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少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine), '04 Vol 52
The very last issue number for 2004, and of course they had to ruin it with Waka. Suzuka has a colored page, Negima has a poll, and the preview for next issue reemphasizes something big for Tsubasa. This weeks' Negima's pretty interesting as Akamatsu is finally done plugging all the characters. Now for some character development. Suzuka: ＃３９二人 (The Two Of Us): Suzuka and Yamato are stuck in Hiroshima after missing the train. Both of them don't have much money on them, so Yamato uses Suzuka's cell phone to call his father to pick them up to his parent's house (about an hour drive). The plan was to have Yamato go back and stay with his parents for the night and lend Suzuka some money to stay in a hotel and take the train home tomorrow. However, his father doesn't think this is right and takes Suzuka along. School Council: ＃２扉を開けた者 (The People Who Opened the Door): Musashi tries to fall asleep with Mami next to him, but has a hard time doing so. He finally does, but doesn't get much sleep. The next day, he wakes up to find that he has grown a tail. Mami tells him it's a symbol of someone who has opened the door (at the old school building from last time). So now he has to live with a tail, although the other students don't mind just yet. He sees at school that a few of the punk kids got beat up pretty badly and he finds a feather at the scene of the crime. Mami tells him that another person has opened the door. Musashi immediately thinks of Kaoru and worries that he'll get ruffled up because the other punks would think that it was Musashi, Kaoru's friend who did it. However, unknown to Musashi, Kaoru is the one who has grown wings and no longer feels inferior to Musashi. Mami says the battle for leadership has begun. Negima: ７６時間目 片思いの処方箋 (A Prescription for Unrequited Love): Asuna has a dream where she finally confesses to Takahata, but at the last minute, Takahata turns into an older Negi. At school while the students are preparing for their haunted house, there's rumors about the tree at Mahora and the success in love that it brings. Konoka then tells Setsuna about Asuna's failed attempts at confession to Takahata the past few years. This will be her last chance. She gets one opportunity, but runs away. Kamo then suggests that she date Negi for practice and whips out some magical pills to make a person look older or younger. The goal is to make Negi look 30. However, it turns out to be harder than expected and Negi looks 15 at the start of the date, exactly like how Asuna dreamed he would look. King's Sword: １４張飛のもとへ (To Where Chohi Is): Ryubi is alive and doesn't mind that he's lost his horse. In fact, he says that it's a good change, although Kanu disagrees. The children and father give Kanu some food to show their appreciation for saving their lives. Kanu and Ryubi then head off to find Ahi. Hamanaka Ai: ０６１濱中腹 (Hamanaka Stomach): Ai is trying to go on a diet, but only manages to do it for three days. Afterwards, she just wears a one piece dress to hide her bulge. Full Swing: １０あきらめねぇ！！ (I Ain't Givin' Up!!): Tama continues to lose until it's 5-0, second set. However, despite not playing well, he's actually been trying to read Shun's body language as it correlates to what type of serve he's going to hit. He is finally able to read his serve and return. However, in one of the points, he hits his head against the net post, but continues playing despite the blood. It's 40-15, double match point, but Tama refuses to give up and finally comes to the realization that tennis isn't a substitute for baseball anymore. Changing Now: ３０激闘！！ 小さな勇者 (Fighting!! A Small Hero): Dog Fighter (Fujihara?, I forgot his non-super hero name) is at the park with his toddler son. Some of the villians kids come around and bully him, but the son puts on Fujihara's helmet and kicks some butt. |
Title: 少年マガジン (Shonen Magazine) Vol. 52 |
dear Vol. 5
I got this volume almost three weeks ago but the publication date for first printing is the 27th. Strange. This volume didn't seem all that interesting. Too many self introductions without much going on. The covers have comics, inside flap as the Captain's little musing, and there's a letter from the author drawn as a comic too. 20. 何者 (What Are You?): Continuing from the previous chapter, the girls, Prin, Komomo, and Chiruha are in a room together andnd Chiruha senses something different about Prin. Prin recognizes Chiruha as the person she's been looking for but passes out. In bed, Prin dreams of a village where the Lycanthrope kids play. When she wakes up, Komomo is next to her and they start talking about why they're searching for the Lycanthrope. Carol, Kurenai, and Subaru are discussing the same topic elsewhere. Komomo is trying to find it to help Subaru heal his arm, and the other two are looking to help cure Prin's Lycanthrope curse. As they start dinner, Chiruha meets Prin again 21. 明日のしあわせ (Tomorrow's Happiness): During the meal, Subaru's hand, Prin's condition, Chiruha's race, and Kisara's immortality are revealed. Most all of them agree to keep each other's secrets a secret but help to find a cure for Subaru and Prin. Chiruha wants to cure Kisara of his condition because she thinks it brings him sadness. When Kisara rufuses, she runs off to her room. Kisara follows her and has a talk with her saying that he's happy now that she's here. The next morning, Kisara has Kurenai, Carol, and Subaru move out and to the patrol's dorms. 