Another series that has been grabbing my attention lately is Akane-banashi, as this latest chapter gives greater insight to Akane’s more serious study of rakugo, and also sets up an earlier than expected clash with the big antagonist in the next arc.
With series like this on the rise, I am more hopeful for the future of shonen manga’s biggest magazine, but even more so with some of the titles that have taken the top five this week. Before that, however, we have to crack the case on Jump’s latest series.
(NEW SERIES) Super Smartphone Attempts to Re-Invent the Detective Wheel for the Modern Era (Super Smartphone Ch. 1)
Have you ever watched a modern crime drama or mystery and wondered why investigators never used their phones to crack the case? Probably not, as technology can only do so much when not compared to the actual legwork of performing investigations and gathering evidence. What if you had a phone that could help you bypass that, however, and help solve problems with a simple search?
That is the question asked by writer and artist duo Hiroki Tomisawa and Kentaro Hidano in Super Smartphone, the latest detective manga to enter the pages of Jump. The story focuses on genius teenager Kyu Sagurada, aka Q, as he discovers a mysterious smartphone in his backpack that allows him to search for nearly any information in the world, even beyond the digital restrictions of modern technology. With each time he uses the phone, Q earns points that the AI companion Kimi wants him to collect through searches. After using the phone to solve a kidnapping similar to his brother Shu’s disappearance, Q learns he has to use those points to find out what exactly happened on that day seven years ago.
There are many manga that follow this formula of genius high schooler coasting by, only to eventually use their intellect to solve crime, but there is always an x-factor. In the case of iconic series like Detective Conan or Death Note, the characters trying to solve the mysteries have some form of eccentric trait that makes them stand out, like Conan being turned into a child or L being a recluse. In the case of Q, he really doesn’t have anything about himself that makes him stand out. His overall design further accentuates this, as he is basically presented as an average high-schooler with no real discernible traits.
The x-factor of the series comes from the phone and Kimi, but unfortunately it is the biggest detriment to the narrative. The key to any great detective manga is the various scenarios that can be presented during the investigation phase. The various locales, the finding of clues, and uncovering the truth all the while racing against time to solve the case make a great mystery worth reading.
The problem within this first chapter is that none of that actively happens, as a majority of page space is devoted to Q asking Kimi to search for information, his reaction to each failed attempt, and narrowing down his questions until he finds the ultimate result. It’s the same kind of deduction would put towards 20 Questions, not an actual criminal case, and it's presented with an uninteresting page layout.
I don’t inherently have a problem with the concept of an almost omniscient phone and the points system leading to Q getting answers. It makes for an interesting setup, just not for a detective story, making cases feel like they can be solved with a few questions rather than actual investigation techniques. Granted this only the first chapter and they could turn things around, but for now it doesn’t do enough to grab or keep a reader's attention, which isn’t great for a series start.
5. Witch Watch Brings On the Childhood Nostalgia (Witch Watch Ch. 60)
Luckily we start our top five proper on a lighter note, with another solid comedic chapter from Witch Watch. After a more dramatic two part story with Keigo and Nemu, we shift to the core cast looking over Moi’s manga he drew as a kid, before turning into the character’s themselves courtesy of Nico’s spell.
I’ve always found when mangaka tackle multiple art styles at once and incorporate it into their artwork it can be a really fun way to show off their range. Shinohara achieved just that with a level of believability with how Moi, Nico and the rest of the crew, with the exception of Kanshi, all had the cutesy vibe of kids manga come to life. From the goofy and cutesy faces, to the childish dialogue, and even drawing quirks like blushing and nervous sweating going outside of character outlines.
As for our favorite Tengu, he’s been turned into a horrific yet hilarious block print, sticking out even more than the rest of the cast with thick outlines and rougher looking features. The fact Shinohara manages to balance his original artstyle with these drastic departures so well makes the chapter a really fun read. He’s done similar approaches before when the guys were turned into Minecraft characters and Nico becoming a living piece of paper, but this takes the concept with a sense of childhood excitement.
The crew even use a combo move Moi came up with back when he was a kid, all because he loved the idea of having friends who could do it with him. In a way this chapter is a really fun look into Moi’s character and showing how being a part of the group has made him happier. He finally has a group of friends he can open up to and even have his embarrassing childhood art to share with.
This ended up being a really fun chapter to start off with, that added some much needed brevity to the week’s material.
