I have to admit that going into the JUMP-IN this week, I had some major expectations from Weekly Shonen Jump this time around. With most of the series presenting chapters that acted as the building blocks for the material this week, with some stories presenting their biggest moments yet.
Unfortunately, one such series we didn’t get to see the next stage of was My Hero Academia, as the incoming battle between Todoroki and Dabi was put on hold for this week. While it wasn’t in the top five last week, I was still excited to finally bridge the gaps of Dabi’s story and how Shoto directly ties into his brother's descent.
With that said though, this was a really strong issue of Jump, to the point I had to rewrite the list a few times before I could write about these chapters in depth. Even with lower ranking series like MASHLE and Witch Watch, I still found them to be good chapters for their respective series. I even found Protect Me, Shugomaru somewhat enjoyable this week, as our pint-size protector has to deal with his former classmates entering his turf. I can say that there wasn’t a chapter I outright hated this week, it's just that those that ranked higher were just that much better.
In particular, the manga that reigned supreme this week presented some spectacular material, to the point I would argue some series elevated their standing in the magazine to a whole new level.
5. PPPPPP Presents Meloli’s Malicious Side (PPPPPP Ch. 27)
We start off with one such chapter, as Mapollo 3’s performance piano manga has taken its next step to being unlike anything Jump has experienced in quite some time.
Following up from last week's biting remarks to Mimin, the mysterious Meloli reveals her true intentions behind her change in her performance style, and how she truly feels about the Otogami family and specifically Mimin. We learn of this young girl's fragile perception of herself as she strived to rise in the piano world with the playing style she created, and earned recognition for it , only for all to fall away. Seeing Meloli’s descent into spite and jealousy as she is overtaken almost immediately by the young girl she inspired is captivating.
Everything that made Meloli unique in the piano world is taken away in an insignificant performance for Mimin, who's playing took her distorted imagery to new heights, essentially clipping her wings and plummeting to her downfall. I love how Mapollo 3 draws Meloli here, as she throws aside her innocence with her normally light colored hair turning darker and her fairy-like wings transforming into those of a demon. Combine that with a smile that slowly goes from a graceful presence while playing, to a more malicious grin as she bows at the end of her performance, and you find yourself with a villain transformation better realized than most battle manga.
Up until the most recent chapters, Meloli has been a bystander in the narrative and I thought she would just be an unspoken ally to both Lucky and Mimin in trying to break free. I am so glad I was wrong, as Mapollo 3 continues to build on the toxic effect the Otogami family seem to have on the piano world, even if they don’t intend to do so. This chapter has made PPPPPP, at least for me, a series that is a must read and one I hope will only continue to grow and maintain its recent success.
4. Jujutsu Kaisen Concludes its Most Recent Epic Clash
(Jujutsu Kaisen Ch. 180)
After capturing the top spot for two weeks in a row, we now find Jujutsu Kaisen at the number four spot, as the chaotic clash of Jujutsu Sorcerers and curses concludes with the one on one between Yuta and Ishigori.
That isn’t to say that this conclusion wasn’t noteworthy, in fact it was one of the best conclusions to a fight in the entire series. The action on display is absolutely spectacular, as Gege Akutani fits this final stage of the battle with a breakneck pace, reaching a satisfying conclusion all within the span of 19 pages. From intense hand to hand combat with highly impactful blows to each fighter's last ditch efforts to finish each other off with their cursed techniques, or in Yuta’s case with another person’s technique, it is a thrill ride from start to finish.
What set this chapter apart though had to be its personal story between Yuta and his prideful pompadour sporting opponent. Ishigori throughout the fight has made multiple allusions to fighting strong opponents as meals, but never being able to satisfy his hunger. This is a common trope within shonen battle manga, especially with the food allegory, but I think this is the most believable interpretation I’ve seen of it so far. Ishigori isn’t just looking for a strong fight to satiate bloodlust, but rather he’s looking for a battle to satisfy his need to test his strength.
What makes this hunger more realistic to me comes from the one he chooses to fill it. Yuta has always been a character known for his compassion and desire to help others and meet their expectations. Initially this came in the form of being timid and hiding himself away, until he became a Jujutsu sorcerer, where now he finally has the strength in order to fulfill his dream and use his compassion to protect people. He continually satisfies other people, whether it be ensuring their survival or to grow stronger and defeat greater evils.
