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Mar 15, 2023
Make no mistake, Cipher Academy appeals to a very niche audience and that is no understatement. (Unless you're a diehard Nisio Isin fan who also happens to be a language otaku familiar with every nook and cranny of the Japanese language. If so, congratulations! You've hit the jackpot.)
Being a work befitting of Nisio and his eccentric storytelling style it is atypical in many ways such as the wealth of text on every page, jam-packed with language-specific puns, catchphrases and references to other media (including his own, of course) and if this was any of his other works it would have been well accepted and appreciated
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even by international fans. But alas, this manga is about ciphers, the very backbone of which is the Japanese language, a mystery most of us probably can't wrap our heads around beyond the few translator's notes scattered across the manga (seriously, what is up with that. If there's anytime to soil a page with TL notes now is the time). But no matter, even the author himself probably realised this since almost every chapter would have notes at the bottom explaining things as one reads along so fret not! Nisio has you covered.
If you're looking forward to having fun solving the ciphers in this manga by yourself be prepared to be disappointed because most of them either require an exaggerated level of Japanese knowledge or you're just too stupid. Either way, most of the ciphers don't feel like they are intended to be solved before the characters do so just enjoy the ride and let the characters themselves do the explaining.
As for the characters we have a lovely cast of very distinct and likeable characters, each having unique character designs and traits that make them easy to tell apart considering we have an entire class' worth of them introduced right of the bat with wacky puns for names. You just can't dislike them.
The premise of the plot is simple but gets more and more interesting as the story develops so I'm excited to see where this is going, with already very noticeable peaks early on that have chills down my spine just thinking about. It really helps a lot that the art is so precise and expressive which goes a long way in conveying emotion well. The expressiveness of every character is drawn flawlessly, which is rather important in a mystery genre like this. The artist takes no liberties in poses, perspectives and facial expressions so there's a lot to like.
Nonetheless, Cipher Academy is no doubt a hallmark masterpiece of this era, one that superbly challenges the mind in both riddles and our ability to endure the sheer overwhelming text on each page.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Mar 15, 2023
Let's cut to the chase, if you're into the pantyhose/school nurse fetish or just a complete pervert, this is a must-read.
And even if you're not there's plenty of subplot with a well developed cast and comedic moments that can keep you entertained between pervy scenes.
Romance-wise it's a slow burn but each chapter will have at least one teasing ecchi scene so it's definitely a page turner. Development is spread out across the entire manga but it feels natural and has its good moments. So if this sounds like the thing you're into then you definitely won't get bored.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Mar 4, 2023
This episode is just 10/10 story, 10/10 ost and 10/10 character moments all round. The rumbling perfectly encapsulates the irony of Eren's character, for someone who chases freedom to no end, to project that childish desire onto the dream Armin had, to explore the outside world, and pretending that they shared the same vision of that dream, so much so that he regresses into his childlike state as he savours the scenery from above the cloud-like titan smoke, oblivious to the carnage caused by his unchecked and misguided ambition. It's a masterpiece of both storytelling and score with Hayashi and Isayama at their best.
And we
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end off the first chapter with Armin's hopeful monologue in a meta narrative sense, hoping that us viewers could fight back against the unending cycle of conflict that is in our nature, that our world could be so much different from the one they inhabit, juxtaposed with Eren's aversion of his gaze from the conflict on the ground as he lies dormant in his titan, communicating ignorance which in his words, is the furthest removed from freedom.
The second part encapsulates the spirit of the Survey Corps best-the Wings of Freedom as they call it, with Pieck continuing to wear the SC uniform as she emboldens her warrior ideals to Hange's selfless sacrifice going in swords blazing against the waves of colossal titans with BAUKLOTZE in the background, much like her predecessors before, while Armin takes up the mantle of commander, as someone who champions understanding the other party so well, which sets him apart from other traditional leader candidates like Jean. The alliance departs for their final battle on the plane as a result, soaring into the air with their own wings of freedom, as it symbolises the main casts' struggle for freedom and autonomy, a metaphor for the main casts' desire to break free from the constraints and oppression the world has bestowed upon them and soar to new heights.