4. Blue Box Shows More Cultural Festival Prep and Even More Drama
(Blue Box Ch. 51)
We shift already into a different gear as Blue Box shows off more of that sweet shounen romance. The culture festival arc has already proven to be a great source of character building for Chinatsu and Taiki, almost to the point that Hina feels like she’s in the background of their love trainingle once again.
We still get some nuggets of development, including a cute little exchange between Taiki and Chinatsu about Taiki’s height, but it’s here Hina takes the reins again. Since her big confession to Taiki, she’s kind of become this wildcard to the story. Before she was seemingly always struggling with her feelings for him, knowing he likes Chinatsu, but now she’s gotten bolder and more confident. She shrugs off the fact that he likes Chinatsu because she has been able to confess and knowing that her confession affects how he perceives her.
This week looked into that even further though, as she has found a neutral third party in Kyo, who will listen to her talk about her desire to be with Taiki. Kyo even gets some more background as we find out about his romantic past, with the girl he was in love with being left a mystery, adding to some potential tension as the arc progresses.
Then Hina comes in swinging towards the end as she and Chinatsu are face to face for the first time since her confession. There is already this great sense of tension with how Miura frames the space between them. They start off so distant on one page, only for Hina to close in on the next after she drops another cliffhanger bombshell. The artwork throughout the chapter is as beautiful as always, but it’s moments like these that show off Miura’s chops as an artist. With the only light coming into the room being the natural light, with the shadow covering a majority of the room, it makes the moment feel even more dramatic.
With Hina shaking things up again, next week should lead to a pretty massive amount of development as the cultural festival draws ever closer.
3. Ayashimon Stealthily takes Its Place Amongst the Top 3
(Ayashimon Ch. 22)
It’s been a little while, but I once again find myself talking about Yuji Kaku’s yokai yakuza battler, and it definitely earned its spot here.
After devastating losses and revelations at the hands Doppo’s takeover of Kabukicho, the group turn to there only potential ally left, the tanuki and kitsune run Kori Hotels. Unfortunately, things haven’t really gone there way as Tamagawa has taken them prisoner and plans to exorcise Urara, Kotton, and Ten to destroy the Todoroki Alliance.
Luckily, Maruo and the rest of the gang arrive on the scene, with the human wanting to make the fighting as discreet as possible to not hurt the human hotel guests in the crossfire. It’s a trait that he surprisingly shares with Tamagawa, as the mafioso turned hotel manager has the same idea of sneaky combat.
What follows is one of my favorite fights in Jump this week, as bellhops, concierge and bikers alike all attack one another while guests are none the wiser. You get scenes of pens thrown as knives, luggage carts, and tanuki’s using their sacks as shields, culminating with some incredible offense from Maruo in front of a patron drinking coffee and reading the paper. It’s a great blend of action and comedy as both sides struggle to keep things under wraps.
It all comes to head when Tamagawa arrives on the scene and challenges Maruo to a ritual duel. Each of the duel have only continued to escalate in terms of action so I’m already excited, but we might be headed into a trap with Maruo’s opponent sharing a familiar silhouette.
2. Mission: Yozakura Family Showcases the Kid's Psychotic Papa
(Mission: Yozakura Family Ch. 128)
Hitsuji Gondaira’s spy battler makes its triumphant return into the top five. This time taking the silver medal, with a beautifully disturbing chapter, as the fallout of the battle with Kyoichiro brings out the children’s father Momo.
Since his debut, this bowler hat wearing man of mystery has been an unsettling presence, with the scale of his power unknown and his callous disregard for life. He is even willing to force his own children into combat all for his goals, which for the longest time was the biggest question the series presented.
Now we finally know, as Momo intends to use the the energy Tsubomi has been gathering, even willing to commit mass murder, all to revive his wife Rei and restore his family. He’s trying to make up for previous sins by committing even more heinous ones, in this twisted last attempt to repair the family life he destroyed and abandoned.
This arc has already been a strong one for the series, with all of the spectacular story work for Kyoichiro, albeit with a slightly rushed feeling ending to Kyoichiro and Taiyo’s battle. This chapter makes up for that big time, however, as Gondaira shows off his spectacular facial expression work with these haunting close-ups of Momo. The man goes from crying these tears of sadness and joy as if his family is finally coming together, all while holding his dead wife’s heart in his hands in front of their children. The fear on all of the Yozakura’s faces, especially Mutsumi and Futaba, shows just how unrecognizable their father has become.