22. 友達になってください攻撃 (Please Be My Friend Attack): The girls say goodbye to their men. Prin and Komomo get to stay in the mansion while the guys leave. Chiruha visits the guys in their new place and Carol gives her some treats as a symbol of their new friendship. 23. 想いがゆえ (A Thought Is A Reason): As the captain talks to his three new helpers to see what they can do, he starts telling them about Kisara. Because he was immortal, an abnormality, he could never face regular people. However, after Chiruha came, the captain mentions that Kisara seems to have found a purpose in life. After coming back from a job eliminating a beast, Kisara comes home to Chiruha who passes out from what looks like a fever. Kurenai tries to help, but Kisara gets defensive in protecting Chiruha. After putting her in bed, Kurenai explains to Kisara that they all have people they want to protect. The doctor comes to look at Chiruha and discovers that she's only passed out from accidentally drinking some alcohol. 24. 星降る夜から (From the Night of Shooting Stars): Everyone gathers for the welcoming party at the captain's mansion. Subaru and Komomo have a mushy moment and Kurenai and Carol see Prin again. Kisara tells Chiruha that tonight, there are shooting stars in the Leo constellation and wants her to see it. They go out to the balcony to find everyone else there taking a break. Kisara suggest that Chiruha go elsewhere, but she wants him to stay. As they do self intros again, the meteorites fall. |
Title: dear Vol. 5 |
セーラームーン (Sailormoon) Short Stories Vol. 1
I usually don't do side chapters in my reflections, but this whole book consists of side stories. It does, however, contain one of my favorite mini-stories, Ami-chan no Hatsukoi! I used to have her morning theme as my alarm clock tune (now I just use radio static, works better). Bonus comes with a sticker sheet, colored pages, and an extra side story. Chibiusa's Picture Diary Chapters 2. 七夕にご用心 (Beware of the Tanabata Festival): Chibiusa is told the story about the boy and the girl in the sky who are only allowed to meet once a year on the 7th of July (hence the festival). She then goes to the park to find a girl and two assistants who have brainwashed the girls into thinking they don't need men. The girl is the same girl from the legend and the two assistants are making her feel bitter. Chibiusa rids her of the two evil spirits and the girl is able to meet her boy once again. 3. 虫歯にご用心 (Beware of Cavities): Chibiusa and Usagi both seem to have cavities but are deathly afraid of the dentist. That is until the dentistry suddenly reopens with a much younger staff who are actually evil spirits. Rather than fix, they feed sweets as revenge on behalf of cavities. V, Moon, and Chibiusa defeat the new enemy. Taking the Exam Challenge Chapters 2. 亜美ちゃんの初恋 (Ami-chan's First Love): Ami sees in her test rankings that there's a competitior, Mercurius. While she wonders who it could be, she also feels a lot of competition, so much to the point that it drives her to strain herself. When she's vulnerable, a villain appears. Ami thinks it's Mercurius and defeats it with a vengence. Meanwhile, the other girls, via Umino, discover who Mercurius is but decide to let Ami fantasize that her rival is someone handsome. 3. レイと美奈子の女子校バトル！？ (Rei and Minako's School Battle!?): Minako is jealous that Rei doesn't have to study to advance in school as she attends an elevator school so she decides to transform into a student and accompany Rei to see what it's like. She finds out that Rei is a different person at school and that the place isn't all that it's cracked up to be. |
Title: 美少女戦士セーラームーン (Pretty Guardian Sailormoon) Short Stories Vol. 1 |
Girls ブラボー (Girls Bravo) Vol. 6
I guess there's some sort of multi-chapter plot in this volume with Machida as the champion of cleanliness. But still not much. Fan-service is great, as usual. The only bonus is colored pages. There's also advertisement in the back for other merchandise. 34. In order to cure his allergies, Miharu wants Yukinari to get used to a woman's gentleness. She tries to have him feel the squeezable Ebi, has Kirie and Koyomi dress scantily, but what finally seems to do it is Tomoka falling on him from rolling down the stairs. He doesn't have a reaction...until a few minutes later. 35. Koyomi has been depressed lately and the others find out, from reading her diary, that Fukuyama is the cause. They decide to take her to the park without Fukuyama to interrupt. However, he does show up and after some more harassment, Kirie makes him apologize. However, the apology is short-lived. 36. Kirie has been getting a lot of love letters from fans and it's bugging her. Fukuyama wants Kirie to himself and Tomoka is still on a quest to rein in guys for her home planet. So, using Kirie's popularity the two of them plan to have Fukuyama use his wealth to pay her admirers to go to Selen. 37. They proceed with their plan and Tomoka waits by the public fountain. She tricks Miharu, Yukinari, and Kirie to go to the museum. When Kirie realizes this, she runs back and finds Tomoka accosted by two burly men. Kirie rescues Tomoka, who admits that she's still a child. 38. A masked hero of cleanliness appears, but it's just the class loner, Machida. He vows to strike back at Kirie who broke a perfect window, but Lisa comes and disposes him with her occult powers. 39. Machida strikes again, but Kirie and the others have him cornered. They tell him that he's doing more harm than good, but Miharu takes pity on him. They're then asked to join him as other masked fighters of purity. 40. The girls decide to play along, but then Fukuyama appears and plays the villian. |