That desire to meet expectations is what leads Yuta to use every ounce of his strength to face Ishigori. He’s not just trying to kill a malicious murderer, but he is trying to satisfy his wanting for a truly spectacular final bout. In a lot of ways, Ishigori is looking for someone to serve him his last meal, one that will truly bring him satisfaction, and Yuta is the chef who strives to satisfy him with the meal of a lifetime.
That’s how I left this chapter actually, absolutely satisfied, as I think it makes for a perfect way to cap off this battle. Given that Kurourushi and Uro might not be fully out of the fight though we will have to wait and see, especially with next week being a well-deserved break for Akutani.
3. The Elusive Samurai Shows the Depths of Takauji’s Malice
(The Elusive Samurai Ch. 57)
My top three starts off with another incredible chapter of Yusei Matsui’s historical shonen action series. Immediately starting from the Elusive Warriors assasination attempt from last time, we see the true skills of Ashikaga Takauji in full effect. Not only does he block both swords swung at him from behind, but uses his upper lip to capture Tokiyuki’s arrow, before grabbing the young lord and revealing his face.
It’s in this sudden exposure that we get a shock even bigger than Takauji immediately going for the fatal blow, as the conqueror of Kamakura does not recognize our hero at all. This epic face to face being built up throughout the entire story is deflated as Tokiyuki is left dumbfounded at the fact that the man who destroyed his home and family has simply forgotten him. Even worse is the fact that Takauji offers Tokiyuki a place as one of his servants and asks him to abandon his grudge, all the while not realizing the immense insult he presents to the lord he deposed.
This makes Takauji the worst kind of villain, and therefore most effective, in that he establishes just how insignificant Tokiyuki’s struggle and loss is to him compared to his ambition. He does so all the while with a calm unimposing demeanor, with the same detached stare he has shown in the previous small glances of him we’ve seen. Matsui has created an unfeeling monster only driven by his desires of conquest and power, all with a poise and calm rarely seen in the biggest antagonists in manga.
It also doesn’t hurt that the artwork is some of his best so far as well, with spectacular expression work being a major highlight. Seeing the normally kind and respectful Tokiyuki shows a visible rage and eventual terror at the sight of his greatest foe is extremely effective. Matsui also uses his experience from Assassination Classroom effectively as well, with Takauji’s demonic presence fully realized in a double page spread of monstrous teeth and tentacles surging out of his kimono. When you add his demonic aura to his cold glare as he pursues the Elusive Warriors, it makes for a genuinely terrifying chase only stopped by Kusunoki Masahige’s last minute save.
Seeing as the group has to rush out of Kyo, with Takauji now knowing Tokiyuki’s face and an impending doomed rebellion about to ensue, the coming chapters of The Elusive Samurai are sure to be a blast to read.
2. Undead Unluck Unlocks Andy’s True Desires (Undead Unluck Ch. 105)
So I didn’t talk about it last week, but last week's chapter of Undead Unluck was absolutely crazy. We learned that Lucy is a negator, UnHealthy, and that she somehow could transform into a ghost and touch the soul of Seal. This makes the villainous Regulator sneeze and sickly, while also intriguing Andy, as they make their way to UnRuin. Now Andy is given the chance to move his soul as well, as it is revealed that the ability was given thanks to the Ghost UMA that UnRuin teamed up with.
The best part is that Lucy tapped into her imagination built on being UnHealthy, leading to some great imagery tapping into the legendary Peter Pan story. Seeing the poor girl who lost her mother and left alone come in to save the day is a good heartfelt moment. She also teaches Andy to tap into the power, telling the UnDead hero that he has to tap into some form of desire to achieve the state, which is what she did to attain her astral form.
What comes next is a beautiful moment for Andy, as the immortal warrior reveals his true desire, and projects himself as an elderly man. Andy’s arc throughout the series has been focused on achieving the one thing he never could, to finally achieve death. Stories on immortality tend to focus on what makes eternal life a curse and make those who’ve achieved tragic figures. While Andy has suffered loss, he’s been portrayed as mostly a positive force, fighting alongside the Union and trying to defeat God. More importantly, he gave Fuuko purpose in her life, saving the young girl from ending her own life and love.