Finally, the last part emphasizes the theme of guilt and responsibility that is heavily present as the characters struggle with their past actions and the weight they carry as a result. Eren, in particular, embodies this theme as he refuses to back down from his decision to initiate the Rumbling and sees it as the only way to atone for the sins of his ancestors and the mistakes he has made himself. His determination to follow through with the Rumbling, despite the pleas and attempts at understanding from his friends, showcases the burden of guilt he carries and his inability to let go of it.
This theme is further highlighted through the conversation between the characters, as they reflect on their own guilt and try to take responsibility for their past actions. Jean, Connie, and Reiner all express remorse for their roles in the war and the lives they have taken, while Armin and the others try to reassure them and shoulder the blame themselves. However, despite their efforts, the characters are unable to fully move past their guilt and find resolution, much like Eren's inability to let go of his own. It suggests that the characters see themselves as being unworthy of forgiveness and incapable of moving forward, trapped in a cycle of guilt and responsibility.
The first ten minutes of the episode is a grand spectacle of the destruction of all life under the rumbling feet of the colossals while the final ten emphasises the hope in the depths of despair with the alliance's descent on Eren while Armin questions Eren's notion of freedom. The following part will be a spectacle to behold for sure.
There is no doubt about it, this is the best episode of Attack on Titan by a long stretch, and will be remembered by generations to come for the masterpiece that it is. A wonderful penultimate TV special.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jun 12, 2022
Much like amaanu01 from the other review, I, too, was one of the early birds in the webtoon scene with <The Gamer> being as popular as the big three <Tower of God>, <Noblesse> and <God of Highschool>, being some of the first manhwa I've picked up.
TG starts off with a very fresh story and an addicting plot that grows stale past 150 chapters or so, I'd say it's worth a read but after that point not so much. It gets repetitive and mundane very easily with no sense of plot or worldbuilding. It's quite a shame since I was very invested in this from
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the very beginning and it actually had quite the fanfare surrounding chapter releases.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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May 22, 2022
Platinum End is a bizzare manga, not just because the concept is basically Death Note in reverse but because it has some of the highest highs and also the lowest lows. I'm sure that almost everyone would have picked this up expecting a raw battle of wits as seen before in Death Note with the return of the iconic duo (Ohba & Obata) but even though the premise is similar, this isn't a battle shōnen although it appeared to be one in the first half. This manga is geared towards the more psychological aspects of godhood and morality and you would probably be let down
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if you're heading into this thinking that it'll be another Death Note. With that said though, this story isn't perfect, but it's not terrible either and is worth reading for the amazing art, various interesting concepts and the controversial ending which I felt was rather solid.
This is just my suspicion but it felt like Ohba formed the story using Death Note as a base but at the same time using the induction method to derive the ending of the story before crafting the rest of it. Without delving into any spoilers, the finale of the manga was a big twist that most readers did not expect (which was the reason for the whiplash feeling most felt upon first read), sending a strong anti-suicide message along with one of the most breathtaking spreads cum title drops I've seen in animanga, and an oddly optimistic nihilist ending combined with some great character peaks, conclusions and Obata's stellar art to top it off.
There are admittedly many parts of the story that had me puzzled as to why Ohba would write this such as when he projected his own political views on gay people onto Yuri along with Hoshi making the cringey nod of approval *pushes up glasses*. There were odd pacing issues that made certain conversations drag out far too long and preachy that just bored me to tears as I struggled to flip to the next page. And many characters including god candidates like Yuri or Manami simply weren't fleshed out at all and served to only act as shallow outlets for Ohba to add plot relevant dialogue and move on.