The brief battle between Futaba and Momo is just as chilling, as it immediately overpowers the tiny powerhouse, seemingly breaking her arm and making her feel overwhelmed. Momo Yozakura has finally been established as the next real antagonist, finally coming out of the shadows, and Gondaira has nailed this reveal masterfully. The last time I felt this disturbed by a Jump villain was when Tomura Shigaraki’s origin was revealed in My Hero Academia, making the father Yozakura one of the more effective villains in the magazine.
1. Undead Unluck Ramps Up Rip Vs. Andy With a Triumphant Return and Tragic Sacrifice (Undead Unluck Ch. 109)
After the last couple of weeks being so exciting to read, I had high expectations for this latest chapter of Undead Unluck, and I can say that I was not disappointed. With Rip’s betrayal and origin acting as the setup, we finally get the rematch we’ve been waiting for, and it is a doozy.
The action within these 25 pages is some of the most impactful in the series on both a physical and emotional level, as Andy becomes a feral monster after Rip stabs his head with scalpel. This causes the Undead hero to turn into a rabid zombie fighting solely based on instinct and his desire to survive in order to save Fuuko. The blood based attacks come out just as wildly, changing the more focused projectile attacks they normally perform into massive streams propelling Andy like a rocket. It's the most intense that he’s been portrayed in series, even beyond his fights with Victor and Billy, showing just how ferocious he’s become.
Rip on the other hand is on the backfoot, as more flashbacks of his negator ability manifesting and learning of the Ark play out. Just as he’s about to get eviscerated by Andy’s massive Dead Road attack, Latla makes a last minute save for her partner. It was a great comeback further enhanced by each flashback featuring her and how she’s been by Rip’s side through all of these moments, making for spectacular foreshadowing.
I always felt that Latla was really under-utilized, especially since she was Rip’s partner, and yet this chapter finally addressed that. She finally lashes out at Rip for trying to leave her behind, and while it doesn’t fully excuse Tozuka not giving her more development, it is cathartic that she finally addresses her feelings for him and her frustrations. It’s a really strong moment for the pair, and sadly comes a little too late if the ending is anything to go by.
As Latla joins the battle to defeat Andy, the foreshadowing is given another wrinkle, as she gives one of her patented failed predictions. Seeing her sacrifice herself the way she did, essentially pulling a Goku moment, definitely hurt in the best way. Even if she could use more page time to develop, Latla is still a really cool character, and knowing that she seemingly helped Rip achieve his goal makes for a strong finish to the battle.
Things are admittedly still up in the air, but if this was the end of the fight, I can’t say I would be disappointed. The battle was heart-pounding from the onset and was accompanied with even more great flashbacks and had a strong emotional throughline for both sides. It is easily my favorite fight not only in this week’s edition of Jump, but also one of my favorite fights in the entire series.
That wraps another edition of the JUMP-IN, and admittedly it wasn’t the best week, but there were still some solid efforts from the best in Jump. We are reaching ever closer to a massive paradigm shift for the magazine, and there is probably a lot of pressure behind the scenes to find the next big hit.
While I can’t outright say which titles will achieve that status, it is still fun to read various series that make the effort to do so, and even read titles from artists trying to establish their identity in the magazine. Only time will tell what will come next for Jump, and I will be here waiting with the same excitement I always do, ready to tackle next week’s material.
Here are this week’s rankings and I will see you guys next time!
1. Undead Unluck (Ch. 109) | 6. Sakamoto Days (Ch. 69) | 11. Jujutsu Kaisen (Ch. 183) |
2. Mission: Yozakura Family (Ch. 128) | 7. PPPPPP (Ch. 31) | 12. MASHLE (Ch. 106) |
3. Ayashimon (Ch. 22) | 8. Akane-banashi (Ch. 12) | 13. Eathchild (Ch. 11) |
4. Blue Box (Ch. 51) | 9. The Elusive Samurai (Ch. 61) | 14. Protect Me, Shugomaru! (Ch. 22) |
5. Witch Watch (Ch. 60) | 10. Doron Dororon (Ch. 21) | Unranked: Super Smartphone (Ch. 1), My Hero Academia (No Chapter) |