Andy has done everything he could possibly want in life, except being able to grow old alongside those he loves, and this was the personification of that. Andy doesn’t want to die simply because he’s suffering, he wants to live a fulfilled life with a fulfilling ending surrounded by the people he loves. That small window into Andy’s psyche that gives our everyone's favorite undying hype man a wicked-sick amount of character development.
Now armed with a hook hand, alongside Lucy and a bunch of other escaped spirits, I can’t wait to see how Andy tackles UnRuin next week.
1. Sakamoto Days Shows Sakamoto’s past and Shin’s Growth (Sakamoto Days Ch. 65)
Once again the assassins of Sakamoto Days have taken the top spot this week, as the JCC Assassin’s Exam adds another new wrinkle to the story. First of all Akira turns out to be Rion Akao’s niece, and not her daughter, so that’s my bad for assuming. The time we see Rion in a flashback was an interesting, albeit brief, window not only into her personality but also a great look at the dynamic that she shared with Sakamoto and Nagumo.
That said, however, we almost immediately shifted back to the battle between Shin’s team and the treacherous Toramaru. This fight that spreads throughout the chapter, across a stretch forest and ultimately on a log in a rolling river, once again shows just how great Suzuki is at creating a great sense of page flow and action in their page space. It also doesn’t hurt that the psychotic super fan of Sakamoto has been the source of the most visceral action in the arc. Every swing of her ax-shotgun hybrid has a ton of weight, all the while she leaps and swings with absolute ease.
We even gain a better understanding of her obsession with everyone’s favorite convenient store owner. Sakamoto seemingly saved Toramaru’s life while doing a hit, earning the young girls adoration and motivating her in a multitude of ways that helped round out her personality, albeit with an unquenchable bloodlust to boot. Her exchange with Shin about Sakamoto, even noticing how Shin copies his master’s mannerisms, is pretty funny at the start.
The seemingly lighthearted battle banter shifts, however, when Shin shares his thoughts on his favorite boss. At the beginning of the manga, our professional psychic killer treated Sakamoto in a way very similar to Toramaru, seeing him as this cold-hearted and godlike being. It’s in this fight that we see that his views changed, and it's great to see how Shin’s time with Sakamoto’s and his friends have given a better window on the man he’s idolized.
Instead of seeing his idol as an untouchable god like Toramaru, his perspective shifts, as he establishes the goal of wanting to become Sakamoto’s partner. He wants to one day meet not only Sakamoto’s expectations, but achieve his own goals in getting stronger, so that one day he can be considered an equal. With Shin building a greater presence in these pages, he’s shaping up to be my favorite character in the series with his top notch comedy and fight scenes. Now that Toramaru wants to show no mercy for his views on Sakamoto I think its safe to say I’m about to see another great battle next week.
I feel like I came up with an unintentional theme with this week’s JUMP-IN as every chapter from Jump in this list had one thing in common. While each chapter had major story elements or great action that unfolded throughout, it seemed to me that this week focused heavily on developing characters, with the top five all doing the best character work by far.
The villainous intent behind Meloli, Akauji and Toramaru served as strikingly disturbed with artwork that showed just how twisted their worldview can be. The demented imagery and hate filled eyes of each one cut like a knife, showing just how evil their intentions really are. Meanwhile the likes of Yuta, Tokiyuki, Andy, and Shin are starting to personally reflect more on what drives them to get stronger or even fight to begin with. Their continued growth makes each of them more compelling, and I can’t wait to see what happens next time to find out where they go next (minus Jujutsu Kaisen)
For now here are the rankings for the series and I will see you guys here again next time!
1. Sakamoto Days (Ch. 65) | 6. Mission: Yozakura Family (Ch. 124) | 11. Doron Dororon (Ch. 17) |
2. Undead Unluck (Ch. 105) | 7. Ayashimon (Ch. 18) | 12. MASHLE (Ch. 102) |
3. The Elusive Samurai (Ch. 57) | 8. Blue Box (Ch. 47) | 13. Witch Watch (Ch. 56) |
4. Jujutsu Kaisen (Ch. 180) | 9. Akane-banashi (Ch. 8) | 14. Protect Me, Shugomaru! (Ch. 18) |
5. PPPPPP (Ch. 27) | 10. Earthchild (Ch. 7) | Unranked: My Hero Academia (No Chapter) |
JUMP-IN Forecast for 4/10/22: No chapter for Jujutsu Kaisen