Judos Chapter 2 review

Judos Chapter 2 story & art by Shinsuke Kondo Review

                Picking up shortly after where the previous chapter left off, we finally learn the plot for the series as well as the reason for its name. The series improves its quality considerably in this chapter and the plot being set in motion is rather interesting. The comedy also runs strong in this chapter. So all-in-all chapter 2 of Judos proved to be a fun reading experience.

Hi-Fi Cluster Chapter 1 review

Hi-Fi Cluster Chapter 1 Story & Art by Ippei Goto Review

                Depressed that he isn’t talented with labels like everyone else, Jugojo found himself wrapped up in the world of illegal labels. This all changes when he runs into a mysterious man who turns out to be a member of a special police force dedicated to stopping illegal labels. Can Jugojo’s life be turned around?

                Serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump, Hi-Fi Cluster is derivative of at least half a dozen other series. Jugojo is not a compelling protagonist in the least neither is the rest of the cast. The series struck me as an after school special only the thing they are warning the readers about does not exist.

                The series left very little of an impression on me. I honestly do not see this series continuing on for long. The cliffhanger at the end was interesting so there’s that. The artwork is passable. That’s really all you can say about this series, it is off to a lukewarm start and you will most likely forget it hours after reading it.

VIZ MEDIA’S “JUMP START” INITIATIVE TO DELIVER ENGLISH DIGITAL PREMIERES OF BRAND NEW WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP MANGA SERIES ON THE SAME DAY OF JAPANESE DEBUT

Digital Publishing Campaign Eliminates Time And Distance Barriers To Offer International Fans The Opportunity To Sample Hot New Manga Titles; New Series JUDOS Launches Today!

San Francisco, CA, September 8, 2014 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, generates additional synergy between its English language WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP digital manga magazine and the original Japanese print counterpart with the launch of the new “Jump Start” initiative. WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is the world’s premiere manga brand and leading international weekly manga magazine.

Moving forward, VIZ Media will simultaneously premiere the first three chapters (one chapter per week) of every brand new, first-run manga series that appears in the Japanese Weekly Shonen Jump in its digital English language edition on the same day of that issue’s general print release in Japan.

The first “Jump Start” title to be featured is the high impact martial arts series – JUDOS – by Shinsuke Kondo, which launches TODAY in the latest issue of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP. Hana Yanagi is just fifteen and aims to be the best judo practitioner in his village – a remote hamlet that just happens to produce the world’s most powerful fighters. Get ready for hardcore over-the-top martial arts action!

VIZ Media’s WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is also set to feature the English language premiere of Ippei Goto’s new sci-fi crime thriller – HI-FI CLUSTER – beginning in the September 15^th issue, and will offer Yuto Kubota’s sports medicine manga – SPORTING SALT – debuting the September 23^rd issue. Future series premieres will be announced as news becomes available from Weekly Shonen Jump (Japan) publisher and VIZ Media parent company, Shueisha, Inc.

By delivering simultaneous English language access to future series on the same day of their Japanese general release, “Jump Start” seeks to build greater international awareness and support for a new vanguard of compelling titles and manga creators launching in the most widely read weekly manga publication in the world.

VIZ Media encourages WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP members/subscribers to submit their “Jump Start” feedback and thoughts on the new series and chapters by completing the survey that is contained at the end of each digital issue and also at: http://shonenjump.viz.com/website-survey.

“The ‘Jump Start’ initiative begins a new era in digital manga publishing that will give seasoned readers as well as those new to the genre seamless, same-day, simultaneous access like they’ve never enjoyed before to what’s hot and brand new in the world’s most popular manga magazine,” says Andy Nakatani, Editor-in-Chief of VIZ Media’s WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP. “‘Jump Start’ gives new titles an important opportunity to develop an international following. Our readers can play a more active role than ever to help VIZ Media and Shueisha discover what new series resonate on an international level and decide what might possibly be featured on a regular ongoing basis.” 