Title: Girls ブラボー (Girls Bravo) Vol. 6 |
Girls ブラボー (Girls Bravo) Vol. 7
I like the story in chapter 42 and 43. It's not much in terms of anything sentimental, but it's enough to keep the story, or whatever there is of it, interesting. Extras are the same as last book, just the colored pages and some ads. 41. Without money to go on a real vacation, Yukinari and gang go to the nearby forest. Yukinari explains that he and Kirie used to play here a lot, but became scared of the place because they got lost once. As they wander through the forest, they encounter many traps, a hand coming from the ground, and "help" scratched into a tree. They eventually find out it's Fukuyama's property and those traps are just to ward off trespassers. 42. At the summer festival, Koyomi finds a letter and vows to return it to the proper owners. Without much luck, she asks Lisa for some help. 43. All Lisa does though is invoke items that look like Fukuyama, much to Koyomi's disgust. Koyomi drops the letter and the recipient, a girl, picks it up. She reads it and finds out it's a letter written a year ago from her deceased grandmother apologizing for not having a kimono she likes. 44. It's fall, and the girls are thinking of all the fun things to do associated with autumn. Fukuyama again is able to trick them into going to his house where he takes pictures of them from odd angles. Yukinari dresses as a girl so he can gain entry into Fukuyama's mansion and is exposed when Fukuyama disrobes him. 45. Tomoka makes fun of Miharu as she seems to have a cavity as her teeth hurt. However, she's deathly afraid of going to dentist. They find out later when the tooth comes out that it's just a baby tooth. However, Tomoka's teeth then start hurting and it's her wisdom teeth. 46. It's the school's cultural festival and the class has to decide which girl will play the lead role in the play. It's a dead tie between Kirie and Miharu. Kirie puts her foot down and says Miharu will play the princess, but then Miharu chooses Kirie to play the prince. 47. The play starts. Miharu doesn't seem to know her lines and praises Yukinari. Everyone else involved wants to be praised also. Near the end, the props start falling over (due to the guys who play them) and Kirie and Miharu have their costumes ripped out. They finish the play using props to hide their bodies. |
Title: Girls ブラボー (Girls Bravo) Vol. 7 |
Girls ブラボー (Girls Bravo) Vol. 8
I can finally starts watching the anime now. Although I don't know when that will be. So far, I don't think this series is all that bad. Sure, the no plot issue is a negative, but it does fan-sevice and it does it pretty well. Volume 9 is coming out in the next few days I think. Second season anime is also gonna start in January. No ads in this volume, just the colored pages. 48. Because of all the trouble that the guys make, Kirie wants to have a New Year's party without the men. However, it's no better than if Fukuyama was around since the girls get themselves drunk and start acting crazy. 49. From reading a book, Koyomi learns that if someone sees someone else who looks exactly like him, something terrible will happen. In the streets, the girls meets Fukuyama but he seems to be different. Later, they find out from Lisa that she's created his double. They two Fukuyama's meet, but the disaster that falls upon them is that the girls have their outer clothing disappear. 50. On Valentine's Day, Miharu sees Yukinari receive some chocolates and panics. In the Miharu's absence, Yukinari explains to Kirie and the other girls that he got these chocolates to give to Fukuyama. Miharu checks up on Yukinari again and sees the 3 other girls are also giving him chocolates and panics. They eventually tell her about obligatory chocolates and she feels better until she sees Yukinari give chocolates to Fukuyama. 51. Koyomi seems to have fallen in love with a guy that she's not afraid to be around. However, when Kirie and the others investigate, they find out that this guy hangs out with other girls. That is, until they discover that the guy is actually a girl. 52. Fukuyama complains that the girls are too rough and temperamental, so he has them wear neckbands that are supposed to control their attitudes. Whenenver they get enraged, it'll reveal their bodies. After trying to be patient for a while, the girls get so fed up with Fukuyama that they don't care. 53. Koyomi attends the first day of schooling. Tomoka, for some reason wants to go alone. Despite being a klutz and deathly afraid of guys, Koyomi becomes the popular one. Tomoka doesn't think this is right, but she later reveals that the ulterior motive is to recruit school boys back to Selen. 54. The three older girls are asleep and the two guys don't know what's going on. Miharu talks in her sleep about Ebi doing something so Yukinari and Fukuyama try to find it. Fukuyama looks in all the "wrong" places. They find Ebi inflated in the bath tub and Tomoka explains that Ebi is just going through a growth phase. After popping him, the girls wake up to find themselves wearing only their underwear. |
Title: Girls ブラボー (Girls Bravo) Vol. 8
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