Putting my criticisms aside, I don't think that Platinum End should be reduced to a failed copy of Future Diary or a Death Note successor. It's a manga worth reading with strong delivery on its themes and art, and I'll touch on the former a little more to end of this review. The following delves into spoiler territory so beware:
The central theme of the story which is the pursuit of happiness was laid bare in the first chapter and became the deciding factor for the first major battle, with Mirai refusing to budge from his beliefs as his ideology gets constantly challenged and ridiculed. Mirai matured in his approach to the challenges he faced to circumvent his role as an executioner by never deviating from his pacifism, and thinking out of the box instead. However, the next opponent who was thrown into the ring could not be more perfect for his growth (Enter Yoneda).
"If I become God, I will do nothing”
A sharp contrast to Light from DN, Mirai's answer to the heavy responsibility of ruling over humanity is passivity. He had no desire to change the world as it was and only wished for everyone to live and be happy, he then exposed Dr. Yoneda. The ending to Platinum End is just as its name implies, purity's end, the end of all life, including the angels. The human condition included both happiness and suffering. The progenitor of life (Nasse) gave birth to humanity while the angel of darkness (Muni) sought to end it.
The creature's purpose was to end life, and Shuji became the trigger. Even a genius scientist couldn't fathom the importance of life, so this was the main message of the ending. There is value in living, and the author wants us to know that. Drunk on the idea of validating suicide as a way out, Shuji took a white arrow to the chestーa Platinum End, and his actions ended the suffering and happiness of everyone else, unbeknownst to him.
The main takeaway? He was wrong. His foolish actions affected billions of people around the world, by taking away suffering but also joy. Mirai is the perfect antithesis to this idea. He thanks Nasse for giving him a chance to live again, to be happy. This isn't a nihilistic ending, it begs us to never give up on life, and Mirai's development is proof of that.
"Thank you, Nasse."
On the other hand, Dr. Yoneda doesn't even get to finish his rambling, because it never mattered what the creature was in the end. He was fixated on the wrong details from the very beginning. His obsession with the non-existence of God is irrelevant. You don't need to be an atheist to enjoy life to the fullest or to find meaning in life. It's just that simple.
And that is the true meaning of Platinum End. Thank you for reading my review.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 20, 2022
Irregulars is pretty much your run-of-the-mill sports manga that employs the classic declining sports team trope where it struggles to get enough members and only dreams of returning to the former glory of its heyday era, but with a strong emphasis on the concept behind it being touted as "the team that was hated throughout Japan". The story kicks off with a rag-tag team of 3 misfits, short of the 9 people needed for a proper baseball team, and this restriction is the only one holding the MC Hibino back. He's an ambitious aspiring baseball player who wants to go to Koshien no matter what
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and he's determined to get there with the joint team with Meikyo. The first chapter itself finishes off with such a joint team partnership between two schools, of which Hibino has to play baseball with the delinquents who ganged up on him as well as the baseball prodigy that turned rough who saved him.
The other two misfits aren't as interesting of a character as Hibino so far, as Hibino himself has the quirkiest trait of being dead set on baseball itself. The story advances towards slowly getting the team members to play baseball together while making it seem near impossible, leaving each chapter super tense as Hibino's dumb idealism seems to pay off well in the end. It's so satisfying to see the characters go from aggressive cynicism to breaking into a smirk or sharing the same joy Hibino emanates from playing baseball. Seeing how Hibino decides to face the repercussions of his naïve idealism would be the highlight of this story at this point, which makes this story less about the game and more about the characters themselves, meaning to say that it's less a plot driven story but a character focused one.
Since at the point of reviewing only 5 chapters have been translated out of 32 (I'm also going to read ahead in Japanese), there isn't much to say but such a story has a lot of potential due to the whole concept behind it, which I'm expecting that each delinquent member of the team would eventually change for the better and bring Jōsei to Koshien (as shown in the first colour spread in the first chapter with everyone donning their uniforms at what I'm guessing would be Koshien).
Definitely do check this out to find out if it does live up to the prologue as a tale that drove the entirety of Japan into a frenzy!
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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