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is published digitally every week by VIZ Media and features the latest installments of some of the world’s most popular manga series released to English readers across North America on the same day as the magazine’s general print release in Japan.

VIZ Media offers North American fans single issues of WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP for only $0.99 each. Exclusive 1 Year Memberships are available for only $25.99 and include 48 weekly digital issues as well as special premiums such as Yu-Gi-Oh! Collectable Trading Cards, rare one-shot manga releases, digital-only promotions, and access to additional subscriber-only content including creator interviews and insightful promo videos. (*Note: Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are only available to annual subscribers in the US and Canada.) Current subscribers can also access their accounts via VIZManga.com, the VIZ Manga App, or with the Apple iPad Newsstand App.

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP is also available to readers in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa via the WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Newsstand App available for the Apple iPad^®, iPhone and iPod touch or the WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP App on the Google Play Store for Android devices. International issues debut each Monday at 10:00am (PST) and monthly subscriptions are available with automatic monthly renewals. Additional information on international subscriptions is available at:http://shonenjump.viz.com/international-wsj-app.

For more information on WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and exclusive subscriber offers, please visit shonenjump.viz.com.

For more information on VIZ Media manga titles, please visit www.VIZ.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

Judos Chapter 1 review

Judos Chapter 1 Story & Art by Shinsuke Kondo Review

When a mysterious boy named Hana arrives at a judo training space he quickly finds himself in quite the situation. Hana must defeat one of the strongest people in the world. As the fight goes on we learn that there is more to our protagonist than a pretty face…

Serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan, Judos is off to a great start. The comedy is top notch really being the series greatest strength. The action is also surprisingly good. My only complaint is that the art is a little rough. The series seems to take a similar approach to Kuroko’s basketball with its protagonist.

The series is off to a good start! The supporting cast has been colourful and is easily my favorite part about the first chapter providing great gags. All in all the first chapter of Judos is a great read for fans of sports and comedy comics! 

World Trigger chapter 73 review

World Trigger chapter 73 Story & Art by Daisuke Ashihara

                Tensions continue to escalate as nothing less than the lives of the characters we have come to know and care about are at stake. The series also goes from a cast of thousands to a cast of tens of thousands as even more characters are introduced. If there is one complaint which could be made for this series it’s that there has been little development for the ever growing supporting cast. That being said, this chapter boasts great action. Another positive is how the author is capable of making easy to differentiate between characters. In all World Trigger continues to dazzle and amaze.

Nisekoi chapter 136 review

Nisekoi chapter 136 story & art by Naoshi Komi Review

Did someone say “riddle the plot with clichés?” I think they did! And to add insult to injury we get another romantic interest for our personality lacking lead. As if the cast was not large enough for a romantic comedy already. Mercifully this chapter seems to have little to no fan service but otherwise it’s mostly unbearable. So in all I’d say this chapter was more of the same but with the catch that the author is running low on ideas.

Joshi Kausei chapters 1-8 review

Joshi Kausei  Story & Art by Ken Wakai chapters 1-8 Review

From Crunchyroll: “Who needs dialog when you're this cute? The beautiful (but unlucky) Momoko, the cool, collected Shibumi, and the refreshingly innocent Mayumi star in a "silent manga." No speeches, no dialog! Just pictures, sound effects, and three high school girls living their daily lives.”

                Slice-of-life Japanese animation and comics has two modes: mindless and coming of age stories. Joshi Kausei falls into the former category. What establishes this series apart from its countless peers is the lack of dialogue bubbles. Art wise it also is very nice to look at as well. The series is a pleasant diversion with chapters being rather short.

                The series will not thrill or captivate most people. The fan service feels uncomfortable and out of place and clashes with the tone of the series as a whole. All-in-all Joshi Kausei is off to a decent start though it has its flaws. If one is not averse to them however this may prove to be a pleasant enough break in a day.